-Kanebo

A Splash of Color: More Lilting Lilac

by PJ on Monday, May 26, 2008

in _I Love Colors, -Anna Sui, -Clarins, -Coffret d'Or, -Dior, -Kanebo, -Lunasol, -MAC, -Maquillage, -Paul & Joe, -Shiseido, makeup, makeup - base makeup, nail color/care

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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Coffret D’Or Fall 2008 – Second Helping!

by PJ on Thursday, May 22, 2008

in -Coffret d'Or, -Kanebo, 2008 Fall, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup

(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.

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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CHICCA Fall 2008 Collection – First Look

by PJ on Tuesday, May 20, 2008

in -Chicca, -Kanebo, 2008 Fall, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup

(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.

CHICCA Summer 2008 Collection

Brand Launch: Kanebo CHICCA

Lavshuca Fall 2008 Collection

Kate Fall 2008 Collection

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Lavshuca Fall 2008 Collection – First Look

by PJ on Wednesday, May 14, 2008

in -Kanebo, -Lavshuca, 2008 Fall, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup

(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!

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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Kate Fall 2008 Collection – First Look

by PJ on Wednesday, May 14, 2008

in -Kanebo, -Kate, 2008 Fall, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup

(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!

Kate: Lavshuca’s Edgier, Darker Sister

Lavshuca Fall 2008 Collection

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CHICCA Summer 2008 Collection Update

by PJ on Wednesday, May 14, 2008

in -Chicca, -Kanebo, 2008 Summer, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup

(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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Lavshuca Summer Gradually Compact in Shiny Sandy Beach

by PJ on Tuesday, May 13, 2008

in -Kanebo, -Lavshuca, 2008 Summer, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup, makeup - eyeshadow, stash focus

(Lavshuca Summer Gradually Compact in Shiny Sandy Beach)

After teasing you with a photo of Lavshuca‘s Summer Gradually Compact two weeks ago, I have been trying on the colors. Today I am sharing my thoughts with you.

First let’s look more closely at the shades:

From left to right:
A pale yellow gold with pale gold sparkles (sheer; sparkling)
B medium bronze gold (well-pigmented; very shimmery)
C off-white with very pale champagne gold undertone (sheer; shimmery)
D light-to-medium taupe-brown (moderately pigmented; shimmery)
E medium brown (moderately pigmented; subtly shimmery)
F light beige (very sheer; satiny matte)

(All shades, except F, have very fine multi-colored micro-shimmer.)

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

You can see the instructions on Lavshuca’s website above, and the same instructions are printed on the back of the outer packaging.

In this palette (as well as the other one, Windy Aqua Beach), C, D, and E are the main shades. C is used as a base, D is the main shading color, and E is the eye-lining shade. The matte F is used to accentuate and add depth to the crease and the inner corner of the brow bone. (A tops up the sparkles, and B adds warmth where you want it.)

Here are some of my thoughts:

– The three main shades work very well for me. I don’t like neutral colors to be too warm, and D and E have a coloration very suitable for me. (I have a light-to-medium skin tone.)

– What I love the most about this palette is the soft watery-shimmer effect, which is great for summer. If the shades were too pigmented, the finish would be overly metallic, which I rarely like. (Only B (bronze gold) is very pigmented, while the others are either moderately pigmented or sheer.)

– The eye-lining shade E is only about a shade darker than the main shading color D. For me, E works well as a subtle daytime eyeliner and it blends seamlessly with D. But some people will probably want to use a separate eyeliner for extra depth.

– Both the colors and the shimmer stay on very well, and there is virtually no powder/shimmer fallout.

– I do have two slight complaints. The bronze gold (B) is a little bit too warm for my liking. Also, the shade-enhancing color (F) is very sheer and doesn’t show up on me very much.

Overall I am very happy with the palette. It is a great summer item for a soft and casual look. The soft shimmer does remind me of a glistening sandy beach under the afternoon sun. It might not be the most versatile palette due to the lack of a very dark shade, but for me it is wonderfully wearable.

Please see this post for swatches and the shades worn on the eyes. (Notice that Kate’s Gel Eye Liner in BR-1 is used in the photos.)

If you are also interested in the other palette, Windy Aqua Beach, please head over to Autumn Masquerade to see photos and a review.

Updated on May 26th, 2008:

If you are interested, please head over to My Women Stuff for another review of Shiny Sandy Beach.

Related Posts:

Coffret D’Or 3D Lighting Eyes in Gold Variation
(The gold in this palette is more wearable for me.)

Golden Dior Luminizing Makeup Jewel
(More gold!)

Lunasol Summer 2008 Collection
(another great-looking summer collection)

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Coffret D’Or Trance Deep Eyes – Decisions, Decisions!

by PJ on Sunday, May 11, 2008

in -Coffret d'Or, -Kanebo, 2008 Fall, 2008 Summer, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup, makeup - eyeshadow

(part of the Coffret D’Or late summer/ early fall collection)
(image from www.kanebo-cosmetics.jp/coffretdor/)

Coffret D’Or has updated its website with information on the late summer/ early fall collection. (Please see my previous post for some quick detail and a link to swatches.) It is another beautiful collection, with lipsticks, eyeliners, and eyebrow pencils, but my eyes have been drawn to the new Trance Deep Eyes palettes.

