blog anniversary

A Touch of Blusher is eighteen years old today!

In the last twelve months, the discontinuation of Kao Sofina Aube and Kanebo Coffret d’Or was probably among the big news in Japanese cosmetics. They are among my favorite beauty lines, and I will certainly miss them very much. The fact that Sofina Primavista (essentially a base makeup line) released eyebrow items in September might indicate some re-structuring within the Sofina brand, but we will have to wait and see.

At the same time, I started to keep track of the seasonal releases of Osaji and To/one. I like their senses of aesthetics, and I look forward to their future seasonal collections.

Once again, let’s look back at the last twelve months of A Touch of Blusher:

November 2023: Anna Sui’s Rose Face Powder reminds me of Les Merveilleuses de Ladurée’s Face Color Rose Ladurée.

December: Celvoke’s Polyphonic Blush caught my attention.

January 2024: Lunasol celebrated its 25th anniversary.

February: Mary Quant released Cheery Colours for Eyes.

March: Light pink was one of the key colors in spring 2024.

April: I like the lilac hues in Canmake’s summer 2024 makeup collection.

May: Addiction released its 15th anniversary makeup collection.

June: Guerlain collaborated with Pucci once again.

July: Paul & Joe launched a new eyeshadow palette range.

August: I presented 35 beautiful nail colors from Japanese beauty brands for summer 2024.

September: Est’s point (color) makeup range has a new look.

October: We looked at some of the new blusher ranges for fall 2024.

Thank you all very much for visiting my blog and for all your feedback. I hope that you will stop by again soon!

{ 0 comments }

A Touch of Blusher is seventeen years old today!

In the post-pandemic world, while some beauty lines (like Coffret d’Or and Esprique) have been quiet with their seasonal releases, many others seem to have adopted a “more is more” approach. Their seasonal collections get larger and larger, and these extensive collections are often separated into several waves of releases. The aim, fairly obviously, is to retain our attention and to tempt us to make a purchase.

I am not sure how well this approach works with different types of consumers, and the increase in price (of beauty products and everything else) over the last couple of years certainly doesn’t help. The sheer volume of releases from brands I usually follow makes keeping track of these releases quite time-consuming, but I will try my best to stay updated so that you do too.

Once again, let’s look back at the last twelve months of A Touch of Blusher:

November 2022: It was great to see new eyeshadow palettes from Esprique.

December: Paul & Joe renewed its lipstick range.

January 2023: I like the vibrant colors from KANEBO’s spring 2023 makeup collection.

February: RMK revamped its powder-based blusher range.

March: Jill Stuart added a new product to its blusher lineup.

April: Fuchsia and lilac were on trend in spring 2023.

May: Lunasol’s summer 2023 makeup collection featured fresh pastel eyeshadow shades.

June: Majolica Majorca celebrated its 20th anniversary.

July: Shiseido brought back Inoui.

August: YSL launched Couture Mini Clutch for fall 2023.

September: SUQQU released its 20th anniversary makeup collection.

October: Muted warm-toned shades were the key colors for cheeks for fall 2023.

Thank you all very much for visiting my blog and for all your comments and feedback. Stay well, and I hope that you will enjoy reading my upcoming posts!

{ 0 comments }

A Touch of Blusher is sixteen years old today!

For the last two and a half years or so, it has been difficult for many fans of Japanese cosmetics living outside Japan to get the items they want (in person or on-line) due to the measures taken by many countries in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, throughout this period, I have still been trying to continue to post information on some of the latest releases from Japan (including information on some of the limited-edition items) on my blog.

The reasons for doing so are that I personally still want to keep track of the new releases and that I would still love to share them with you. I feel that it is still fascinating to observe how various trends develop and how products evolve. Also, for me, looking at a new makeup collection often generates ideas for new makeup looks and makes me look at the makeup items I have in a different way.

Once again, let’s look back at the last twelve months of A Touch of Blusher:

November 2021: Celvoke celebrated its 5th anniversary.

December: Athletia was available in the UK.

January 2022: One of my favorite fragrances was revamped.

February: Paul & Joe’s beauty line marked its 20th anniversary with cat-themed items.

March: Elégance Razzle made its debut.

April: Canmake’s Glow Fleur Cheeks (Blend Type) caught my attention.

May: I presented 35 beautiful nail colors from Japanese beauty brands for summer 2022.

June: Guerlain’s fall 2022 makeup collection included the new Ombres G range.

July: I shared my thoughts on Chanel’s Blush Lumière in Pêche Rosée.

August: Clé de Peau’s 40th anniversary makeup and skincare collection featured two ultra-exclusive items.

September: Pink, mauve and plum are on-trend in fall 2022.

October: Visée released Nuance Matte Creator, a range of all-matte eyeshadow palettes.

Thank you all very much for reading my blog and for all your comments and feedback. For whatever reason you have decided to continue to stop by my blog during the pandemic, I hope that you have found it to be worth your time.

Please be well, and I hope that you will enjoy my upcoming posts!

{ 4 comments }

A Touch of Blusher is fifteen years old today!

