(YSL Ombres 5 Lumières)
(image from www.ysl.com)
I had a chance to do a quick dash around the shops a few days ago, and I saw the new palettes from YSL that I had been really looking forward to.
Lilac Sky (seen above) was what I was mainly waiting to see. I really wanted to love it, but unfortunately I didn’t.
The palette contains an off-white, a light lilac, a warm orchid purple, a cool medium-to-dark lilac, and a deep violet. (The latter two are matte.) The deciding factor for me was the medium-to-dark lilac. I swatched it on the back of my hand, and it was too dark and too greyish for me. The orchid shade was essentially matte but had sparse bronze-gold flecks, which somehow looked awkward against the bright orchid.
The softly shimmery light lilac is the only shade I like, but it is similar to the lilac in Coffret D’Or 3D Lighting Eyes’ Purple Variation and the Purple Variation lilac has a more pleasing and dimensional finish.
It is such a shame. It really is a stunning palette to behold, but most of the shades won’t suit me. I won’t be paying £35 for this.
Then, walking in the streets of London and on my way to meet up with a friend, I was flipping through the attached booklet (featuring fall 2008 makeup items, brand by brand) from the September issue of Biteki that I had picked up earlier in the day. After nearly walking into a lamppost (walking and obsessive makeup reading do *not* go hand in hand), I saw something that instantly put my lilac disappointment behind.
(image from www.kesalanpatharan.co.jp)
(Eye Color Palette in S007)
(image from www.kesalanpatharan.co.jp)
Kesalan Patharan‘s fall 2008 collection, titled Melty Color Magic, will be launched in Japan on August 22nd. The collection features three limited-edition Eye Color Palettes. All three look beautiful and wearable, but I think you know which is the one I was immediately drawn to. The website describes it as “plum, aqua blue, and purple”; I describe it as perfection. The lilac reminds me of the one in Lunasol’s Sheer Contrast Eyes in Lavender Coral, which has been my ultimate lilac and the standard against which all lilacs are judged.
On the previous photo from Cosme.Net,
it wasn’t easy to make out the actual colors of this palette. After seeing the photos in Biteki (and on the website later), this palette is now on top of my fall 2008 makeup shopping list…
Related Posts:
YSL Fall 2008 Makeup Collection
Keep It Gold – YSL
A Splash of Color – More Lilting Lilac
(All images are from
www.cosmedecorte.com/magiedeco)
Magie Deco has updated its website to feature its fall 2008 collection – Bordeaux Magic.
This is yet another interpretation of red by a Japanese brand for fall 2008, and the color figures in the eye palette, eyeshadow single, cream eyeshadow, lipstick, lip gloss, mascara and nail color. The collection therefore has a very coherent look.
(the two new Shadow Brilliance palettes)
Compared with SUQQU and Lunasol, the red used in Magie Deco’s collection is deeper and has a plum-purple tone, which fits the theme. #21 Bordeaux Shadow palette looks especially striking.
I think the wine-reds in this collection can be more wearable for some people than warmer reds, but I am only judging by the colors themselves, not finish or pigmentation level.
Again, Magie Deco has come up with interesting color combinations for the eye palettes to give itself an edge over wearable but somewhat safe palettes from Maquillage and Coffret D’Or, although I didn’t expect its seasonal theme to be so similar to those of Lunasol and SUQQU.
Personally, neither of the two palettes suits me enough to tempt me for a purchase. But Magie Deco is a brand that I really want to try and I hope there will be a good palette for me soon. (When it’s love at first sight, I’ll know it.)
Related posts – a quick look back at Magie Deco:
Summer 2008 Collection
Spring 2008 Collection
Christmas 2007 Collection
(Cosme Decorte AQ Shadow Supreme)
(image from www.cosmedecorte.com/aq)
Cosme Decorte AQ has updated its website to feature the fall 2008 collection in the revamped packaging. (Please check my previous post for quick details of the lineup.)
