-Kosé

(image/info from www.nikkei.com)


Kosé’s Esprique Precious will release its fall 2010 makeup collection in Japan on July 16th. The collection features:

– Heart Graphical Rouge (8 shades)
– Heart Graphical Mascara (1 shade)
– Aurora Crystal Gloss (1 shade)
– Dual Lip Pencil (1 variation)

Related posts on Esprique Precious:

Spring/Summer 2010 Base Makeup Collection

Spring 2010 Makeup Collection

Foundation Face-Off (4): Dior vs. Esprique Precious

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

I have not been an avid fan of Kosé’s Visée. I have only purchased one product from the line (Dual Shine Rouge Palette for holiday 2006), and the packaging and the brand image generally don’t appeal to me. But Visée’s new eyeshadow palette series for fall 2010, Blossom Eyes, is looking pretty good. I am liking the floral patterns, although the case may look too plastic-y in person.

Visée’s fall 2010 makeup collection includes:

– Blossom Eyes (5 variations)
– Lash Blossom Volume (1 shade)
– Lash Blossom Long (1 shade)

The collection will be released in Japan on June 16th.

You can see the promotional image of the collection and the five Blossom Eyes palettes here.

Updated on June 29th 2010:

Please see Julia’s review (with swatches) of the pink variation of Blossom Eyes at Colour Me Cute!.

Related posts on Kosé-owned lines:

Addiction Summer 2010 Collection

Cosme Decorte Magie Deco Shadow Brilliance II in Foxy Lady

Foundation Face-Off (4): Dior vs. Esprique Precious

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(continued from Part 1 and Part 2)

3. Magie Deco

(image from www.cosmedecorte.com/magiedeco)

(image from www.cosmedecorte.com/magiedeco)


Earlier this year, I finally got my first item from Magie Deco (Shadow Brilliance II in Foxy Lady). It didn’t disappoint me, and I will definitely look out for other things to try. For spring 2010, there are blue, green, and purple as well as more soft neutrals. I particularly like
LC033 White Crystal Opal and DC031 Pink Opal. (White Crystal Opal looks a lot warmer in photos in Biteki than it does in the image above.)

2. Lunasol

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

I tend to be more excited about Lunasol’s palette series for spring than those for fall, and Nature Color Eyes from the spring 2010 collection is another beautifully colorful range from one of my favorite makeup lines in the last ten years. I like the warmth in 03 Nature Brown and the soft colors in 05 Nature Colorful. (If the liner shade in Nature Colorful were a deep purple, I would probably consider buying it.)
1. Coffret D’Or

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

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

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

Among Coffret D’Or’s purple eye palettes, 3D Lighting Eyes in 04 Purple Variation (from the spring 2008 collection) is my favorite and Jewelcious Eyes in 05 Purple Amethyst from the spring 2010 collection is my second favorite. The tone of the purple in Purple Amethyst suits me well and I like its moderate pigmentation level and pearly shimmer. I also like the case design of this palette series.

The Innocent Color Blush reminds us again that Coffret D’Or is the successor to T’Estimo, which released Pure Layer Blush, a loose-powder blusher, for spring and summer 2007. (The cases look nearly the same.)

As I mentioned before, Coffret D’Or overall appeals to me a lot more than T’Estimo. This collection is one of the many reasons why the line has kept me interested for the last few years.

Related posts:

Lunasol Sheer Contrast Eyes in Lavender Coral

Lunasol Summer 2010 Collection

Coffret D’Or Late Summer/ Early Fall Collection

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(images/info from www.joseishi.net/voce)

Addiction will release its summer 2010 makeup collection in Japan on April 23rd. The collection features:

– Limited Compact Le Mépris* (above, with two eyeshadows and a blusher)

– Eyeshadow (1 new shade)

– Eyeliner Pencil (1 new shade)

– Lipstick (1 new shade)

– Lip Gloss (1 new shade)

– Blush (1 new shade)

All the items in this collection are limited editions.

(*I am guessing that the name Le Mépris is based on the 1963 French film Le Mépris (Contempt), starring Brigitte Bardot. Have a look at the movie poster, which might possibly be part of the inspiration of the palette.)

Related posts on Addiction:

New Japanese Beauty Brand: Addiction

Spring 2010 Collection

Product Swatch Galore

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Late last year, one of my readers suggested that I recommend items for a complete makeup look. I thought that I would recommend items that create a natural look that is suitable for daily wear. Today, I will focus on eye makeup items.

