makeup

Max Factor Fall 2009 Makeup Collection

by PJ on Monday, May 18, 2009

in -Max Factor, 2009 Fall, makeup

(image from www.joseishi.net/voce)

Max Factor will release its fall 2009 collection in Japan on July 21st. The new items include:

– Eye Gradation Colors palettes (2 new variations)
– Angelic Lips (3 new shades)
– Angelic Lips Brilliant (3 new shades)
– Lipfinity Pro (3 new shades)
– Lash Artist Waterproof (2 shades)

All items are limited editions. (Please note that items in Max Factor’s seasonal makeup collections outside Japan do vary.)

Max Factor Spring 2009 Eye Gradation Colors

Packaging Matters – Maybelline in Japan

Lunasol Fall 2009 Collection

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Chicca Fall 2009 Makeup Collection

by PJ on Monday, May 18, 2009

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

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

Chicca (owned by Kanebo) will release its fall 2009 collection in Japan on August 19th. The seasonal theme is “Secret Story”, and new items aim to create a balanced look for eyebrows, eyes, and cheeks to achieve a face-shaping effect.

The lineup includes:

– Enthralling Eyebrow Pencil W (1 shade)
– Enthralling Eyebrow Gel (1 shade)
– Enthralling Eyebrow Cake (eyebrow powder with two shades)
– Enthralling Powder Eyeshadow duos (5 new variation)
– Enthralling Soft Pencil Eyeliner (2 new shades)
– Flush Blush cream blusher (1 new shade)
– Enticing Lipstick (4 new shades)
– Enticing Lip Gloss (3 new shades)
– Perfect Readiness Tweezer

The Enthralling Eyebrow Pencil W features a round shaped tip and a naginata (Japanese halberd) shaped tip. The latter helps create softer edges for the eyebrow outline.

Chicca Summer 2009 Collection

Chicca Spring 2009 Collection

New Brand Profile – Kanebo Chicca

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Ayura Fall 2009 Collection

by PJ on Friday, May 15, 2009

in -Ayura, 2009 Fall, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup

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

Ayura will release its fall 2009 makeup collection in Japan on July 23rd. The lineup includes:

– Aura Feel Shadow Soufflé (above, 4 shades, limited editions)

– Aura Feel Shadow (1 new variation)

– Aura Feel Rouge (3 new shades, limited editions)

– Aura Feel Gloss (2 new shades)

Loving Japanese Brands – Ayura

Ayura Spring 2009 Collection

Ayura Veil in Sweet Pink

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Jill Stuart 2009 Summer Collection Update & Future Release

by PJ on Friday, May 15, 2009

in -Jill Stuart, 2009 Summer, all about Japanese cosmetics, fragrance, makeup

(image from www.jillstuart-beauty.com)

Jill Stuart has updated its website to feature the summer 2009 makeup collection (out in Japan on June 5th). The main eye makeup item for the seasonal ad image (below) is Jelly Eye Color N in 08 Crystal Sky (pictured above). It seems to be a very pretty medium purple shade and I am seriously considering getting it.

(image from www.jillstuart-beauty.com)

Also, on July 3rd in Japan, Jill Stuart will release Jill by Jill Stuart Perfumed Body Powder (7g). It is an addition to the Jill by Jill Stuart Eau de Toilette range.

(image from www.joseishi.net/voce)

(Jill by Jill Stuart EDT)
(image from www.jillstuart-beauty.com)

Jill Stuart New Bodycare Items

Jill Stuart Mix Blush Compact in 01 Baby Blush

Loving Japanese Brands – Jill Stuart

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Kanebo Coffret D’Or Shine Accent Eyes 02 Pink Variation

by PJ on Tuesday, May 12, 2009

in -Coffret d'Or, -Kanebo, 2009 Spring, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup, makeup - eyeshadow, stash focus

Coffret D’Or‘s Shine Accent Eyes is part of the brand’s spring 2009 collection and the brand’s third series of eye palettes. Having good experiences with the previous two, I decided to try one palette from the new series. Of course I went for the one with lilac.

