makeup

(Clarins Palette Impression)

(Monet-inspired)

This is one of my absolute favorite makeup items. I acquired it in Japan several years ago. (It was only sold in Japan.) Monet is my favorite painter, so this Monet-inspired palette was simply a must-have for me while I was in Tokyo.

I have only sampled it very lightly. I think I will only use it rarely so that I get to keep the beautiful pattern.

I’ll stop here and let the photos do the talking.

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I just saw them here.

(If you use Adblock Plus on Firefox, do disable it temporarily and reload the page to see the photo.)

I think they look really pretty, especially the bottom one, with pink and lavender. All the colors seem soft and wearable.

Well, I am obsessed with nice packaging. With all the choices out there, I usually go for things that are both great to use and nice to look at!

There is an even more striking Clarins eyeshadow palette which was not released outside Japan. It looks like a Monet painting. I will talk about it and post a photo of it on Thursday.

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Each year, the November issue of Frau magazine in Japan releases the annual makeup and skincare ranking. Beauty experts and makeup artists give points to all the new launches this year and the top-finishing products make the list.

I am listing the products sold internationally.

SKINCARE

Anti-aging:
SK-II: Signs Dual Treatment Mask
Guerlain: Orchidee Imperiale
Chanel: Sublimage
HR: Prodigy Mask
Estee Lauder: Advanced Night Repair Concentrate
Estee Lauder: Perfectionist Power Correcting Patch

Toner:
Chanel: Hydramax+ Nanolotion
Natura Bisee: Diamond Mist
Dior: Deep Hydration Refreshing Spray

Moisturizer:
SK-II: Skin Rebooster
YSL: Fresh Hydrating Water Gel
YSL: Super Hydrating Detoxifying Essence

Cleanser:
Clarins: Pure Melt Cleansing Gel
RMK: Cleansing Milk
Clarins: Water Comfort One-Step Cleanser
HR: Prodigy Makeup Remover
Restgenol: Active Collagenol Lifting Force Cleansing

New Skincare Lines:
Givenchy: Power Youth

Pore Care:
HR: Pore Genius
Clinique: Turnaround 15-minute Facial
Biotherm: Line Peel Pore Targeter
Chanel: Purete Ideale Serum

MAKEUP

Mascara/Eyebrow:
Max Factor: Lash Artist
HR:Lash Queen Waterproof
Chanel: Inimitable
Givenchy: Eyebrow Prisme
Maybelline: Lash Stylist Waterproof
HR: Surrealist

Eye Color:
Dior: 5-Color Eyeshadow 970
RMK: Ingenious Natural Eyes 02
Chanel: Quadra Eye Shadow 51
YSL: Ombre Solo Double-Effect Eye 4
Sonia Rykiel: Cream Eyeliner 01

Lip Color:
Chanel: Rouge Allure 4, 14, 24, 30
Dior: Rouge Dior 132
Sonia Rykiel: Lipstick AC 03
RMK: Irresistible Lips C 08
Guerlain: KissKiss Laque 740
Estee Lauder: Pure Color Crystal Lipstick 304

BASE MAKEUP

Foundation:
Laura Mercier: Silk Cream Foundation
Laura Mercier: Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20 Nude
Paul & Joe: Creamy Compact Foundation
SK-II: Airtouch Foundation

Others:
Givenchy: Prisme Libre #2
De la Mer: The Powder
Giorgio Armani: UV Master Primer SPF 40/ PA+++
Laura Mercier: Secret Brightener #2

PERFUME/ HAIR/ BODY
Chanel: Allure Sensuelle
YSL: Profil Minceur
Clarins: Body Shaping Supplement

(Frau magazine, November 2006)

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For me, I bought these:

*Visee Dual Shine Rouge Palette*


I always like lip palettes. Visee’s Gothic design looks cute and glamorous. The grey lipgloss looks very dark on the photo, but it is actually quite a transparent grey hue with sparse glitters. It is mainly for a very toned-down version of dark gothic lips.

*Paul & Joe Hummingbird Collection*



Cosmetics stuff don’t get prettier than this. I like the fact that the lipstick does not have any shimmer. It is just a nice creamy muted pink. The eyeshadow, however, has tones of iridescence. When used light-handedly, it can be a good blusher.

*Dior Pretty Charm*


Tacky as some might think, I love this one-off design. I have not used the lip colors yet, and I doubt I will soon. I am just enjoying the sight of it for the time being. I like the fact that it is rather heavy so there is a sense of existence, as I always call it.