First, let’s remind ourselves of 3D Lighting Eyes, released in December 2007:

(Coffret D’Or 3D Lighting Eyes)
(image from www.kanebo-cosmetics.jp/coffretdor/)

01 Pink Variation

02 Blue Green Variation
03 Silver Variation
04 Purple Variation
05 Gold Variation

Now check out the new variations:

(Coffret D’Or Trance Deep Eyes)

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

01 Rose Variation
02 Blue Variation
03 Khaki Green Variation
04 Grey Variation
05 Beige Variation

I think I am definitely going to try the new palette series, but the question is which one I want. Or, to be precise, which ONES?

This time, no single palette is jumping out at me, and I am liking three at the moment. After looking at the swatches, I have been lured by Rose, Grey, and Beige Variations. Here are my initial thoughts:

Rose Variation: The top-right shading color looks similar to the cool dusty pink in my Purple Variation, which is one of my recent favorite eyeshadow shades. I would love to try the new palette to see how everything works.

Grey Variation: My first reaction is that it looks similar to my Maquillage Clean Contrast Eyes in SV844, which I like. But there are differences. Maquillage SV844 has a medium grey, which Grey Variation doesn’t have. Also, from the swatches, it seems that the lilac is very slightly warmer than that in SV844. This could be my next lilac palette!

Beige Variation: I am happy with my Gold Variation and my Summer Gradually Compact from Lavshuca, but the top-right soft taupe seems lovely and far from plain. The bottom-left peach gold is not usually one of my favorite colors, but I think it will be on the sheer side and can work well with the cool taupe.

At the moment, my favorite is Rose Variation. But I can’t let go of the soft lilac, and I am still in my mini neutral phase.

Will I be getting all three? You will have to find out later!

Which one is appealing to you at the moment?

Sofina Aube Early Fall Collection

Chanel Fall & Holiday Collections

A Splash of Color – Lilting Lilac
(I am sensing a Part Two might be coming up…)

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Coffret D’Or 3D Lighting Eyes in Gold Variation

by PJ on Tuesday, May 6, 2008

in -Coffret d'Or, -Kanebo, 2008 Spring, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup, makeup - eyeshadow, stash focus

(Kanebo Coffret D’Or 3D Lighting Eyes
in 05 Gold Variation)

I like a bit of variety in my makeup collection. I tend to pick up one shade from an eye palette series and that is it. No matter how much I like what I have, I often look elsewhere for my next gem. There usually has to be a compelling reason for a second purchase.

I have quite a few eyeshadows in blue, purple, turquoise, and pinks. But when it comes to neutral tones, what I had were mostly either very pale or quite dark. It didn’t bother me before, since I like a bit of color. But, sometimes, to go with what I wear, soft neutrals are by far the best choices. So, weeks ago, I finally decided not to make do with dusty pink and soft peach and get some nice neutrals.

The color I decided to look for is a medium gold with subtle shimmer (not overly metallic shimmer) that is not bronze or orangey, and I planned to pick up a palette with the shade and other coordinating ones.

As I was looking through my recent Biteki and Voce seasonal makeup catalogues, I remembered that, when Coffret D’Or was launched last December, I was allured by the 3D Lighting Eyes palette in Gold Variation used on Tokiwa Takako. (The full-page ad appeared on Biteki (February 2008) and showed the makeup look a lot more clearly than the (same) image below.)

(Tokiwa Takako for Coffret D’Or)
(image from http://www.kanebo-cosmetics.jp/coffretdor)

Also, the texture and the finish of my Purple Variation appealed to me so much that I thought it would be great to pick up a second one. So I did.

(The sun was out, so I decided to take a few more shots.
Later I found that this photo shows the actual shades a lot better.)

From left to right:

The top two:
– a sheer off-white with fine sparkles
– a moderately pigmented pearlescent white with fine shimmer

The bottom three:
– a medium gold with smooth shimmer and fine sparkles (moderately pigmented)
– a very shimmery sheer pale champagne gold with slightly larger sparkles
– a subtly shimmery well-pigmented medium brown with some fine sparkles (which goes on a little cooler than it looks in the pan)

(All the sparkles and shimmer are multi-colored.)

The texture of the powder is wonderfully soft and silky. The application is effortless and blending is a breeze.

The look it creates is just like what you see in the ad above. The soft gold and the coordinating pale champagne enhance the dimensions of the eyes very effectively, but the whole look is still elegant and understated. (The soft gold is exactly what I wanted. It is a subtle but effective shading color.)

The colors from 3D Lighting Eyes are very long-lasting. Once I wore Purple Variation (without any eye primer) and my eye makeup surprisingly more or less survived heavy wind and rain (the kind where an umbrella is basically useless…well, it’s the unpredictable British weather…).

I am very pleased that I got this palette so that I can enjoy all the great things about 3D Lighting Eyes when I am not wearing lilac for the day!

(For the clear instructions on where each shade is applied, my thoughts on the eye-sculpting concept of the 3D Lighting Eyes series, the look of the palette case, and the other color variations, please refer to my post on the Purple Variation.)

Coffret D’Or Late Summer/ Early Fall Collection
(with link to swatches)

Lunasol Sheer Contrast Eyes in Lavender Coral

Shiseido Maquillage Clean Contrast Eyes in SV844

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Coffret D’Or Update!

by PJ on Tuesday, April 29, 2008

in -Coffret d'Or, -Kanebo, 2008 Fall, 2008 Summer, makeup, makeup - eyeshadow

Coffret D’Or‘s late summer/ early fall collection will be launched in mid-June, but testers are already out in Japan and pre-ordering has started.

My post on this collection has been updated with a link to exciting photos of all the new palettes and their swatches. I am enjoying them at the moment!

There is a good chance that I will pick up one of them. (The blogger praises the superb quality of the powder, and she is usually spot-on.) I just need to decide which one to go for……

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