Today I am sharing two latest additions to my foundation case collection.
First up is the case of Anna Sui‘s Loose Compact Powder UV, which is part of Anna Sui’s spring/summer 2008 base makeup release. This case is for the new loose powder refills and is designed to make Anna Sui’s loose powder slightly more travel-friendly. (Remember that Anna Sui’s original large loose powder case doesn’t have a screw lid and is very tricky to travel with.)
Even though white is my least favorite color for Anna Sui’s packaging, I like the thickness of the case compared with other Anna Sui’s foundation compacts.
The case comes with a purple powder puff which is very soft to the touch.
Please notice that the sift is included in the refill and not in the case. So this is not the kind of portable loose powder case in which you can put your own loose powder. But, size-wise, all the round Anna Sui foundation refills can fit into this case.
Next is the Jill Stuart‘s Powder Foundation Compact S, which is released with the new Smooth Skin Powder Foundation. Compared with the original Powder Foundation Case (released in spring 2006), the new case has a different design for the lid and features a charm with floral details.
Let’s see the two designs side by side. The spring 2006 case is on the left and the spring 2008 one is on the right:
All the Jill Stuart powder foundation and pressed powder refills are the same size, and the cases are sold separately. So what case to pick when you purchase a Jill Stuart foundation refill is entirely up to you.
Furthermore, since both Anna Sui and Jill Stuart (and Paul & Joe as well) commission Kosé (which owns Albion, commissioned by Anna Sui and Paul & Joe) to produce the makeup (and skincare) line, all their round foundation refills can fit into all cases.
My case collection does take up a bit of space. But, for me, it is a slightly less pricey way to chart the development of a brand’s image and there is no need to worry about products expiring. I shall continue to pick up the cases I like from my favorite brands.
More cases:
Sofina Raycious Foundation Case Galore
My Anna Sui Foundation Case Collection
(Shiseido Maquillage Clean Contrast Eyes 2 in SV844)
I haven’t really been very interested in Maquillage since it was launched in fall 2005. But sometimes, it only takes one item to start my interest in a makeup line, and you are looking at it now.
Maquillage replaced PN (the color makeup line) and Proudia (the base makeup line) and was what Shiseido called a “Super Brand”. The expectation at the time was extremely high, since PN, in particular, was very successful at bringing young people to Shiseido and rescuing the brand’s then aging image. Over the last couple of years, Maquillage, with a more mature image, has proven to be delivering the sales figures.
For those of you that might not be familiar with the multi-layered branding concept in Japanese cosmetics, Maquillage is not a fully fledged brand and is simply the name of Shiseido’s main color/base makeup line. It does not have its own counters and is sold at Shiseido counters in Japan and some other Asian countries (where you will find many other lines like Elixir Superior (skincare/base makeup), UVWhite (whitening), Anessa (suncare), Revital (anti-aging), and Beauty Voltage (youth skincare)).
Back to Maquillage. Since I have been very interested in lilac for the past year or so, I am often excited to see lilac being featured as the main eyeshadow color for a seasonal collection. For spring 2008, this look (modeled by Ebihara Yuri, one of the four brand ambassadors for Maquillage) really grabbed my attention.
(image from www.shiseido.co.jp)
After checking some more images of this palette on-line and on magazines, I decided to try it.
Initially, being (a bit overly) excited to try a lilac that was much cooler than most of the other lilacs I had, I used it as the main shade on my eyelids and I used the silvery grey around my lash line. It didn’t work well. Worn alone, the lilac is almost too pale for my eye area and the whole look is not optimally flattering.
When I tried the palette for the second time, I wore the silvery grey as the main color with most of the lilac showing through from underneath and around the silvery grey. This time, it worked a lot better.
A couple of days ago, I happened to find the following application steps on the Shiseido website. They show more or less how I used the palette for the second time. (They are similar to those on the back of the outer packaging of the palette, but the images below give a clearer idea.)
(image from www.shiseido.co.jp)
My own shade descriptions:
1. sheer white with mainly pale multi-color shimmer and relatively little pigment
2. pale blue-ish lilac with very fine and subtle shimmer and an overall satiny finish
3. silvery grey with a semi-metallic shimmery finish and a very slight warm copper undertone
4. dark matte charcoal with very sparse shimmer
With some eye palettes from Japanese brands, the second darkest shade is usually meant to be worn under the crease. But I think one of the best ways to use this palette is to follow the steps above and use the second darkest shade (silvery grey) both under and around the crease and over most of the lilac applied beforehand. (If you don’t have a crease, use the silvery grey as the main shadowing shade over the lilac, which is applied on a slightly broader area on the lids.)
The key is to layer the two shades.
Since the silvery grey has a touch of sheerness, the lilac is able to show through and the two colors together create a lovely and subtle depth for the eyes.
Since many eye palettes in Japanese brands are named after the main shade, I was later able to understand why this is a (well-justified) SV (Silver) palette and not a VI (violet), which I did wonder initially. (Note: Kanebo brands would use PU (purple) instead of VI.)
