Makeup, Skincare, Fragrance and a Bit of Fashion
I have received Coffret D’Or’s Color Mixing Eyes in 04 Lavender-Purple Mix (for summer 2009) and both Lucent and High Cover of Lavshuca’s Finish Powder (for spring/summer 2009). I will start trying them out very soon and I will post the reviews later on!
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(images/info from www.joseishi.net/voce/)
Concealer Tone Up is an orange-based concealer for the eye area. The product is designed to offer a natural but effective coverage while maintaining the moisture level in the eye area.
The limited-edition Base Makeup Kit includes:
– Dual Pressed Powder (full-sized product)
– Foundation (cream-type foundation, 16g)
– Makeup Base Creamy (7g, see review here)
– original pouch
I’d expect these two items to be available in the UK shortly after they are launched in Japan.
Related posts:
SUQQU Base Makeup Kit (Spring/Summer 2009)
SUQQU Fall 2009 Collection
(including the base makeup item Polish Face Color)
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(images from www.kanebo-cosmetics.jp/coffretdor)
(Coffret D’Or Eye Color)
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(image from www.nikkei.co.jp)
– Powder Foundation Perfect Fit (SPF 15, PA++)
– Moisture Coat Base
– Serum Concealer Eye Zone
Related posts:
Sofina Primavista Spring/Summer 2009 Base Makeup Collection
Sofina Primavista Powder Foundation Moist Touch (for Fall/Winter 2008)
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(image/info from www.nikkei.com)
On September 1st, Coffret D’Or will release its fall/winter base makeup collection. The new items feature Moisture Color Pearl, which provides extra moisture as well as a translucent finish for the skin.
The new items include:
– Beauty Essence Liquid
(liquid foundation, 7 shades)(There doesn’t seem to be a new powder foundation for fall/winter 2009.)
Updated on July 7th 2009:
Image of the two cases of Pure Crystalish Compact:
(image from www.cosme.net)
Related posts:
Coffret D’Or Fall 2009 Point Makeup Collection
Coffret D’Or Summer 2009 Collection
Coffret D’Or Shine Accent Eyes in Pink Variation (Spring 2009)
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Last week, I reviewed some of the eye makeup items in Lancôme’s fall 2009 collection. Today, I will share my thoughts on some items from the rest of the collection.
(Color Fever Matte in (from left to right)To formulate Color Fever Matte, Lancôme tried to combine a matte finish and a smooth and nourishing texture, two things that don’t always co-exist. I think the end result is quite successful. While delivering a velvety matte finish, they glide on easily and don’t make lips feel or look dry.
Among the three shades, 151 Red Avant-Garde (left) is the most vivid and the closest to cardinal red. 152 Red Paris Paris (middle) is slightly cooler and more rose-toned, and it goes on slightly darker than 151. 153 Red Libertine (right) is the most muted and is perhaps the most wearable for those who don’t usually wear rich reds for the lips.
You can wear these colors with a lip liner for a defined and classic look, but my favorite way to apply them is to keep them just inside the lip line and use the fingertip to blend the color gently towards the lip line to create a softer edge and a more sensual look.
The two new Color Fever Gloss shades in this collection are 026 Pure Gold and 125 Aaron’s Red. Aaron’s red is a vibrant cool-toned shimmer-less red. (It goes on cooler than it appears in the tube.) While imparting a glossy transparency, the color (when worn alone) is very intense and the overall look resembles a lipstick-plus-gloss combination. I think the shade can be compared to that of strawberry jelly, which is color-rich but still transparent. Plus the shade does look mouth-watering…
Pure Gold has a completely different finish. It is a semi-opaque gold with fine multi-colored shimmer, and the richness of the color does resemble liquid gold. One coat of it gives the lips a yellow-based neutral tone. (It is a nice way to create a natural neutral tone for the lips without making them overly pale or ashy.) Two or more coats will start to create a rich gold-foil shine.
