-Kanebo

My Top 10: Spring 2007 Makeup Round-Up (#2, #1)

by PJ on Sunday, March 11, 2007

in -Jill Stuart, -Kanebo, -Lavshuca, 2007 Spring, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup, seasonal makeup top 10

#2: Jill Stuart (“Brilliant Veil” Collection)

The Look: “Brilliant Veil” is quite an accurate description of the colors on offer here. Medium-pigmented colors add soft hues to the face with a great amount of glow and sheen. The emphasis is on the eyes, with the launch of Jill Stuart’s first collection of eye palettes.

Key Item: Brilliance Eyes palette in 04 Gem Amethyst (reviewed earlier here). A beautiful lilac palette with featherweight powder and intense shimmer and glitter. It gives a veil of color with dazzling and multi-dimensional sparkles. A palette that adds a bit of drama to the eyes.

Winner: Lavshuca

The Look: When I saw the ad campaign featuring the Japanese girl band PUFFY (the two girls you see as soon as you enter the Lavshuca website), I couldn’t believe their transformation. They used to be two funky girls with slightly mad hair jumping around the stage. Now they cannot look more polished and sophisticated while they still keep the coolness and edge. I guess this is the image that Lavshuca’s new collection is trying to convey: cute, fun, feminine, and with a bit of an attitude.

Key Item: Too many to mention, actually, but I will single out Eye Color Select in PK-1 (reviewed earlier here). Pink eyeshadow is hot for this spring, and this pink palette gives a couple of different looks. You can go for a soft pale pink or an intense cherry pink. The lightest shade is good as a base or a highlighter and the brown can be a natural eyeliner.

For me, it was very close between Jill Stuart and Lavshuca this season. They kept switching positions when I was finalizing my rankings. But Lavshuca wins at the end with its more complete range and updated packaging to keep the brand image fresh.

If you are interested in mineral makeup, my next post will be about von Natur’s mineral powder foundation.

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My Top 10: Spring 2007 Makeup Round-Up (#4, #3)

by PJ on Friday, March 9, 2007

in -Kanebo, -Lunasol, -T'Estimo, 2007 Spring, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup, seasonal makeup top 10

#4: T’Estimo

The Look: The whole collection (both the color and the packaging) is so pretty. The look is femine and elegant. The emphasis is on the eyes. Beautifully and delicately blended gradation from pale to soft to intense, from browbone to lashline, the single-color concept for eye makeup works seamlessly.

Key Items: Frame Impact Eyes palettes. Four eye palettes feature four gradations of colors (blue, green, lilac, and brown). Each palette comes with a cream eyeliner. Don’t be put off by the green and the blue. The colors are soft enough to look natural but pigmented enough to impart a gorgeous hue.

#3: Lunasol (“The Ultimate Skin” Collection)

The Look: The concept is to create flawless skin with the softest colors. Pale pastel colors for eyes and beige-pink for lips. The whole effect is fresh, polished, and very sophisticated.

Key Items: Skin Modelling Lips palettes (second from top on the webpage). It’s the ultimate lip kit. Each of the four palettes features a tinted lip primer, lip color, shimmer-free gloss, and shimmery gloss. The tool for sculpting the perfect pout.

(If you can get hold of the April issue of the Biteki magazine, it comes with a free DVD which is all about creating “The Ultimate Skin” using Lunasol’s latest makeup and foundation collections.)

I’ll reveal my top 2 in my next post (although you can probably guess what they are if you have read some of my previous posts). Still, don’t miss it!

After that, I will talk a bit about one growing trend — mineral makeup.

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Lavshuca Gloss Stick lipgloss

by PJ on Thursday, February 15, 2007

in -Kanebo, -Lavshuca, 2007 Spring, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup, makeup - lip color, makeup - lip gloss, stash focus


Lavshuca again today. They make some of the cutest stuff around. Their eye palette is just adorable, and this lipgloss pen is another example. In seven colors, the Gloss Stick looks just like any other lip gloss that comes in a pen, and the color I have (PK-3) is a nice basic everyday pink with a bit of shimmer.

