-Kanebo

Spring 2009 Makeup Trend Report

by PJ on Monday, January 26, 2009

in -Ayura, -Chanel, -Clarins, -Clé de Peau, -Cosme Decorte, -Dior, -Elégance, -Esprique (Precious), -Giorgio Armani, -Jill Stuart, -Kanebo, -Kosé, -Lancôme, -Lunasol, -Magie Deco, -Shiseido, -Shu Uemura, -YSL, 2009 Spring, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup, seasonal makeup trend reports

Partly due to the current world economy, many people are not spending as much money on makeup as before. It is also not surprising that many of us are looking for classic, wearable and trend-resistant colors.

If you are the kind of makeup fan that looks forward to unique shades, you might have already been disappointed with most of this season’s lineups. It seems that, for spring 2009, many brands are coming up with wearable colors that don’t easily date. But I find it very interesting to look into how various brands interpret “wearable colors”, and here are three shades from spring 2009 collections.

– Soft neutrals

(image from www.shiseido.co.jp/cpb)

Brown-toned neutrals will probably never date. This season, neutrals are soft, milky, and not overly intense. Neither too bronze nor too gray, these neutrals have maximal appeal for most complexions.

Some of the loveliest neutral palettes I have come across are from Clé de Peau and Dior. They are soft, elegant, chic, and easy to wear.

(Shiseido Clé de Peau Eye Color Quad
in 121 (top) and 120 (bottom))
(image from www.shiseido.co.jp/cpb)

(Dior 5-Color Eyeshadow in 553 Elégante)
(image from www.iswii.net)

If you want something slightly more intense, try Chanel‘s Les 4 Ombres (Quadra Eye Shadow) in Mystic Eyes from the spring 2009 Bohemian Fantasy collection.

(image from www.iswii.net)

– Pinks

(image from www.giorgioarmanibeauty-usa.com)

If you think neutrals are too predictable, try a little bit of pink. Soft light-to-medium pinks that are very slightly on the cool side should give you a youthful and gentle look, as seen above in the ad image from Giorgio Armani‘s Pink Light collection for spring 2009.

Like Giorgio Armani, YSL includes pink in the brand’s only new quad for the season. (Check my previous post to see the main makeup look).

(Palette D’Artiste Colletor Powder for the Eyes)
(image from www.cosme.net)

Jill Stuart regularly brings out pink shades, and this season’s Blossoming Pink collection adds two pink-toned palettes to Jill Stuart’s eye palette lineup.

(Seductive Eyes in 06 Romantic Goddess)
(image from www.jillstuart-beauty.com)

(Illuminance Eyes in 06 Blossoming Shine)
(image from www.jillstuart-beauty.com)

For an edgier look, try Lancôme‘s Irreverent Madame palette from the brand’s Pink Irreverence collection.

(image from www.lancome.co.uk)

– Lilacs

(image from ep-bko.com)

I think lilacs are just as wearable as neutrals and pinks. Like how we find the right neutrals/pinks, as long as we find the shades with the right color intensity and the right amount of warmth/coolness for our complexions, lilac can be a great everyday eyeshadow color.

Lilac was part of the spring 2008 makeup trend, and, as a lilac fan, I am pleased that it is still a very prominent shade this season, especially in Japanese beauty brands. Beauté de Kosé’s Esprique Precious is using the lilac-toned palette (from the new True Impact Eyes range) in the ad campaign. Lunasol‘s Layer Bloom Eyes in 03 Purple Gradation is also the feature item in the brand’s Floral Purification collection. (In the image below, it seems that the palettes are blossoming under the fresh spring sun.)

(www.kanebo-cosmetics.jp/lunasol)

In addition, AYURA‘s only new eye palette for spring 2009 is a cool-toned lilac/gray palette, somewhat reminiscent of Maquillage’s Clean Contrast Eyes 2 in SV844.

(image from www.ayura.co.jp)

– Mix & Match

(image from woman.excite.co.jp)

There are quite a few collections that feature two or more of the three colors mentioned above. For example, all four of Elégance‘s eye palettes incorporate pinks, lilacs, and neutrals. (There are one neutral palette, one pink palette, one lilac palette, and one with an off-white pink and an off-white lilac.)

Beauté de Kosé‘s two new Eye Fantasist liquid eyeshadows are of pink and lilac hues:

(image from www.iswii.net)

If you want pink and lilac in the same product, look into Shu Uemura‘s Spring Mode Makeup Eye Palette in Fantasia and the Nature Temptation Eye Palette from Clarins, which also includes some neutrals. (The picture below shows the version sold in Asia. The European/American version also has a pink and a lilac, which are paired with slightly darker shades.)

(image from www.shuuemura-usa.com)

(image from www.joseishi.net/voce)

If the pinks and lilacs above are too pale for your complexion or if you want a more striking look, try Magie Deco‘s Shadow Brilliance palette in 022 Flower Show.

