As many of you might already know, I don’t buy products from MAC very often. The main reason is that makeup products from Japanese brands appeal to me a lot more. But, once in a while, some items do attract my attention.
MAC’s Mineralize Eye Shadow Duo in Odd Couple was from the Electro Flash collection back in July 2008. As far as I know, the Mineralize Eye Shadow Duos in this collection were limited editions in the US. But they seem to be regular items in the UK.
I was back and forth about Odd Couple for quite a while. I swatched the colors at the counter for several times since a few months ago, and I was speculating that the warm gold might be too bronze for me. Plus the violet was very similar to the one in Shiseido Maquillage’s Forming Shiny Eyes in 52. The lilac veins in the warm gold were what made me decide to get it in the end, as they created an interesting lilac undertone.
I was surprised at how understated the warm gold turned out to be. It is not too warm, too bronze, or too vibrant. It goes on sheer in the beginning but it can be layered. I do think the lilac veins tone down the bronze quite nicely, and the lilac undertone does show up on the eyes.
I like wearing the violet close to the lashlines as a lining color. The shade is warmer and more purple than how it looks in the photo above, and it is less shimmery than the warm gold. The vibrancy of the shade lasts well.
I am glad that I did go for it. The warm gold with lilac veins is a shade I didn’t have, and it turned out to be more wearable than how I expected it to be. I certainly think I will be paying a little more attention to future Mineralize Eye Shadow releases in the future.
Related posts:
Alexander McQueen for MAC Eye Shadow in Haunting
Fafi for MAC
A Splash of Color: More Lilting Lilac
(image/info from www.cosme.net)
(images/info from www.nikkei.co.jp)
Kosé’s Esprique Precious will release its spring/summer 2010 base makeup collection in Japan on February 16th.
The new powder foundation, Dramatical Veil Pact UV, features “diamond shelter powder” and “pore control powder” to enhance pore coverage and sebum control. (Esprique Precious refers to the area that needs pore coverage and sebum control the most “dia[mond]-zone”, which is the diamond-shaped area covering lower forehead at the top, the cheeks on the sides, and the chin at the bottom.)
The full lineup includes:
– Dramatical Veil Pact UV (7 shades, SPF 25, PA++)
– Clear Revision Base UV (SPF 22, PA++)
– Radiant Trick (concealer, 2 shades, SPF 14, PA+)
Related posts:
Foundation Face-Off (4): Dior vs. Esprique Precious
Esprique Precious Spring 2010 Point Makeup Collection
Esprique Precious Fall/Winter 2009 Point/Base Makeup Collection
(images from www.suqqu.com/japan.html)
SUQQU’s Japanese website has been updated with information on the brand’s spring 2010 collection. (See details of the collection here.)
I have always loved SUQQU’s seasonal ad images. For spring 2010, the elegant neutral shades that the model is wearing contrast the colorful watercolor hues, which echo the new Noble Nuance Face Color (top left in the image below). I am eager to see this multi-colored pressed powder in person.
The collection will be launched in Japan on February 5th, and all the items in this collection are limited editions. According to the SUQQU website, the pre-ordering will start on January 29th.
Related posts on SUQQU:
Clear Veil Powder
Loose Powder in Natural
Cheek Brush & Eyebrow Brush L
by PJ on Wednesday, January 20, 2010
in -Cosme Decorte, -Kosé, -Magie Deco, -Paul & Joe, -Shiseido, 2010 Spring, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup, mineral makeup, stash focus
(image from www.bareescentuals.co.uk)
– Shiseido Co., Ltd. will acquire Bare Escentuals, Inc. through a US subsidiary (Blush Acquisition Corporation). You can read more about the acquisition at Yahoo! Finance.
(information from Nikkei Net and Yahoo! Finance)
– My post on Paul & Joe’s spring 2010 makeup collection has been updated with more images of the Disney collection. Do have a look!
– I have got my first Magie Deco item (Shadow Brilliance II in DC 025 Foxy Lady) and my first impression of it is very good. I will be reviewing it later on.
