-Shiseido

Spring 2009 Makeup Trend Report

by PJ on Monday, January 26, 2009

in -Ayura, -Chanel, -Clarins, -Clé de Peau, -Cosme Decorte, -Dior, -Elégance, -Esprique (Precious), -Giorgio Armani, -Jill Stuart, -Kanebo, -Kosé, -Lancôme, -Lunasol, -Magie Deco, -Shiseido, -Shu Uemura, -YSL, 2009 Spring, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup, seasonal makeup trend reports

Partly due to the current world economy, many people are not spending as much money on makeup as before. It is also not surprising that many of us are looking for classic, wearable and trend-resistant colors.

If you are the kind of makeup fan that looks forward to unique shades, you might have already been disappointed with most of this season’s lineups. It seems that, for spring 2009, many brands are coming up with wearable colors that don’t easily date. But I find it very interesting to look into how various brands interpret “wearable colors”, and here are three shades from spring 2009 collections.

– Soft neutrals

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

Brown-toned neutrals will probably never date. This season, neutrals are soft, milky, and not overly intense. Neither too bronze nor too gray, these neutrals have maximal appeal for most complexions.

Some of the loveliest neutral palettes I have come across are from Clé de Peau and Dior. They are soft, elegant, chic, and easy to wear.

(Shiseido Clé de Peau Eye Color Quad
in 121 (top) and 120 (bottom))
(image from www.shiseido.co.jp/cpb)

(Dior 5-Color Eyeshadow in 553 Elégante)
(image from www.iswii.net)

If you want something slightly more intense, try Chanel‘s Les 4 Ombres (Quadra Eye Shadow) in Mystic Eyes from the spring 2009 Bohemian Fantasy collection.

(image from www.iswii.net)

– Pinks

(image from www.giorgioarmanibeauty-usa.com)

If you think neutrals are too predictable, try a little bit of pink. Soft light-to-medium pinks that are very slightly on the cool side should give you a youthful and gentle look, as seen above in the ad image from Giorgio Armani‘s Pink Light collection for spring 2009.

Like Giorgio Armani, YSL includes pink in the brand’s only new quad for the season. (Check my previous post to see the main makeup look).

(Palette D’Artiste Colletor Powder for the Eyes)
(image from www.cosme.net)

Jill Stuart regularly brings out pink shades, and this season’s Blossoming Pink collection adds two pink-toned palettes to Jill Stuart’s eye palette lineup.

(Seductive Eyes in 06 Romantic Goddess)
(image from www.jillstuart-beauty.com)

(Illuminance Eyes in 06 Blossoming Shine)
(image from www.jillstuart-beauty.com)

For an edgier look, try Lancôme‘s Irreverent Madame palette from the brand’s Pink Irreverence collection.

(image from www.lancome.co.uk)

– Lilacs

(image from ep-bko.com)

I think lilacs are just as wearable as neutrals and pinks. Like how we find the right neutrals/pinks, as long as we find the shades with the right color intensity and the right amount of warmth/coolness for our complexions, lilac can be a great everyday eyeshadow color.

Lilac was part of the spring 2008 makeup trend, and, as a lilac fan, I am pleased that it is still a very prominent shade this season, especially in Japanese beauty brands. Beauté de Kosé’s Esprique Precious is using the lilac-toned palette (from the new True Impact Eyes range) in the ad campaign. Lunasol‘s Layer Bloom Eyes in 03 Purple Gradation is also the feature item in the brand’s Floral Purification collection. (In the image below, it seems that the palettes are blossoming under the fresh spring sun.)

(www.kanebo-cosmetics.jp/lunasol)

In addition, AYURA‘s only new eye palette for spring 2009 is a cool-toned lilac/gray palette, somewhat reminiscent of Maquillage’s Clean Contrast Eyes 2 in SV844.

(image from www.ayura.co.jp)

– Mix & Match

(image from woman.excite.co.jp)

There are quite a few collections that feature two or more of the three colors mentioned above. For example, all four of Elégance‘s eye palettes incorporate pinks, lilacs, and neutrals. (There are one neutral palette, one pink palette, one lilac palette, and one with an off-white pink and an off-white lilac.)

Beauté de Kosé‘s two new Eye Fantasist liquid eyeshadows are of pink and lilac hues:

(image from www.iswii.net)

If you want pink and lilac in the same product, look into Shu Uemura‘s Spring Mode Makeup Eye Palette in Fantasia and the Nature Temptation Eye Palette from Clarins, which also includes some neutrals. (The picture below shows the version sold in Asia. The European/American version also has a pink and a lilac, which are paired with slightly darker shades.)

