-Kanebo

(part of Lissage’s fall 2008 collection)
(image from www.nikkei.co.jp)

The currently Kanebo-owned Lissage was launched in 1992 and remained a predominantly skincare-focused (high-end) brand. (The pricings are similar to Lunasol’s.) Last fall, the brand went through a revamp and a readjustment of brand focus, and its products have been getting more print media coverage in Japan.

(Lissage Ltd. also owns ECM and Bath Tours. I will post more detailed brand profiles of Lissage and ECM later on.)

On August 16th, Lissage will launch its fall 2008 makeup collection, which includes:

Nuance Fit Eyes (eye palette): 4 variations
Long Curl Mascara: 1 shade
Long Curl Mascara Base: 1 shade
Contrast Eyeliner: 2 shades
Slim Eyebrow: 3 shades
Creamy Fit Rouge: 6 shades
Lip Base Liner: 3 shades
Lip Repair Serum
Blush Veil: 2 new shades

(The holders of Contrast Eyeliner, Slim Eyebrow and Lip Base Liner refills are sold separately.)

(Lissage Blush Veil for spring 2008)
(image from www.lissage.jp)

Many Japanese makeup lines are quite specific about the consumers they are trying to appeal to. Somewhat similar to Twany Glamacy, the Lissage point makeup line focuses on understated basics that suit makeup-wearing consumers in corporate settings in Japan that tend to go for clean and low-key colors (as well as packaging).

Items of these two brands might not look as impressive on magazine pages as those from the dreamy Jill Stuart and the trend-setting Dior, but I think they do have a reasonably wide appeal to those who (have to) wear makeup on a daily basis but don’t necessarily use makeup to express themselves in certain sterile office environments. If you regularly stock up trust-worthy essentials, this line is worth following up on.

Fall 2008 collections from other Kanebo-owned brands/lines:

CHICCA

Lavshuca

Kate

Coffret D’Or (early fall 2008 collection)

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(part from Lunasol’s fall 2008 collection)
(image from www.nikkei.co.jp)

Many of Lunasol‘s past makeup collection themes are based on the idea of “purification”. So far, we’ve had:

“Scent Purification” for fall 2006 (Scent Form Eyes)
“Brilliance Purification” for fall 2007 (Geminate Eyes)
“Color Purification” for spring 2008 (Sheer Contrast Eyes)

The clear brand philosophy and the individual yet coherent seasonal makeup themes are what set Lunasol apart from the other Japanese makeup brands, and their brand image has always been very appealing to me.

For fall 2008, it will be all about red, as Lunasol brings us the theme “Red Purification“. For a change, Lunasol’s latest collection will focus on the lips, and 16 red lipsticks take center stage.

All the items are brand new and are not new shades added to the existing items. The full Lunasol fall 2008 lineup includes:

Full Glamour Lips S: 16 shades
Contrasting W Lip Liners: 2 shades
Noble Shade Eyes: 5 variations
Noble Shade Liner: 3 shades
Brow Styling Compact: 2 variations
Coloring Cheeks: 2 shades (refill only, case and applicator sold separately)

Apart from the color makeup items, the fall lineup will also include Nuance Change Foundation B (2 shades), which is supposed to be Lunasol’s equivalent of YSL’s Touche Éclat. The new skincare addition will be Lip Essence, with SPF 20 and PA+.

The collection will be launched in Japan on August 22nd.

I would describe this collection as both classic and edgy, with beautiful red lipsticks and rather bold red-toned eyeshadows. (It seems that each of the five Noble Shade Eyes palette will feature a shade of red.) I am really looking forward to seeing how these red eyeshadow shades will be worn on models in Japanese makeup magazines. Also, for those who look for the ultimate red lipstick, this collection is worth a serious look.

This seems to be another seasonal makeup collection from Lunasol that has a tremendously unique identity, and I think Japanese makeup fans will remember this collection for a long time.

I will update this post when I come across more information.

Updated on July 24th, 2008:

The Lunasol website has been updated
.

Updated on August 21st, 2008:

Please check out this link for swatches of nearly all the items from Lunasol’s fall 2008 collection, including all the eye palettes, lipsticks, blushers, and eyeliners (from a Lunasol press event in Taiwan).

