makeup

NEW SERIES: From My Treasure Chest – Dior Princess Ring

by PJ on Tuesday, January 13, 2009

in _From My Treasure Chest, -Dior, makeup, makeup - lip color

As promised in my two-year anniversary post, I am launching a new series. “From My Treasure Chest” will take you through some of my favorite items in my makeup collection. It will give me a chance to share with you my thoughts on some of my makeup items that I got before I started my blog.

(This series is mainly an extension from my posts on Clarins’ Palette Impression and Aube’s Astral Rouge. It is also partly inspired by Betsy’s Archive series at Autumn Masquerade and The Muse’s posts on past holiday collections at Musings of a Muse. Do check out their wonderful posts.)

I decided to start the series with possibly my favorite Dior limited-edition item, Dior Princess Ring.

Dior Princess Ring was part of Dior’s summer makeup collection in 2005. It was not the first seasonal limited-edition item I bought from Dior, but it was probably the one I bought with the least planning and hesitation. I hadn’t come across any information on the collection before I saw them at a Dior counter, and I immediately went for the pink one (#001), which included a plum lip color and a pink lip gloss. (The blue one (#002) featured two eyeshadows.)

I remember that statement jewelry was very popular in that year, which is possibly partly why Dior came up with this design. As the princess cut is my favorite cut, I particularly like the shape of the ring. The tiny crystals and the mirror in the middle nicely bounce the light off, making this ring a lovely item to play with under the light.

The satisfyingly heavy and substantial-looking ring also comes with a short chain so the ring can double as a bag charm (although the face of the ring always faces downward when the chain is attached to a bag).

After the Princess Ring (and a few previous items), Dior continued to release “wearable” makeup products, which I have collected quite a few of, but this one has remained my favorite. Every season, I look forward to the new limited-edition star item, but, at the same time, I like this ring so much that, in a way, I almost don’t want Dior to come up with something even more lovely…

(However, I should be seeing Dior’s Lady Dior in person in a couple of days, and I do have high hopes for something that is about twice as expensive as the Princess Ring…)

Dior Night Diamond (Holiday 2008)

Dior Golden Dior (Summer 2008)

Dior DiorLight (Holiday 2007)

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Update: Lavshuca Spring 2009 Collection

by PJ on Friday, January 9, 2009

in -Kanebo, -Lavshuca, 2009 Spring, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup, makeup - base makeup

The Kanebo website has posted images of Lavshuca’s spring 2009 items. The various Grade Color Eyes palettes are what I am particularly interested in.

(PK-1)
(images from www.kanebo-cosmetics.co.jp)

(BR-1)

(BR-2)

(GN-1)

(PU-1)

PU-1 looks very cool-toned to me here. It looks more lilac-y on the February 2009 issues of Biteki and Voce, but I still think the second darkest shade, supposedly the main shade for the lids, looks a little too pale for my liking. I will probably not go for this.

(Finish Powder)

The dark-plum lid of the new loose powder is not surprising, since plum is currently the main color for Lavshuca’s packaging. Even though it looks quite elegant (and there is still the puff with the cute bow), I would have liked a slightly more ornate case. The current Face Powder is available in Lucent (which I have) and Glow, and the new Finish Powder will be available in Lucent and High Cover. I am still intrigued in how High Cover performs.

A Splash of Color – Girlie Pink

Lavshuca Cheek Color in PK-1

Lavshuca Jewelry Lips

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Update: Coffret D’Or Spring/Summer 2009 Base Makeup Collection

by PJ on Friday, January 9, 2009

in -Coffret d'Or, -Kanebo, 2009 Spring, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup, makeup - base makeup

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

Earlier I posted a link to an image of Coffret D’Or’s spring/summer base makeup collection as well as my initial thoughts. Now, here is more information on the individual items:

– Lasting Power Pact UV (7 shades, SPF 22, PA++)
– Lasting Power Soft Gel Foundation UV (7 shades, SPF 23, PA++)
– Lasting Power Veil UV (primer)
– Magical Flat (pore-smoothing concealer)
– One-Touch Gloss Powder (loose powder with a brush applicator)

The collection will be out in Japan on March 1st, 2009.

