makeup

The Color Mixing Eyes (/幻妝眼彩盒) series is part of Kanebo Coffret D’Or‘s summer 2009 makeup collection. Even though 04 Lavender Purple Mix, which I tried first, was not my favorite Coffret D’Or palette, I liked it enough to want to try another one. Also, I was looking for eye palettes with warm neutrals, so I decided to pick up 01 Orange Brown Mix.

The four shades in this palette:

Bottom left: sheer off-white with soft shimmer
Top left: moderately pigmented warm champagne gold with a mildly sparkly finish
Top right: moderately pigmented light-to-medium bronze with soft shimmer
Bottom right: pigmented dark brown with mild shimmer

One of the reasons I decided to go for Orange Brown Mix is that I wanted to try something a little warmer than Coffret D’Or’s 3D Lighting Eyes in Gold Variation. Orange Brown Mix did turn out to be substantially warmer. Between the two champagne golds, the one in Orange Brown Mix is slightly warmer. The bronze in Orange Brown Mix is also warmer than the neutral (not too warm/cool) gold in Gold Variation.

(Even though, with Color Mixing Eyes, the two colors on top of the palettes are supposed to be mixed together, I tend to use them separately for more versatility.)

The light-to-medium bronze can look a little too bronze-y on me at first. But after half an hour or so, the color relaxes and merges with the skin tone. Still looking very warm, it is more of a soft orange-toned bronze than a true bronze.

When the champagne gold and the bronze are mixed together, the champagne gold adds a touch of coolness to the bronze. Plus, the different sizes of shimmery particles give the mixture a nice dimension.

It is hard to decide whether I prefer Orange Brown Mix or Gold Variation. Orange Brown Mix is more vibrant and summery, while Gold Variation is more understated and elegant. They suit different needs and different moods. But, in terms of the texture of the powder and the overall finish, I slightly prefer Gold Variation. The powder is very silky and the gold shade has a beautiful pearly finish.

Overall, Orange Brown Mix is a nice eye palette for warmer months, as the shades bring a summery warmth to the eyes and help brighten up the face. But I think some people will like the palette for winter for exactly the same reason. While I will go back to this palette (regardless of the seasons) from time to time, I will continue to explore warm neutral-toned palettes.

Related posts:

Magie Deco Shadow Brilliance II in DC025 Foxy Lady

RMK Spring Modern Eyes in 03 Orangy Brown

SUQQU Blend Eyeshadow in 10 Sakuragi

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

I have not been an avid fan of Kosé’s Visée. I have only purchased one product from the line (Dual Shine Rouge Palette for holiday 2006), and the packaging and the brand image generally don’t appeal to me. But Visée’s new eyeshadow palette series for fall 2010, Blossom Eyes, is looking pretty good. I am liking the floral patterns, although the case may look too plastic-y in person.

Visée’s fall 2010 makeup collection includes:

– Blossom Eyes (5 variations)
– Lash Blossom Volume (1 shade)
– Lash Blossom Long (1 shade)

The collection will be released in Japan on June 16th.

You can see the promotional image of the collection and the five Blossom Eyes palettes here.

Updated on June 29th 2010:

Please see Julia’s review (with swatches) of the pink variation of Blossom Eyes at Colour Me Cute!.

Related posts on Kosé-owned lines:

Addiction Summer 2010 Collection

Cosme Decorte Magie Deco Shadow Brilliance II in Foxy Lady

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

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

Kanebo Lavshuca will release its fall 2010 makeup collection in Japan on August 1st. The collection features:

– Dramatic Memory Liquid (liquid lipstick): 8 shades
– Creamy Gel Liner: 6 shades
– Long Lengths Maker (mascara): 1 shade

Related posts on Lavshuca:

Summer 2010 Collection

Spring 2010 Collection

Finish Powder in Lucent & High Cover

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

Kanebo Kate will release its fall 2010 makeup collection in Japan on August 1st. The collection includes:

