-Kosé

New Japanese Beauty Line: Cosme Decorte Maquiexpert

by PJ on Monday, September 14, 2009

in _Japanese Brand Profile, -Cosme Decorte, -Kosé, -Maquiexpert, 2009 Fall, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup

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

On October 16th, Kosé’s Cosme Decorte will launch a new line, Maquiexpert. The debut lineup includes base makeup and skincare items.

The line has a minimal and professional look. The packaging is very Giorgio Armani, and Covering Makeup Foundation (above) reminds me of Max Factor’s pancake compact foundation.

Maquiexpert’s debut lineup includes:

– Covering Makeup Foundation (10 shades, sponge sold separately)

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

– Face Powder

– Covering Makeup Base

– Textuner (primer)

– Deep Cleansing Oil

– Balancing Mist

Maquiexpert’s price point will be somewhat similar to those of Jill Stuart and Lunasol. Both Covering Makeup Foundation and Face Powder retail for 5250 JPY.

A limited-edition debut kit was available in Isetan Shinjuku in Tokyo from September 6th to 10th. Also, you can check out this post on a Japanese blog for the promotional image of the line.

Cosme Decorte Magie Deco Fall 2009 Collection

Cosme Decorte AQ Fall 2009 Collection

New Japanese Beauty Brand: Addiction

{ 4 comments }

Beauté de Kosé Fall/Winter 2009 Base Makeup Collection

by PJ on Saturday, September 12, 2009

in -Kosé, 2009 Fall, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup, makeup - base makeup

(image/info from www.nikkei.co.jp
& www3.kose.co.jp/bko)

Beauté de Kosé‘s base makeup range, Ultimation, has released its fall/winter items in Japan on September 1st.

The new items include:

– True Satin Perfect Liquid Foundation (6 shades, SPF 12 & PA++)
– Makeup Base N (1 shade)
– Loose Powder N (1 shade)
– Tone Up Liquid (highlighter for eye area, 1 new shade)

The new True Satin Perfect Liquid Foundation features Silk Filter Powder with enhanced moisturizing efficacy.

Foundation Face-Off: Dior vs. Esprique Precious

RMK Powder Foundation EX

Anna Sui Fall 2009 Point & Base Makeup Collection

{ 2 comments }

Kosé Cosme Decorte Magie Deco Fall 2009 Collection

by PJ on Thursday, July 16, 2009

in -Cosme Decorte, -Kosé, -Magie Deco, 2009 Fall, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup

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

Magie Deco will release its fall 2009 collection in Japan on August 21st. The new version of Shadow Brilliance, Shadow Brilliance II, will be launched.

The lineup includes:

– Shadow Brilliance II (above, 6 variations)

– Fairy Eyes (2 new shades)

– Lipstick (6 new shades)

– Lipstick Luxual Color (2 shades)

– Fairy Rouge (2 new shades)

– Nail Color (6 new shades)

Kosé Cosme Decorte AQ Fall 2009 Point & Base Makeup Collection

by PJ on Thursday, July 16, 2009

in -AQ, -Cosme Decorte, -Kosé, 2009 Fall, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup, makeup - base makeup

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

Cosme Decorte AQ, one of Kosé’s top-end lines, will release its fall 2009 collection in Japan on August 21st.

The new point makeup items include:

– Shadow Supreme (above, 3 new variations)

– Rouge Supreme (5 new shades)

– Nail Supreme (5 new shades)

– Lip Brush

The new base makeup items (which will be housed in the new packaging launched last year for AQ’s fall 2008 point makeup collection) include:

– Cream Foundation Supreme (7 shades, SPF 20, PA++)

– Powder Foundation Supreme (7 shades, SPF 15, PA++)

– Makeup Base (2 shades, SPF 18, PA+)

– Concealer (2 shades, SPF 25, PA+++)

– Modelling Nuancer (pressed powder/ highlighter, 2 shades)

– Face Powder N (1 shade)

– Lip Glosser (lip treatment, lipstick base and lip gloss)

