by PJ on Thursday, November 22, 2012
in _Japanese Brand Profile, -Anessa, 2013 Spring, 2013 Summer, makeup, makeup - base makeup, makeup - base makeup - BB creams, skincare, skincare - moisturizing/others
(image/info from www.nikkei.com)
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Shiseido’s Anessa is one of the most popular suncare ranges in Japan. The range features sunscreens (including one designed for babies), foundations, and a BB cream, all of which offer high levels of protection against UVA and UVB rays. The range also includes cleansers formulated to remove high-factor sun protection.
Currently, in Japanese cosmetics, the labels indicating the strengths of UVA protection are PA+, PA++, and PA+++. From January 2013, as a result of the advancement of UVA protection technology in Japan, the Japan Cosmetic Industry Association will introduce PA++++, an even higher level of UVA protection.
Anessa’s spring/summer 2013 suncare collection, which will be released in Japan on February 21st, features items with the PA++++ UVA-protection level. The collection includes (from left to right in the photo above):
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Those in the UK who are fans of Japanese cosmetics might have noticed that Astalift had (somewhat quietly) been launched in the UK earlier this year. Today I am reviewing Astalift’s Regenerating Night Cream after an overview of the line.
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by PJ on Monday, June 18, 2012
in _Japanese Brand Profile, _Stash Debut 2012, -Kao, -Sofina, all about Japanese cosmetics, skincare, skincare - cleansing/toning, skincare - moisturizing/others, stash focus

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In my Japanese Brand Profile series, I have written about Kao Sofina‘s Beauté and (the now discontinued) Hada.ka skincare lines. Today, in my Stash Debut 2012 series, I will be talking about another skincare line from Sofina, Sofina Jenne, and I will be reviewing Sofina Jenne Trial Set (Moist Type), my first purchase from Sofina Jenne (mainly to try the popular Jelly Moisturizer, one of the best-selling products from Sofina).
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(images/info from www.fashion-press.net)
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I remember the excitement I had when I first saw the makeup collections from Anna Sui, Paul & Joe, Jill Stuart, and Lavshuca. It was the combination of gorgeously princessy packaging and beautifully feminine and eye-catching colors, and, with their high quality, all of the four are among my favorite makeup lines.
In spring 2012, there will be a new princess in the kingdom, as French macaroon maker Ladurée teams up with Albion (which is under Kosé) to launch Les Merveilleuses de Ladurée, a series of point and base makeup products. This is not the first time a cosmetics line from a western brand is licensed under Kosé. The company has an impressive track record with Anna Sui’s, Paul & Joe’s, and Jill Stuart’s beauty lines.
The star item of Les Merveilleuses de Ladurée’s debut collection for spring 2012 is Face Color Rose Ladurée (above, 3 variations, refill ¥7350, case ¥3150), in which the blusher powder is pressed into rose-petal shapes. It looks absolutely dreamy.
The rest of the collection includes:
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by PJ on Friday, September 30, 2011
in _Japanese Brand Profile, -Kao, -Primavista, -Primavista Dea, -Sofina, 2011 Fall, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup, makeup - base makeup
(image/info from www.nikkei.com)
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Primavista, Kao Sofina‘s base makeup line, was launched in September 2008 to replace my beloved Raycious. On November 15th, Sofina will release Primavista Dea, a sub-line of Primavista that is designed for consumers over fifty. According to Kao (which owns the Sofina brand), the range incorporates “pure blossom powder” to help target the appearance of large pores and sallowness.
Primavista Dea’s launch collection for fall/winter 2011 includes:
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(images/info from www.nikkei.com)
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Kosé’s Cosme Decorte will launch a new base makeup line, Lacouture, in Japan on August 21st. The key item in the launch collection is Loose Foundation, which is a powder foundation in a loose-powder form. It can be applied with a puff or a brush. The foundation features organic cotton powder, which is aimed to create a lightweight feel.
Lacouture’s full launch lineup for fall/winter 2011 includes:
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(images/info from www.shiseido.co.jp/andface)
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Today, in my Japanese Cosmetics Focus series, I will be highlighting &Face, a slightly less known line from Shiseido.
&Face carries skincare, base makeup, point makeup, and beauty supplements. The line has three main ranges:
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(image from www.cp-cosmetics.com/satishe/)
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My Japanese Cosmetics Focus series is back today with Satishe.
Satishe is the name of the color makeup range of CP Cosmetics, which also carries the skincare range Soigne and the base makeup range Delitia as well as haircare and bodycare products. The line features items for face, eyes, lips, cheeks and nails.
(CP Cosmetics is part of StylingLife Holdings Inc. BCL Company*, under which there are other beauty brands such as Makemania (which carries the ultra-popular Curvy Lip Silicone), Vecua and Love Clover.)
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(Fantasy Garden, Satishe’s spring 2011 makeup collection)
(image from www.iswii.net)
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Satishe doesn’t boast dramatic colors or dazzling shimmer. The line offers wearable colors suitable for most work and casual occasions. One of the key items of the line is the eyeshadow palette Soft Veil Eyeshadow. The design of the palettes and the color combinations remind me of some of Lunasol’s early eyeshadow palettes (particularly Intellectual Eyes).
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(images from www.cp-cosmetics.com/satishe/)
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Here are some highlights of the rest of Satishe’s lineup:
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(images from aquagirl-cosmetics.jp)
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There is a new Japanese beauty line in town…
Aquagirl is a Japanese fashion brand that includes a few sub-lines. On February 18th (according to Voce), Aquagirl Cosmetics will debut in Japan. The line features base and point makeup, and the packaging style is youthful and girlie. (The big bows are quite Hello Kitty-esque.)
Aquagirl’s launch collection for spring 2011 features:
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(images/info from www.watosa.com)
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It has been a long time since the last Japanese Cosmetics Focus post, and today I bring you Watosa.
Watosa is one of the brands that I mentioned in my post If I Could Go to Japan RIGHT NOW. Many years ago, I spotted some Watosa items in a beauty boutique in Hong Kong after seeing them on a few Japanese magazines, and I thought I had to leave the store with something. I decided to go for Lipstick in 210 Metropolis Mauve. It is a deep plum mauve with a satiny finish. The paper packaging features the brand’s signature stripy patterns.
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