*YSL Gold Celebration Palette “Star Glow”*



Except for the fact that I need to be careful not to leave fingerprints all over the case, I am really glad that I bought this. The two pale lipglosses look like they have tons of glitters. I would like to try them soon. YSL should definitely keep releasing a palette for each Christmas. But I feel that, after four years, they might want to do something different…

*Marc Jacobs votive candle set*


I finally got it after missing it last year. Since last year, I have developed an interest in fragranced candles. The Stella McCartney candle is my favorite. Smaller than the usual glass candles, each one of the three features a different Marc Jacobs scent.

I realize that there are loads of lip colors from what I bought. Ummm…maybe I will buy more things for eyes in the coming spring, to balance out…

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(Continued from Sunday and Monday)

Finally, here are the top 3!

3rd: Paul & Joe

(pictured: hummingbird collection)

Pressed powder set with brush, body glitter powder, lip glosses…the list of Paul & Joe’s Christmas collection goes on. But the most fantastic items have to be the hummingbird lipsticks, eyeshadows, and pouch. The exquisite print is colorful, vibrant, and elegant. It is like a uplifting piece of artwork. Absolutely gorgeous. (I was always on the fence with the paper-wrapped seasonal collections and have never bought any item. They were always nearly there but not quite. The hummingbird collection is so much more striking than all the previous ones.)

It is interesting that the hummingbird lipsticks and eyeshadows are only sold in New York, Paris, and London — not in Tokyo. (Finally there is something NOT available in Japan…)

I bought the eyeshadow in 200 Cherubin Rose, which can double as a blusher if you don’t mind the pearly iredescence. I loved the collection so much that I went back to get the lipstick in 200 Ange Rose, a very wearble muted pink. The pouch, of the same print, is just so pretty as well. But I am happy with what I have got.

2nd: YSL


I finally bought the Gold Celebration palette (pictured above), after missing out on all the previous three. Called “Star Glow”, it is their fourth one and is probably the prettiest in my opinion. The only drawback is that fingerprints are easily left everywhere on the bright gold packaging.

But YSL wouldn’t make it to the second place without the rest of the colleciton. The colors of the eyeshadows (which have a great creamy texture), blushers, and the lipsticks all compliment one another. I think the bracelet is an improvement from last year’s slightly brassy design (which would probably work better as a bag charm). But the design of the front panel is a bit too complicated for me, and the velvety strap will quickly gather a lot of dust. Nonetheless it is a bold and catchy design that I generally like.

1st: Dior


Overall, Dior has done so well this year. The revamp of the makeup line is immensely successful. The seasonal limited editions link makeup and fashion together effortlessly, and what a way to end Dior’s 2006 with a stunning Christmas collection. Both eyeshadow palettes feature soft pastely colors which are easy to use along with what you already have. The texture of the powder is silky smooth as always. The collection also features lipsticks, lipglosses, nail colors, a highlighter, and a limited eidtion fragrance Midnight Charm. A true all-rounder, and that’s why it tops my list.

I really like the Dior Pretty Charms. They have done the ring and the bracelet. As I was guessing, sooner or later they would bring out a bag charm, and they did. A heart-shape lip-color palette surrounded by beads of four different shapes. It can be a very cute stocking filler.

So there you go, this year’s top ten. (I will keep compiling my top 10 of each coming season.)

Later on, I will talk more about the Christmas items I bought this year.

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(continued from yesterday)

6th: Jill Stuart
The collection includes a set of pressed powder, two eye glosses, and a nail polish. The collection also includes two lipstick charms. Everything is ultra cute and glossy. The pink and golden eye glosses look extremely cute, but the color might a bit too sheer for some people. I nearly decided to buy the lipstick charm, but I settled for another one (you can look for it on the photo above), which I will review tomorrow.

5th: AYURA
Another makeup and evening bag set. The bag looks exquisite. There are one-off creations like the bubble bath, the hair gloss, and the face highlighter. The set also includes a choice of lipstick. Again, AYURA creates interesting one-off products to entice us. (I want the bubble bath and the hair gloss!!)

4th: Visee
I have never bought anything from Visee before, but this chic and edgy Gothic-style lip palette won me over (pictured upper left). The palette features a lip base, a lip liner, four lip colors and two lip glosses. The colors are basic and wearable, with the catchy exterior being the main selling point. The Gothic design, not the usual Visee packaging, is also a one-off. The real thing looks as good as it does on the website and on the magazine.

Tomorrow I will reveal the top 3.

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This week I reveal my top ten Christmas collections for 2006. It is purely based on my personal preference. I look at the variety within the range of the collection, and the design/packaging of the products. Here they are, in reverse order:

10. Marc Jacobs
I didn’t get to buy this last year, thinking that it would be on sale after Christmas. But I didn’t see any of them during the sale. So when I happened to see this again last month, I thought I had to get it (pictured centre). Each votive candle features a different scent: Marc Jacobs Perfume, Marc Jacobs Perfume Essence, and Blush. I have Blush already and I do love all of these scents, so this set is a good addition.

