The Color Mixing Eyes (/幻妝眼彩盒) series is part of Kanebo Coffret D’Or‘s summer 2009 makeup collection. Even though 04 Lavender Purple Mix, which I tried first, was not my favorite Coffret D’Or palette, I liked it enough to want to try another one. Also, I was looking for eye palettes with warm neutrals, so I decided to pick up 01 Orange Brown Mix.

The four shades in this palette:

Bottom left: sheer off-white with soft shimmer
Top left: moderately pigmented warm champagne gold with a mildly sparkly finish
Top right: moderately pigmented light-to-medium bronze with soft shimmer
Bottom right: pigmented dark brown with mild shimmer

One of the reasons I decided to go for Orange Brown Mix is that I wanted to try something a little warmer than Coffret D’Or’s 3D Lighting Eyes in Gold Variation. Orange Brown Mix did turn out to be substantially warmer. Between the two champagne golds, the one in Orange Brown Mix is slightly warmer. The bronze in Orange Brown Mix is also warmer than the neutral (not too warm/cool) gold in Gold Variation.

(Even though, with Color Mixing Eyes, the two colors on top of the palettes are supposed to be mixed together, I tend to use them separately for more versatility.)

The light-to-medium bronze can look a little too bronze-y on me at first. But after half an hour or so, the color relaxes and merges with the skin tone. Still looking very warm, it is more of a soft orange-toned bronze than a true bronze.

When the champagne gold and the bronze are mixed together, the champagne gold adds a touch of coolness to the bronze. Plus, the different sizes of shimmery particles give the mixture a nice dimension.

It is hard to decide whether I prefer Orange Brown Mix or Gold Variation. Orange Brown Mix is more vibrant and summery, while Gold Variation is more understated and elegant. They suit different needs and different moods. But, in terms of the texture of the powder and the overall finish, I slightly prefer Gold Variation. The powder is very silky and the gold shade has a beautiful pearly finish.

Overall, Orange Brown Mix is a nice eye palette for warmer months, as the shades bring a summery warmth to the eyes and help brighten up the face. But I think some people will like the palette for winter for exactly the same reason. While I will go back to this palette (regardless of the seasons) from time to time, I will continue to explore warm neutral-toned palettes.

Related posts:

Magie Deco Shadow Brilliance II in DC025 Foxy Lady

RMK Spring Modern Eyes in 03 Orangy Brown

SUQQU Blend Eyeshadow in 10 Sakuragi

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

I have not been an avid fan of Kosé’s Visée. I have only purchased one product from the line (Dual Shine Rouge Palette for holiday 2006), and the packaging and the brand image generally don’t appeal to me. But Visée’s new eyeshadow palette series for fall 2010, Blossom Eyes, is looking pretty good. I am liking the floral patterns, although the case may look too plastic-y in person.

Visée’s fall 2010 makeup collection includes:

– Blossom Eyes (5 variations)
– Lash Blossom Volume (1 shade)
– Lash Blossom Long (1 shade)

The collection will be released in Japan on June 16th.

You can see the promotional image of the collection and the five Blossom Eyes palettes here.

Updated on June 29th 2010:

Please see Julia’s review (with swatches) of the pink variation of Blossom Eyes at Colour Me Cute!.

Related posts on Kosé-owned lines:

Addiction Summer 2010 Collection

Cosme Decorte Magie Deco Shadow Brilliance II in Foxy Lady

Foundation Face-Off (4): Dior vs. Esprique Precious

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Elemis is a UK-based skincare brand with a considerable variety of products for the face and body. Last month, the brand set foot in the world of fragrance by releasing its first scent, Elemis Eau de Parfum.

Top notes: elemi, sweet grass
Middle notes: vetiver, marine accord
Base notes: patchouli, gaiacwood, oak moss

I would describe Elemis Eau de Parfum as a citrus marine. Even though, strictly speaking, there are no citrus top notes, the scent opens with a citrusy sensation, which appears to be from elemi. (According to Wikipedia, aromatic elemi oil has a pine and lemon-like scent). Citrusy top notes generally appeal to me, and the freshness of elemi certainly does too.

Then the scent swiftly takes on a breezy and airy marine dimension. The marine accord is what characterizes the scent. It is slightly sweeter than the top notes, but it is a fresh, green, and somewhat dry sweetness and not a fruity, syrupy, or floral sweetness. (Notice that there are no floral notes in this fragrance.)

The woody note is soft and subtle. It adds substance to the scent to prevent it from being one-dimensional, but it is a low-key supporting note and doesn’t overtake the lilting and relaxing marine feel of the scent.

Elemis Eau de Parfum is a very pleasing daytime scent for summer that reminds me of a carefree afternoon by the beach with the scents of sea air, driftwood, and zesty lemonade.

The way the scent is presented conveys an on-the-move summer holiday feel as well. The travel-friendly 28ml eau de parfum comes in a compact and slender bottle. It comes with a drawstring pouch in turquoise, and the color seems to reflect the character of the scent. The fragrance seems to be gently whispering, “Take me away with you…”

(The product featured in this article is provided by Elemis.)