Cosme Decorte AQ Summer 2008 Collection

Beauté de Kosé Spring 2009 Collection

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

{ 8 comments }

Esprique Precious Fall 2009 Point Makeup & Fall/Winter 2009 Base Makeup Collection

by PJ on Tuesday, June 30, 2009

in -Esprique (Precious), -Kosé, 2009 Fall, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup, makeup - base makeup

(image from www.nikkei.co.jp)

Kosé’s Esprique Precious will release its fall/winter base makeup collection in Japan on August 21st. The lineup includes:

– Dramatical Veil Pact Moisture (7 shades, SPF 20, PA++)
– Dramatical Veil Liquid (7 shades, SPF17, PA++)
– Moisturizing Base (1 shade, SPF 10, PA+)
– Lines Reset (concealer, 1 shade)
– Purely Veil Powder (loose powder, 1 shade, limited edition)

Esprique Precious’ fall 2009 point makeup items will be released on the same day. They include:

– Dress on Glossy Rouge (10 shades)
– True Impact Eyes (2 new variations, limited editions)

Foundation Face-Off – Dior vs. Esprique Precious

Esprique Precious Spring/Summer 2009 Base Makeup Collection

Esprique Precious Spring 2009 Makeup Collection

{ 0 comments }

Kosé Addiction Website Update

by PJ on Tuesday, June 23, 2009

in -Addiction, -Kosé, 2009 Fall, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup

(image from www.addiction-beauty.com)

If you have been following news of Kosé’s new brand, Addiction, do head over to the brand’s official website to browse through the product lineup. (The information on the individual shades is not yet up on the site.)

{ 2 comments }

Kosé Addiction Update

by PJ on Wednesday, June 10, 2009

in -Addiction, -Kosé, 2009 Fall, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup

(images from www.addiction-beauty.com)

Two weeks ago, I mentioned the upcoming department store brand Addiction. Kosé has now set up the brand’s official website, which doesn’t have information on the lineup yet but has stated that the launch date is July 15th.

From what we can see now, the packaging features dark-brown cases that look quite minimal and chic, and the brand logo looks sleek and modern. The brand appears to carry items that fit into different-sized cases.

The website will probably have more information on the products as the launch date approaches.

Updated on June 11th 2009:

A slightly closer look at some of the items:

(image from www.fashionsnap.com)

It seems that the items are housed in black cases instead of dark-brown ones as previously mentioned…

{ 4 comments }

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

by PJ on Tuesday, June 9, 2009

in -Dior, -Esprique (Precious), -Kosé, 2009 Spring, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup, makeup - base makeup, makeup - base makeup - foundation

It has been over a year since my last Foundation Face-Off, and I hope you will enjoy this long overdue addition. Today I am taking you through two spring/summer 2009 releases: Dior’s Snow Whitening UV Compact (White Reveal UV Shield Makeup) and Beauté de Kosé Esprique Precious’ Dramatical Stay Pact UV EX. The two trial samples are from the April and May 2009 issues of Biteki.

(I have oily skin that is prone to slight redness. I prefer powder foundations that control shine well, offer at least medium coverage and have decent pore coverage. I don’t usually wear a primer or a concealer. I have a light-to-medium complexion and ZA Two-Way Foundation in 22 is one of my ideal shades. (I haven’t used MAC foundations for a very long time so I don’t know which shade is currently the closest to my complexion.))

Basics

– Dior Snow Whitening UV Compact (White Reveal UV Shield Makeup): SPF 30, PA +++, 6 shades (shade tested: 020)
– Beauté de Kosé Esprique Precious Dramatical Stay Pact UV EX: SPF 25, PA ++, 7 shades (shade tested: OC-410)

Both shades are lighter than ZA Two-Way Foundation in 22.

Finish

The two differ quite a lot in finish. Dior has a luminous and glowy finish, while Esprique Precious has a soft matte finish which is only very subtly luminous. Neither has visible shimmer.

Texture

Dior has a soft velvety texture, while EP has a slightly drier feel (which is far from chalky). Both go on evenly and smoothly.