02 Pink Variation includes:

Top: very sheer white with soft fine shimmer
Left: sheer light pink with pearly shimmer
Right: moderately-pigmented medium lilac with a pink-plum undertone and pearly shimmer
Middle: a gel-cream liner with off-white sparkles

As with other Coffret D’Or eye palettes, the powder is soft and very easy to blend. The colors have a good staying power.

The pink is on the sheer side and it shows up less on my eyes than on the back of my hand, which is slightly lighter than my face. It should show up more on a fair skin tone than on my light-to-medium skin tone. (It is still more pigmented than the off-white pinks in Lunasol’s Sheer Contrast Eyes in Lavender Coral and Coffret D’Or’s Trance Deep Eyes in Rose Variation.)

The lilac is a soft shading color that goes on warmer than it looks in the pan as it has a pronounced soft muted pinkish (but not reddish) plum undertone. It is warmer than the main lilac in Lunasol’s Layer Bloom Eyes in Purple Gradation.

The gel-cream liner has a dense consistency. According to the eye chart on the back of the outer packaging, it is applied along the lower lashline. The shimmery flecks are larger than the shimmery particles in the other three shades, and the finish is quite sparkly.

This palette creates a soft daytime look with a beautiful shimmery finish. (But I would go easy on the gel-cream liner for daytime.) Compared with the previous Coffret D’Or releases, the overall finish (of the three powder shades) is slightly more shimmery than 3D Lighting Eyes (between pearly and shimmery) and less so than the Trance Deep Eyes (quite sparkly). I also like the pinkish lilac, which is different from the (many) ones I have.

However, because there is no dark lining shade, I personally feel that this palette is less versatile than those from the previous series. Also, I would prefer the pink to be slightly more pigmented so that I could create more looks.

(I have been using the deep violet from 3D Lighting Eyes’ Purple Variation as an eyeliner to go with this palette.)

I think I have more or less formed the habit of trying Coffret D’Or’s new eye palette series, and I am looking forward to the upcoming Color Mixing Eyes, out next month.

Betsy at Autumn Masquerade has reviewed Shine Accent Eyes in 04 Blue Variation. Do have a look!

Jill Stuart Jelly Eye Color N for Summer 2009

by PJ on Tuesday, May 12, 2009

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

(image from www.iswii.net)

In my post on Jill Stuart’s summer 2009 makeup collection, I mentioned that the existing Jelly Eye Color would be replaced by Jelly Eye Color N. Here is a quick look at the ten new shades.

I think this is a fairly good selection of shades, with a nice range of lighter and darker colors. I am sure more shades will be released later on.

Jill Stuart Breaks Record

Jill Stuart Spring 2009 Makeup Collection

Foundation Face-Off – Jill Stuart vs. SUQQU

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RMK Makeup Renewal

by PJ on Saturday, May 9, 2009

in -RMK, 2009 Summer, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup

(images from www.rmkrmk.com)

The RMK website (the Japanese site) is now featuring the information on the brand’s revamp of eyeshadows and blushers. The new items include:

– Ingenious Powder Eyes (35 shades)
– Ingenious Jelly Eyes (8 shades)
– Ingenious Powder Cheeks (23 shades)
– Ingenious Jelly Cheeks (6 shades)

(RMK’s cases for eyeshadow and blusher singles used to be sold separately. Now customers don’t have the choice of buying the refills anymore.)

I haven’t seen the new colors in person, but I am suspecting that some of the colors are probably very similar to or the same as the old ones. I was comparing the new Ingenious Jelly Eyes with the old Jelly Eye Color (the RMK English site hasn’t been updated with the new lineup), and it appears that the middle six of the new eight shades look more or less the same as the previous shades of Jelly Eye Color.

At the moment, it seems that the renewal features repackaged items with some new additions. I will bring you more observation and thoughts when I have a chance to see the new lineup.

Updated on May 27th 2009:

Check out a link to some very good product photos and swatches here.