Overall the palettes look good. Each of them combines a more vibrant color (blue, green, violet,…) and dark/light neutrals. I am happy that there is one palette with purple, but the shade, beautiful as it is, looks just a little bit too warm and dark for me. I should not be surprised, since we are entering fall. (AQ items are pricey, so I have to be picky.)
Please be aware that the price of the palette itself does not include the two sponge/brush applicators, which are sold separately for 525 JPY (about 4.8 USD) each. (This is not uncommon with Japanese cosmetics. For example, with Lunasol’s blushers, the refill, the case, and the brush are sold separately as well.)
The collection will be available in Japan on August 21st.
Related Posts:
Beauté de Kosé Fall 2008 Collection
Esprique Precious Fall 2008 Collection
(Paul & Joe Eye Color in 05)
More lilac for today…
Almost all Paul & Joe‘s eyeshadows are available in singles, and the occasional palettes are usually seasonal limited editions. As I am more of a palette person, this is the only Paul & Joe eyeshadow I have, and, yes, it is a lilac.
This is a sheer light lilac. The color only builds up minimally when layered. The powder is very soft and has almost a fluffy feel. I can also use my fingers to apply this eyeshadow and get a nice and natural look.
It has a low-key mildly shimmery finish. What is unique about this shade is the very subtle warm pink and gold shimmer. It adds some vibrancy to the overall finish and prevents the shade from looking one-dimensional when worn alone.
I can use this alone for a barely-there look, as the sheer lilac and the soft veil of shimmer can brighten my eyes. I can also use it to complement my lilac-based eye palettes as a base or where needed.
For me, this is a good time-saver when I want a quick and easy minimal lilac look. It is also nice for travelling when I don’t want to spend too much time putting on makeup but want to look refreshed. (Again, I can use my fingers to apply it, so there is more precious packing space.) I will obviously have to pair it with other colors if I want more depth, but, overall, this is a simple and foolproof basic in my lilac repertoire.
Related Posts:
Loving Japanese Brands – Paul & Joe
Paul & Joe Foundation Primer N
Paul & Joe Loose Powder
Paul & Joe Pressed Powder
(all images from www.soniarykiel-cosmetics.com)
Sonia Rykiel Beauté has updated its website to include information on the fall 2008 makeup collection, titled Actrice. (Please check my previous post for quick details of the items.)
You’ll see all the variations of the new Quatre Eyeshadow palettes as well as other upcoming items. The link on the page for the palettes will give you some ideas about how to use the shades in this palette range.
The collection will be out in Japan on August 22nd.
Related posts:
Beauty Brand Focus – Sonia Rykiel
Other brand-focus posts – Kanebo Freeplus & Elégance
(Beauté de Kosé Metallic Luster Eyes)
(image from www.kose.co.jp/bko)
Some websites of the Kosé lines have been updated in the last couple of days to feature the fall 2008 collections. (Please check the sites for Cosme Decorte AQ and Magie Deco for details.) I will mention Beauté de Kosé very briefly today and share my thoughts on AQ and Magie Deco later this week.
If you are interested in Beauté de Kosé’s fall 2008 collection, just out on August 1st, please note that all items are limited editions.
The collection includes two Metallic Luster Eyes palettes (seen above), two new shades of Eye Fantasist, two new shades of Rouge Fantasist Aqua Vinyl, and three new shades of Nail Dramatist. Please check the Beauté de Kosé website for swatches.
Other new collections from Kosé:
Esprique Precious
Elsia
(image form www.nikkei.co.jp)
Dew Superior is a high-end line sold at Kanebo counters in many Asian countries. (A brief profile of the line follows below.) On October 16, Dew Superior will launch its base makeup range in Japan. The lineup includes:
– Pact Concentrate (powder foundation, 6 shades, SPF 23, PA++)
– Liquid Concentrate (liquid foundation, 6 shades, SPF 19, PA++)
– Pre-Make Concentrate (moisturizing primer, SPF 16, PA++)
– Finish Concentrate (loose powder, 1 shade)
– Designing Concentrate (highlighter/contourer, 1 variation)
(Earlier this year, the line also launched two primers, Protect Essence Concentrate I and II, both of which have SPF 26 and PA++.)