The practical strengths are there as well. The powder is smooth and goes on easily, and the colors are long-lasting.
Essentially, this is a silvery-grey palette with lilac as the accent color. The concept is different from that of my other lilac palettes with gradations of lilacs. For me as a lilac lover, this alone makes the palette worth purchasing. (But I do have to control my fondness for lilac and try not to over-layer it!)
The “silver-greyish lilac” look it creates is subtle and natural, as you see in the ads. It is very good for daily wear. If you want a more dramatic look, layering the silvery grey and putting more emphasis on the dark charcoal will easily give you a smoky effect.
(By the way, in the ad,
Ebihara Yuri is also using the new Gel Liner in SV854.)
I did spend quite a few weeks deciding whether to buy this palette or not. But I am very glad I did!
My other two lilac palettes for spring 2008:
Coffret D’Or 3D Lighting Eyes in 04
Lunasol Sheer Contrast Eyes in Lavender Coral
Other related posts:
Must-Try Look for Spring 2008
Spring 2008 Makeup Trend Report
(Majolica Majorca 2008 summer collection)
(image from www.biteki.com)
Majolica Majorca will release the summer 2008 collection in Japan on April 26th. The collection includes:
Powder Heat Metallic: 1 shade (limited edition)
Lash Heat Metallic: 1 shade (limited edition)
My last Majolica Majorca purchase was about two years ago. Since then, I haven’t been impressed by their seasonal releases. The summer 2008 collection is still not cutting it for me…
Interestingly, I haven’t bought anything from Majolica Majorca since Lavshuca was launched in spring 2006. At least for the past two years, I think Lavshuca does cute a lot better than Majolica Majorca…
Updated on March 29, 2008:
Here is another photo of the Majolica Majorca summer 2008 collection, which includes the three limited-edition nail colors.
(image from www.s-woman.net/maquia/)
Related Posts:
Budget Princess 1: Majolica Majorca
Budget Princess 2: Lavshuca
(part of Cosme Decorte AQ’s summer 2008 collection)
(image from www.biteki.com)
AQ (which stands for “Absolute Quality”) is the top-end skincare/makeup line from Kose’s high-end brand Cosme Decorte. It will release the summer 2008 collection in Japan on April 16th. The collection features:
– Eye Shadow (palette): 1 new variation (#032)
– Lipstick: 3 new shades
One of Cosme Decorte AQ’s spring 2008 palettes (#030) includes a lilac and a rosy pink. Their summer 2008 eye palette also features a lilac, this time paired with a blue. The two shades look very good together.
Cosme Decorte AQ’s lipsticks are some of the priciest in Japan. They cost 6300 yen each (around 63 USD), the same price as Clé de Peau’s Rouge a Lèvre in Japan.
Updated on March 31st, 2008:
The Cosme Decorte AQ website has been updated to include information on the summer 2008 collection.
The makeup theme for the collection is Turquoise Lagoon, and the core of the collection is the Pure Grace Eyeshadow palette in #032, which includes turquoise and lilac (seen above). The Cosme Decorte AQ website also shows how to use this palette to create the look in the ad. (Both images are from www.cosmedecorte.com/aq.)
Apart from the eyeshadow palette and the lipsticks mentioned above, the collection also includes three new Nail Colors.
You can check the Cosme Decorte AQ website for more information on the collection.
Other upcoming summer 2008 collections:
Lunasol Summer 2008 Collection
Kate Summer 2008 Collection
EST Summer 2008 Collection
(part of Magie Deco’s summer 2008 collection)
(image from www.biteki.com)
Magie Deco will launch the summer 2008 collection in Japan on April 16th. The collection includes:
Shadow Brilliance eye palettes: 2 new variations
Luxual Long Mascara Waterproof: 2 shades
The Shadow Brilliance palettes seem to be selling well in Japan and the palette in 014 Believe in Magic is seen on the readers’ favorite eyeshadow palette list in Biteki (February 2008 issue). Shadow Brilliance’s color combinations are slightly more original than eye palettes from Maquillage, Aube, and Coffret D’Or, and I am sure there will be more lovely items to come from Magie Deco.
Updated on March 31st, 2008:
The Magie Deco website has been updated to include information on the summer 2008 collection. (All images are from www.cosmedecorte.com/magiedeco/.)
The full Magie Deco summer 2008 collection includes:
– Shadow Brilliance eye palettes: 2 new variations
– Fairy Eyes cream eyeshadows: 4 new shades
– Fairy Rouge glosses: 3 new shades
– Lipsticks: 3 new shades
– Gem on Liner Waterproof (new): 2 shades
– Luxual Volume Mascara Waterproof (new): 2 shades
– Luxual Long Mascara Waterproof (new): 2 shades
– Nail Colors: 5 new shades
– Eye Makeup Remover (new)
You can see all the new product images on the Magie Deco website.
(I’d like to thank Betsy at Autumn Masquerade for the alert!)
