by PJ on Tuesday, January 20, 2009
in _I Love Colors, -Kanebo, -Lavshuca, -MAC, -Prescriptives, -Stella McCartney, bodycare, fragrance, makeup, makeup - base makeup
Plum is not really one of my favorite makeup colors to wear, as it is a little too warm and dark for my complexion. (I prefer more purple shades for eyes and slightly lighter shades for lips.) But I do have a few plum-colored sweaters and scarves, which I enjoy wearing in winter.
For me, plum is a beautiful color to look at. I love its richness and elegance as well as its understated femininity.
Makeup
Lavshuca Jewelry Lips
Lavshuca Face Powder in Lucent
MAC Paint Pot in Nice Vice (from the Fafi collection)
Prescriptives Colorscope Eye Color in plum (right of photo)
Prescriptives Colorscope Eye Color in Aubergine (bottom of photo)
Fragrance
Stella McCartney STELLA Eau de Parfum
Stella McCartney Sheer STELLA Eau de Toilette 2004 & 2005
Bodycare
Stella McCartney STELLA Precious Body Cream
ESPA Detoxifying Salt Scrub (to be reviewed next month)
Home Fragrance
Stella McCartney STELLA Scented Candle
More Splashes of Colors:
Gorgeous Gold
Lilting Lilac
Girlie Pink
The Kanebo website has posted images of Lavshuca’s spring 2009 items. The various Grade Color Eyes palettes are what I am particularly interested in.

(PK-1)
(images from www.kanebo-cosmetics.co.jp)

(BR-1)

(BR-2)

(GN-1)

(PU-1)
PU-1 looks very cool-toned to me here. It looks more lilac-y on the February 2009 issues of Biteki and Voce, but I still think the second darkest shade, supposedly the main shade for the lids, looks a little too pale for my liking. I will probably not go for this.

(Finish Powder)
The dark-plum lid of the new loose powder is not surprising, since plum is currently the main color for Lavshuca’s packaging. Even though it looks quite elegant (and there is still the puff with the cute bow), I would have liked a slightly more ornate case. The current Face Powder is available in Lucent (which I have) and Glow, and the new Finish Powder will be available in Lucent and High Cover. I am still intrigued in how High Cover performs.
Related posts:
A Splash of Color – Girlie Pink
Lavshuca Cheek Color in PK-1
Lavshuca Jewelry Lips

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

(image from www.lissage.jp)
It has been quite a while since my last Japanese Cosmetics Focus post. Today, I bring you Lissage.
Lissage was launched in 1992 and is owned by Lissage Ltd., which also owns ECM (which I talked about earlier) and Bath Tours. (Lissage Ltd. is currently owned by Kanebo Corp..) The brand currently carries skincare, makeup, fragrance, bodycare, and haircare products. (The haircare line seems remarkably extensive for a high-end Japanese beauty brand.)
Lissage used to focus on skincare, but the launch of the revamped base and point makeup ranges in 2007 (partly to celebrate the brand’s 15th anniversary) has re-positioned the brand in the Japanese beauty scene.
Items like the foundation bases, Face Up Creamy Pact (compact cream foundation), Brush Up Foundation (powder foundation) and the multi-colored Blush Veil have been getting considerable magazine coverage in Japan.

(Face Up Creamy Pact)

(items from Lissage’s
Collagen Maintenance skincare range)
Lissage reminds me slightly of Twany Glamacy, another Kanebo line. The brand image and product packaging are never showy (and some would say very plain), but the simplicity and the low-keyness do have a subtle appeal for me.
Lissage is currently available in Japan (only) and the official website is for information only. In Tokyo, Lissage can be found in department stores such as Keio Shinjuku, Seibu Shibuya and Seibu Yurakucho.
You can see the post on Lissage’s fall 2007 makeup collection here.
Profiles on other Japanese brands:
Est
Sony Vecua
Elégance

(image from www.kanebo-cosmetics.jp/lunasol/)
(continued from Part 1)
6. Anna Sui

(image from www.annasui-cosmetics.com)
The return of Ring Rouge in the Rouge Collection (seen above) is what made this collection special. For me, like the princessy loose powder, Ring Rouge defines the brand. While most Japanese brands release neural shades for the holiday season, the rest of Anna Sui’s collection features very bouncy colors, which is what we’ve come to expect from the brand.
5. Coffret D’Or

(image from www.nikkei.co.jp)
Coffret D’Or has done very well in 2008, and its first holiday collection continues to impress many makeup fans. I like the fact that the packaging incorporates the usual Coffret D’Or look but with a small twist. The neutral-toned and purple-toned palettes reflect the key trends for this holiday season. (I did nearly decide to get the purple-toned one…)
4. Lunasol

(image from www.kanebo-cosmetics.jp/lunasol/)
Lunasol’s recent holiday makeup sets have been criticized for the lack of imagination and color. (They usually include a neutral-toned eye palette and a few other items to go with them, and the palettes seem to look similar year after year.) This year’s version is again similar, but it does take on elements of red and burgundy, which are part of the makeup trend for fall this year. They make this set a little more special and memorable. Also, I almost always prefer a clutch bag or purse in a makeup set to a box (as in last year’s version).
The holiday 2008 countdown finishes in Part 3.
Related Posts:
Spring 2009 collections from the three brands above:
Anna Sui
Coffret D’Or
Lunasol

(
images and info from www.joseishi.net/voce)
Lunasol has been among one of my favorite beauty brands for a long time. Launched in 1999, the brand has slowly and steadily evolved but it has always carried an air of elegance and sophistication. The quality of many products I have tried is second to none.
On February 20, 2009, Lunasol will release a 10th Anniversary Makeup Palette and a 10th Anniversary Base Kit. The Makeup Palette, housed in a rectangular pouch with a mirror and applicators, includes eyeshadows, a blusher, a lip gloss, an eyeliner, and a mascara.
The Base Kit will include:
– Modeling Water Liquid Foundation (full size)
– Control Makeup Base (full size)
– Nuance Change Foundation 01 (7g)
– Under Eyes Base N 01 (2g)
– Micro Finish Powder N 02 (3.5g)
– Morning Wakening Massage N (10g)
– Night Refining Cream (10g)
– original bag
(Customers can choose the colors of the Modeling Water Liquid Foundation and the Control Makeup Base.)

Related Posts:
Loving Japanese Brands – Lunasol
Lunasol Sheer Contrast Eyes in Lavender Coral
Lunasol Full Glamour Gloss in Bright Pink
Lunasol Spring 2009 Collection

(image and info from www.nikkei.co.jp)
If Kanebo International is available in your country, then, from February 1st, 2009, you will see a new collection of point (color) makeup under the Sensai line.
Kanebo International does have a point makeup collection and a base makeup collection under Sensai. But, as far as I know, there hasn’t been much movement for a while in terms of new seasonal collections. This release follows the launch of Sensai Premier The Body Cream to further strengthen the prestigious image of Kanebo International and the profile of Sensai.
According to Nikkei Net, the collection will be available in boutiques, department stores and spas where Kanebo International is available (in America, Europe, and Middle East). The price range is from 8 to 45 euros.
Kanebo International is not available in Japan. In the UK, it is currently available in Harrods.
Related Posts:
Japanese Cosmetics in the UK
Lunasol Spring 2009 Collection
Coffret D’Or Spring 2009 Collection

(image from www.kanebo-cosmetics.jp/coffretdor)