Coffret D’Or 3D Lighting Eyes in Purple Variation (right)

Released in December 2007, it is still one of my favorite eye palettes. The dusky pink and the light lilac are a winning combination. The violet lining shade is one of the most beautiful lining shades I have come across.

Coffret D’Or Trance Deep Eyes in Rose Variation (left)

Try this one if you want a palette that is similar to 3D Lighting Eyes in Purple Variation but with more warmth. (Do note that this palette is more shimmery.)

Magie Deco Shadow Brilliance II in Foxy Lady (top)

This is my recent favorite. It includes soft warm neutrals that create a natural depth for the eyes.

Clinique Naturally Glossy Mascara in Jet Black

It is one of the most natural-looking mascaras that I have come across. It creates subtle length and volume for the lashes, and it has never clumped on my lashes.

SUQQU Eyebrow Brush L

I think this is one of SUQQU’s finest creations. Use this brush with any eyebrow powder that suits you. I like the fact that the brush is able to enhance the structure of the eyebrows without leaving any hard edges.

More recommendations for cheeks & lips as well as the complexion!

(The SUQQU Eyebrow Brush L featured in this post is provided by SUQQU.)

Related posts (other wearable items):

Coffret D’Or 3D Lighting Eyes in Gold Variation

SUQQU Blend Eyeshadow in 10 Sakuragi

Chanel Irréelle Duo in Désert-Rose

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Magie Deco is a point (color) makeup line that is part of Kosé’s high-end brand Cosme Decorte. It was launched in fall 2007 and the products’ price points are similar to those of Lunasol’s. Shadow Brilliance II in DC025 Foxy Lady, which is part of Magie Deco’s fall 2009 collection, is my first item from the line.

One thing I like about Magie Deco is that it often brings out eye palettes with interesting and unusual color combinations. (In Japanese cosmetics, many mainstream brands constantly release tone-on-tone eye palettes.)

One palette that helps define the line’s character is Shadow Brilliance in 014 Believe in Magic, which is part of the line’s launch collection in fall 2007. The palette includes a plum pink and an olive green, which don’t usually appear together in eye palettes from Japanese brands.

The new Shadow Brilliance II series, launched in fall 2009, also features some interesting color combinations. (LC028 Lovable Muse includes a lilac and an aqua green.)

The main reason why I went for Foxy Lady, a tone-on-tone neutral palette (instead of one with a more unusual color combination), is that I was looking for an eye palette with soft warm latte-like neutrals. Foxy Lady is the one I decided to try.




The five colors in this palette are (clock-wise from bottom right):

– off-white with a hint of gold
– light-to-medium warm beige
– soft warm yellow gold
– light warm beige
(subtly lighter than the light-to-medium beige)
– dark brown

All the shades have subtle shimmery particles. They show up predominantly as a veil of gold-toned shimmer under sunlight while they look more multi-colored under artificial lighting. They have a smooth texture and are very easy to blend. The staying power is good.

The eyeshadows are very gently scented with a floral-fruity fragrance.

The three lightest shades are softly pigmented. Even among eyeshadows in Japanese cosmetics, they are on the sheer side. Because I wanted soft neutrals in the first place, I don’t mind them being sheer.
The light-to-medium warm beige at the bottom left is moderately pigmented and is not overly sheer. Overall, I like the ethereal look that these shades create.

The dark brown is a lot more pigmented than the other four, but, as a lining shade, it is also slightly less pigmented than most other lining shades in eye palettes from Japanese makeup lines.

The two beiges create a delicate gradation. I particularly like the darker one of the two. It is not always easy to find light-to-medium neutrals that are able to create depth, as light neutrals are usually made to be light-reflective. But this shade, while softly shimmery (not frosty or overly light-reflective), is able to create a natural depth for the eyes.

The soft yellow gold imparts a touch of vibrancy. It can replace (or work with) the off-white as a base, a highlighter for the brow bones, and a highlighter for the inner corners of the eyes.

I also like the case of the palette. Surprisingly, the pink case never looks overly saccharine. The pink and the gold work delightfully well together, and the faceted gem-like shape is feminine and regal at the same time.

Overall I really like this palette. I will certainly go back to it again and again, and I will continue to look forward to Magie Deco’s new releases. If you like your neutrals to be pigmented and intense, then you can safely skip this palette. If you want very wearable neutrals that are suitable for daytime, then this palette may be worth your consideration.

