makeup – base makeup

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.

Related posts:

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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(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).

Related posts:

Anna Sui Summer 2009 Hair & Body Collection

Anna Sui Spring 2009 Collection

Anna Sui’s Sui Lip Gloss in 100

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(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…)

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(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.)

Related posts:

Lunasol 2008 Base Makeup Kit

Lunasol Skin Fusing Powder Foundation

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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

Other related posts:

SUQQU Fall 2009 Point Makeup Collection

SUQQU Fall 2009 Base Makeup Releases

SUQQU Clear Veil Powder

Japanese Beauty Brand Profile: SUQQU

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(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.

Related posts on Est:

Fall 2008 Base Makeup Collection

Fall 2009 Makeup Collection

Spring 2009 Makeup Collection

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(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)

Related posts:

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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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/)

On September 18th, SUQQU will release Concealer Tone Up and the fall/winter 2009 edition of Base Makeup Kit in Japan.

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 Clear Veil Powder

SUQQU Fall 2009 Collection
(including the base makeup item Polish Face Color)

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

The Kanebo Coffret D’Or website has been updated to include information on the fall 2009 point makeup collection and the fall/winter 2009 base makeup collection. Please check here for the updates.

(Coffret D’Or Eye Color)

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