makeup

Fall 2009 Makeup Top 10 (Part 1)

by PJ on Tuesday, November 3, 2009

in -Addiction, -Dior, -Kosé, -Paul & Joe, -YSL, 2009 Fall, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup, seasonal makeup top 10

A couple of weeks ago, I presented the Fall 2009 Makeup Trend Round-Up. Today, I start the countdown of my favorite fall 2009 makeup collections. I hope you will enjoy these posts.

10. Addiction

(image from www.addiction-beauty.com)

I think Kosé’s Addiction is one of the most exciting launches in Japanese cosmetics this year. As many of the mainstream Japanese makeup lines aim to be as wearable as possible, Addiction is a lot edgier, with items like various black eyeshadows that help create intense smoky eyes.

(image from www.addiction-beauty.com)

The launch lineup is very coherent and looks quite warm-toned to me, and I look forward to seeing their spring 2010 collection.

9. YSL

(image from www.ysl.com)

(image from www.joseishi.net/voce)

Among the items in YSL’s fall 2009 makeup collection, I like the Ombres 5 Lumières in 18 (above, Japanese release) and the limited-edition Cream Blush. The Cream Blush has more of a mousse texture, which is a pleasant surprise. It appeals to me more than blushers with a cream texture, as I think mousse blushers are easier to apply and blend. They also tend to look velvety/semi-matte (which I like) rather than shiny.

8. Dior

(image from www.iswii.net)

Dior’s seasonal makeup collections are usually great trend indicators, and the fall 2009 collection is no exception. The collection features purples, plums, pinks, and greys for the eyes and warm-toned shades for the lips. The 5-Color Eyeshadow in 173 Night Butterfly (above) has virtually all the seasonal trends in one compact.

The Dior Jazzclub palettes look very chic but they don’t wow me as much as many of Dior’s past seasonal limited-edition items. Otherwise, Dior would place higher on my list.

7. Paul & Joe

(image from www.iswii.com)

I think Paul & Joe’s seasonal makeup collections are always worth looking forward to, particularly the items with the original prints by the designer behind the brand, Sophie Albou. While I am not as crazy about the prints from this collection as I was about some of the previous ones, I like the new design of the eyeshadow cases, which have an oval shape instead of the usual round shape. Paul & Joe doesn’t do loud colors, and the eyeshadows for this season are soft, elegant, and wearable as usual.

(image from www.iswii.com)

The countdown continues in Part 2.

Summer 2009 Makeup Top 10: Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3

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Coffret D’Or Holiday 2009 & Spring 2010 Website Update

by PJ on Tuesday, October 27, 2009

in -Coffret d'Or, -Kanebo, 2010 Spring, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup

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

Coffret D’Or‘s official website has been updated with information on the line’s holiday 2009 and spring 2010 collections.

What I am really looking forward to is the new Jewelcious Eyes series. The color combinations are what we would expect from Coffret D’Or, but the quality of Coffret D’Or’s eye palettes has been generally very good and it is very likely that I will try one palette from this series.

The five variations are:

– Citrian Green
– Pink Topaz
– Crystalish Blue
– Amber Beige
– Purple Amethyst

I also adore the 2010 design of the eye palette compacts. I like the fact that the concept and the motif have remained the same since the launch of the line but there is a new design each year. (You can see the 2008 design here and the 2009 design here.)

Fall 2009 Makeup Trend Round-Up

by PJ on Wednesday, October 21, 2009

in -Chanel, -Clé de Peau, -Dior, -Guerlain, -Jill Stuart, -Kanebo, -Kate, -Lunasol, -Max Factor, -Paul & Joe, -RMK, -Shiseido, -SUQQU, -YSL, 2009 Fall, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup, seasonal makeup trend reports

(image from www.cledepeau-beaute.com)

Looking through the fall 2009 makeup collections released in the last couple of months, I think the main spring 2009 makeup trends, such as purples and soft neutrals, have taken on a more season-appropriate dimension and continued to dominate the makeup scene. Some palettes featured below feature pinks, which also continue the makeup trends earlier this year.

– Purples

Even as a fan of purples, I have been surprised to see how enduring the trend has been. I think it shows the wearability and versatility of the color. For fall 2009, most of the purples are darker, although there are still some lighter options.

(Shiseido Clé de Peau Satin Eye Color
in 108 Purple Amethyst)
(image from www.cledepeau-beaute.com)

(Dior 5-Color Eyeshadow
in 173 Night Butterfly)
(image from www.iswii.net)

(Dior Jazzclub palettes)
(image from www.iswii.net)

(YSL Ombres 5 Lumières
in 18 (Japanese release))

(image from www.joseishi.net/voce)

(YSL Ombres 5 Lumières
in 8 Midnight (UK/US release))
(image from www.ysl.com)

(Max Factor Eye Gradation Colors
in Violet Mauve (Japanese release))
(image from www.joseishi.net/voce)

– Warm Neutrals

(image from www.guerlain.co.jp)

As I tend to favor light-to-medium purples which are usually released in spring, warm neutrals are probably (very marginally) my favorite trend of this season. Among neutrals, I like beiges and browns with a warm tone. (Taupes generally suit me less.) This season, many warm neutrals have a pink, peach, soft-copper or warm-gold undertone.