Related posts:

Magie Deco Summer 2009 Collection

Coffret D’Or 3D Lighting Eyes in Gold Variation

Lavshuca Summer Gradually Compact in Shiny Sandy Beach

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(image from www.urcosme.com,
information from www.urcosme.com
& www.iswii.net)

Those interested in Japanese skincare products would probably be very familiar with Kosé’s Sekkisei line. Launched in 1985, it is among the best-selling whitening (brightening) skincare lines in Japan.

In April, Sekkisei will release its first range of base makeup products. The twist is that the range will debut in Taiwan, not in Japan. According to Urcosme and Iswii, the development of these products is based on the consumer research conducted in Taiwan and this is the first time Kosé has formulated products based on market research on consumers outside Japan.

The range aims to suit people living in Southeast Asia who need their base makeup items to cope with the warm and humid climate and still want them to offer a good level of coverage as well as skin-benefiting properties.

The range includes a foundation primer (SPF 25, PA++), a powder foundation (7 shades, SPF 20, PA++), and a loose powder (SPF 12, PA++).

Japanese base makeup already has a solid following in Southeast Asia, but Kosé has gone a step further and created products that might potentially work even better for consumers in Southeast Asia. I think many people in Taiwan will be eager to test out these items, and I suppose they should be available elsewhere in Asia in the near future.

Related posts:

Genre Focus: Whitening Skincare

Beauty City Shopping Guide (2): Taipei

Japanese vs. Western…Who’s Winning?

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(images/info from www.nikkei.co.jp)

Kosé’s Esprique Precious will release its spring/summer 2010 base makeup collection in Japan on February 16th.

The new powder foundation, Dramatical Veil Pact UV, features “diamond shelter powder” and “pore control powder” to enhance pore coverage and sebum control. (Esprique Precious refers to the area that needs pore coverage and sebum control the most “dia[mond]-zone”, which is the diamond-shaped area covering lower forehead at the top, the cheeks on the sides, and the chin at the bottom.)

The full lineup includes:

– Dramatical Veil Pact UV (7 shades, SPF 25, PA++)

– Clear Revision Base UV (SPF 22, PA++)

– Radiant Trick (concealer, 2 shades, SPF 14, PA+)


Related posts:

Foundation Face-Off (4): Dior vs. Esprique Precious

Esprique Precious Spring 2010 Point Makeup Collection

Esprique Precious Fall/Winter 2009 Point/Base Makeup Collection

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(image from www.bareescentuals.co.uk)

– Shiseido Co., Ltd. will acquire Bare Escentuals, Inc. through a US subsidiary (Blush Acquisition Corporation). You can read more about the acquisition at Yahoo! Finance.
(information from Nikkei Net and Yahoo! Finance)

– My post on Paul & Joe’s spring 2010 makeup collection has been updated with more images of the Disney collection. Do have a look!

– I have got my first Magie Deco item (Shadow Brilliance II in DC 025 Foxy Lady) and my first impression of it is very good. I will be reviewing it later on.

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(continued from Part 1)

6. Max Factor

(image from www.maxfactor.jp)

Some beauty lines in Japan let customers choose what they want in the holiday makeup kits. For holiday 2009, Max Factor offers the Foundation Set and the Color Makeup Set. With the Foundation Set, customers can go for one foundation and one makeup base, while they can choose one eyeshadow palette and one mascara for the Color Makeup Set. There are also two makeup pouches to choose from, and I think both look very lovely.

5. Anna Sui

(image from www.annasui-cosmetics.com)

There are some very collectible items in Anna Sui’s holiday 2009 collection. The Hand Mirror Eye Color Palette and the Hand Mirror Lip Color Palette are especially eye-catching. (I am sure they are popular with Anna Sui fans.) The makeup case also looks quite princessy.

4. Magie Deco

(image from www.cosme.net)

Since Magie Deco was launched in 2007, it has been bringing out makeup sets for the holiday season. For 2009, Magie Deco Coffret III includes a very pretty eyeshadow palette, with colors such as beige gold, light pink, and deep purple. The set also contains a pressed powder and a powder brush. This is probably my favorite holiday makeup set from Magie Deco, which is very closely followed by the 2007 coffret. (See the 2007 coffret here and the one for 2008 here.)

Related posts:

Max Factor Eye Gradation Colors

Anna Sui Spring 2010 Makeup Collection

Magie Deco Fall 2009 Collection

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