makeup – base makeup

Makeup Review: Trish McEvoy Bejeweled Makeup Planner Collection for Holiday 2009

by PJ on Tuesday, December 22, 2009

in -Trish McEvoy, 2009 Holiday, makeup, makeup - base makeup, makeup - base makeup - primer/concealer, makeup - blusher, makeup - eyeshadow, makeup - lip color, makeup - lip gloss

(image from Trish McEvoy)

One feature that Trish McEvoy is known for is the Makeup Planner System, which combines Makeup Planners (makeup pouches with binder rings) and Makeup Planner Pages (refillable palettes). Today I am reviewing the limited-edition Bejeweled Makeup Planner Collection for holiday 2009.

The set contains a Petite Refillable Makeup Page, which holds up to eight eyeshadows and can be filed into the Planner.

The palette includes:

– Eye Definer in Deep Aubergine: dark brown-toned purple (matte)
– Eye Definer in Amethyst: dark violet (with sparse shimmer)
– Glaze Eye Shadow in Sable Bronze: light-to-medium warm beige (softly metallic)
– Eye Shadow in Delicate Pink: gently pigmented off-white pink (matte)
– Blush in Easy Going: soft warm pink (glowy matte with very subtle shimmer)
– Bronzer in Dual Resort: pale beige (shimmery) and brown-toned beige (mildly shimmery)

I personally really like Glaze Eye Shadow in Sable Bronze and Blush in Easy Going. Sable Bronze has a flattering sheen which doesn’t look flat or frosty, and the shade has a natural warmth to it. (It doesn’t look ashy or too bronze.) The blusher adds a soft and natural flush to the cheeks. The powder is smooth and velvety and is very easy to apply.

Overall I think this palette is more suitable for those with a light or light-to-medium complexion, as Sable Bronze, the blusher, and the bronzer might be too subtle for those with darker skin tones.

Eye Base Essentials is an eyeshadow base with quite a creamy texture. The shade included in the set is Bare, which is a pale beige with a pink undertone. It has sufficient pigment to even out the skin tone in the eyelid areas. It also contains ingredients to provide additional moisture for the eyelids, such as hydrogenated vegetable oil and bees wax.

The set also includes Beauty Booster SPF 15 Lip Gloss in Brightening Pink. It is a moderately pigmented cool berry pink with no shimmer. The color looks quite bright in the tube, but, as it is not too pigmented, it looks considerably more natural on the lips. It creates a vinyl-like glossy finish, which lasts well.

It contains avobenzone, which provides protection against UVA rays, and it is fragrance-free. It contains peppermint oil, which might be a concern for some people. But it is the last ingredient on the ingredient list, and it doesn’t feel tingly or cause discomfort or irritation when I wear it on my bare lips. (It only feels very mildly cooling.)

All the items are housed in a limited-edition White and Black Quilted Petite Makeup Planner. (It measures 11.5cm x 15cm x 7.5cm approximately.) The planner contains a small see-through pouch, which fits snugly in the Planner (as seen in the photo at the top).

Except Eye Shadow in Delicate Pink, which is not on Trish McEvoy’s website as an individual product, all the makeup shades in this set are available individually. I think this is a very nicely edited set with well-coordinated and easy-to-wear colors which are quality basics and can suit various occasions.

In the UK, this set is exclusive to Harvey Nichols.

(The product featured in this article is provided by Trish McEvoy.)

Dior Cristal Boréal

SUQQU Christmas Makeup Kit A (for Holiday 2009)

Paul & Joe Holiday 2009 Collection (Pearl Powder, Pencil Eyeliner, and Pouch C IV)

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Lunasol Spring/Summer 2010 Base Makeup Collection

by PJ on Tuesday, December 22, 2009

in -Kanebo, -Lunasol, 2010 Spring, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup, makeup - base makeup

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

Lunasol will release its spring/summer 2009 base makeup collection in Japan on February 19th. The lineup includes:

– Micro Finish Pressed Powder N (2 shades, SPF 10, PA +)
– Pressed Face Color (2 shades)

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

Lavshuca Finish Powder in Lucent & High Color

RMK Powder Foundation EX

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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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Lavshuca Finish Powder in Lucent & High Cover

by PJ on Wednesday, September 9, 2009

in -Kanebo, -Lavshuca, 2009 Spring, makeup, makeup - base makeup, makeup - base makeup - powder, stash focus

First of all, I know that some of you have been waiting for this review for quite a while. I am sorry for the delay, and I hope you will enjoy reading this review.