– Dual Blend Eyes (8 variations)
– Lasting Gel Eyeliner (6 shades)
– Lasting Gel Eyebrow (3 shades)
– Lasting Gel Eyebrow Coat
– Gradical Eyes A (1 new variation)
– Reflect Mirror Eyes (1 new variation)
– Rouge Lustre (8 shades)
– Lip Gloss S (5 shades)
– Beauty Up BB Base UV

Related posts on Kate:

Kate: Lavshuca’s Edgier, Darker Sister

Summer 2010 Collection

Spring 2010 Collection

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Addicted to Dior Jeweled Lip Gloss Duo is the limited-edition star item of Dior’s summer 2010 makeup collection. I first saw it in Harrods and then in my local John Lewis, and I got it with my Boots points after the collection was finally launched in Boots. (Its retail price in the UK is 42 pounds.)

The front of the palette is engraved with the Dior logo and the address of the House of Dior (30, Avenue Montaigne Paris). There are decorative jewels on the Dior logo and on the four corners. The palette comes with a drawstring velvet pouch.

The palette contains two lip glosses. Two variations are available, and I went for 002 Addicted to Pink, which includes a medium bronze with soft shimmer and a vibrant pink with no shimmer. Both shades go on quite sheer. (001 Addicted to Coral includes a warm gold and a coral.)

(I tested the colors at the counter. I am pretty sure I will keep my palette in an unused condition.)



Even though I decided to get it as soon as I saw the image of it on-line, I don’t think it is among my favorite limited-edition star items from Dior that I have. It is not as glamorous as Lady Dior or Cristal Boréal and it is not as princessy as Dior Princess Ring.


I mentioned earlier that I thought it was slightly on the small side when I saw it in person for the first time. I was mainly comparing it with Dior Sparkling (in the photo above), which is the limited-edition star item from Dior’s holiday 2003 makeup collection. (I can’t quite believe that it is from nearly seven years ago.) Even with the delicate engravings, I think I prefer Dior Sparking. I like the fact that it is bigger and chunkier, and I like the beautifully glimmering pink decorative jewels on the Dior logo.

Having said that, I still think Addicted to Dior is certainly worth collecting. Dior’s limited-edition items that double as accessories almost always get extra points from me, and I do prefer Addicted to Dior to items like Poudrier Dentelle from Dior’s spring 2010 makeup collection. I am probably going to display it alongside some of my other limited-edition items from Dior on my dressing table.

(See images of 001 Addicted to Coral on My Women Stuff.)

Related posts on Dior:

Night Diamond (Holiday 2008)

DiorLight (Holiday 2007)

Diorissime (Fall 2007)

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Max Factor‘s latest lip gloss range, Vibrant Curve Effect, is co-designed by the brand’s Global Creative Design Director, Pat McGrath. The range promises to deliver vibrant colors, high shine, and fuller lips. Today I am featuring the shade in 11 Fashion Leader.

One of the features of the range is the slanted ridged ShineSculpt applicator, which is designed to pick up more gloss and to hug the lips better.

In the tube, the shade looks like a soft peach with mild shimmer. On the lips, it is a very sheer peach with soft shimmer. It has a subtle watermelon scent.

Even though the range is claimed to create high shine, I find it very difficult to create substantial shine or gloss with it. With a couple of layers, the product imparts a subtle and natural moist sheen on the lips. I had to layer the gloss for five or six times to get a soft gloss. The application picks up a decent amount of product, but it is not as effective as a brush or a spatula applicator.

In comparison, Revlon’s Super Lustrous Lipglosses which I recently reviewed are able to create a very glossy finish with two layers. They are also more pigmented and the colors are much more vibrant.

If you are looking for a lip gloss that has an ultra-natural finish, then Vibrant Curve Effect is worth a look. Also, if you like non-sticky lip glosses that don’t feel heavy on the lips, this range will probably appeal to you too.

However, if you want substantial shine and gloss, you are likely to be disappointed with the range and I would recommend looking into lip glosses from Dior, YSL (Golden Gloss), Lunasol (Full Glamour Gloss, one of my favorite lip gloss ranges), Paul & Joe, Makemania (Curvy Lip Silicone), Revlon, and Bobbi Brown (Brightening Lip Gloss).