(image from www.cosmedecorte.com/magiedeco)

So, do you like this spring’s trend (or non-trend…), and what colors will you be wearing this season?

More information on the spring 2009 collections featured above:

AYURA
Beauté de Kosé
Chanel
Dior
Elégance
Esprique Precious
Jill Stuart
Lunasol
Magie Deco
Shu Uemura
YSL

{ 6 comments }

Lavshuca Website Update – Spring 2009

by PJ on Monday, January 26, 2009

in -Kanebo, -Lavshuca, 2009 Spring, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup

(images and info from www.kanebo-cosmetics.jp/lavshuca)

The Lavshuca website has been updated to include information on the spring 2009 collection.

The layout of the website has been slightly revamped for easier navigation. Many of the items feature how they look when worn, including all the new shades of Dramatic Memory Rouge and Grade Color Eyes palettes from the spring 2009 collection.

Also, the “Lav Lip Collection” link (from the homepage) will take you to a chart where you can see the differences among all the currently available Lavshuca lip items in terms of how pigmented and how glossy they are.

pigmented
↑
matte←—————————————→glossy
↓
translucent

Further down the same page, under each lip product, you can also see how shimmery it is (indicated by the number of stars on the third row).

As some of you have commented over the last two years, Japanese cosmetics websites tend to have more pleasing visual designs, and I think the Lavshuca website is certainly a great example.

Kate Spring 2009 Collection

Ettusais Spring 2009 Collection

Anna Sui Website Update – Spring 2009

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A Splash of Color – Sensuous Plum

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

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Update: Lavshuca Spring 2009 Collection

by PJ on Friday, January 9, 2009

in -Kanebo, -Lavshuca, 2009 Spring, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup, makeup - base makeup

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.

A Splash of Color – Girlie Pink

Lavshuca Cheek Color in PK-1

Lavshuca Jewelry Lips

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Update: Coffret D’Or Spring/Summer 2009 Base Makeup Collection

by PJ on Friday, January 9, 2009

in -Coffret d'Or, -Kanebo, 2009 Spring, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup, makeup - base makeup

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

Earlier I posted a link to an image of Coffret D’Or’s spring/summer base makeup collection as well as my initial thoughts. Now, here is more information on the individual items:

– Lasting Power Pact UV (7 shades, SPF 22, PA++)
– Lasting Power Soft Gel Foundation UV (7 shades, SPF 23, PA++)
– Lasting Power Veil UV (primer)
– Magical Flat (pore-smoothing concealer)
– One-Touch Gloss Powder (loose powder with a brush applicator)

The collection will be out in Japan on March 1st, 2009.

Coffret D’Or Makeup Powder

Coffret D’Or Spring 2009 Point Makeup Collection

Coffret D’Or Trance Deep Eyes in Rose Variation

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Japanese Cosmetics Focus: Lissage

by PJ on Saturday, January 3, 2009

in _Japanese Brand Profile, -Kanebo, -Lissage, all about Japanese cosmetics

(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

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Lunasol Website Update – Spring 2009

by PJ on Friday, December 26, 2008

in -Kanebo, -Lunasol, 2009 Spring, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup

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

The Lunasol website has been updated with full information on the spring 2009 collection.

The beautiful Layer Bloom Eyes palette in Purple Gradation fronts the print ad campaign and is used on one of the two spring 2009 makeup looks. I have been going back and forth about whether to purchase some other spring 2009 makeup items, but I am fairly certain that I will pick up this palette.

Please check out this post for more information on the collection (including all the updates and links to various images).

Lunasol 10th Anniversary Collection

Lunasol Sheer Contrast Eyes in Lavender Coral

Loving Japanese Brands – Lunasol

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Holiday 2008 Makeup Top 10 (Part 2)

by PJ on Sunday, December 21, 2008

in -Anna Sui, -Coffret d'Or, -Kanebo, -Lunasol, 2008 Holiday, seasonal makeup top 10

(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.

Spring 2009 collections from the three brands above:

Anna Sui

Coffret D’Or

Lunasol

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Lunasol 10th Anniversary Collection

by PJ on Friday, December 12, 2008

in -Kanebo, -Lunasol, 2009 Spring, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup

(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.)

Loving Japanese Brands – Lunasol

Lunasol Sheer Contrast Eyes in Lavender Coral

Lunasol Full Glamour Gloss in Bright Pink

Lunasol Spring 2009 Collection

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Kanebo Sensai New Point Makeup Collection

by PJ on Tuesday, December 9, 2008

in -Kanebo, -Sensai, 2009 Spring, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup

(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.

Japanese Cosmetics in the UK

Lunasol Spring 2009 Collection

Coffret D’Or Spring 2009 Collection

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