But what makes it interesting and fun is the applicator:


The heart-shape dispenser is what seals the deal for me. What a nice little touch! It has a very similar advantage to that of the spatula applicator of Curvy Lip Silicone. It doesn’t smudge off the lipstick and is easy to clean. Cute and clever.

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Lavshuca Eye Color Select palettes

by PJ on Wednesday, February 14, 2007

in -Kanebo, -Lavshuca, 2007 Spring, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup, makeup - eyeshadow, stash focus


Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone.

I didn’t consciously plan this, but I was going to talk about these gorgeous little eye palettes from Lavshuca featuring cute heart shapes. (Lavshuca is one of my favorite Japanese brands. Read more about it in my other post. I also reviewed its spring 2007 collection here.)

The Eye Color Select palette is out this spring and comes in five versions. I got the ones in pink and blue.


Pink is not the easiest color for me to wear but I wanted to try. Surprisingly, they came out nicely and I didn’t look like I had irritated eyelids. The deep pink (lower right on the palette) is very pigmented and is fun to experiment with.


The blue shades are all quite sheer, which I personally like. It is a subtle and elegant look.

All the colors have fine shimmering particles.

I am really loving these. They are great to use and look adorable on my dressing table. Definite keepers!!

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More on Lavshuca Spring 2007 Collection

by PJ on Thursday, January 25, 2007

in -Kanebo, -Lavshuca, 2007 Spring, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup


(pictured: my Lavshuca stash)

(Read my previous Lavshuca post here.)

First of all, the new Lavshuca site was launched a couple of days ago to include the new collection.

After reading a lot of information about the various new collections, I think Lavshuca wins it for me this season. The slight modification of the packaging (from pale pink to plum) is working for me. Still exquisite and princessy. The vast array of new colors is exciting as well.

I have also decided on what to have:

Jewelry Lips: Amethystia Groom PK-1

I was choosing between this one and Viva Garnetica RS-1, but I was confident that PK-1 wouldn’t be too pink for me.

Gloss Stick: PK-3

I think I can go more pink on the gloss, hence the choice.

Eye Color Select: BU-1 (and maybe PK-1 as well)

I mentioned that I wanted to go for PK-1. But then it was actually off my shopping list for a while. Later I saw some photos of the palettes (not studio shots), and I fell in love with them again and thought BU-1 was also a great choice as well. Now I am not sure whether I will have both. I think I probably will. They are only about 8 pounds each.

Ummm…later I noticed that the BU-1 eye palette and the PK-1 lipstick were exactly what were used on Puffy on the ad shots…was I being subliminally influenced??

I might do *another* post after I get these items!

Next post: Avene Thermal Water.

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Lunasol Spring 2007 Collection

by PJ on Wednesday, January 3, 2007

in -Kanebo, -Lunasol, 2007 Spring, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup


(pictured: my Lunasol stash)


I am loving the look of Lunasol’s new collection! It is going toward a very soft look. All the colors look so gentle and wearable. It is about subtle and barely-there makeup.

My top pick is the lip palette, or Skin-Modeling Lips as it is properly called. This limited edition palette has four parts:

creamy-matte color (lip base)
natural color (lip color)
sheer gloss
jewel gloss

I’d like to have the one in EX04. I am a fan of blue-tone (but nearly totally sheer, of course) lipglosses. They make lips look really dewy and create a very natural and watery gleam.

This kit reminds me of another one by Ayura. It features a lip base, a lip liner, a highlight liner (for the two ridges of the upper lip, for extra perkiness), and a lip gloss. It is more of a lip-shaping kit that works in combination with your own lipsticks. I have it in 01 and I really like it.