Coffret D’Or Makeup Powder

Coffret D’Or Spring 2009 Point Makeup Collection

Coffret D’Or Trance Deep Eyes in Rose Variation

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Website Update: Anna Sui Spring 2009 Collection

by PJ on Friday, January 9, 2009

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

(image from www.annasui-cosmetics.com)

Anna Sui Cosmetics has updated its website to feature the spring 2009 collection. There are also new desktop wallpaper and screen saver for downloading.

Loving Japanese Brands – Anna Sui

Anna Sui Sui Lip Gloss in 100

My Anna Sui Foundation Cases

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Shiseido Maquillage Forming Shiny Eyes in 52

by PJ on Wednesday, January 7, 2009

in -Maquillage, -Shiseido, 2008 Fall, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup, makeup - eyeshadow, stash focus

Maquillage‘s Forming Shiny Eyes was part of the line’s fall 2008 collection, which radiates an international flavor. (The collection was created in collaboration with fashion designer Christopher Kane and the ad campaign featured model Agyness Deyn.) Among the five variations, I liked the combination of purple and gold in #52 (which happened to combine two major makeup trends in fall 2008) and I received this as a birthday gift last year from a dear friend.

The product comes in a two-tier pot with a storage slot for the sponge applicator at the bottom.

The top tier has the cream base and the bottom tier has the gold and purple.

The cream base is very easy to apply with a finger. It leaves a nice veil of off-white shimmer that softly glistens (rather than glitters), and it actually looks quite pretty on its own. It can be applied from the lashline and taken all the way under the brow bone.

The gold imparts a beautiful shimmer, which doesn’t look too frosty or sparkly. (There are also some fine multi-colored particles to help the shimmer look more vibrant and dimensional.) The flattering yellow-toned gold doesn’t look too white-ish or bronzy.

The purple is a well-pigmented muted medium-to-dark shade that has less shimmer than the gold. Used as a lining shade (which is more or less what the application instructions on the packaging suggest), it frames the eyes very well.

Once, I thought I’d bring it further from my lashline, but it didn’t work well mainly because it didn’t seem to be blendable enough. Unlike the gold, which is very soft and easy to blend, the purple seems to be purposefully made to have less movement and to set more quickly. My suggestion is to only wear it close to the lashline or as a lining shade. (It does hold very well overtime.) Since the shade is less intense than most eyeliner colors, it adds a nice definition to the eyes without making the look too dramatic.

The image below shows the look that this item can create. Again, the purple is worn quite close to the lashline to define the eye contour.

(image from image from www.shiseido.co.jp/mq)

Overall, I like this trio very much. (I almost slightly prefer it to Maquillage’s Clean Contrast Eyes 2 in SV844.) It should be a very nice daytime item if you want something easy to wear and something effective in adding dimension to the eyes. The gold is light and fresh enough for daytime but vibrant enough to brighten the eyes, and the gold and purple make a well-coordinated pair.

For another item that has a similar color combination (though the colors are worn differently) plus a gorgeous medium lilac, please take a look at my review of Lunasol’s Sheer Contrast Eyes in Lavender Coral.

Maquillage Lasting Climax Rouge in RS310

Coffret D’Or 3D Lighting Eyes in Gold Variation

Maquillage Spring 2009 Point and Base Makeup Collection

A Splash of Color: More Lilting Lilac

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User-Friendly Makeup: Aube Couture

by PJ on Wednesday, December 31, 2008

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

(images from www.sofina.co.jp/aube)

When Raycious was no longer releasing new products, I thought it was possible that Sofina would go down the route that Shiseido, Kanebo, and Kosé did and come up with a mega-brand that carries both base and point makeup. (At the time, Maquillage has already proven to be successful, and consumers continued to embrace Coffret D’Or in 2008.)

Then came news of Primavista in July, Raycious’ successor, and I wasn’t sure if Sofina would actually do anything with Aube. Later, we heard about the launch of Aube Couture in December, and everything seems to be in place for the moment.

Nothing seems very different…the name, the spokespersons, or the look of the products. So where is the identity of Aube Couture?

