makeup

Sonia Rykiel Holiday 2008 Collection

by PJ on Tuesday, October 14, 2008

in -Sonia Rykiel, 2008 Holiday, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup

(all images from www.cosme.net)

Sonia Rykiel will release its holiday 2008 collection in Japan on November 14th. The collection includes:

– Rouge à Lèvres (above, 3 variations)

– Ombre à Paupières Crème (2 shades)

– Nail Color L (3 shades)

– Poudre Visage (1 variation)

All items are limited editions. The rich and vibrant magenta-toned packaging is also unique to this collection, as the brand currently features striped cases that reflect the classic Sonia Rykiel designs.

Updated on October 23, 2008:

Please check out photos of all the shades available. (All images are from woman.excite.co.jp.)

Beauty Brand Focus: Sonia Rykiel

Sonia Rykiel Fall 2008 Makeup Collection

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More from Lavshuca Holiday 2008

by PJ on Tuesday, October 14, 2008

in -Kanebo, -Lavshuca, 2008 Holiday, makeup

(image from www.cosme.net)

Apart from the Stick Eyeshadows, Lavshuca will release Antique Collection for holiday 2008. Each of the two versions will include a Liquid Rouge and an eyeshadow duo.

The Antique Sepia version features a brown-toned eye duo with a beige-brown Liquid Rouge, while the Antique Monochrome version includes a grey-based eye duo with a pink Liquid Rouge.

I think, overall, I prefer the look (and the originality) of the Winter Make Collection from Lavshuca’s holiday 2007 release, so I think I will be saving the money for some other holiday items.

Sofina Primavista Powder Foundation Moist Touch

by PJ on Monday, October 13, 2008

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

(Sofina Primavista Powder Foundation Moist Touch:
Ochre 03 (left) and Ochre 05)

On September 1st, Sofina‘s Primavista was officially launched as Raycious went into history. Since Raycious had a solid fan base, I think many people have been looking forward to seeing how Primavista will live up to the expectation.

I received trial samples of Powder Foundation Moist Touch and the two primers (Smooth Coat Base and Bright Up Base) some time ago, and today I am sharing my thoughts on the foundation. (I will probably talk about the primers later.)

In short, if you like Raycious powder foundations (especially the later versions), you probably won’t have problems liking this one.

Regardless of how the powder is formulated and the new technologies involved in the production, Primavista’s first powder foundation performs similarly to ones from Raycious, in good ways and bad.

Generally, you will see the same strengths that made Raycious so popular. The staying power is very good and the color of the foundation does not turn dull overtime and pretty much lasts the whole day. However, the glowy finish might not suit people with oily skin or those who want powder foundations to work hard to make pores less visible. (This is the reason why I had to stop buying Raycious foundations as the later versions were too glowy for me.)

I use #22 in ZA Two-Way Foundation and find Ochre 05 a relatively good match.

Overall, I think this powder foundation will suit people with no problem with excessive sebum. But one interesting thing is that, back in the Raycious days, there were no powder foundations released for fall/winter. (It was always a liquid foundation.) So maybe we’ll see something slightly more matte and more sebum-absorbent in spring 2009. This fall/winter release is called Powder Foundation Moist Touch…maybe the spring/summer 2009 release will be (predictably) called Fresh Touch? We’ll see!

You can read another review of this foundation at Autumn Masquerade.

Sofina Primavista Creamy Compact Foundation

Creating Your New(ish) Foundation Refill

Paul & Joe Fall 2008 Base Makup Collection

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Mineral Makup Review: Alima Cosmetics

by PJ on Friday, October 10, 2008

in makeup, makeup - base makeup, makeup - base makeup - powder, makeup - base makeup - primer/concealer, makeup - blusher, makeup - eyeshadow, mineral makeup

(Clockwise from top:
Color Balancing Powder in Buttercup,
Satin Finishing Powder in Keiko,
Satin Matte Blush in Tulip,
Pearluster Eyeshadow in Taupe
Luminous Shimmer Eyeshadow in Aubergine)

Among so many mineral makeup brands that have been trying to be part of the mineral movement, Alima is one of those that seem to have been noticed by many. Today I am reviewing its items for face, cheeks, and eyes.

– Color Balancing Powder in Buttercup

It is supposed to work as a primer and is applied before the (mineral) foundation. It is available in tinted yellow, lavender, pink, and green. Buttercup is the tinted-yellow one, and I’ve tried applying it as a primer before my ZA Two-Way Foundation. The powder does have a little bit of coverage and evens out the complexion to some extend, which means my foundation does not have to work that hard. However, like many mineral items for the face, it can dry out my skin, which I can feel after I take my makeup off in the evening. I prefer using it as a setting powder after my foundation. The matte finish helps control the shine although it does not happen to have any noticeable pore coverage.