(image from www.shuuemura-usa.com)

(image from www.joseishi.net/voce)

If the pinks and lilacs above are too pale for your complexion or if you want a more striking look, try Magie Deco‘s Shadow Brilliance palette in 022 Flower Show.

(image from www.cosmedecorte.com/magiedeco)

So, do you like this spring’s trend (or non-trend…), and what colors will you be wearing this season?

More information on the spring 2009 collections featured above:

AYURA
Beauté de Kosé
Chanel
Dior
Elégance
Esprique Precious
Jill Stuart
Lunasol
Magie Deco
Shu Uemura
YSL

{ 6 comments }

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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Spring 2009 Makeup Look by Dick Page for Biteki February 2009

by PJ on Monday, January 5, 2009

in -Shiseido, -SHISEIDO (Global Brand), -Shiseido The Makeup, 2009 Spring, all about Japanese cosmetics

I collected my February 2009 issue of Biteki last week, among the huge winter sale crowd in central London.

I almost always like Biteki’s covers. The makeup looks are elegant and never over-the-top. But I was particularly drawn to this cover upon seeing it. I like the relaxed long wavy hair and the lilac off-the-shoulder top. The makeup looks fresh, feminine, and very wearable.

I flipped through the magazine to see the behind-the-scene photos and the products used, and I was pleasantly surprised that this look was created by Dick Page, the artistic director for Shiseido The Makeup, with items from the line*. (Usually the covers showcase works of Japanese makeup artists that regularly work with the magazine, and the products used are from a selection of brands.)

Items used:

– Hydro-Powder Eye Shadow H1
– Accentuating Cream Eyeliner 2
– Accentuating Color Stick S1, S3 and S5
– Perfect Rouge OR418 and PK419

The lovely touch is the orange-toned Perfect Rouge OR418 layered on top of PK419 on the inner rims of the lips. (Please click on the image above for a larger version.) The finish looks natural and seamless and brings a subtle vibrancy to the complexion.

By the way, this information-filled Biteki February 2009 issue is worth getting. February issues usually feature poll results of readers’ favorite products. Also, for the first time, Biteki’s main spring makeup feature is in the February issue (instead of March). This time, the booklet features photos of 973 new shades from 52 brands.

* The new Perfect Rouge and Smoothing Lip Pencil are now simply under the brand name Shiseido and not Shiseido The Makeup.

Shiseido Perfect Rouge

Agyness Deyn for Shiseido Maquillage

My Ultimate Makeup Archive

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Shiseido Maquillage Spring 2009 Point/Base Makeup Collection

by PJ on Monday, November 24, 2008

in -Maquillage, -Shiseido, 2009 Spring, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup

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

Maquillage will release its spring 2009 point makeup collection in Japan on January 21 and base makeup collection on February 21, 2008.

The new point makeup collection includes:

– Moisture Rouge (Color-on Type): 12 shades (including 6 Clear-Fit Colors)
– Moisture Rouge (Sheer Type): 9 shades
– Lip Essence EX (lipstick base)
– Eyes Creator (3D): 5 variations
– Face Creator (3D): 4 variations
– Eye Color N (Powder): 15 shades
– Eye Color N (Cream): 10 shades (as base or eyeliner)

The cases (which include the brush/ sponge tip) of Face Creator/ Eye Color N are sold separately.

The Eyes Creator (3D) palettes include four powder eyeshadows and a cream eyeliner. (I will pay attention to VI367, presumably a lilac palette.) The Face Creators feature a blusher as well as shades to highlight and contour the face.

The new base makeup items include:

– Lasting Powdery UV (SPF 25, PA++)
– Lasting Liquid UV (SPF 25, PA++)
– Styling Keep Base UV (SPF 24, PA++)
– Concealer Stick EX (SPF 25, PA++): 3 shades

Maquillage is quite widely available in Asia. According to Nikkei Net, it is sold in Japan, Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, Hong Kong, The Philippines, Vietnam, and Malaysia. It will launch in China in 2009.

Maquillage Holiday 2008 Collection

Maquillage Lasting Climax Rouge in RS310

Maquillage Clean Contrast Eyes 2 in SV844

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Majolica Majorca Holiday 2008 Collection Update

by PJ on Thursday, November 13, 2008

in -Majolica Majorca, -Shiseido, 2008 Holiday, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup

My post on Majolica Majorca’s holiday 2008 collection has been updated to include more images. Do have a look at the two Majolook Illuminator palettes.

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Integrate Holiday 2008 Collection

by PJ on Thursday, November 13, 2008

in -Integrate, -Shiseido, 2008 Holiday, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup

(image and info from www.iswii.net)

Here is a quick look at Shiseido Integrate‘s holiday 2008 collection.

