A Touch of Blusher — Makeup, Skincare, Fragrance and a Bit of Fashion

Fall 2010 Makeup Twins: Estée Lauder & Guerlain

by PJ on Monday, June 14, 2010

in -Estée Lauder, -Guerlain, 2010 Fall, makeup

(images/info from www.joseishi.net/voce)

Considering that Estée Lauder and Guerlain are obviously ultimately owned by different companies, I think it is intriguing that Estée Lauder’s new Pure Color 5 Color Eyeshadow Palette and Guerlain’s new Écrin 6 Couleurs have a very similar look.

Perhaps more interestingly, they seem to indicate some key fall 2010 makeup trends. Maybe dramatic blues and cool neutrals are back…

(You can see the five variations of Écrin 6 Couleurs here and swatches of some of the shades here.)

Related posts on fall 2010 makeup collection:

Dior

Clé de Peau

Coffret D’Or

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Twany Glamacy Fall 2010 Makeup Collection

by PJ on Monday, June 14, 2010

in -Glamacy, -Kanebo, -Twany, 2010 Fall, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup

(image/info from www.nikkei.com)

Kanebo Twany Glamacy is part of a genre of Japanese makeup (including brands like Lissage and Satiche (which I will feature a bit later)) that is more about sophisticated and wearable colors than about the latest trends. The line will release its fall 2010 makeup collection in Japan on August 16th, and the new items include:

– Eye Collection ’10AW (2 variations, limited editions)
– Eyeliner Pencil (2 new shades)
– Lipstick (5 new shades)
– Cheek Color (2 new shades)

Weekend Beauty Reads for June 13, 2010

by PJ on Sunday, June 13, 2010

in Weekend Beauty Read

Phyrra gives you incentive to participate in the Zoya Nail Polish exchange by swatching her entire Zoya collection!

Raging Rouge reviews MAC Opulash Mascara, a new favorite!

Head on over to The Makeup Divas and enter to win over $200 of MAC makeup!

The Pink Sith manages to tie in Lynda Carter and applying lipstick in public pools into her latest review of BECCA Sheer Tint Lip Colour in Tatiana. See how she does it!

Elke gets the latest hair color trend for this fall from Redken.

A Touch of Blusher looks at Kanebo Lunasol’s fall 2010 makeup collection.

Beauty Anonymous loves the lightness and glossiness of Dior Addict Ultra-Gloss Reflect.

The Makeup Blogger is loving her new, fuller lashes, thanks to Talika Lipocils .

Beauty Junkie in SF finally tries the famed MAC Paint Pot in Painterly and falls in love.

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Fragrance Friday Review: Bond No. 9 Harrods for Her, for Him, and Swarovski Limited Edition

by PJ on Friday, June 11, 2010

in -Bond No. 9, fragrance

(images from www.bondno9.com)

After Saks Fifth Avenue for Her & for Him, Harrods for Her and Harrods for Him, launched in July 2009, marks Bond No. 9‘s second collaboration with one of the world’s retail emporiums.

Harrods for Her (right in photo):
Top notes: neroli petals, mandarin, wild chamomile
Middle notes: tuberose, clary sage, nutmeg
Base notes: amber, leather, sandalwood, vetiver

Harrods for Him:
Top notes: rhubarb leaf, star anise, chamomile
Middle notes: lavandin, pimento berries, violet leaf
Base notes: birchwood, musk, sandalwood

Harrods for Her is a woody floral. On me, the woody note is quite dominant towards the beginning. Then the scent gradually becomes a balance between the floral and the woody notes, and the drydown is soft and almost surprisingly un-woody. It is overall a dry floral scent with a hint of powderiness.

The first word I thought of to describe Harrods for Him is “elegant”. Compared with Harrods for Her, it is more rounded, less angular, less dry, and less woody. It is not overly masculine, but the muskiness keeps the scent identifiable as a male scent.

Bond No. 9 also released Harrods Swarovski Limited Edition, which is adorned with 1600 Swarovski emerald and white crystals.

Top notes: black pepper, cumin
Middle notes: amber, myrrh
Base notes: oud, vetiver

The key note of the fragrance is oud, the resin from aquilaria trees. According to Bond No. 9, oud, with its earthy and animal scent, has been playing a prominent part in perfumery in the Gulf Region for over two thousand years.