Product design is a huge strength in Japanese consumer goods. When we think of electronic products such as mobile phones and digital cameras and simple stationary items, it is all about those nice touches that make the products user-friendly and intuitive to use.

Every day, there are people new to makeup who find the application a little daunting. Aube Couture’s products are designed with them in mind. They are designed to make makeup application easy, efficient, and effortless.

Some Japanese makeup lines include an eye chart for eye palettes (like the one for Coffret D’Or’s 3D Lighting Eyes), but Aube Couture goes one step further. The color layout of the new Designing Eyes palettes shows where each shade goes on the lid (apart from the lining shade on the right), so we are looking at the colors and the eye chart at the same time.

I also like the design of Designing Cheek. The powder is pressed into a (roughly) half-cylinder shape. When the brush goes over the powder, the center of the brush picks up more powder than the two ends. This should make it easier to achieve a natural, flawless and dimensional finish, and it can especially help those who find blending a little tricky.

Over the last few years, Kao, among other Japanese beauty companies, has done well in coming up with new concepts and connecting with consumers on different levels, from the blue-based particles in Raycious to Est’s philosophy of emotional beauty. Now Sofina shows that a makeup range with a “couture” concept doesn’t need to carry hundreds of shades. Instead, the products give consumers the confidence and comfort in knowing that they can create a beautiful makeup look on their own.

I wonder what Japanese makeup brands will have to offer in 2009? In the meantime, I wish all of you a very happy New Year!

Remembering Raycious

Primavista Powder Foundation Moist Touch

Primavista Spring/Summer Base Makeup Collection

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Lunasol Website Update – Spring 2009

by PJ on Friday, December 26, 2008

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

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

The Lunasol website has been updated with full information on the spring 2009 collection.

The beautiful Layer Bloom Eyes palette in Purple Gradation fronts the print ad campaign and is used on one of the two spring 2009 makeup looks. I have been going back and forth about whether to purchase some other spring 2009 makeup items, but I am fairly certain that I will pick up this palette.

Please check out this post for more information on the collection (including all the updates and links to various images).

Lunasol 10th Anniversary Collection

Lunasol Sheer Contrast Eyes in Lavender Coral

Loving Japanese Brands – Lunasol

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Elégance Spring 2009 Collection

by PJ on Monday, December 22, 2008

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

(images and info from www.cosme.net)

Elégance will release its spring 2009 collection in Japan on February 18th. The items feature beautiful red, orange and berry tones. The Radiance Quartet blusher looks particularly lovely.

The lineup includes:

– Confiture Gloss: 6 new shades

– Sweet Dew Rouge: 3 new shades

– Radiance Quartet: 3 variations

– Eyeshadow: 4 new variations

– Nail Color: 3 new shades

Related Posts:

Elégance Fall 2008 Collection

Japanese Cosmetics Focus: Elégance

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Sofina Primavista Spring/Summer 2009 Base Makeup Collection

by PJ on Monday, December 22, 2008

in -Kao, -Primavista, -Sofina, 2009 Spring, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup, makeup - base makeup

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

Sofina Primavistawill release its spring/summer 2009 base makeup collection in Japan on February 21st. The lineup includes:– Powder Foundation Long Keep (SPF 25, PA++)

– Liquid Foundation (SPF 25, PA ++)

– Clear Cover Base (SPF 20, PA ++)

– Concealer Spots Cover (SPF 27, PA++)

– Face Powder Keep & Reset (SPF 15, PA++)

Primavista’s first powder foundation from fall/winter 2008, Powder Foundation Moist Touch, doesn’t really suit me due to its glowy finish. I am expecting the Fresh Keep version to have a somewhat similar (or very slightly less glowy) finish and better sebum control.

The new Face Powder reminds me of the very first version of Raycious’ pressed powder, which has a very good matte flesh-toned powder and a highlighter. I will be putting the new Primavista version on my spring 2009 shopping list and I am hoping that it works just as well.

Updated on February 17th, 2015:

Read my review of Face Powder (Keep & Reset).

Sofina Primavista Creamy Compact Foundation

Sofina Raycious Foundation Case Galore

Holiday Flashback – Sofina Aube Astral Rouge

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