(Estée Lauder Signature Eyeshadow Quad
in 15 Rose Gold)
(image from www.esteelauder.co.uk)

(Guerlain Ombre Eclat 4 Shades
in 406 Tsarina)
(image from www.guerlain.com)

(Jill Stuart Seductive Eyes
in 07 Mysterious Queen)
(image from www.iswii.net)

– Greys

(image from www.rmkrmk.com)

Greys are usually too cool for my slightly warm-toned complexion, but they are generally great for creating classic retro looks as well as smoky eyes.

Some of the greys for this season are more green-toned, like those from Chanel, and some of them, like those from RMK, are more blue-toned.

(Chanel Les 4 Ombres de Chanel
in 16 Murano)
(image from www.chanel.com)

(Dior 2-Color High-Contrast Eyeshadow
in 055 Cocktail Look)
(image from www.iswii.net)

(Paul & Joe Color Powder CS in 062)
(image from www.iswii.net)

(RMK Mystique Eyes in 03)
(image from www.joseishi.net/voce)

One collection that hits the grand slam is Kate’s fall 2009 collection. Apart from the new Reflect Mirror Eyes series, Kate released a purple palette, a warm-brown palette, and a grey palette.

(Kate Diamond Cut Eyes in PU-1)
(image from www.iswii.net)

(Gradical Eyes S in BR-4)
(image from www.iswii.net)

(Deep Trap Eyes in PU-1)
(image from www.iswii.net)

Also, Dior’s and YSL’s eye palettes (above) include both purples and greys.

– Warm Lips

(image from www.suqqu.com)

Last but not least, it seems that many of the lip colors released for fall 2009 are on the warm side. Many of them are warm pinks and reds with a peach, beige, or brown undertone. (It appears that there are a lot fewer rose-toned lipsticks for this season.)

(Dior Addict High Colors)
(image from www.iswii.net)

(Lunasol Full Glamour Lips S)
(image from www.kanebo-cosmetics.jp/lunasol)

(SUQQU Lip Color Pencils & Dual Gloss Colors)
(image from www.suqqu.com)

Onto the holiday season, it seems that some major brands are still releasing purple shades. Look out for those from Dior, Sonia Rykiel, and Clinique.

(image from www.iswii.net)

More on the fall 2009 collections featured above:

Chanel
Dior
Jill Stuart
Kate
Lunasol
Max Factor
Paul & Joe
RMK
SUQQU
YSL

{ 8 comments }

Sonia Rykiel Holiday 2009 Collection

by PJ on Monday, October 19, 2009

in -Sonia Rykiel, 2009 Holiday, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup

(image from fanet.jp)

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

Sonia Rykiel will release its holiday 2009 makeup collection in Japan on November 1st. The collection includes:

– Palette Yeux Couleurs (2 variations, above)

– Eyeliner Pencil WP 2009 (3 shades)

– Crayon Gloss (3 shades)

All the items are limited editions.

Updated on November 11, 2009:

See more of Sonia Rykiel’s holiday 2009 releases here.

Chicca Holiday 2009 Collection

by PJ on Monday, October 19, 2009

in -Chicca, -Kanebo, 2009 Holiday, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup

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

Chicca will release its holiday 2009 collection in Japan on November 11th. The collection includes:

– Enthralling Powder Eyeshadow duo (1 variation)
– Enthralling Soft Pencil Eyeliner (1 shade)
– Flush Blush (1 shade)
– Enticing Lipstick (1 shade)
– Enticing Lip Gloss (1 shade)

All the items are additional shades of existing products, and they are all limited editions.

Makeup Review: SHISEIDO Luminizing Satin Eye Color

by PJ on Wednesday, October 14, 2009

in -Shiseido, -SHISEIDO (Global Brand), all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup, makeup - eyeshadow

The Shiseido international line has been going through a revamp this year. The new makeup line, created in collaboration with Dick Page, is simply called Shiseido (instead of the original Shiseido The Makeup). In January, the line debuted with Perfect Rouge and Smoothing Lip Pencil. In August, the fall 2009 collection was released. The collection includes 15 shades of Luminizing Satin Eye Color. Today I am reviewing two of them.

(Luminizing Satin Eye Color in BE202 Caramel)

(Luminizing Satin Eye Color in WT907 Paperwhite)

BE202 Caramel is a medium bronze-toned beige and WT907 Paperwhite is a cream white. They are moderately pigmented and they have very fine shimmery particles. They impart a satiny finish that looks soft and understated. The lasting power is good.

The powder is exceptionally fine and has an almost-creamy texture. Apart from talc (2nd on the ingredient lists of both shades), Luminizing Satin Eye Color uses petrolatum (4th on the ingredient list of WT907 and 6th of BE202) to create the silky and almost-creamy texture. I find this to be slightly unusual, as most eyeshadows rely on a combination of talc and silicones to create the smooth and silky texture. (Silicones are further down the lists of these two shades.)