The COVID-19 pandemic is far from over, and many parts of the world (including the UK) are getting ready to face a potentially difficult winter. When my blog turned ten in 2016, I mentioned that the world was quite different from how it was when I started my blog and that blogging had been able to provide me with a sense of continuity. I feel the same now as we are still being affected by the pandemic in all kinds of ways.

Once again, let’s look back at the last twelve months of A Touch of Blusher:

November 2020: The pinks and the purples from Celvoke’s holiday 2020 makeup collection appealed to me.

December: Blend Berry made its debut.

January 2021: I reviewed Hadalabo’s Gokujyun Premium Emulsion.

February: Cosme Decorte celebrated its 50th anniversary.

March: I experimented with a red-toned eyeshadow from Esprique.

April: Estée Lauder’s Pleasures Eau de Parfum was added to my collection.

May: Fasio began a major image revamp.

June: It was fun putting together a list of 35 lovely nail colors from Japanese beauty brands for summer 2021.

July: I like the new look of Canmake’s Glow Fleur Cheeks.

August: RMK released its first makeup collection from its third creative director.

September: Green is on-trend in fall 2021.

October: Ayura’s new fragrance got my attention.

I am grateful for the fact that I have been able to blog continuously in the last fifteen years with the support from family and friends. I particularly want to say a big thank you to my other half for his support since the day I decided to start my own blog. Also, I am thankful for the feedback, inspiration and encouragement from my readers and fellow beauty bloggers.

Please stay well, and I hope that you will enjoy reading my upcoming posts!

{ 2 comments }

(Kate Vintage Mode Eyes in BU-1,
one of my favorites among the items I reviewed
in the last twelve months (two more pictured below))

A Touch of Blusher is fourteen years old today!

The COVID-19 pandemic has been affecting everyone’s life, and it has certainly been affecting the beauty industry and how we shop for beauty products. For many of us in various parts of the world, things we didn’t always think too much about before, such as swatching an eyeshadow and trying on a fragrance, have been impossible for a significant part of this year.

I wonder whether high street beauty retail, which relies on appealing to one’s senses of touch and smell, can adopt new ways of reaching out to consumers. Also, here in the UK in particular, I wonder whether after-sale service can evolve as consumers are unable to experience a product in a meaningful way (in a store or on-line) before making a purchase. As beauty brands and retail channels cope with the current situation, I do think there is an opportunity for them to increase and consolidate consumer confidence and loyalty.

Once again, let’s look back at the last twelve months of A Touch of Blusher:

November 2019: Helena Rubinstein came back to the UK.

December: Lunasol’s spring 2020 makeup collection featured some colorful eyeshadow palettes.

January 2020: KANEBO began an image revamp.

February: Peach and orange were on-trend in spring 2020.

(Chanel Joues Contraste in 430 Foschia Rosa)

March: I shared my thoughts on Paul & Joe’s Lipstick CS in 115 Tulipe.

April: The warm-toned shades for lips from YSL’s summer 2020 makeup collection appealed to me.

May: I presented 35 beautiful nail colors for summer 2020.

June: SUQQU arrived in France.

(Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour in 2011 Turquoise)

July: I looked into Excel’s Powder & Pencil Eyebrow EX, one of the line’s most popular items.

August: My Stash Debut series continued with Celvoke’s Comfy Blush in 01 Pink.

September: Fortune’s fall 2020 makeup collection got my attention.

October: I opened my treasure chest again.

Of course, beauty products are mostly non-essential. There are far more important things in life, and I am very grateful for what I have. Thank you all very much for reading my blog and posting your comments. I appreciate your support and encouragement, and I hope that you will stop by again soon. Be safe and well!

{ 6 comments }

(Coffret d’Or Beauty Aura Eyes in 04 Bordeaux,
one of my favorites among the items I reviewed
in the last twelve months (two more pictured below))

A Touch of Blusher is thirteen years old today!

Even though my tastes in eyeshadows haven’t changed very much over the years, I started to be a little more adventurous with eyeshadow colors and finishes earlier this year. I have been looking into eyeshadow colors I haven’t tried before, and I have been experimenting with matte eyeshadows. I will be sharing my thoughts on these trials in some of my future reviews. In the meantime, I will certainly continue to keep you posted on new product releases.

Once again, let’s look back at the last twelve months of A Touch of Blusher:

November 2018: I added another holiday limited-edition item from Dior to my collection.

December: Visée Avant’s Multi Stick Color in 001 Crybaby worked quite well on my lips.

January 2019: Kosé expanded its market in Europe.

February: I liked the peachy hue and the satiny finish of Sweets Sweets’ Silky Chiffon Cheeks in 03 Peach Chiffon.

(Esprique Glow Eye Veil in BE335)

March: We learned that Clé de Peau would be launched in the UK.

April: I enjoyed seeing all the vibrant colors from Lunasol.

May: IPSA made a rare appearance on my blog.

June: Addiction celebrated its 10th anniversary.

(Addiction The Blush in 014 Princess Goh (M))

July: Chicca‘s discontinuation was a surprise to me.

August: My Stash Debut series continued with Pola Muselle Nocturnal’s Face Color in PI01 Pink Sky.

September: I opened my treasure chest again.