(image/info from www.nikkei.co.jp)
(images/info from www.joseishi.net/voce)
SUQQU will release its spring 2010 collection in Japan on February 5th. The collection features the new Noble Nuance range, in addition to the Blend range (with Blend Eyeshadows, Blend Cheeks, and Blend Lipsticks). The new items include:
– Noble Nuance Eyeshadow (above, 3 variations)
– Noble Nuance Cheeks (3 variations)
– Noble Nuance Lipstick (5 shades)
– Noble Nuance Face Color
On March 5th, more base makeup items will be released:
– Pore Covering Base Clear (1 shade)
– 2010 Base Makeup Kit
The 2010 Base Makeup Kit includes:
– Liquid Foundation Aqua (24ml, full-sized)
– Makeup Base Creamy (7g)
– Loose Powder Natural (5.5g)
– Loose Powder Deep (5.5g)
– original pouch
Except the pouch, the contents of the kit appear to be the same as those in the 2009 version of the Base Makeup Kit. (You can see my review of Makeup Base Creamy here and my review of Loose Powder Natural here.)
One of the items in this collection I am very interested in is Noble Nuance Face Color. According to the photo and the text in the February 2010 issue of Biteki, the mosaic pressed powder has shades of beige, lilac, pink, yellow, and coral. I am looking forward to seeing it in person.
(All the items are limited editions, except Pore Covering Base Clear.)
Related posts:
Japanese Beauty Brand Profile – SUQQU
SUQQU Blend Eyeshadow in 10 and Blend Lipsticks in 16 & 18
SUQQU Clear Veil Powder
(image from www.ettusais.co.jp)
It has been a while since I last added an article to the “Japanese Brand Profile” series, and today I am going to talk about Ettusais.
Ettusais was launched in 1991 and I believe it is still owned by Shiseido. The name of the brand comes from “Et tu sais?” (“And you know?”) in French. The brand includes skincare, bodycare, base makeup, and point makeup products. The Ettusais Homme sector features an extensive range of male grooming products.
One area that Ettusais focuses on is the skincare regime for those with acne-prone skin. Quite a few years ago, I purchased a trial set of basic skincare products for acne-prone skin. The set included a gel makeup remover, a face soap, a toner, and a moisturizer, and I later on purchased full-sized products of the makeup remover and the face soap.
(I don’t think I would be able to use the face soap now, since my skin is less acne-prone than how it used to be and I live in a generally cooler and drier climate. Most face soaps would be far too drying for me now.)
Ettusais’ current makeup remover designed for acne-prone skin is Medicated Acne Gentle Make Off, which is a cleansing oil. I have been using RMK’s Cleansing Oil for many years, and I am quite interested in seeing how well this one works.
(Medicated Acne Gentle Make Off)
Many of Ettusais’ base makeup products are also designed for those with acne-prone skin. Some of the products are claimed to be able to neutralize redness and to make the skin look smoother and more polished.
One item that I have tried is a yellow-toned concealer which is able to neutralize redness. It is applied on redness-prone areas such as the nose and the cheeks. The texture is a little bit too much on the thick side for me, but the coverage is natural and long-lasting. The current version is called Flat Design Color Changer (SPF 12, PA++).
(Flat Design Color Changer)
Ettusais’ point makeup range includes basic as well as vibrant colors. The packaging is simple and youthful. You can see Ettusais’ spring 2010 collection here.
(Ettusais Eye Colors)
Over the years, Ettusais seems to be doing steadily well. I like the fact that the brand didn’t reach success through glamorous ad campaigns or fancy packaging. Apart from the brand’s clear identity (skincare/makeup items for acne-prone skin), the reasonable pricing may be one of the reasons for the brand’s popularity. (Melty Touch Rouge, new for spring 2010, is priced at 1890 JPY (12.7 GBP/ 20.4 USD).)
(one of Ettusais’ retail points in Hong Kong)
According to Ettusais’ official website, apart from Japan, Ettusais is available in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia. Ettusais’ Japanese official website offers on-line ordering but it is only available to customers in Japan.
Other posts in the “Japanese Brand Profile” series:
Mamew
Kanebo Freeplus
Sony Vecua