The fragrance is peppery, gently spicy, incense-y, and mysterious, with a hint of milkiness. Like the aroma from incenses, the scent seems to linger on and on. I think it will appeal to those who enjoy deep, rich, and intense fragrances and those who want to steer away from floral and fruity scents.

The latest addition to the Bond No. 9 Harrods family is Harrods Rose (above), with notes of white narcisse, tuberose, white rose, musk, amberette seed, and cashmere wood.

(The press samples (for Harrods for Her, Harrods for Him, and Harrods Swarovski Limited Edition) are provided by Bond No. 9.)

Calvin Klein Secret Obsession

Untitled by Maison Martin Margiela

Tiempe Passate by Antonia’s Flowers

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Kanebo Milano Collection 2011

by PJ on Thursday, June 10, 2010

in -Kanebo, -Kanebo Milano Collection, 2010 Holiday, all about Japanese cosmetics, fragrance, makeup, makeup - base makeup

(image/info from www.nikkei.com)

The annual pre-order-only Milano Collection from Kanebo is usually released for the holiday season. Here is more information on the two items for Milano Collection 2011:

– Face Up Powder (Milano Collection 2011) (24g, SPF14, PA++, 12600 JPY)
Pre-order period: mid-June – late September
Release date: December 16th

(powder case)

(powder)

– Eau de Parfum (Milano Collection 2011) (30ml, 10500 PY)
Pre-order period: mid-June – late August
Release date: November 16th

(The Eau de Parfum features notes of teatopia, orange blossom, and rose.)

Milano Collection 2010
(with an image of all the designs of past Milano Collection powder cases)

Milano Collection 2009

Sofina Raycious Foundation Case Galore

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Lunasol Fall 2010 Makeup Collection

by PJ on Wednesday, June 9, 2010

in -Kanebo, -Lunasol, 2010 Fall, all about Japanese cosmetics

(image from sankei.jp.msn.com)

(images below/info from www.nikkei.com)

Kanebo Lunasol will release its fall 2010 makeup collection in Japan on August 20th. The collection features:

– Aurorize Eyes (above, 5 variations)
– Gel Eyeliner (6 shades, brush sold separately)

– Full Glamour Lips S (10 new shades)
– Coloring Cheeks (2 new variations)

Lunasol will also release the following limited-edition items on August 20th:

– Aurorize Nuance Eyes (3 shades)
– Full Glamour Gloss N (3 new shades)
– Nail Finish (3 new shades)

Lunasol hasn’t released any 5-color eye palette series since Geminate Eyes back in fall 2007, and I am sure many Lunasol fans will be looking forward to Aurorize Eyes. I certainly want to see more images of the one with purple and pink. The blue Full Glamour Gloss N is looking good too.

Updated on July 1st 2010:

Here are the images of the five variations of Aurorize Eyes:

(01 Nuance Variation)
(images from www.kanebo-cosmetics.co.jp)

(02 Light Variation)

(03 Gentle Variation)

(04 Soft Variation)

(05 Contrast Variation)

The product photos on the Kanebo website can be a little washed out, and I expect the colors in these palettes to be slightly more vibrant. At the moment, I really like 02 Light Variation, which reminds me of Coral Coral from Lunasol’s spring 2008 collection. All my Lunasol eyeshadow palettes are purple-toned ones, and I have been thinking about getting a neutral one for quite some time. Light Variation looks like a nice neutral palette for me.

04 Soft Variation, the purple-toned one that caught my eye in the beginning, looks more muted than it does in the image at the top (the group photo). I hope the top-left shade will turn out to be more purple-y and less greyish.

You are see more photos of the collection on the blog of the Japanese magazine Very.

Updated on July 8th 2010:

Have a look at some great swatches here.

I am still liking 02 Light Variation and 04 Soft Variation. The violet in 04 Soft Variation may be too blue-toned for me but I still like the palette as a whole.

Updated on August 14th, 2010:

See more swatches here.