Other summer scents:

Bond No. 9 Coney Island

Escada Moon Sparkle

Stella McCartney Sheer Stella 2010

Other posts on Elemis:

Pro-Collagen Marine Cream & Oxygenating Night Cream

Pro-Collagen Body Serum

Pro-Radiance Cream Cleanser

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

Kanebo Lavshuca will release its fall 2010 makeup collection in Japan on August 1st. The collection features:

– Dramatic Memory Liquid (liquid lipstick): 8 shades
– Creamy Gel Liner: 6 shades
– Long Lengths Maker (mascara): 1 shade

Related posts on Lavshuca:

Summer 2010 Collection

Spring 2010 Collection

Finish Powder in Lucent & High Cover

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Simple has recently launched the Derma Intensive Relief range, which is formulated to suit those with skin conditions such as eczema and dermatitis. Today I am featuring two of the products from the range.

The Derma Intensive Relief Lotion has a rich creamy lotion consistency. It is slightly difficult to spread across the skin, but, once it sinks in, the skin feels moisturized and nourished. The moisture is long-lasting.

Some of the moisturizing ingredients that this product contains are isopropyl myristate, petrolatum, paraffinum liquidum, glyceryl stearate, and cetyl alcohol.

The product also contains canola oil, which, according to Paula Begoun, has barrier-repair and anti-inflammatory properties. It seems to be an ideal ingredient to be included in a product designed for those with skin conditions.

The Derma Intensive Relief Cream has a very emollient creamy consistency. It can be on the greasy side for some people, but it does work well for areas that require extra emolliency. I also find that it can work relatively well as a hand cream.

Some of the moisturizing ingredients that this product contains are petrolatum, paraffinum liquidum, cetyl alcohol, and glyceryl stearate. Like the Lotion above, it contains canola oil.

Both products are free from alcohol or fragrance.
Also, they don’t contain fragrant plant oils, many of which can irritate the skin.

The two products contain parabens.

Even though the two products are marketed towards those with sensitive skin and those with skin conditions, the uncomplicated formulae of the products can benefit many others. The Lotion should suit those with normal-to-dry, dry, or very dry skin. The Cream should work well for those with very dry skin. It can also work well for dry patches in colder months, regardless of skin types.

The Simple Derma Intensive Relief range also includes Shower Cream and Hand Cream.

(The products featured in this article are provided by Simple.)

Related posts:

Neutrogena Deep Moisture

Palmer’s Body Butters

Simple Moisturising Foaming Facial Wash
(still my current staple)

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(image from Clinique)

Last April, I reviewed Clinique‘s Youth Surge SPF15 (for combination oily to oily skin). Earlier this year, Clinique released Youth Surge Night. It is available in three versions (Very Dry to Dry, Dry Combination, and Combination Oily to Oily), and today I am featuring the Combination Oily to Oily version.

The product has a relatively lightweight gel-cream consistency. Some of the moisturizing ingredients that this product contains are glycerin, dipropylene glycol, astrocaryum murumuru (palm) seed butter, sorbitol, trehalose, squalane, and sodium hyaluronate.

It features antioxidants such as polygonum cuspidatum (Japanese knotweed) root extract, scutellaria baicalensis (skullcap) root extract, algae extract, betula alba (birch) bark extract, linoleic acid, and tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E). Skullcap root extract and linoleic acid also have anti-inflammatory properties.

The product does not contain fragrance or parabens.

Even though the product contains a variety of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory ingredients, it is hampered by the amount of alcohol it has (third on the ingredient list). It makes the product unsuitable for most skin types. (Another ingredient that might cause irritation is coleus barbatus (part of the mint family) extract.)

Without the alcohol, the product would have the potential to be a good night-time moisturizer for those with combination or oily skin.

(The product featured in this article is provided by Clinique.)

Related posts:

Clinique Even Better Skin Tone Correcting Moisturizer SPF20

Lancôme Génifique Youth Activating Concentrate

Rodial Glamotox SPF18 & Glamotox Night

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

Kanebo Kate will release its fall 2010 makeup collection in Japan on August 1st. The collection includes:

– Dual Blend Eyes (8 variations)
– Lasting Gel Eyeliner (6 shades)
– Lasting Gel Eyebrow (3 shades)
– Lasting Gel Eyebrow Coat
– Gradical Eyes A (1 new variation)
– Reflect Mirror Eyes (1 new variation)
– Rouge Lustre (8 shades)
– Lip Gloss S (5 shades)
– Beauty Up BB Base UV

Related posts on Kate:

Kate: Lavshuca’s Edgier, Darker Sister

Summer 2010 Collection

Spring 2010 Collection

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Addicted to Dior Jeweled Lip Gloss Duo is the limited-edition star item of Dior’s summer 2010 makeup collection. I first saw it in Harrods and then in my local John Lewis, and I got it with my Boots points after the collection was finally launched in Boots. (Its retail price in the UK is 42 pounds.)

The front of the palette is engraved with the Dior logo and the address of the House of Dior (30, Avenue Montaigne Paris). There are decorative jewels on the Dior logo and on the four corners. The palette comes with a drawstring velvet pouch.