– Satin Finishing Powder in Keiko

This is a fairly decent setting powder with a very softly luminous finish that doesn’t look shimmery. It is less matte and has less coverage than Color Balancing Powder but it has slightly more pore coverage. Keiko will suit light complexions.

– Satin Matte Blush in Tulip

Tulip is another item that will suit light complexions. It is nicely moderately pigmented, unlike some other mineral blushers which are too densely pigmented and are difficult to work with. The finish looks very natural, but I think it might look ashy on darker skin tones.

– Pearluster Eyeshadow in Taupe

Among all the mineral makeup items I have tried, I tend to like eyeshadows more than anything else. The two Alima eyeshadows I’ve tried continue the postive experience. (On the other hand, I think mineral foundations still have a lot of room for improvement in many respects.) Taupe has a very pearly and almost metallic shimmer. I usually wouldn’t go for such a finish, but, since this shade goes on only slightly darker than my skin tone without looking either too ashy/greyish or too bronze, the very pearly finish actually works fine for me. As a very subtle shading color, it gently adds depth to as well as brightens up my eyes.

– Luminous Shimmer Eyeshadow in Aubergine

Aubergine is a deep violet that works well as a lining shade and it can also be used to create an intense smoky-eye look. It is quite shimmery but noticeably less pearly/metallic than Taupe, which I will take to be the difference between the two eyeshadow ranges. Some violet shades can go greyish in hours, but I am relatively pleased with how Aubergine’s color and shimmery finish last.

Overall, I think the eyeshadows are good items to try if you are interested in testing out the brand. The good things about Alima’s on-line shop are that small samples are available for purchase and that the color swatches seem fairly accurate (based on the items reviewed above). Also, you can check the ingredient lists of all the products, which is particularly useful if you have very sensitive skin.

My “Mineral Makeup” category

ck Calvin Klein Subliminal Purity Mineral Based Loose Powder

Foundation Face-Off: Lunasol vs. Coffret D’Or

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Japanese Cosmetics Focus: ECM

by PJ on Wednesday, October 8, 2008

in _Japanese Brand Profile, -ECM, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup, skincare

(all images from ecm-cosme.jp)

ECM is a relatively young brand launched around two years ago. Owned by Lissage Ltd. (which is part of the Kanebo Company), ECM is unique in the sense that it started out only with a base makeup line and then recently branched out to skincare.Now ECM also features a fragrance, but the brand is still best known by far for its array of base makeup items, all packaged in deep magenta cases. The range includes primer, cream foundation, two-way foundation, loose powder, concealer (in cream and crayon forms), and a pressed powder specifically for covering pores.

(ECM base makeup lineup)

The first time that ECM caught my attention was in 2006 when its Tsuya Cream Foundation was chosen as Foundation of the Year by beauty experts for Japan’s FRAU magazine. One of the experts described it as “the queen of natural finish“.

(ECM Tsuya Cream Foundation)

I don’t usually wear a cream foundation, so I haven’t been very interested in it. But I think I will definitely check out the loose powder and the pore-covering pressed powder when I go to Japan again.

(ECM is available in Japan only, as far as I am aware. In Tokyo, it is available in Keio Shinjuku, Seibu Shibuya, and Seibu Yurakucho, among other places. The ECM website is for information only and does not offer on-line ordering.)

Beauty Shopping Guide – Tokyo

Japanese Cosmetics Focus – Kanebo Freeplus

Japanese Cosmetics Focus – Sony Vecua

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Makeup Review: RMK Fall 2008 Collection

by PJ on Monday, October 6, 2008

in -RMK, 2008 Fall, makeup, makeup - blusher, makeup - eyeshadow, makeup - lip color

(image from www.rmkrmk.com)

The Kanebo-owned RMK is the creation of Japanese makeup artist Rumiko. Its main consumer group includes those in their thirties and late twenties who tend to go for trendy colors with a sophisticated edge. For fall 2008, RMK’s ’80s Color collection places emphasis on neutral shades for the eyes and injects vibrancy into them. Today I am reviewing items from this collection.

(Jelly x Powder Eyes in 01 Natural Coral Beige
and 04 Silver Gold Beige)

– Jelly x Powder Eyes in 01 & 04

Jelly x Powder Eyes is a new creation from RMK for fall 2008. Those familiar with RMK might know that the brand has been carrying Jelly Eye Color (available in 6 (mainly pastel) shades) for some time. For this season, new eye duos are created with one shade of the same (jelly) texture and another complementing powdery shade. (The jelly shade is on top and the powdery shade is at the bottom.)

The two shades in the duo are designed to be layered. The jelly shade goes on first as a base color and the powder is layered on top. As you can see, the base shade is not necessarily lighter than the powder shade. As with 01, 02, 03, and 06, the jelly shade is the main shadowing color and the powder adds a veil of shimmer.