October: I shared my thoughts on Elizabeth Arden’s White Tea Wild Rose Eau de Toilette.

Thank you all very much for spending your time reading my blog and posting your comments. I hope that you will enjoy reading my future posts!

{ 6 comments }

(THREE Cheeky Chic Blush in 02 Sweet Revolution,
one of my favorites among the items I reviewed
in the last twelve months (two more pictured below))

A Touch of Blusher is twelve years old today!

The on-line landscape has changed so much since the year I started my blog, and, particularly in the last few years, social media platforms have changed the ways brands interact with consumers. Even though, nowadays, Facebook and Instagram are probably the best places for up-to-the-minute beauty news, I do hope that you will find my blog to be useful for information on current and past makeup collections. Also, I will of course continue to share my thoughts in my product reviews.

Once again, let’s look back at the last twelve months of A Touch of Blusher:

November 2017: I loved Shu Uemura’s nostalgic Super Mario Bros. collection for holiday 2017.

December: Chicca’s spring 2018 makeup collection celebrated the brand’s 10th anniversary.

January 2018: Earth-toned blushers were on-trend for spring 2018.

February: I reviewed my first purchase from Media.

(Coffret d’Or Full Smile Eyes in 04 Clear Purple)

March: One more blue lip gloss was added to my collection.

April: I tried out NewBorn’s W Brow EX N in B2 Grayish Brown.

May: I reviewed another blusher from Addiction.

June: KANEBO (Global Brand) continued to expand its overseas market.

(Paul & Joe Lipstick in 108 Pink Balloon)

July: Anna Sui’s fall 2018 makeup collection celebrated the 20th anniversary of the brand’s beauty line.

August: Amplitude made its debut.

September: I shared my thoughts on Excia AL’s Blush Impression in PK100 in my Stash Debut series.

October: I looked into RMK’s Smooth Cleansing Oil.

Thank you all very much for reading my blog and for taking the time to post your comments, and I hope that you will stop by again soon!

{ 6 comments }

(Majolica Majorca Jeweling Eyes in BR792, one of my favorites
among the items I reviewed in the last 12 months)

A Touch of Blusher is eleven years old today!

In recent months, I have been thinking about how my tastes in makeup have (or haven’t) changed since I started my blog. With eyeshadows, I have always liked purples and warm neutrals. However, with blushers, I have become far more adventurous with different colors, finishes and pigmentation levels. In terms of beauty brands, I definitely still love many of the brands I wrote about eleven years ago (such as Lunasol, Jill Stuart, Paul & Joe and SUQQU).

Over the years, my blog has become a record of my own likes and dislikes in beauty, and I thank you all for reading my blog and sharing my passion!

Once again, let’s look back at the last 12 months of A Touch of Blusher:

November 2016: Albion celebrated its 60th anniversary.

December: THREE renewed its loose-powder eyeshadow range in spring 2017.

January 2017: We finally got to see a new seasonal makeup collection from Ayura.

February: Paul & Joe celebrated its beauty line’s 15th anniversary.

March: Jill Stuart launched a new blusher range in summer 2017.

April: I shared my thoughts on my first purchase from Sweets Sweets.

May: I (finally) reviewed Les Merveilleuses de Ladurée’s Face Color Rose Ladurée in 02.

June: Kanebo Twany’s Lara Bouquet made its debut.

July: I reviewed Addiction’s Blush in 04 Amazing.

August: Deep red and sheer blue are the on-trend shades in fall 2017.

September: I focused on Japanese beauty brand Celvoke.

October: Cosme Decorte was launched in the UK.

Thank you all very much once again, and I hope that you will enjoy reading my upcoming posts!

{ 8 comments }

(Allow me to self-indulge just for today……)

A Touch of Blusher is ten years old today!

The world seems quite different from how it was ten years ago, but blogging has been able to provide me with a sense of continuity and normality.

Thank you all very much for reading my blog and sharing my passion, and I am very grateful for all your comments and feedback. I also want to thank my other half not only for coming up with the name of this blog but also for his decade-long support. (He also picked up these candles for me.)

Once again, let’s look back at the last 12 months of A Touch of Blusher:

November 2015: My Stash Debut series continued with Chicca’s Flush Blush Powder in 04 Sweet Pink.

December: Coffret d’Or’s 3D Gradation Eyes in 06 Beige Navy is one of my favorite eyeshadow palettes from the line.

January 2016: I started reviewing my collection of Anna Sui’s Rose Cheek Color.

February: Kiss started an image renewal.

March: The cool-toned cherry pink of THREE’s Cheeky Chic Blush in 04 Gift from Time is a good example of the kind of blusher shade I have been into these days.

April: Paul & Joe’s fashion line celebrated its 2oth anniversary with a makeup collection.

May: I reviewed my first purchase from Benefique Theoty.

June: Visée got a new sister line.

July: I shared my thoughts on my beauty finds from Laurel.

August: Red is hot this fall.

September: Shiseido launched Playlist.

October: I tested Jill Stuart’s Everlasting Silk Powder Foundation Flawless Perfection.

After ten years of blogging, I certainly still want to keep going. I hope you will enjoy reading all my new posts!

{ 8 comments }