Lavshuca Finish Powder was released in February this year and it is meant to replace Face Powder. It is available in two shades, Lucent and High Cover. I wasn’t sure which shade to get, since I really liked Face Powder in Lucent and I was also curious about High Cover. In the end I decided to get both.

When I saw the packaging in person, I actually liked it more than I thought I would. Obviously it is not as princessy as the more ornate Face Powder, but I still think it is quite pretty. The center of the lid is gently raised, which I think is a nice touch.

The case is smaller than that of Face Powder. The Face Powder case measures 7.7 cm in diameter (at the widest part) while the Finish Powder case measures 6.4 cm in diameter. Face Powder has 16g of powder while Finish Powder in Lucent has 9.8g of powder and High Cover has 6.8g. (I find the difference quite interesting. The two cases seem to contain roughly the same amount of powder and I think the difference is down to the ingredients, which I will touch upon later.)

The powder puff still has the cute bow, but the puff itself is smaller than the one included in Face Powder to fit the smaller case.

(Lavshuca Finish Powder in Lucent)

Now onto the powder itself. If you like Face Powder in Lucent, you shouldn’t be disappointed with Finish Powder in Lucent, which is quite similar. It is a predominantly matte setting powder with a hint of fine shimmer and with a very light coverage. It has a good pore coverage and does well in oil control. The fine powder feels soft on the skin.

I was surprised to find that High Cover doesn’t have more coverage than Lucent. (It won’t be able to replace a foundation.) Finish-wise, it is more matte than Lucent and it has no visible shimmer. In terms of ingredients, High Cover has kaolin, which is second on the ingredient list. (Lucent doesn’t have kaolin but has mica, which High Cover doesn’t have.) I do find that High Cover does a slightly (only slightly) better job in shine control, and this is probably down to the absorbent quality of kaolin. (I think the differences in the ingredients might explain why Lucent weighs more than High Cover even though the two cases have more or less the same amount of powder.)

(I didn’t include a photo of High Cover in this post mainly because Lucent and High Cover look similar in color. High Cover looks slightly lighter and slightly less yellow-toned than Lucent. Both are relatively sheer so there is virtually no difference in color when they are worn on the skin.)

Even though High Cover does slightly better in shine control, I personally prefer Lucent. First of all, I like Lucent’s soft-focus finish. It disguises the look of pores well and it gives the face a polished look. High Cover is nicely matte (not chalky matte) but it doesn’t do as well in pore coverage. Secondly, I personally don’t like kaolin in foundations. It does help absorb sebum but it can also absorb moisture, which can potentially dry out the skin.

Overall, I think Lucent should suit most skin types and should please those who go for an almost-matte finish with a touch of shimmer. If you would like a shimmer-less loose powder and if you have no issue with kaolin, then High Cover might be a good choice as well.

SUQQU Loose Powder in Natural
(if you want more shimmer)

Crème de la Mer The Powder in Translucent
(another shimmery loose powder)

Kiss Mat Chiffon Powder
(another great loose powder for an almost-matte polished finish)

Coffret D’Or Makeup Powder
(an ultra-natural loose powder)

Japanese Base Makeup Week

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Anna Sui Fall 2009 Point & Base Makeup Collecion

by PJ on Friday, July 24, 2009

in -Anna Sui, 2009 Fall, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup, makeup - base makeup

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

Anna Sui will release its fall 2009 makeup collection in Japan on August 20th. The items include:

– Eye Color Accent B (above, 3 shades)

– Lipstick B (3 shades)

– Nail Color N (5 shades)

All the items above are limited editions.

On the same day, new base makeup items will be launched. They include:

– Moisture Rich Fluid Foundation (6 shades)

– Moisture Rich Powder Foundation (5 shades)

– Moisture Rich Foundation Primer

A limited-edition Moisture Rich Foundation Kit will be available as well. It consists of the new primer (full-sized), (presumably) either the fluid or the powder foundation (full-sized) and an original pouch. Th kit retails for 7350 JPY, which means customers receive the pouch for free when purchasing the primer (3150 JPY) and either of the foundations (both 4200 JPY).