01 (Natural Coral Beige, left in photo) and 04 (Silver Gold Beige) are the lightest two duos of the six, and both have a nice light-neutral finish that will flatter those with fair and light complexions. The coral in 01 Natural Coral Beige can look too orange when worn alone, but, paired with the pale beige, the overall finish is a delicate shimmery warm gold.

Both shades in 04 Silver Gold Beige are quite sheer, but the shimmery particles in the gold powder shade are larger and much more sparkly than those in the pale beige in 01. I think this would be a good duo for evening makeup, as it creates a sparkly pale gold finish that looks nice alone or over darker neutrals.

I really like the texture and the staying power of the jelly shades. They are dense but are very easy to apply. (A great way to apply them is simply to use the sponge tip (marked J as seen in the photo), which dispenses and blends the powder effortlessly.) They basically feel like a gently wet powder that quickly dries up to a smooth finish with an impressive staying powder. I strongly recommend using a cleansing oil or a bi-phase eye/lip makeup remover to remove them.

(Jelly x Powder Cheeks in 02 Soft Rose
and 03 Soft Coral)

– Jelly x Powder Cheeks in 02 & 03

Again, Jelly Powder Cheeks are existing items, and RMK has come up with three new colors and paired a sheer powdery shade with each of them to create Jelly x Powder Cheeks. The jelly shades are easily applied with fingertips and the powder sets the color. The powder can also be applied slightly above the cheek bone to create definition for the face. (Both shades in the duo have shimmer.)

02 (Soft Rose) can look very dark (and almost too shimmery) when swatched on the back of the hand, but the finish is surprisingly natural on the cheeks and the shimmer doesn’t look obvious. (This is again a typical example of blushers from Japanese brands.) I usually use matte blushers and I can happily live with the subtle shimmer. The soft rose tone should suit most skin tones, and there is a natural transparency to the finish (as if the flush came from within the skin). 01 (Soft Coral) is my less preferred one, as it is a little too warm for me and does not have enough pink undertone to look natural.

Because of the creamy texture, I recommend putting on the jelly shade before your powder foundation or after your liquid/cream foundation.

(Irresistible Lips C in 22 Natural Rose)

– Irresistible Lips C in 22

RMK revamped its lipstick lineup a couple of years ago and launched three ranges. With Irresistible Lips B as the core range, Irresistible Lips M offers a satiny-matte finish while Irresistible Lips C creates a natural watery shine. (I bought 03 (a bright neon pink) from the Irresistible Lips C range when it was launched. I might review it a bit later. Before that, you can catch a glimpse of it here.)

22 Natural Rose is a muted rose-toned red that looks very elegant and is a great shade for fall and winter. It goes well with neutral eyeshadows as well as plums and warm purples, which are very on-trend for fall 2008.

What I like about Irresistible Lips C is its controllable color pay-off. One layer gives an ultra-natural tinted look that softly unifies the lip tone, an extra layer instantly imparts more color and shine, and a third layer creates extra volume for the lips with rich color. Typical of lipsticks from Japanese brands, all the different degrees of color pay-offs offer the beautiful sense of transparency (with no overly opaque finishes). The color wears well and doesn’t dry out the lips. The added scent is unusual among Japanese lipsticks (which are usually scent-free), but I like the very light cassis scent, which is never over-powering.

Overall, I think this is a very wearable collection and the shimmery neutral-toned colors are far from boring. It is particularly worth looking into if warm neutrals are your type of eyeshadow colors, and you will find shades for cheeks and lips that go very well with them.

(RMK is currently available in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, Maylasia, Hong Kong, and Macau. UK is the only country outside Asia where RMK is available. Please check here for all the RMK retail points.)

Can’t Live Without – RMK Cleansing Oil N

Japanese Beauty Brands in the UK

Beauty City Guide – London

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Fall 2008 Makeup Top 10 (Part 3)

by PJ on Saturday, October 4, 2008

in -Coffret d'Or, -Kanebo, -Lavshuca, 2008 Fall, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup, seasonal makeup top 10

(continued from Part 1 & Part 2)

3. Maquillage

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

2008 is the year when Maquillage started to grow on me. The fall collection includes shades of purple, plum, gold, and gentle neutrals, which happen to be the shades I have been wearing the most lately. Later on I will be trying out Forming Shiny Eyes in 52 (seen above), with an alluring combination of purple and gold (with a pale pink cream base). The collection also features twelve new shades of Lasting Climax Rouge, which debuted in spring and has been selling well in Asia.

2. Lavshuca

(images from www.kanebo-cosmetics.jp/lavshuca/)

When you don’t want to spend too much on makeup but still want quality and all the prettiness, you can almost always count on Lavshuca. A couple of items have been on my shopping list for a while (Dual Prism Eyes in PU-1 and Rouge Star Classics in (probably) PK-1). There are no limited-edition items in this collection so I will think about getting them after deciding which holiday 2008 items to have.