The eye palettes also feature some soft colors. They are not as striking as what Lunasol had for last autumn (which has proven to be so successful that they top the favorite eye palette lists of Biteki and Frau magazines in Japan as voted by the readers), but they are great basics that look airy, breezy and beautiful. They also remind me of Jill Stuart’s latest eye palettes For example, Lunasol’s 04 looks very similar to Jill Stuart’s 02 Crystal Jade, and they both have the ubiquitous beige-tone palettes. I think, in this case, I’ll stick with Jill Stuart’s 04 Amethyst.

Both the four-color face powder palettes (Tone-Up Powder) look similar to Dior Detective from last autumn. It would be interesting to see how different Lunasol’s take on this will be.

The lip and nail colors will be great for the nude-color look.

As you can see, most of these products do remind me of some others. (Of course it is not unusual. New products are usually existing ones with a twist anyway.) But the texture and the pigmentation will vary (and the packaging, of course!) and I look forward to trying them out.

Apart from those above, you can also see Lunasol’s new foundation items here.

The color makeup items are out on January 19th, and the foundation items are out on February 23rd.

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Update: Lavshuca Spring 2007 Collection

by PJ on Tuesday, December 19, 2006

in -Kanebo, -Lavshuca, 2007 Spring, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup


(pictured: my Lavshuca items)


Hope everyone had a great Christmas.

There is an event report on Kanebo’s website about the Lavshuca Spring 2007 collection launch party. It seems to be such a glamorous occasion! I wish I could be there.

But that’s fine, as long as I can get hold of some of these lovely items. The collection includes eyeshadow palettes, single-color eyeshadows, lipsticks, and lipglosses, among other things. You can see the whole Lavshuca collection and all the new items here.

There are three things I think I will be getting:

1 lipstick (Very Anna Sui.)

2 lipgloss pen (One of the photos on the event report features the tip of the applicator, which has a cute heart shape where the lip gloss comes out. This little touch definitely seals the deal for me!)

3 eyeshadow palette (I’ll probably get the one in PK-1.)

The collection will be out on February 1 next year.

I went to Central London for the start of Winter Sale yesterday. I actually saw YSL’s and Givenchy’s new Spring 2007 collections in Selfridges. I will talk about them tomorrow.

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PJ’s Rankings: Christmas 2006 (10th to 7th)

by PJ on Sunday, December 10, 2006

in -Anna Sui, -Kanebo, 2006 Holiday, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup, seasonal makeup top 10


This week I reveal my top ten Christmas collections for 2006. It is purely based on my personal preference. I look at the variety within the range of the collection, and the design/packaging of the products. Here they are, in reverse order:

10. Marc Jacobs
I didn’t get to buy this last year, thinking that it would be on sale after Christmas. But I didn’t see any of them during the sale. So when I happened to see this again last month, I thought I had to get it (pictured centre). Each votive candle features a different scent: Marc Jacobs Perfume, Marc Jacobs Perfume Essence, and Blush. I have Blush already and I do love all of these scents, so this set is a good addition.

9. Anna Sui
The collection includes two purse-like palettes, one for lips and the other for eyes. It also includes a vanity case and a limited version of the Secret Wish perfume: Magic Romance. The princessy packaging lives on…

8. Clarins
It is all about diamond-shine for Clarins. The eyeliner works as a hair accessory. I like the fact that Clarins went all out for the shininess for the packaging. Some might think it is a bit over the top, but I think it is fine for this time of year. I don’t think this collection is available in the UK though.

7. Lunasol
A limited edition with a selection of products and a glamorous evening bag is very common across brands in Japan during the Christmas season. (Even western brands produce these sets only for the Japanese market.) Lunasol’s set includes an eye palette, a lip gloss, shimmering loose powder, a powder brush, and an evening bag. All the colors are sophisticated and wearable, even though the loose powder may be too sparkly for the face. The black evening bag is simple and elegant and it actually doesn’t look like a free gift, according to those who have purchased the sets.