Dew Superior was launched in 2007 to replace the original Dew line, which debuted in 2004. Dew used to carry a range of base makeup as well as skincare items, but Dew Superior was launched with skincare items only. The line’s main claim is to bring moisture and elasticity to the skin, and the target consumers are those in their late twenties and above. In line with the main selling point of the skincare items, the new base makeup line claims to have moisturizing properties which help give the skin a glowy look.
(www.kanebo-cosmetics.jp/dewsuperior/)
I have only used trail samples of a toner and a moisturizer from the original Dew line. Perhaps not too surprisingly, they both contained too much alcohol to do anything positive to my skin. I doubt Dew Superior is very much different in this aspect. (As I mentioned before, even though there are some Japanese skincare products that work well for me, the allure of Japanese cosmetics for me lies mainly in base and point makeup, not in skincare.)
There are a couple of loose/pressed powder items on my shopping list at the moment, so I will probably skip Finish Concentrate. But if you are looking for foundations that have a dewy/glowy finish, then some of these products might worth looking into.
Other upcoming base makeup items:
Kanebo Coffret D’Or
Shiseido Maquillage
Sofina Primavista
(Coffret D’Or Makeup Powder)
Coffret D’Or released its debut base makeup collection earlier this year, and this loose powder is part of the lineup. It may not be the best loose powder I have ever used, but it is a lot better than almost all others that I have talked about on my blog.
The refill and the case are sold separately. (The case comes with a nice fluffy puff.) There is no sifter in the refill so you will need a case (any case) for an easier application. I have a couple of loose powder cases, but I decided to get both the case and the refill.
The sifter is designed in such a way that the powder can easily go in and out of the case (if you want to remove some into a smaller container for travelling). A very nice touch.
Currently the powder is available in one shade. It is a semi-translucent off-white powder with the slightest hint of pink. It has very fine shimmer but it doesn’t really show up very much when applied. The overall finish is semi-matte and gently luminous.
What I like the most about this loose powder is that it is nearly impossible to over-apply it. The powder is very fine and seems to melt into the skin, and there is no chalkiness even after some layering.
Even though, for my oily skin, Lavshuca’s Face Powder (in Lucent, currently my favorite loose powder) has a better pore-diffusing and oil-absorbing efficacy, Coffret D’Or’s loose powder does well enough in both areas to be a suitable product for me. But I would probably use it more in colder months.
Overall, I think this powder should appeal to various skin types. People with combination or oily skin will appreciate how it subtly mattifies the skin, while those with drier skin will probably like how it effortlessly merges with the skin without looking powdery. I think this is one of the products that show off the great quality in Japanese brands’ base makeup items.
(You can see another review of this loose powder at Autumn Masquerade.)
Related Posts:
Foundation Face-Off: Coffret D’Or vs. Lunasol
L’Oréal True Match Super-Blendable Powder
ck Calvin Klein Mineral Based Loose Powder
Can’t Live Without – ZA Two-Way Foundation
(image from www.suqqu.com/japan.html)
SUQQU has updated its website to feature the fall 2008 collection, which will be released in Japan on August 8th.
Does the image above remind you of Lunasol‘s Red Purification collection? SUQQU’s red-themed lineup draws inspiration from the rich warm red that has figured predominantly in the Japanese culture for centuries. The collection includes:
– Eyelid Base (1 shade)
– Dual Eyeshadow (5 variations)
– Blend Cheeks (1 new shade)
– Blend Lipstick (3 new shades)
– Gloss & Lip Color (3 new variations, limited editions)
– Eyeliner Creamy (3 new shades)– Mascara (3 versions: Volume N, Long N, and Volume Long N, all in black)
(SUQQU Dual Eyeshadow)
(image from www.suqqu.com/japan.html)
(Lunasol Noble Shade Eyes for fall 2008)
(YSL Ombres 5 Lumières)
(image from www.kesalanpatharan.co.jp)
(Eye Color Palette in S007)