Coverage

Both have a light-to-medium coverage, but Dior has marginally more coverage. With Dior, I feel that the coverage is more based on the luminous semi-transparent light-reflective powder than on opaque pigment. One thing I don’t like about this is that, as I have applied the powder evenly and then look straight at the mirror, the coverage looks sufficient on the forehead, chin and top of the cheeks (wherever the light hits straight on and creates the coverage) but the sides of my nose and the sides of my face (where the light bounces off sideways from where I can see) seem to get almost no coverage.

Even though this type of coverage creates more dimension for the face and should please some people (as the powder emulates a shading effect), I prefer EP’s soft-focus and even-looking coverage.

Pore Coverage

Dior’s luminous and glowy powder can exaggerate the look of pores. On the other hand, EP has a decent pore coverage.

Shine Control

Again, Dior’s glowy finish can make shine more pronounced overtime. EP has a fairly good shine control.

Staying Power

Dior does have a reasonably good staying power (with all the blotting), but I am more impressed with EP’s lasting ability. It can be a little hard to tell how the coverage and finish last since they are on the natural side, but, after a whole day, there is no patchiness and my skin tone still looks very even.

Overall, Dior reminds me of Primavista’s Powder Foundation Moist Touch and Esprique Precious reminds me of Coffret D’Or’s Beauty Lasting Pact UV. (Coffret D’Or has slightly better shine control). For me, between Dior and Esprique Precious, Esprique Precious is the obvious winner. If it had more coverage, it would definitely be a product I’d consider buying.

You can read my friend Betsy’s review of Esprique Precious Dramatical Stay Pact UV EX on Autumn Masquerade.

Japanese Base Makeup Week

RMK Powder Foundation EX

Foundation Face-Off (1) – Chanel vs. SUQQU

Foundation Face-Off (2) – Lunasol vs. Coffret D’Or

{ 2 comments }

New Japanese Beauty Brand: Addiction

by PJ on Thursday, May 28, 2009

in _Japanese Brand Profile, -Addiction, -Kosé, 2009 Fall, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup

Since I started my blog in November 2006, we have seen quite a few new beauty brands/ranges from Japan, such as Esprique Precious, Magie Deco, Coffret D’Or, Chicca, Primavista, Integrate Gracy, and Twany Glamacy. Soon we will witness the birth of another brand.

In a few weeks’ time, Kosé will reveal more information on Addiction, its latest department store brand since Jill Stuart (launched in 2005 and licensed under Kosé)*. The creator behind it is Japanese US-based makeup artist Ayako, who has worked with various fashion designers and photographers including Karl Lagerfeld and Annie Leibovitz as well as celebrities such as Naomi Campbell and Penelope Cruz.

The brand will be launched at Tokyo’s Isetan Shinjuku this fall and then expanded to a few more department stores in Tokyo and Osaka.

The launch lineup will feature 27 products in 108 items/shades. The eyeshadow singles and lipsticks will retail for 2100 and 2940 JPY respectively.

Fans of Japanese cosmetics might immediately be reminded of Japanese makeup artist Rumiko, who is also US-based and started RMK in the 90s. (It is owned by Kanebo.) It has been a very popular brand over the years, and I look forward to seeing how Ayako can emulate Rumiko’s success, especially in today’s economy.

There are no product images at the moment, but I expect there to be some in the coming weeks. I will try my best to keep you posted.

(information from www.nikkei.co.jp and www.business-i.jp)

* Esprique Precious (launched in 2006) and Magie Deco (launched in 2007) are launched after Jill Stuart, but Esprique Precious is sold at Kosé counters and Magie Deco is available at Cosme Decorte counters in Japan. They are considered to be among the various makeup ranges of Kosé and the Kosé-owned Cosme Decorte respectively. On the other hand, I am assuming that, like Jill Stuart, Addiction will have its own department store counters with its own fully-fledged brand identity.

Updated on June 10th 2009:

Please have a look at this post for images and further information.

Updated on June 16th 2009:

Please check out this post on Voce’s blog for photos taken at Addiction’s press launch.

Updated on July 8th, 2017:

Read my review of Blush in 04 Amazing.

More on some of the new Japanese beauty brands/ranges in the last couple of years:

Coffret D’Or (Kanebo)

Twany Glamacy (Kanebo)

Chicca (Kanebo)

Magie Deco (Kosé)

Integrate Gracy (Shiseido)