RMK Powder Foundation EX

RMK Spring 2009 Collection

Can’t Live Without – RMK Cleansing Oil

Cosme Decorte Makeup Renewal for Fall 2008

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Base Makeup Review: RMK Super Basic Liquid Concealer

by PJ on Tuesday, May 5, 2009

in -RMK, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup, makeup - base makeup, makeup - base makeup - primer/concealer

(RMK Super Basic Concealer in 02)

A few weeks ago, I reviewed RMK‘s Powder Foundation EX, one of RMK’s three new base makeup items. Today I am sharing my thoughts on one of the two other products, Super Basic Concealer.

It is available in four shades and has SPF 28 and PA+++, and it uses a twist-click dispenser. The concealer has a creamy consistency, a good opaque coverage and a glowy matte finish. (It doesn’t have visible shimmery particles.)

So far, I have been having little issue with darkness in the eye area, so I can’t really say how well it works on heavy dark circles. (But it does even out the skin tone in the eye area quite well.) My main issue is the occasional breakout, and this product covers the redness effectively.

Also, I think the texture and consistency are just right. It is not so liquidy that it gets blended off where I want it to stay (it is always annoying when a concealer ends up around the breakout and not on the breakout), and the cream is just malleable enough to be blended nicely with enough play time to ensure a seamless finish.

I use this concealer underneath my powder foundation, which helps set the concealer. Once it sets, it is very long-lasting and doesn’t travel or disintegrate (even on my oily skin, where cream-based base makeup products don’t tend to stay on very well).

The shades tested for this review are 01 and 02. My skin tone is between light and light-to-medium (I use ZA Two-Way Foundation in 22 and I would go for the second OC shade in Japanese foundations), and 02 is a fairly good match for me. If you have a fair skin tone and tend to go for the lightest foundation shade, then 01 should be a good fit for you. (Both shades are quite neutral-toned and don’t look pinkish. Apart from being darker, 02 is slightly warmer than 01.)

Overall, Super Basic Concealer seems to be a very competent product, and, for me, it works well in concealing redness/breakouts. Also, the SPF/PA factors are a welcome feature as they provide extra protection for the breakout area, which can be particularly sensitive to sunlight.

“Japanese Base Makeup” series

Thierry Mugler Bleu Glacis Cooling Effect Concealer

Prescriptives Site Unseen Brightening Concealer SPF 15

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Makeup Review: Illamasqua

by PJ on Friday, May 1, 2009

in makeup, makeup - eyeshadow, makeup - mascara

(image from www.illamasqua.com)

In a typical department store in the UK, most of the beauty (especially makeup) brands are from either the US or Continental Europe. This is why, when the British makeup line, Illamasqua, launched its counter in London’s Selfridges (which has probably the largest beauty department in the UK), it is hard not to get excited.

(image from www.illamasqua)

Illamasqua positions itself as a professional makeup brand that encourages expression and experimentation. As the brand’s slogan is “make-up for your alter ego”, many of the makeup looks on the brand’s website are dramatic, edgy and editorial. Price-wise, it is a medium-to-high end line, with lipsticks priced at £14 and eyeshadow singles priced at £15. Today, I am sharing my thoughts on some of Illamasqua’s products.

– Powder Eye Shadows in Feel and Lick

(Powder Eye Shadow in Feel)

(Powder Eye Shadow in Lick)

Currently, most of Illamasqua’s 107 Powder Eye Shadows that the brand was launched with are matte, and Feel and Lick are among the matte shades. Feel is a light-to-medium taupe while Lick is a bright warm reddish pink. Both are moderately-to-well pigmented, and the texture is relatively smooth, partly down to the talc-based formula.

Feel is a good shade for adding soft depth to the eyes for those with a light or light-to-medium complexion. It goes on a little cooler, and I think it would suit cooled-toned complexions a lot more. (It may be on the ashy side for warm-toned complexions.)

You have to be quite bold to wear Lick on a daily basis, but I find that, used light-handedly, it works well as a blusher. (I also like the fact that it happens to be matte, which is my preferred finish for a blusher.) It blends easily as a blusher and should suit most complexions, particularly warm-toned ones.