Tomorrow: 6th to 4th.

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Loving Japanese brands (7 of 7): Lunasol

by PJ on Monday, November 27, 2006

in _Japanese Brand Profile, _Loving Japanese Brands, -Kanebo, -Lunasol, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup

(pictured: part of my collection)


Meaning “moon and sun”, Lunasol is a very chic and gown-up line from Kanebo Group. In the last few years, the packaging has changed twice but has always maintained a low-key demure image. It used to have a skincare collection but it was discontinued.

I am glad that Lunasol has been quite popular in a couple of other Asian countries. The brand does exude quality inside and out, and the whole collection seems to have a quiet confidence about it in the sea of attention-grabbing merchandise in department stores.

The first two Lunasol items I bought were the lipstick and the powder case, and I bought them on my first trip to Tokyo when Lunasol was only available in Japan. I was then able to fit my own Kanebo foundation cake into the case. (I think all the foundation cakes from most Kanebo-owned lines should fit into one another’s cases.)

I don’t usually go for simple designs (I like glamourous and intricate designs, like Jill Stuart and Anna Sui), but there is something very elegant and sophisticated about Lunasol that really appeals to me. Even though I still prefer the silver and copper-beige square design when the line debuted, the current rich and glossy chocolate-brown look has a great sense of low-key glamour.

Their blusher is the only peach-tone blusher I have (in 03 Light Orange). (It seems to have been discontinued in Japan. See the rest of the colors here.) Most of the time, cool or neutral pink blushers work better for me. (Warm-tone blushers usually make me look too flushed.) But this one actually looks slightly more neutral once it has sat on my face for a while.

The blusher itself, the case, and the brush have to be purchased separately, but the quality of the brush is very good. It is exceptionally soft and has a good density of hair.

The lip gloss I have is in 04 Bright Pink. It is not really a shockingly bright pink. It is a very natural pink with delicate shimmer. (See the rest of the lip products here).

Their 2006 Fall Collection (especially the eyeshadow palettes) and 2006 Holiday sets have been extremely popular.

In the last couple of years, Lunasol has been consistently launching great seasonal collections. Look out for what’s new in the coming year!

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Loving Japanese brands (6 of 7): Lavshuca

by PJ on Thursday, November 23, 2006

in _Japanese Brand Profile, _Loving Japanese Brands, -Kanebo, -Lavshuca, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup

(pictured: part of my collection)


Lavshuca is the latest addition to my favorite brands. It was launched in February this year and has foundation and color makeup products. (The flash version of the website is worth a look. It does a great job of attracting potential customers.)

Price-wise, it is also the cheapest. It is a shelf-top (budget) brand rather than a counter-top (premium) brand, so it is in the same league as Maybelline and Bourjois. (A single-color eyeshadow costs 840 Japanese yens, which is about 7.2 USD.) It is launched by Kanebo Cosmetics, so quality-wise, it is on the same level as RMK and Lunasol.

As with all my other favorites, one major part of Lavshuca’s appeal is in its packaging. (Kanebo launched Lavshuca in a bid to lure the image-conscious teenage market in Japan.) It has that dreamy quality, with a lot of curves and filigree patterns.

I have got the loose powder in the 2006 Fall Collection. It has a little light-reflective particles to add luminosity (not greasiness) to the complexion. The single-color eyeshadow I have has a really great texture.

For me, Lavshuca (and Shiseido’s Majolica Majorca) are the only two shelf-top brands that feature both top quality products and great packaging. No western budget brand comes even close. It would have no problem “looking expensive” if it had its own counter in a department store. Maybe this is part of the reason it has been extremely popular with teenagers and young 20-somethings in Japan. Other nearby countries in East Asia have already caught on the trend and many people there want a piece of Lavshuca as well.

As long as it keeps the dreaminess, the fun, and the coolness of the brand, I think Lavshuca will continue to be very popular.

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