-Kosé

Fall 2009 Makeup Top 10 (Part 1)

by PJ on Tuesday, November 3, 2009

in -Addiction, -Dior, -Kosé, -Paul & Joe, -YSL, 2009 Fall, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup, seasonal makeup top 10

A couple of weeks ago, I presented the Fall 2009 Makeup Trend Round-Up. Today, I start the countdown of my favorite fall 2009 makeup collections. I hope you will enjoy these posts.

10. Addiction

(image from www.addiction-beauty.com)

I think Kosé’s Addiction is one of the most exciting launches in Japanese cosmetics this year. As many of the mainstream Japanese makeup lines aim to be as wearable as possible, Addiction is a lot edgier, with items like various black eyeshadows that help create intense smoky eyes.

(image from www.addiction-beauty.com)

The launch lineup is very coherent and looks quite warm-toned to me, and I look forward to seeing their spring 2010 collection.

9. YSL

(image from www.ysl.com)

(image from www.joseishi.net/voce)

Among the items in YSL’s fall 2009 makeup collection, I like the Ombres 5 Lumières in 18 (above, Japanese release) and the limited-edition Cream Blush. The Cream Blush has more of a mousse texture, which is a pleasant surprise. It appeals to me more than blushers with a cream texture, as I think mousse blushers are easier to apply and blend. They also tend to look velvety/semi-matte (which I like) rather than shiny.

8. Dior

(image from www.iswii.net)

Dior’s seasonal makeup collections are usually great trend indicators, and the fall 2009 collection is no exception. The collection features purples, plums, pinks, and greys for the eyes and warm-toned shades for the lips. The 5-Color Eyeshadow in 173 Night Butterfly (above) has virtually all the seasonal trends in one compact.

The Dior Jazzclub palettes look very chic but they don’t wow me as much as many of Dior’s past seasonal limited-edition items. Otherwise, Dior would place higher on my list.

7. Paul & Joe

(image from www.iswii.com)

I think Paul & Joe’s seasonal makeup collections are always worth looking forward to, particularly the items with the original prints by the designer behind the brand, Sophie Albou. While I am not as crazy about the prints from this collection as I was about some of the previous ones, I like the new design of the eyeshadow cases, which have an oval shape instead of the usual round shape. Paul & Joe doesn’t do loud colors, and the eyeshadows for this season are soft, elegant, and wearable as usual.

(image from www.iswii.com)

The countdown continues in Part 2.

Summer 2009 Makeup Top 10: Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3

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Esprique Precious Holiday 2009 Collection

by PJ on Friday, September 18, 2009

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

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

Beauté de Kosé’s Esprique Precious will release its holiday 2009 collection in collaboration with Cosme.Net in Japan on November 16th.

The limited-edition Illuminate Fantasy set includes (from left to right in photo) Nail Color N, Glamorous Glossy Eyes, Face Color Case, Face Color, Dress On Glossy Rouge and Face Color Brush.

You can check out this page on Cosme.Net for more information and images.

Esprique Precious Holiday 2008 Collection

Esprique Precious Fall 2009 Collection

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.)

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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…

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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

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