9. Anna Sui
The collection includes two purse-like palettes, one for lips and the other for eyes. It also includes a vanity case and a limited version of the Secret Wish perfume: Magic Romance. The princessy packaging lives on…

8. Clarins
It is all about diamond-shine for Clarins. The eyeliner works as a hair accessory. I like the fact that Clarins went all out for the shininess for the packaging. Some might think it is a bit over the top, but I think it is fine for this time of year. I don’t think this collection is available in the UK though.

7. Lunasol
A limited edition with a selection of products and a glamorous evening bag is very common across brands in Japan during the Christmas season. (Even western brands produce these sets only for the Japanese market.) Lunasol’s set includes an eye palette, a lip gloss, shimmering loose powder, a powder brush, and an evening bag. All the colors are sophisticated and wearable, even though the loose powder may be too sparkly for the face. The black evening bag is simple and elegant and it actually doesn’t look like a free gift, according to those who have purchased the sets.

Tomorrow: 6th to 4th.

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Finally I was at the SUQQU counter to see all the products for the first time yesterday. Wonderful service there, which reminded me of my trip to Japan when the sales assistants bowed to me after hearing my compliments on their products.

This time, she didn’t bow to me, but she did say “Thank you” when I complimented on their nice packaging. (Usually, at most other counters in the UK, I get the reply “It is indeed nice, isn’t it?” They will *never* say this in Japan. You are supposed to be thankful for a customer’s compliment, not to eagerly agree with it. Well, I know there is no right or wrong about this.)

I left with a Creamy Lip Stick in 22 Benikoji, a nice beige pink. I also got samples of HA Complex Lotion and HA Complex Emulsion. In true Japanese style, the sales assistant came around the counter and handed the bag to me with both hands. Again, I felt like I was in Takashimaya Shinjuku.

Later, I went to Fenwick Bond Street Christmas Shopping Evening. As I expected, there were loads of people in the beauty section. It’s because it was rare for a department store to have a 20% discount on all cosmetics and fragrances. (As far as I know, on special 20% off days, department stores like Debenhams and House of Fraser only do 10% on cosmetics and fragrances.) No surprise, the accessory section was full of people looking through all the “it” bags for this season.

I bought a few things, including the Depsea Therapy Moisture Recovery Nanowater. I left feeling satisfied and wanted to come back next year.

By the way, I saw Dior’s Asia-only “Ultra Shine 2” lipsticks in Harvey Nichols.

I will now save the money for the coming winter sale.

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I was on MakeupAlley last night and I came across something I was not prepared to see. Haruchan posted loads of photos (from Urb magazine January 2007) of 2007 spring makeup collections of various brands. (Usually Biteki does it on the March issue, which is why I didn’t expect this at this time of year.)

I could just feel money flying away from me as I browsed (okay, closely studied!) the photos…

I am sort of glad that there weren’t all the major brands. After all, I always need something to look forward to. It was only November (I saw the photos yesterday), for goodness sake!

There are already some stuff on my shopping list (even though I haven’t totally taken care of what is on my Christmas makeup list):

Jill Stuart eyeshadow palette 04
Lunasol lip gloss palette EX04
Anna Sui lip gloss

YSL Pure Lipstick 135
YSL eyeshadow palette 06
Estee Lauder blusher stick

For what’s new for other brands like Paul & Joe, Givenchy, Lancome, Giorgio Armani, NARS, Sonia Rykiel, IPSA, Visee, M.A.C (and many more), go to MakeupAlley *NOW*.

Thanks again, Haruchan!

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I really like the packaging of the new MACouture collection. It is very chic and glamorous. I know it is more expensive than the usual MAC products (and it will be more expensive in the UK), but I will be more than happy to own a piece of it. Right now I am interested in MACouture Lipstick, Lipglass, and Sheer Mystery Powder.

The other thing is Shu Uemura’s new range of lipsticks “Rouge Unlimited“. I don’t normally like transparent packaging, but out of the 48 shades, there are a few interesting choices. The six artist shades (white, yellow, green, blue, purple, and black) are to be layered onto the other shades to give a sheer accent color, according to my Biteki magazine (November 2006). It also suggests PK308 as the base shade to experiment the layering. (You have to go to the Japanese website to see the shade. The color naming is different in the US. But I think it might be Nude Pink Pearl under Pink.) Can’t wait to see how the layering works, especially how the green and the blue layer on to the pink shade.

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