WT907 is good for brightening the eye area and as a base for other eyeshadows. I also prefer it as a brow highlighter to more shimmery off-whites, as the effect is a lot more natural. BE202 is a gentle shadowing shade as it is able to give a very natural depth to the eyes. (This relatively light shade is able to be depth-enhancing because it is not too shimmery.) Since it is more of a warm neutral, I think it should suit those with a warm complexion better. (It may look quite bronze on those with a cooler complexion.)

The 15 Luminizing Satin Eye Color shades are elegant and understated (except YE306 Solaris, which is a vibrant yellow). I would be curious to see whether more vibrant shades will be added to the range and whether a new range of eyeshadow singles, perhaps with a different finish, will join the line.

(The products featured in this review are provided by Shiseido.)

Posts on Shiseido’s other lines:

Clé de Peau Fall 2009 Collection

Maquillage Fall 2009 Collection

Maquillage Forming Shiny Eyes in 52

Maquillage Clean Contrast Eyes 2 in SV844

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Anna Sui Holiday 2009 Collection

by PJ on Wednesday, October 14, 2009

in -Anna Sui, 2009 Holiday, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup

(images/info from woman.excite.co.jp)

Anna Sui will release its holiday 2009 collection in Japan on November 5th and December 3rd. The November releases include:

– Nail Color Kits (above)

– Glitter Color (3 shades)

– Mini Rouge (5 new shades)

– Greeting Cards

The December releases include:

– Hand Mirror Eye Color Palette (1 variation)

– Hand Mirror Lip Color Palette (1 variation)

All the items are limited editions except the five new shades of Mini Rouge.

Jill Stuart Jelly Eye Color N in 08 Crystal Sky

by PJ on Monday, October 12, 2009

in -Jill Stuart, 2009 Summer, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup, makeup - eyeshadow, stash focus

Jill Stuart‘s Jelly Eye Color was a very popular item in the brand’s makeup lineup. Earlier this year, the new Jelly Eye Color N was released. I was instantly drawn to the lovely container. The previous version was cute, while the new one is more ornate.

08 Crystal Sky is a medium-to-dark mauve that has a slight grey undertone, and it is a color that I didn’t have before. (The purples I tend to go for are lighter than this.) It has a lot of sparkly particles, which are silver-toned under sunlight and beautifully multi-colored under certain kinds of artificial lighting. The particles are sparkly but not glittery.

It has a spongy jelly texture and is relatively easy to apply with fingertips. It dries up quite quickly, so blending has to be swift. Once it sets, the color is very long-lasting and it doesn’t crease on my eyes. The sparkly finish holds well too.

It has the same light floral scent as that in many of Jill Stuart’s makeup products. It is subtle and not overpowering.

For me, the shade is a little too dark and too sparkly to be worn as a shadowing shade on the lids (especially for daytime makeup). It is the kind of shade that I would usually only wear near the lashlines, and obviously it is difficult to keep the color very close to the eyes when I apply it with my fingertips. I find it much easier to use a cotton bud or a sponge eyeshadow applicator to apply the shade exactly where I want. Then I use the fingertips to blend and blur the edges.

I do really like it very close to my lashlines. As a soft eyelining shade, it is dark enough to gently frame and accentuate the eyes while still looking natural. The sparkles also look subtler this way.

I have mentioned before that I do prefer powder eyeshadows to non-powder ones. It is still the case with Jill Stuart’s Jelly Eye Color N and my powder eyeshadows, but I think Jelly Eye Color N’s formula does help hold the sparkly particles on the eyes. (There is almost no sparkle fallout.) If you like sparkly or very shimmery eyeshadows, Jelly Eye Color N is certainly worth your consideration.

Jill Stuart Mix Blush Compact in 01 Baby Blush

Jill Stuart Holiday 2009 Collection

Jill Stuart Fall 2009 Collection & 5th Anniversary Jewel Collection

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Aube Couture Holiday 2009 Collection

by PJ on Monday, October 12, 2009

in -Aube (Couture), -Kao, 2009 Holiday, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup

(images/info from fanet.jp)

Aube Couture will release 4 Designing Jewel Compacts for the holiday 2009 season in Japan on November 1st. Each compact includes 4 eyeshadows (arranged in the same way as those in the Designing Eyes palettes) and 3 lip colors.

The four variations are:

– Pink (lip)/ Brown (eye) Variation (above)

– Rose/Purple Variation

– Red/Gold Variation

– Beige/Silver Variation

Other seasonal collections from Aube Couture:

Spring 2020 Collection

Fall 2009 Collection

Summer 2009 Collection

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Elégance Holiday 2009 Collection

by PJ on Monday, October 12, 2009

in -Elégance, 2009 Holiday, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup

(images/info from www.cosme.net)

On November 18th, Elégance will release a vast array of new items. It seems to me that this could be a revamp of at least part of Elégance’s makeup line, and the new packaging looks quite gorgeous. (I am filing this post under “Holiday 2009 Collections” only because of the timing of the release.)

The new items include:

– Phantom Eyes (10 variations)

– Aurora Storm (8 variations)