The palette contains two lip glosses. Two variations are available, and I went for 002 Addicted to Pink, which includes a medium bronze with soft shimmer and a vibrant pink with no shimmer. Both shades go on quite sheer. (001 Addicted to Coral includes a warm gold and a coral.)

(I tested the colors at the counter. I am pretty sure I will keep my palette in an unused condition.)



Even though I decided to get it as soon as I saw the image of it on-line, I don’t think it is among my favorite limited-edition star items from Dior that I have. It is not as glamorous as Lady Dior or Cristal Boréal and it is not as princessy as Dior Princess Ring.


I mentioned earlier that I thought it was slightly on the small side when I saw it in person for the first time. I was mainly comparing it with Dior Sparkling (in the photo above), which is the limited-edition star item from Dior’s holiday 2003 makeup collection. (I can’t quite believe that it is from nearly seven years ago.) Even with the delicate engravings, I think I prefer Dior Sparking. I like the fact that it is bigger and chunkier, and I like the beautifully glimmering pink decorative jewels on the Dior logo.

Having said that, I still think Addicted to Dior is certainly worth collecting. Dior’s limited-edition items that double as accessories almost always get extra points from me, and I do prefer Addicted to Dior to items like Poudrier Dentelle from Dior’s spring 2010 makeup collection. I am probably going to display it alongside some of my other limited-edition items from Dior on my dressing table.

(See images of 001 Addicted to Coral on My Women Stuff.)

Related posts on Dior:

Night Diamond (Holiday 2008)

DiorLight (Holiday 2007)

Diorissime (Fall 2007)

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Max Factor‘s latest lip gloss range, Vibrant Curve Effect, is co-designed by the brand’s Global Creative Design Director, Pat McGrath. The range promises to deliver vibrant colors, high shine, and fuller lips. Today I am featuring the shade in 11 Fashion Leader.

One of the features of the range is the slanted ridged ShineSculpt applicator, which is designed to pick up more gloss and to hug the lips better.

In the tube, the shade looks like a soft peach with mild shimmer. On the lips, it is a very sheer peach with soft shimmer. It has a subtle watermelon scent.

Even though the range is claimed to create high shine, I find it very difficult to create substantial shine or gloss with it. With a couple of layers, the product imparts a subtle and natural moist sheen on the lips. I had to layer the gloss for five or six times to get a soft gloss. The application picks up a decent amount of product, but it is not as effective as a brush or a spatula applicator.

In comparison, Revlon’s Super Lustrous Lipglosses which I recently reviewed are able to create a very glossy finish with two layers. They are also more pigmented and the colors are much more vibrant.

If you are looking for a lip gloss that has an ultra-natural finish, then Vibrant Curve Effect is worth a look. Also, if you like non-sticky lip glosses that don’t feel heavy on the lips, this range will probably appeal to you too.

However, if you want substantial shine and gloss, you are likely to be disappointed with the range and I would recommend looking into lip glosses from Dior, YSL (Golden Gloss), Lunasol (Full Glamour Gloss, one of my favorite lip gloss ranges), Paul & Joe, Makemania (Curvy Lip Silicone), Revlon, and Bobbi Brown (Brightening Lip Gloss).

(The product featured in this article is provided by Max Factor.)

Related posts:

NARS Lip Glosses in Supervixen & Sunset Strip

Barry M Lip Gloss Wands

Natural Makeup Recommendations (2 of 3): Cheeks & Lips

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Fragrance Friday Review: SJP NYC

by PJ on Friday, May 21, 2010

in fragrance

(image from Coty Prestige)


Sarah Jessica Parker is among the many celebrities that are part of the celebrity fragrance empire. Following the success of Lovely, she brought out Covet and The Lovely Collection. This year, SJP NYC has been launched to coincide with the release of Sex and the City 2.

Top notes: wild red strawberries, Italian mandarin, white osmanthus
Middle notes: gardenia, honeysuckle, red rose damascenia, mimosa
Base notes: rum flavor, sandalwood, creamy musks

The scent is classified as a fruity floral. It opens with a sweet and citrusy sensation with strawberries and mandarin. The sweetness carries through and joins the middle notes as it subtly takes on a floral dimension. The base notes are light and not too woody or musky. On me, the sweetness of the strawberry note lasts all the way to the drydown.

The scent somewhat reminds me of Escada’s Moon Sparkle. They share a few notes (strawberries, citrus accord, sandalwood, and musk), and I think it is the sweetness of the strawberries that is mainly responsible for the resemblance.

Overall, SJP NYC is a fresh and sassy scent that is very suitable for summer. It is more fruity than floral and it has a vibrant and tropical feel. Compared with Parker’s other fragrances, I think it will probably be popular with slightly younger consumers.

SJP NYC Eau de Toilette is available in 15ml, 30ml, and 60ml (with slightly varied bottle designs). The range also includes a 200ml Body Lotion.

(The product featured in this article is provided by Coty Prestige via The Perfume Shop.)

Related posts:

Marc Jacobs Daisy in the Air

Sheer Stella 2010

Michael Kors Very Hollywood

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