Two limited-edition makeup palettes will be released for the holiday period. The top shade in each palette is layered on top of eyeshadows and blushers to add shimmer. The bottom two lip glosses feature a pearlescent shade on the right and a glittery shade on the left.

Majolica Majorca Holiday 2008 Collection

by PJ on Friday, November 7, 2008

in -Majolica Majorca, -Shiseido, 2008 Holiday, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup

(image and info from www.joseishi.net/voce)

Majolica Majorca will release its holiday 2008 collection in Japan on November 21st. The lineup includes:

– Majolumina Powder in Puff (for face and body, two shades, limited editions)

– Majolook Illuminator palettes (2 new variations)

– Lash Gorgeous Wing (1 new shade, limited edition)

Updated on November 13th, 2008:

More photos of the collection (from ww.iswii.net):

Updated on September 15th, 2012:

Read my review of Majolook (Illuminator) in BR788.

{ 4 comments }

Lunasol Spring 2009 Collection

by PJ on Wednesday, October 29, 2008

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

One of the editors at Voce magazine has posted photos of Lunasol’s spring 2009 collection taken at the press event. Do have a look!

The purification theme continues with “Floral Purification” for spring 2009, as the inspiration of the collection is drawn from the light and feminine shades of cherry blossoms, plum blossoms, wisteria, magnolia and azalea.

In the photos, you will see two eye palettes, three lipsticks, one lip gloss, and one nail color. (There are obviously more in the collection.) The light lavender-plum palette looks particularly alluring to me. So does the lilac dress that the model is wearing in the ad image! (Is spring 2009 another lilac season?)

It seems that this collection will be soft, airy, feminine, and definitely very spring-like. The color combinations in the palettes might not be as colorful as Lunasol’s spring 2008 collection, but this simple color concept will give Lunasol to show off the wonderful texture and finish of their eyeshadows.

In short, I am excited.

By the way, in the same blog entry, you will see all the 20 shades of Shiseido’s Perfect Rouge, which I mentioned yesterday.

Loving Japanese Brand – Lunasol

Lunasol Holiday 2008 Collection

Lunasol Sheer Contrast Eyes in Lavender Coral

{ 4 comments }

SHISEIDO Perfect Rouge

by PJ on Tuesday, October 28, 2008

in -Shiseido, -SHISEIDO (Global Brand), 2009 Spring, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup

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

As part of Shiseido‘s series of efforts in the next few years to strengthen its global market (in 69 countries, including Japan), a new series of makeup, in collaboration with Dick Page, will be released in all the countries where the brand is available.

The new line will start off with two new items, Perfect Rouge (in 20 shades) and Smoothing Lip Pencil (in 7 shades). The case of Perfect Rouge cleverly incorporates Shiseido’s logo, which is part of the brand’s plan to enhance its image on the global stage.

(Shiseido’s brand logo)

Australian model Christina Carey is chosen to front the international ad campaign.

(photography by Nick Night)

These two products will be released in Japan on January 1st, 2009.

The dark reflective packaging is very similar to that of Shiseido The Makeup, but, according to Nikkei Net and as I understand it, the new line is simply called SHISEIDO (as you see in the ad campaign). Again, it is about building up global brand awareness. It is also great to see Dick Page’s involvement in Shiseido’s product creation. I will certainly look forward to more future releases.

Bring It Back! Shiseido’s Inoui ID

Maquillage Holiday 2008 Collection

Agyness Deyn for Maquillage

Japanese Cosmetics in the UK

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New Skincare Range: Shiseido Elixir Prior

by PJ on Tuesday, October 21, 2008

in -Shiseido, skincare

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

Shiseido‘s skincare and base makeup range, Elixir Superior, targets those in their thirties and forties. On November 21st, a new Elixir range, Elixir Prior, will be launched in Japan and will target consumers in their sixties.

According to Nikkei Net, in 2007, the beauty market for those over sixties occupies 19% of the whole beauty market in Japan and shows a remarkable 104% increase from 2006. The launch of Elixir Prior is responding to this market shift.

The launch lineup will include a face soap, a toner, a moisturizing lotion, a moisturizing cream, and a daytime sunscreen (SPF 30, PA+++). I am sure the line will be expanded later on.

This launch happens to echo what I mentioned earlier about the launch of Voce Platinum, the beauty magazine for more mature readers. It seems that we are witnessing a new dimension in the Japanese beauty scene.

Shiseido d Program Revamped

Japanese Cosmetics Focus: Kanebo Freeplus

Genre Focus: Whitening Skincare Products

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