Related Posts:
Magie Deco Spring 2008 Collection
Magie Deco Holiday 2007 Collection
(part of Coffret D’Or’s
summer 2008 collection)
(image from www.biteki.com)
Coffret D’Or will release 20 nail colors as its summer 2008 collection in Japan on April 16th.
The summer collections of Japanese cosmetics brands are usually a lot smaller than their spring and fall releases, and this is an example. These nail colors also add to Coffret D’Or’s debut lineup (released in December 2007) which didn’t feature items for nails.
Updated on March 29, 2008:
The Coffret D’Or summer 2008 collection will also include the Cuticle Care Oil.
(image from www.joseishi.net/voce/)
I like the two-tier design, and the lilac and aqua look very pretty! This might join my cuticle oil collection…
Related Posts:
Coffret D’Or 3D Lighting Eyes in 04
(one of my favorite spring 208 items)
Coffret D’Or Spring/Summer 2008 Base Makeup Collection
(loving the look…)
Foundation Face-Off: Coffret D’Or vs. Lunasol
(There is a clear winner for me.)
(part of the EST Summer 2008 collection)
(image from www.cosme.net)
EST will release the summer 2008 collection in Japan on April 26th. The collection includes:
Emotional Aura Gloss: 10 shades, fragrance-free
Nail Color: 12 shades
Nail Foundation (base coat)
Nail Color Remover
Essentially, the collection features more basics which add to the debut collection launched in November 2007, which has been generally very well received. I particularly look forward to seeing the shades of the glosses.
I will update this post with more images later on.
Updated on March 31st, 2008:
The EST website has been updated to include information on the summer 2008 collection. (All images are from www.kao.co.jp/est/.)
(EST Emotional Aura Gloss)
Like EST’s Emotional Aura Lips, the lip glosses are grouped into three categories. Innocent Colors (#101-106) are moderately pigmented, Pure Colors (#201, 202) are on the sheer side, and Deep Colors (#301, 302) are more heavily pigmented.
You can check the EST website to see the shades of the Nail Color.
Related Posts:
Lunasol Summer 2008 Collection
Kate Summer 2008 Collection
(Anna Sui Luxury Eye Palette)
(image from www.iswii.net)
Repeating the design of the two Luxury Eye Palettes (in black cases) from the 2006 Holiday collection, Anna Sui will be releasing another Luxury Eye Palette and a Luxury Lip Palette. Both are limited editions.
I like the shades in the Luxury Eye Palette, particularly the soft teal and the lilac. The colorful shades are balanced by the warm neutrals.
The Luxury Lip Palette appears to be a combination of lip colors and glosses:
(Anna Sui Luxury Lip Palette)
(image from www.iswii.net)
Anna Sui sometimes releases Asia-only limited-edition items, and at the moment I am not sure if these two palettes will be released in North America. I will keep you updated if I come across any information.
Updated on March 21st 2008:
One of my readers, Ebontien, kindly let me know that the two palettes are being sold in Canada. (Thank you, Ebontien!)
I suppose they are or will be available in the US as well.
Related Posts:
Anna Sui Spring/Summer Base Makeup Collection
We Love Anna Sui Official Book
Sui Lip Gloss in 100
(Lunasol summer 2008 collection)
(image from www.nikkei.co.jp)
Lunasol will launch the summer 2008 collection in Japan on May 9th.
The collection includes:
– Full Glamor Gloss N: 10 shades (2 of which limited editions)
– Sheer Contrast Eyes palettes: 2 new variations (limited editions)
– Geminate Liners: 2 new shades
– Nail Finish: 4 new shades
This is another stellar collection from Lunasol, with rich and colorful hues. Very exciting!
Lunasol will also release two new skincare products on the same day, Scrubful Wash and Skin Control Mist. Both aim for maintaining a fresh and shine-free complexion for summer.
Updated on April 7, 2008:
First of all, here are photos of the two new eye palettes:
(image from www.kanebo-cosmetics.jp/lunasol)
(image from woman.excite.co.jp)
Also, you can see swatches of these two palettes and the two new Geminate Liners.
Related Posts:
Lunasol Spring 2008 Collection
(colorful and wearable)
Lunasol Sheer Contrast Eyes in Lavender Coral
(a gorgeous lilac palette)
Lunasol Full Glamor Gloss in Bright Pink
(one of my favorite lip glosses)
(Kate summer 2008 collection)
(image from www.nikkei.co.jp)
Kate will release the summer 2008 collection in Japan on May 1st.
The collection includes:
– Rouge Trance S lipsticks: 8 shades
– Dual Carat eyeshadow duos: 3 new variations
The Dual Carat range has been popular, so I think the new additions will be very welcomed. The Rouge Trance S will be a range of sheer and mildly pigmented lipsticks focusing on creating transparent and dimensional lips.
This is my first summer 2008 makeup collection post, and I am looking forward to bringing you more!
Related Posts:
Kate – Lavshuca’s Darker, Edgier Sister
Kate Spring 2008 Collection