Related posts on Lunasol:

Toff & Loadstone Collection Kit

Summer 2010 Makeup Collection

Spring 2010 Makeup Collection

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Maquillage Fall 2010 Makeup Collection

by PJ on Wednesday, June 9, 2010

in -Maquillage, -Shiseido, 2010 Fall, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup

(image/info from www.nikkei.com)

Shiseido Maquillage will release its fall 2010 makeup collection in Japan on July 21st. The collection includes:

– Rouge Enamel Glamour (with one lipstick and one lip gloss, 8 variations)
– Dual Glow Eyes (cream eyeshadow duos, 5 variations)
– Double Brow Creator (Pencil) (3 shades)
– Double Brow Creator (Powder) (3 shades)
– Double Brow Creator Holder (double-ended, for (Pencil) & (Powder))
– Double Brow Creator Tip ((replacement) sponge applicator for (Powder))
– Double Brow Creator ((Pencil)/(Powder)/Holder set, limited edition, 3 variations)

(I presume the Double Brow Creator Holder comes with one Double Brow Creator Tip.)

Est Fall 2010 Makeup Collection

by PJ on Monday, June 7, 2010

in -Est, -Kao, 2010 Fall, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup

(image/info from www.kao.co.jp/est)

Kao Est will release its fall 2010 makeup collection in Japan on July 24th. The collection includes:

– Dual Emotional Eyes (4 variations)
– Emotional Aura Lips (3 new shades, limited editions)
– Livelish Lip Base

The top two shades in the Dual Emotional Eyes palettes will have a different finish from that of the bottom two shades (hence the name of the series).

Updated on August 23rd, 2010:

One of my readers, Thenewgirl, told me about this Chinese blog, which has photos, swatches, and EOTDs of the Dual Emotion Eyes palettes.

– images of the palettes
– swatches of the palettes
– EOTDs with 01, 02, and 03
– comparison with other palettes

Many thanks to Thenewgirl!

Skincare Review: SUQQU Musculate Massage Cream

by PJ on Monday, June 7, 2010

in -SUQQU, all about Japanese cosmetics, skincare, skincare - moisturizing/others

SUQQU is more renowned for its makeup range than for its skincare lineup, as the brand has a variety of sublime color and base makeup items. But today I am featuring one of SUQQU’s key skincare products, Musculate Massage Cream.

Those who are familiar with SUQQU might know about the brand’s signature Gankin Massage, which is claimed to help ease the tension of facial muscles, stimulate blood flow, and re-define facial contours. The massage can be administered by staff members at the SUQQU counter or at home, with the help of Musculate Massage Cream.

The massage is performed after cleansing and before toning and moisturizing. Ideally, it is performed daily both in the morning and in the evening. There are specific steps in the Gankin Massage routine, which are available on the “How to Massage” page on SUQQU’s Japanese website. (These steps are not presented on SUQQU’s global website.)

After the massage, the massage cream is wiped off with a sponge cloth, which comes with the massage cream. (The sponge cloth can be purchased separately, and so can a fiber cloth (as an alternative for the same purpose).) SUQQU also recommends using Face Refresher to remove any residue of the massage cream. As far as I can remember, it contains quite a lot of alcohol and might cause skin irritation for some people.

The massage cream has a very emollient texture. It is designed not to sink into the skin entirely so that the emolliency stays on the skin to facilitate the massage. It contains rich emollients such as mineral oil, beeswax, petrolatum, and squalane. It also contains moisturizing ingredients such as dipropylene glycol, stearic acid, cetearyl alcohol, methylserine, xylobiose, and sodium hyaluronate. (I have noticed that methylserine and xylobiose don’t seem to be commonly used in skincare products from western brands.)

Because of all the occlusive emollients in this product, it is a lot more suitable for those with dry or very dry skin and I would not recommend this product for those with oily skin. If you have combination skin, do avoid using this product on the oilier parts of your skin. (Otherwise you are simply pushing mineral oil and petrolatum into the skin which is already very sebaceous and this might create more problems than benefits.)

The Musculate Massage Cream pictured above is the limited-edition jasmine-scented Matsukasoukou version (available in the UK from January), while the original version (without the leaf details on the jar) has the brand’s signature eastern orchid scent. From June 4th, a limited-edition 300ml version (of the original (eastern orchid) version (200ml)) will be available in Japan.

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