-Est

Est Spring 2009 Collection

by PJ on Thursday, November 27, 2008

in -Est, -Kao, 2009 Spring, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup

(image and info from www.nikkei.co.uk)

The Kao-owned Est will release its spring 2009 collection in Japan on January 10, 2009. The lineup includes:

– Emotional Multiple Eyes palettes: 4 variations
– Emotional Aura Pact (for face and eyes): 1 new variation
– Emotional Aura Gloss: 3 new shades (limited editions)
– Emotional Aura Lips: 3 new shades

I have not tried anything from Est yet and I am really looking forward to making my first purchase. But at the moment I am not sure I would go for any item in this collection. Perhaps some more photos from Japanese beauty magazines will change my mind.

Related Posts:

Capturing Your Emotional Beauty
(a profile on Est)

Est Holiday 2008 Collection

Est Fall 2008 Collection

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Est Holiday 2008 Release

by PJ on Thursday, September 18, 2008

in -Est, -Kao, -Sofina, 2008 Holiday, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup

(image from www.joseishi.net/voce)

Est will release the Diamond Splash Eyes palette on November 1st in Japan for the holiday 2008 period.

The palette will include three eyeshadow shades of pink and brown. Again, as with most Japanese holiday releases, it is an ultra-wearable color combination for virtually any party outfit you choose to put on in the festive season. The palette design itself certainly has a festive vibe as well.

Related Posts:

Capturing Your Emotional Beauty
(Profile on Est)

Est Fall 2008 Makeup Collection

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Fall 2008 Makeup Trend Report

by PJ on Wednesday, August 13, 2008

in -AQ, -Chanel, -Cosme Decorte, -Dior, -Est, -Kanebo, -Kao, -Kosé, -Lancôme, -Laura Mercier, -Lavshuca, -Lunasol, -Magie Deco, -Maquillage, -Shiseido, -SHISEIDO (Global Brand), -Shiseido The Makeup, -SUQQU, 2008 Fall, all about Japanese cosmetics, seasonal makeup trend reports

(image from www.chanel.com)

If there is one word that sums up the makeup trends for fall 2008, it is “warmth”. We had grey from fall 2007 and cool lilac and blue from spring 2008, and now we are greeted by opulent gold and red.

Fields of Gold

Chanel leads the pack with a collection with gold in the eye palette, lip gloss, face highlighter, and nail color. It is a decadent shade of gold, although it can be too warm for some complexions. If this is the case with you, items from Lavshuca (Grade Color Select in GD-1) and Shiseido The Makeup (Lip Gloss in G29 Mellow Gold) might suit you better.

(Lavshuca Grade Color Select in GD-1 (among swatches))
(image from www.kanebo-cosmetics.jp/lavshuca)

(Shiseido The Makeup Lip Gloss in G29 Mellow Gold)
(image from www.shiseido.co.jp/themakeup)

Gold is also seen in Vernis Crème de Nacres, two nail products in Lancôme‘s fall 2008 collection that are applied with a special applicator. (I am not entirely certain whether they are sold in North America, but they are already available in the UK.)

(Lancôme Vernis Crème de Nacres)
(image from www.lancome.jp)

Shades of Red

If you are fans of purples, there are still some nice shades from Givenchy, Clarins, Awake and Sonia Rykiel as these beautiful hues continue the trend in spring 2008. But many purples are taking on a much warmer tone for fall 2008 and turning into plum purples. We are also seeing shades of burgundy and red, which, just like gold, are the key shades for this fall.

For plum and burgundy, which still somewhat echo the spring trend, look into the palettes from Laura Mercier, EST, and Magie Deco:

(Laura Mercier Eye Color Trio in Mauve Sunset)
(image from www.lauramercier.com)


(EST Emotional Aura Eyes in 07)
(image from www.kao.co.jp/est)

(Magie Deco Shadow Brilliance in 021 Bordeaux Shadow)
(image from www.cosmedecorte.com/magiedeco)

Apart from gold, Chanel‘s fall 2008 collection also features delicious plums in Rouge Hydrabase in Fantastic Plum and Nail Colour in Fantastic.

While warmer reds are seen in major Japanese brands (like Lunasol and SUQQU below), Dior, always a trendsetter, features a muted warm red in 5-Colour Eyeshadow in #673 Earth Tones:

(image from www.kanebo-cosmetics.jp/lunasol)
(image from www.suqqu.com/japan.html)
(Dior 5-Color Eyeshadow in 673 Earth Tones)
(image from www.sephora.com)


Mix & Match

If you love experimenting with makeup trends, why not try wearing gold and warm purples/reds to sport both trends at the same time?