Anna Sui Summer 2009 Hair & Body Collection

Anna Sui Spring 2009 Collection

Anna Sui’s Sui Lip Gloss in 100

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Sonia Rykiel Fall 2009 Base Makeup Collection

by PJ on Thursday, July 23, 2009

in -Sonia Rykiel, 2009 Fall, makeup, makeup - base makeup

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

Sonia Rykiel will release its fall 2009 base makeup collection in Japan on September 4th. The new items include:

– Soin Teinte Hydratant Treatment Cream Foundation (above, 5 shades)

– Poudre Suprême (4 variations)

(Multi-toned pressed powder probably
doesn’t get much prettier than this…)

Sonia Rykiel Fall 2009 Point Makeup Collection

Beauty Brand Focus: Sonia Rykiel

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Lunasol Fall 2009 Website Update

by PJ on Thursday, July 23, 2009

in -Kanebo, -Lunasol, 2009 Fall, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup, makeup - base makeup

(images/info from www.kanebo-cosmetics.jp/lunasol)

Lunasol has updated its website to feature its fall 2009 collection. Have a look at all the items, including the new Star Shower Eyes palettes.

The collection will be available in Japan from August 21st.

Also, on August 28th, the limited-edition 2009 Base Makeup Kit will be released.

The kit (8925 JPY) includes:

– Water Cream Foundation (full-sized)
– Creamy Makeup Base (full-sized)
– Morning Wakening Massage (10g)
– Night Refining Cream (10g)
– Lotion II (21ml)
– Emulsion II (21ml)
– Lunasol Original Pouch

(Customers can choose to purchase a full-sized refill of the Skin Fusing Powder Foundation instead of Water Cream Foundation. In this case, the kit retails for 7875 JPY.)

Lunasol 2008 Base Makeup Kit

Lunasol Skin Fusing Powder Foundation

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Makeup Review: SUQQU Loose Powder in Natural

by PJ on Wednesday, July 22, 2009

in -SUQQU, 2007 Fall, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup, makeup - base makeup, makeup - base makeup - powder

SUQQU‘s Loose Powder was released as part of the brand’s fall 2007 base makeup collection. It is available in two shades, Natural and Deep. The two shades work together to create highlight and contour for the face. Today I am reviewing the shade in Natural.

Color-wise, Natural is a sheer off-white cream. It has a subtly pearly finish. When I tested it on the back of my hand, I thought the finish might be too pearly for me. I was also worried that the luminous finish might make my pores look more obvious. But when worn on the face, it imparts a softly luminous finish that is neither pearly or frosty. It doesn’t accentuate the look of pores. Also, the powder is very light and fine.

The enclosed powder puff is relatively soft and easy to use.

Compared with Lavshuca Face Powder and Kiss Mat Chiffon Powder, this product doesn’t have any efficacy in shine control or pore coverage. (It also has the least amount of coverage among the three.) It will not work as a setting powder for those with combination or oily skin.

Among the loose powder products that I have reviewed, it is the closest to Crème de la Mer’s The Powder in Translucent. The main difference is that SUQQU’s finish is more natural and less shimmery and it doesn’t have the pink iridescence that the Crème de la Mer powder has. Overall, as a highlighting powder (particularly for daytime makeup), I prefer SUQQU’s.

Essentially, this is a finishing powder that works as a subtle highlighter, as it adds a soft and very natural glow for the face. It is also subtle enough to be used all over the face if the softly glowy finish is what you would like to go for. (It is able to help create the “brilliant skin” that is very popular in Japan right now.)

(SUQQU is currently available in Japan, Thailand, and the UK. Check here to see the information on all the SUQQU retail points.)

Updated on July 26th 2009:

Examples of “Brilliant Skin”, requested by reader Tamtam. (I am also considering writing up a separate post on this trend.)

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

(image from www.biteki.com)

More on SUQQU’s fall 2007 base makeup collection:

Foundation Face-Off: Chanel vs. SUQQU

Makeup Base Creamy & Brightup

Kao Est Fall/Winter 2009 Base Makeup Release

by PJ on Thursday, July 16, 2009

in -Est, -Kao, 2009 Fall, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup, makeup - base makeup

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

In fall 2009, Est will add Cream Make Up Active Aura Moist (SPF 23, PA++) to the brand’s base makeup lineup. The product features “skin-synchro film”, which helps provide a natural skin-like finish, and “water-reflect powder”, which creates a dewy glow for the complexion.

It will be available in Japan from August 29th.