1. Coffret D’Or

For me, at this point, I think I can say that 2008 is the year of Coffret D’Or in terms of Japanese makeup. Launched just before the beginning of 2008 with a lot of expectation, Coffret D’Or has done well this year, both as T’Estimo’s successor, which continues to help shape the overall image of Kanebo, and for me as a makeup fan.

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

Coffret D’Or’s solid fall 2008 collection does what the line is supposed to do, which is to create beautifully wearable shades with dependable quality for a wide range of consumers, from those wearing makeup on a regular basis to those new to makeup. With a price point lower than those of brands like Lunasol, it does have its own advantage.

Coffret D’Or is still expanding, and I think in 2009 we will see more new products. (The point makeup range hasn’t included basic items such as pencil eyeliners, and there will probably be more base makeup products. I am expecting to see an under-eye concealer pen that Revue used to have.) I certainly hope it will be worth the wait.

Loving Japanese Brands – Lavshuca

Coffret D’Or Trance Deep Eyes in Rose Variation

Coffret D’Or Trance Deep Eyes in Grey Variation

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Guerlain Holiday 2008 Collection

by PJ on Wednesday, October 1, 2008

in -Guerlain, 2008 Holiday, makeup

Betsy at Autumn Masquerade has posted information on Guerlain’s holiday 2008 collection. The lilac-silver packaging looks stunning. Do check out her post!

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Paul & Joe Holiday 2008 Collection

by PJ on Wednesday, October 1, 2008

in -Paul & Joe, 2008 Holiday, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup

(all images from www.paul-joe-beaute.com)

Paul & Joe has updated its (English) website with full information on its holiday 2008 collection. Paul & Joe fans will be delighted to know that this is not a half-hearted collection, as there are a lot of goodies and collectibles! (I can’t believe it is coming close to a year since I bought the Lip Gloss N from Paul & Joe’s holiday 2007 collection.)

The collection includes:

– Body Fragrance Collection (two sets, limited editions, with Fragrance Body Powder, Solid Fragrance, Fragrance Body Cream, and Original Drawstring Bag)

– Eye Makeup Collection “Neige“
Eye Gloss N (5 shades)
Pearl Powder (5 shades)
Pencil Eye Liner (4 shades)

– Face Color & Lipstick Kit (two sets, limited edition, with Face Color M, Lipstick G and Original Pouch)

– The Red Velvet Collection (Lipstick L, limited edition, three shades)

– Cosmetic Pouch II and Body Treatment Oil

The Paul & Joe English site has swatches of all the colors available, so I shall leave you to explore the site!

According to Cosme.Net, the collection will be launched in Japan on November 7th. On the other hand, the Paul & Joe English site seems to suggest that it is out on October 1st (in some countries at least). I will certainly keep a close eye on the collection when I stop by the Paul & Joe counter next time.

Other Holiday 2008 Collections:

Chanel

Dior

YSL

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Fall 2008 Makeup Top 10 (Part 2)

by PJ on Wednesday, October 1, 2008

in -Anna Sui, -Kesalan Patharan, -Paul & Joe, 2008 Fall, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup, seasonal makeup top 10

(continued from Part 1)

6. Anna Sui

(image from www.annasui-cosmetics.com)

Celebrating the 10th anniversary of its makeup line, Anna Sui has brought out Makeup Color Collection D as well as a new range of nail colors. (Please check this post for relevant information and a link to some actual photos of the makeup set.) Pricey as it is, it is one of those ultimate collectible items and I think it will only get more expensive as we come across it on auction sites.

5. Paul & Joe

(image from www.paul-joe-beaute.com)

Paul & Joe has been releasing the seasonal Sparkles collections in the past few years with original prints from designer Sophie Albou’s fashion collections. I don’t always love all the prints or the colors, but I like the overall look of this collection. I had a chance to test the items at the counter, and almost all the colors are pleasantly elegant and wearable. I was thinking about buying the eyeshadow and the lipstick in the cases with the pink bouquet print, but I personally think the print photographs slightly better than it looks in reality.

You can check out this blog post for more photos of some of the items.

4. Kesalan Patharan

(image from www.kesalanpatharan.co.jp)

Some of you might be surprised at Kesalan Patharan‘s 4th-place finish since I wasn’t overly impressed by the Eye Color Palatte in S007 that I bought and reviewed. But I think this reflects my view that there aren’t many outstanding makeup collections for fall 2008 and this well-constructed lineup is good enough to secure a spot in my top ten. (The collection also features three coordinating lipsticks and two blushers.) This is Kesalan Patharan’s rare appearance in my top ten.

Check out the final part of the countdown!

Loving Japanese Brands – Anna Sui

Loving Japanese Brands – Paul & Joe

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