Other Posts on Lunasol:

Lunasol Summer 2008 Collection

Lunasol Full Glamour Gloss in Bright Pink

Loving Japanese Brands – Lunasol

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(part of the Twany Glamacy Fall 2008 Collection)
(image from www.nikkei.co.jp)

Twany Glamacy was launched in April with a full range of wearable basics. For fall 2008, more shades will be added to the existing items of the lineup, plus the new Mascara EU (Under-Eye), a mascara specifically for lower lashes.

The fall 2008 additions include:

Eye Color UE (Under-Eye): 2 new shades
(luminous powder eye colors for the under-eye area)
Eye Color Set (palette): 2 new variations
Eyeliner Pencil: 1 new shade
Gel Eyeliner: 1 new shade
Mascara UE (Under-Eye): 1 shade
Lipstick: 5 new shades
Lip Liner: 2 new shades

(Apart from Eye Color and Eye Color UE, Twany Glamacy also has Eye Color UB (Under-Brow), which currently includes two eye colors specifically for highlighting the under-brow area.)

The collection will be launched in Japan on August 16th.

Other Fall 2008 Collections:

Coffret D’Or

Lavshuca

Kate

Sofina Aube

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(Shibasaki Kou for Coffret D’Or Fall 2008)
(image from www.kanebo-cosmetics.jp/coffretdor)

The Coffret D’Or website has been updated with the latest television commercials and the full lists of items used for the brand’s five makeup looks for fall 2008.

Enjoy!

Related Coffret D’Or Posts:

Trance Deep Eyes Palettes (for Fall 2008)

3D Lighting Eyes in Purple & Gold Variations

Full styling Rouge in RS-241 & RS-242

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My post on Lilting Lilac was back in December, and how time has flown. One of my readers predicted that there would be a Part 2, and she is right.

Here I share with you new faces (since last year), old favorites, and generosity from friends.

Above:
Maquillage Clean Contrast Eyes in SV844
Chanel Quadra Eye Shadow in Stage Lights
Paul & Joe Eye Color in 05 (to be reviewed later)
MAC Pigments in Violet and Frozen White (off-white with blue/lilac iridescence), in small pots from a lilac-loving friend

Dior 5-Color Eyeshadow palette in 250 Seascape
Coffret D’Or 3D Lighting Eyes in 04 Purple Variation
Clarins Palette Impression in 03 The Mauve Garden
Anna Sui Pressed Face Powder in 200
Ferro Eye Candy Shimmer in February

.

– (left) Lunasol Sheer Contrast Eyes in 02 Lavender Coral
– (right) Lunasol Scent Form Eyes in 02

.

…and one more before there is more:

Revlon Glimmer Gloss Nail Enamel in 610 Grape Shimmer (upper left)

Other Splashes of Colors:

Girlie Pink

Citrus Orange

New-Leaf Green

Terrific Turquoise

Aqua Blue

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(More from Coffret D’Or fall 2008)
(image from www.nikkei.co.jp)

I have been quite excited about Coffret D’Or’s early fall 2008 collection, and now there is more.

On July 16th, Coffret D’Or will release Part II of its early fall 2008 collection, which includes:

Fluffy Shine Eyes (new, 5 shades, seen above)
Combient Rouge (5 new shades)

The Fuffy Shine Eyes shades look soft and wearable. I am liking the lilac and the pale cool green at the moment. I think the emphasis will be on shimmer rather than pigmentation.

I’d like to see swatches of these to have an idea of the finish, as I much prefer something not too shimmery or glittery. Before that, I will concentrate on saving up for the upcoming Trance Deep Eyes palettes.

Related Posts:

Coffret D’Or 3D Lighting Eyes in Purple and Gold Variations

Coffret D’Or Full Styling Rouge in RS-241 & RS-242

Lavshuca Fall 2008 Collection

Kate Fall 2008 Collection

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(part of CHICCA’s fall 2008 collection)
(image and information from www.nikkei.co.jp)

One of Kanebo’s top-end brands, CHICCA, will release its fall 2008 collection in Japan on August 6th. The collection includes:

Enthralling Soft Pencil Eyeliner (new, 5 shades)
Enthralling Powder Eye Shadow duo (5 new variations)
Enticing Lip Stain (5 new shades)
Enticing Lip Gloss (5 new shades)

This collection focuses on the eyes, and each of the five shades from the four products will altogether create one of CHICCA’s five looks for fall 2008 (this is similar to how Lunasol’s new items were promoted in 2007):

– Night Glow (blue-based)
– Evening Party (green-based)
– Tête-à-tête (brown-based)
– Love Avenue (purple-based)
– Mysterious Love (lead-based (dark grey))

Since I came across the news of CHICCA’s launch earlier this year, I have been waiting to see a powder blusher and a loose powder (two of the makeup items that I have recently been interested in the most). The powder blusher is not featured in the fall lineup, but perhaps the fall/winter base makeup collection (if CHICCA is releasing one) will include a loose powder….