Both shades complement Color Fever Matte well. Aaron’s Red adds lip-plumping glossiness to the matte finish, while Pure Gold on the center of the lips makes the lips look stunningly luxurious. (If you don’t want any glossiness on the lips but still want a touch of gold, Aaron suggests using one of the golds in the eye palettes for a glistening gold-dust finish.)
Rose Liberté is created to add a veil of gold to the complexion. Some might be disappointed to know that the vibrant shimmer is an overspray, but I think the softly luminous gold-toned beige powder underneath is much more user-friendly. (I think the overspray, which has the same multi-colored shimmer as that in the Pure Gold Color Fever Gloss, is more suited as an eyeshadow.)
Also in this collection is the Powder Brush, which is designed to help apply not only Rose Liberté but also other loose and pressed powder products. The large fluffy brush feels soft on the face and is angled for more flexibility in the application.
Here are my personal picks from the collection:
– Palette Liberté in Bleu Royauté (signature item of the collection)
– Palette Liberté in Or Liberté (chic and wearable)
– Color Fever Matte in Red Paris Paris (vivid but elegant)
– Color Fever Gloss in Pure Gold (versatile and ultra-glamorous)
One of the demanding tasks of an artistic director of an international beauty brand is to express his/her unique vision as an artist and to create products with a mass-market appeal on a global scale. I think Aaron De Mey has done a great job with Lancôme’s fall 2009 collection. The creative vision is crystal-clear, and the products, thorough which we are able to see his original ideas, not only aim to set trends but also attempt to create classics. I wonder what is going to wow us in spring 2010…
Other fall 2009 makeup collections:
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(images and info from www.covermark.co.jp)
Covermark was originally an American brand. It was founded by Lydia O’Leary in New York in 1928 as she developed a product to cover the birthmark on her face. (The product was named Covermark.)
In 1960, Japan O’Leary Corporation was established to distribute Covermark in Japan. The company was then separated from O’Leary Coporation in 1992 and became independent. It started to formulate and produce new base makeup products.
Covermark Japan also carries basic point makeup and skincare items. The latest skincare range is the Cell Advanced range. However, Covermark has always been famous in Asia as a base makeup brand.
(The original US Covermark site can be found here, and you can read more about the history of the brand here.)
(Covermark Basic Formula,The Covermark Basic Formula (above) is based on two of Covermark’s original products, Covermark S and Excellent Covermark E. It is a paste-type foundation which is able to create a full coverage.
Some of Covermark’s other popular products include Moisture Veil (the brand’s only powder foundation at the moment), Soft ES Pact (also with a paste consistency), Essence Foundation (cream foundation), and Essence Foundation Liquid (liquid foundation, seen at the top of the post).
Covermark is currently available in Japan, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand. (Check out the English site here.)
I have not had a chance to try products from Covermark yet. If you have, do let us know what you think. Thank you very much!
Related posts:
Other Japanese Cosmetics Focus posts:
ECM
(another brand noted for base makeup items)
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(image from www.nikkei.co.jp)
– 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)
Related posts:
Foundation Face-Off – Dior vs. Esprique Precious
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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.
Related posts:
Foundation Face-Off (1) – Chanel vs. SUQQU
Foundation Face-Off (2) – Lunasol vs. Coffret D’Or
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(images/info from www.nikkei.co.jp)
The powder (24g, SPF 14 PA++) retails for 12600 JPY. Like the 2009 edition, it includes a powder puff with silk produced in Kyoto.
(motif on the powder case)
Updated on June 15th 2009:
The collection will also include a 30ml eau de parfum. It will be available from November 16 and the pre-order period ends on August 20th.
(image/info from www.kanebo-cosmetics.jp/milano-collection)
Related posts:
Raycious Foundation Case Galore
Foundation Face-Off: Lunasol vs. Coffret D’Or
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Anna Sui Spring 2026 Makeup Collection (image from www.cosme.net)