(Magie Deco Pure Color in GD076 and RD470)
(image from www.cosmedecorte.com/magiedeco)

(Cosme Decorte AQ Shadow Supreme in 015)
(image from www.cosmedecorte.com/aq)
(Maquillage Forming Shiny Eyes in 54)
(image from www.shiseido.co.jp/mq)

If reds around the eyes don’t suit you, try gold with deep cool violets. It is a beautiful and modern way to wear violets. I am thinking about trying the items below:

(Maquillage Forming Shiny Eyes in 52)
(image from www.shiseido.co.jp/mq)
(Lavshuca Dual Prism Eyes in PU-1 (among the swatches))
(image from www.kanebo-cosmetics.jp/lavshuca)

Last but not least, the two makeup looks for fall/holiday 2008 from Shiseido The Makeup epitomise the key trends for the coming seasons:

(Eyeshadow Quad Shimmer in Q11 (left) and Q12 (right))
(image from www.shiseido.co.jp/themakeup)

This season, I think I will be trying slightly deeper purples (than the ones I have been wearing) as well as platinum golds (not bronze golds). What about you? What shades are tempting you?

Related posts (more red, plum, and lilac):

Coffret D’Or Trance Deep Eyes in Grey Variation
(with a cool medium lilac)

NARS Fall 2008 Collection

ck Calvin Klein Fall 2008 Collection

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EST Fall 2008 Base Makeup Collection

by PJ on Tuesday, August 5, 2008

in -Est, -Kao, -Sofina, 2008 Fall, makeup, makeup - base makeup

(image from www.nikkei.co.jp)

EST (owned by Kao) will release its fall 2008 base makeup collection in Japan on August 23. The lineup will include:

– Powder Makeup Visually Moist (6 shades, SPF 20, PA++)
– Perfect Base Fresh Touch (SPF 15, PA ++)
– Perfect Base Moist Touch (SPF 10, PA+)

The Fresh Touch primer is a liquid-type sebum-controlling primer, while the Moist Touch primer is cream-based and provides extra moisture for the skin.

All items are fragrance-free.

Also, the EST website has been updated to feature the fall 2008 point makeup collection.

Related Posts:

Capturing Your Emotional Beauty
(EST Brand Profile)

EST Fall 2008 Point Makeup Collection

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Update: EST Fall 2008 Makeup Collection

by PJ on Wednesday, June 25, 2008

in -Est, -Kao, -Sofina, 2008 Fall, makeup

My post on EST’s fall 2008 collection has been updated with an image of all the new Emotional Aura Eyes palettes and Advanced Lips. Have a look!

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EST Fall 2008 Collection

by PJ on Monday, June 16, 2008

in -Est, -Kao, 2008 Fall, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup

The Kao-owned EST will release its fall 2008 collection in Japan on July 26th. The collection includes:

– Emotional Aura Eyes (3 new variations)


(Updated on June 24, 2008: According to Cosme.Net, the three new variations are khaki x beige, purple x grey, and brown x blue.)


– Emotional Aura Lips (3 new shades)

– Advanced Lips (8 shades)

– Double Side Mascara (2 shades)

– Pencil Eyeliner (2 shades)

(all images from i-voce2.com)

Please note that Advanced Lips is a new product and is different from the Emotional Aura Gloss released for EST’s summer 2008 collection.

EST is a brand that I have been very interested in. I nearly decided to buy the Emotional Aura Pact and one of the Emotional Aura Eyes palettes, but I decided to hold on a little more since they are not limited-edition items. I am looking forward to seeing the rest of their fall lineup. Maybe I am not too far away from meeting EST in person…

Updated on June 25, 2008:

Image of the 3 new Emotional Aura Eyes palettes and Advanced Lips:

(image from www.nikkei.co.jp)

Related Posts:

Capturing Your Emotional Beauty
(a brand profile on EST, Kao’s most sophisticated makeup line)

Sofina Aube’s Late Summer/ Early Fall 2008 Collection
(with an updated link to swatches)

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Update: EST, Magie Deco and Cosme Decorte AQ Summer 2008 Collections

by PJ on Monday, March 31, 2008

in -AQ, -Cosme Decorte, -Est, -Kao, -Kosé, -Magie Deco, -Sofina, 2008 Summer, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup

My posts on the EST, Magie Deco, and Cosme Decorte AQ summer 2008 collections have been updated to include additional images and information.

Have a look!

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EST Summer 2008 Collection

by PJ on Thursday, March 20, 2008

in -Est, -Kao, 2008 Summer, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup

(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

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Spring 2008 Seasonal Top 10 (Part 2)

by PJ on Wednesday, March 19, 2008

in -Albion, -Clinique, -Eprise, -Est, -Kao, 2008 Spring, makeup, seasonal makeup top 10

(continued from Part 1)


6th: Clinique

(Clinique spring 2008 collection)
(from Voce February 2008
Spring 2008 Makeup Catalog, p. 14 – 15)


I did surprise myself initially by liking this collection. But as the Color Surge Trios have been looking lovely for the past few weeks, I’ve decided to include Clinique‘s spring 2008 collection in my top ten.