(The photo above shows the Love Avenue items (not the blue-based Night Glow look). Sometimes, photos on Nikkei Net do not do the products justice and the colors are not accurate. I look forward to seeing the items on the CHICCA website later on.)

Updated on August 26th, 2008:

The CHICCA website has been updated to include information on the fall 2008 collection. Please click on the link above to have a look.

Related Posts:

CHICCA Summer 2008 Collection

Brand Launch: Kanebo CHICCA

Lavshuca Fall 2008 Collection

Kate Fall 2008 Collection

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(part of the Lavshuca fall 2008 collection)
(image from www.nikkei.co.jp)

Lavshuca will release its fall 2008 collection in Japan on August 1st. The collection includes:

Rouge Star Classics (11 shades)
Dual Prism Eyes (8 variations) (More lilac, please…)
Powder Compact Eyebrow (2 shades)
Liquid Pen Eyeliner (2 shades)
Eyeliner Pencil N (2 shades)
Eyebrow Pencil N (3 shades)
Creamy Liquid Foundation (5 shades)
Color Conc Rouge (2 new shades)
Grade Color Select (2 new shades)

Even though there were a couple of good items, I wasn’t very impressed with Lavshuca’s fall 2007 or spring 2008 collection overall. But they came up with a great summer collection this year and the beautiful packaging evolves towards fall. The look of both the lipsticks and eyeshadow duos is stunning.

For me, it is probably set to be Lavshuca’s best seasonal collection since spring 2007. I think I will surely pick up some of these items!

Related Posts:

Lavshuca Eye Color Select in PU-2
(from fall 2007)

Lavshuca Color Conc Rouge in PK-1

(from fall 2007)

Lavshuca Winter Make Collection
(from holiday 2007)

Loving Japanese Brands – Lavshuca
(my personal take on my favorite Japanese drugstore brand)

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(part of the Kate fall 2008 collection)
(image from www.nikkei.co.jp)

It is only mid-May, but news of the fall 2008 makeup collections has been rolling in.

Kanebo Kate will release its fall 2008 collection in Japan on August 1st. The collection includes:

Deep Trap Eyes (5 variations)
Powder Gel Liner N (4 shades)
Curb Wax Mascara (1 shade)
Rouge Extra (14 shades)
Line Spicy N eye palette (1 new variation)
Gradical Eyes S palette (1 new variation)
Glam Trick Eyes palette (1 new variation)

Below is information on how the shades in the new palette series, Deep Trap Eyes, are used:

(image from www.nikkei.co.jp)

Still, I have not yet bought any item from Kate. Would anything from this collection change everything? We’ll see!

Related Posts:

Kate: Lavshuca’s Edgier, Darker Sister

Lavshuca Fall 2008 Collection

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(part of CHICCA’s summer 2008 collection)

CHICCA has updated its website to include full information on the summer 2008 collection: Love Island – Golden Sun.

Please see my previous post for quick details of the collection. For a brief brand profile, please have a look at this post.

Some of you have e-mailed me and told me that you would be travelling to Japan in the coming summer. (By the way, I envy you…) If you are planning to travel to Japan in the near future and are interested in testing out or purchasing some top-end beauty items, CHICCA is one of the brands you might be interested in.

The brand in under the Kanebo group, so the pedigree is there. I have not seen the items in person, but I’d think the quality should be similar to that of SUQQU (also under the Kanebo group), most of whose makeup items are outstanding.

CHICCA is currently only sold in two department stores in Japan: Isetan Shinjuku in Tokyo and Hankyu Umeda in Osaka.

More upcoming collections:

Coffret D’Or Early Fall Collection

Sofina Aube Early Fall Collection

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