(The product featured in this article is provided by Max Factor.)

Related posts:

NARS Lip Glosses in Supervixen & Sunset Strip

Barry M Lip Gloss Wands

Natural Makeup Recommendations (2 of 3): Cheeks & Lips

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

Chicca will release its fall 2010 makeup collection in Japan on August 18th, and the theme of the collection is Modern Romance. The berry-red magenta shades look quite striking.

The collection includes:

– Enthralling Powder Eye Shadow (4 new variations)
– Enticing Lipstick (4 new shades)
– Enticing Lip Gloss (2 new shades)
– Enticing Lip Pencil (2 new shades)
– Flush Blush (1 new shade)

Related posts on Chicca:

Summer 2010 Collection

Spring 2010 Collection

Fall 2009 Collection

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

Ayura will release its fall 2010 makeup collection in Japan on July 23rd. The collection includes:

– Aura Feel Oriental Eyes (6 variations)
– Aura Feel Colored Black Mascara (4 shades)
– Aura Feel Gloss Pot (2 shades)

On the same day, Ayura will also release an incense burner with two types of incense.

All the items above are limited editions.

Related posts on Ayura:

Loving Japanese Brands (1 of 7): Ayura

Summer 2010 Collection

15th Anniversary Memories Coffret

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(continued from Part 1 and Part 2)

3. Magie Deco

(image from www.cosmedecorte.com/magiedeco)

(image from www.cosmedecorte.com/magiedeco)


Earlier this year, I finally got my first item from Magie Deco (Shadow Brilliance II in Foxy Lady). It didn’t disappoint me, and I will definitely look out for other things to try. For spring 2010, there are blue, green, and purple as well as more soft neutrals. I particularly like
LC033 White Crystal Opal and DC031 Pink Opal. (White Crystal Opal looks a lot warmer in photos in Biteki than it does in the image above.)

2. Lunasol

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

I tend to be more excited about Lunasol’s palette series for spring than those for fall, and Nature Color Eyes from the spring 2010 collection is another beautifully colorful range from one of my favorite makeup lines in the last ten years. I like the warmth in 03 Nature Brown and the soft colors in 05 Nature Colorful. (If the liner shade in Nature Colorful were a deep purple, I would probably consider buying it.)
1. Coffret D’Or

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

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

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

Among Coffret D’Or’s purple eye palettes, 3D Lighting Eyes in 04 Purple Variation (from the spring 2008 collection) is my favorite and Jewelcious Eyes in 05 Purple Amethyst from the spring 2010 collection is my second favorite. The tone of the purple in Purple Amethyst suits me well and I like its moderate pigmentation level and pearly shimmer. I also like the case design of this palette series.

The Innocent Color Blush reminds us again that Coffret D’Or is the successor to T’Estimo, which released Pure Layer Blush, a loose-powder blusher, for spring and summer 2007. (The cases look nearly the same.)

As I mentioned before, Coffret D’Or overall appeals to me a lot more than T’Estimo. This collection is one of the many reasons why the line has kept me interested for the last few years.

Related posts:

Lunasol Sheer Contrast Eyes in Lavender Coral

Lunasol Summer 2010 Collection

Coffret D’Or Late Summer/ Early Fall Collection

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

On June 11th, Lunasol will release a makeup kit in collaboration with Japanese fashion line Toff & Loadstone.



The Lunasol Toff & Loadstone Collection Kit includes:

– Toff & Loadstone Collection Eyes in EX01 (Sheer Gold Collection)
– Noble Shade Liner in EX02 (Gold Brown)
– Full Glamour Gloss N in EX14 (Sheer Beige)
– Full Glamour Lips G in EX03 (Neutral Beige)
– original pouch by Toff & Loadstone

Priced at 10500 JPY, the kit will be exclusively available in Isetan Shinjuku, Seibu Ikebukuro, Takashimaya Yokohama, and Hankyu Umeda Flagship Store in Osaka.

Related posts on Lunasol:

Summer 2010 Collection

Skin Modeling Eyes Starter Kit

Layer Bloom Eyes in 03 Purple Gradation

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