(Clinique Color Surge Trios)
(from Voce February 2008
Spring 2008 Makeup Catalog, p. 14)


With brands like Chanel and Givenchy featuring dark and ashy blues for spring, which don’t really appeal to me, Clinique’s soft and cheerful pastels are unexpectedly welcoming. The color combinations are straightforward and wearable, and the lilac and pink look especially dreamy. As someone who doesn’t wear green very much, I actually find the green palette very tempting too.

5th: Eprise

(part of the Albion Eprise spring 2008 collection)
(image from www.albion.co.jp)

Eprise‘ spring 2008 collection is not hugely extensive but still includes items for eyes, cheeks, lips, and nails. Most of the shades have a gentle and girlie feel. Like Clinique, Eprise’ Creamy Eye Colors also feature pastel blue, green, and lilac.

(Eprise spring 2008 collection)
(image from www.albion.co.jp)

What instantly attracted my attention upon seeing this collection was the Water Face Color, which is a range of liquid blushers. I picked up the shade in 100, a very natural pink. Easy to use and long-lasting, it is definitely a great makeup purchase for this season.

4th: EST

(image from www.kao.co.jp/est)

The EST debut color makeup collection was launched on November 24th, 2007. But Biteki’s spring 2008 makeup catalog (March 2008 issue) includes this collection, so I am counting it as a spring 2008 release.
(EST Emotional Aura Eyes palettes)
(image from www.kao.co.jp/est)

As should a debut color collection, it includes all the basics. I think the highlights of the collection are the Emotional Aura Eyes (above) and Emotional Aura Pack (featured in the ad image above), which is a selection of highlighters for different parts of the eye area. (Please see my brand profile on EST for more on this item.)

Overall, this is a triumphant debut collection with a very feminine and sophisticated feel. I look forward to seeing how this color makeup line evolves.

Do come back for Part 3!

Other spring 2008 collections worth checking out:

Lavshuca Spring 2008 Collection

Kate Spring 2008 Collection

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Capturing Your Emotional Beauty

by PJ on Sunday, February 24, 2008

in _Japanese Brand Profile, -Est, -Kao, -Sofina, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup

(a tearful diva)
(image from www.kao.co.jp/est)

A reader once asked me why, regardless of the generally consistent quality, certain Japanese makeup lines (under the same company) are more expensive than others. To summarize my answer for her, apart from the fact that price-points and target consumer groups define each other, more prestigious makeup lines tend to have a fuller philosophy behind their creations.

One prime example is Sofina EST.

Sofina‘s EST is not new. It has been a skincare line under Kao’s Sofina for many years, and it is Sofina’s most expensive line. In fall 2007, EST launched a full color makeup line, following the earlier debut of the base makeup range. (While, obviously, the brand name reminds people of the superlative suffix “-est”, Sofina also advocates that it is an acronym for “Essence of Sofina Technology”.)

The over-arching concept of EST’s color makeup is Emotional Beauty. As our faces are always displaying various feelings and emotions, EST attempts to use colors and finishes to enhance our day-to-day expressions of emotions. So, our beaming smiles look even more dazzling, our focused determination is even more infectious, and our sorrow melts the hardest of hearts.

(image from www.kao.co.jp/est)


I love EST’s recent ad images. They are beautifully and subtly compelling, with colors that enhance the facial features rather than overtake them. To embody the essence of the line, the model (April) displays a much wider range of emotions than what we usually see in makeup advertisements. The image on the top of this post is by far my favorite. As for the two below, I call them “despair & hope”:

(image from www.kao.co.jp/est)

(image from www.kao.co.jp/est)

However, all this ethos will be hollow if it can’t translate to product designs. So how does EST carry out their promise?

One item that defines the line is Emotional Aura Pact. Essentially, this is a highlighter for the eye area. It includes four subtly different shades of various finishes and opaqueness, and each of them is used on a specific part of the eye area.

(Emotional Aura Pack)
(image from www.kao.co.jp/est)


Apart from the eye area, this multi-purpose item can also be used around the lips to sculpt your pout. So, when you feel surprised, happy, curious, excited, inspired, or moved, this item is designed to capture your million faces and help them make a lasting impression.

Also, so far, I have come across good comments on Emotional Aura Eyes, the eye palette range:

(Emotional Aura Eyes palettes)
(image from www.kao.co.jp/est)


After the huge success of Kanebo’s Lunasol in the last couple of years, Kosé’s Magie Deco and Sofina’s EST were two of the major makeup launches in late 2007 that posed as rivals. Similarly priced and packaged with a sophisticated flair, they appeal to similar demographics. With a strong and distinctive concept behind it, Sofina EST’s development and evolution will be immensely interesting to chart and will serve as an indication of the future of Japanese cosmetics.

[Even though Sofina is available in Japan and several other countries in Asia, the EST line is currently only available in Japan as far as I know. The EST website is for information only and does not offer on-line ordering.]

Related Posts:

Loving Japanese Brands – Lunasol
(my current favorite Japanese brand)

Brand Profile: SUQQU
(a reverse strategy that works)

Coffret D’Or 3D Lighting Eyes
(replacing the beloved T’Estimo)

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