– Volume Mascara in Harness

Volume Mascara is currently Illamasqua’s sole mascara product. It is available in three shades, Harness (black), Nocturnal (brown) and Lewd (blue), and it is a non-waterproof mascara.

Harness is a nice black that doesn’t look greyish or ashy. The formula appears to be quite lightweight, as it doesn’t feel heavy on the eyes or weight down the lashes. It creates more volume than length, though the volume might not be as dramatic as some might hope for. A light-handed application with gentle layering is essential to stay clump-free. Once set, it has a satisfactory staying power.

Overall, Illamasqua seems to be a solid brand with a lot of potential, and it has created buzz among makeup lovers in the UK. It would be interesting to see how well it will do in the next few years and whether it will acquire a more international presence.

(Check here for the list of retail points in the UK and Ireland. Illamasqua’s on-line store delivers within the UK as well as internationally.)

Beauty City Guide – London

Barry M Dazzle Dusts for Spring 2009

Clinique Naturally Glossy Mascara

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Lunasol Layer Bloom Eyes in 03 Purple Gradation

by PJ on Tuesday, April 28, 2009

in -Kanebo, -Lunasol, 2009 Spring, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup, makeup - eyeshadow, stash focus

Another season, another lilac palette joining my collection…

Lunasol‘s Layer Bloom Eyes* palettes are part of Lunasol’s spring 2009 Floral Purification collection. 03 Purple Gradation is inspired by wisteria (fuji) and includes (anti-clock-wise from top-left):

– sheer white with multi-colored sparkles
– medium lilac with a soft pearly finish (moderately pigmented)
– predominantly matte cool-toned dark grey with sparse shimmer (well-pigmented)
– light lilac with a mildly shimmery finish (moderately pigmented)

All the shades are very soft and easy to apply, and the finish lasts well.

According to the eye chart that comes with the palette, the sheer white is used as a base, the medium lilac is used as a shadowing shade, and the dark grey is for the upper lashline and the outer 1/3 of the lower lashline. The light lilac is applied on the inner 2/3 of the lower lashline.

I really like how the two lilacs work together. The medium lilac has an exceptionally soft texture, and blending is effortless. I can go as sheer or intense as I want with this shade. When applied on the lower lashline, the light lilac seems to look more intense (slightly darker) than it does in the pan. It has a delicate iridescence and brightens the eyes very effectively without creating a stark look.

What I also like about the two lilacs is that the beautiful color seems very long-lasting. After 12 hours of wear, it is not uncommon for some lilacs to take on a very mild bluey-grey hue as the color starts to fade (and I don’t usually take this to be an indication of inferior quality). But the two lilacs here are able to stay fresh almost throughout the day, which impresses me.

Compared with Lunasol’s Lavender Coral palette from spring 2008, I think Purple Gradation is a lot more elegant and understated. The colors are less sparkly and the overall finish is more pearly than shimmery. (Between the two main lilac shades, the one in Purple Gradation is slightly warmer than that in Lavender Coral. I like both equally.) On the whole, Purple Gradation is more similar to Scent Form Eyes in 02 but it is marginally more vibrant due to the mild iridescence. (Scent Form Eyes in 02 is certainly the most low-key of the three.)

Overall, this is a beautiful lilac palette which is very easy to wear, in terms of both the colors and the superb texture of the powder. If you are looking for something as vibrant as the Sheer Contrast Eyes and the Geminate Eyes series, then this palette might not be for you. But if you want a sophisticated eye palette that is not overly shimmery, then the Layer Bloom Eyes series is a must-see.

(It appears that, since the fall 2008 Red Purification collection, Lunasol’s eye palettes are returning to the elegant and understated finish that the brand started off with. It would be interesting to see whether the trend will shift again.)

You can read my friend Betsy’s review of this palette here on Autumn Masquerade.

* Though this palette series is officially called Layer Bloom Eyes, the English name on the outer boxes of palettes sold outside Japan is Blooming Eyes. Check out the photo on this post for the difference.

Lunasol Fall 2009 Collection

Lunasol Summer 2009 Collection
(more Layer Bloom Eyes palettes)

My Personal Take on Lunasol

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