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

Weekend Beauty Reads for June 20, 2010

by PJ on Sunday, June 20, 2010

Phyrra’s Indie Spotlight for June is an exclusive interview with Evil Shades Cosmetics!

A Touch of Blusher counts down the best summer 2010 makeup collections.

Raging Rouge introduces readers to Marina Cosmetics Sea Perfected Lipstick.

The Pink Sith waxes poetic and extols the benefits of using Shu Uemura High Performance Balancing Cleansing Oil.

The Makeup Divas reviews tarte new matte park ave princess waterproof bronzer and is also giving away one. Hurry and enter today!

Painted Ladies talks to Nolan Robert, winner of Lifetime’s Blush and creator of Nolan Robert Cosmetics.

Elke falls in love with Nexxus.

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Fragrance Friday: D&G 3 L’Impératrice

by PJ on Friday, June 18, 2010

in -Dolce & Gabbana, fragrance, stash focus

Apart from the annual Sheer Stellas, I have not bought any fragrance for the last couple of years. I often test new fragrances that I see in shops, but I am not on the hunt for a new favorite. Stella McCartney’s Stella, Bulgari’s Eau Parfumée au Thé Vert, and Ayura’s Spirit of Ayura are still my solid favorites, and I have other scents to suit different moods and occasions.

D&G’s 3 L’Impératrice came as a surprise. It is part of The D&G Anthology, which was launched last summer and includes five fragrances. It is one of my favoites among all the new fragrances that I have tested in the last couple of years. After testing it for a few more times just to be sure, I got it a few months ago (with my Boots points).

Top notes: pink pepper, kiwi, rhubarb
Middle notes: watermelon, cyclamen, jasmine
Base notes: citrus wood, musk, sandalwood
(information from Osmoz.)

Osmoz classifies it as a floral fruity, which I agree with. (It is not a fruity floral.) On me, the most pronounced notes are perhaps kiwi and watermelon, but overall the scent smells peachy to me. Fresh with a hint of sweetness, it is like a jug of zesty, cooling, and refreshing fruit punch. It is young but not too girlie. (There are many other scents that are a lot more sugary-sweet.)

It is perhaps not the most multi-dimensional fragrance since it does not develop very much during the course of wear and the base notes are very subtle. It is simply a fresh and light-hearted scent that is very easy to wear.

I do like fresh, straightforward and easy-to-wear scents, which is mainly why I really like 3 L’Impératrice. It would not be my choice of fragrance for formal occasions, but it is a lovely daily scent (particularly for spring and summer) that I find delightfully uplifting and invigorating. While my top three scents remain unchanged, 3 L’Impératrice is most definitely among my favorites.

SUQQU Sanzekan

Bond No. 9 The Scent of Peace

Dolce & Gabbana Makeup Line in Selfridges

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Summer 2010 Makeup Top 10 (Part 1)

by PJ on Wednesday, June 16, 2010

in -Anna Sui, -Jill Stuart, -Majolica Majorca, -Shiseido, -Sonia Rykiel, 2010 Summer, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup, seasonal makeup top 10

10th: Sonia Rykiel

(image from www.soniarykiel-cosmetics.com)

It doesn’t seem that long ago when Sonia Rykiel released a beautiful blue-themed collection for summer 2009. For this summer, the brand focuses on slightly warmer shades. I like the vibrant hues of Gloss D’Été as well as the golden-sun color of the packaging.

9th: Majolica Majorca

(image from www.iswii.net)

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

In contrast to Sonia Rykiel’s warm colors, Majolica Majorca’s summer 2010 color scheme is a lot cooler, With cool pink and lilac, it is a girlie and romantic collection. The eyeshadow palette with pale pink and soft lilac is quite appealing to me.

8th: Jill Stuart

(image from www.jillstuart-beauty.com)

I really like my Mix Blush Compact (in 01 Baby Blush), and Jill Stuart has released many variations to satisfy Jill Stuart fans. The two limited-edition variations for summer 2010 feature soft colors and floral prints on the powder, and they just look so pretty.

(Jill Stuart will release a new range of blushers for fall 2010. See images on the Voce blog.)

7th: Anna Sui

(image from www.annasui-cosmetics.com)

(image from www.iswii.net)

Anna Sui’s summer 2010 makeup collection features colorful psychedelic patterns on the packaging. I very nearly bought Glittering Eye Color in 002, but I decided not to in the end. (I do like the cute packaging, but the cream texture is not really my preferred texture for eyeshadows (or for most makeup items).)

The countdown continues in Part 2.

Japanese Cosmetics Focus: Sonia Rykiel

Jill Stuart Jelly Eye Color N in 08 Crystal Sky

Loving Japanese Brands (2 of 7): Anna Sui

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Majolica Majorca Fall 2010 Makeup Collection

by PJ on Wednesday, June 16, 2010

in -Majolica Majorca, -Shiseido, 2010 Fall, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup

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

Shiseido Majolica Majorca will release its fall 2010 Queen of Decoration collection in Japan on July 21st. The collection features:

– Jeweling Eyes (3 new variations)
– Lash Gorgeous Wing NEO (1 shade)
– Eyes Reset Gel (eye makeup remover)

Updated on April 2nd, 2017:

Read my review of Jeweling Eyes in BR792.

A Splash of Color: Gorgeous Gold

Budget Princess: Majolica Majorca

Lavshuca Fall 2010 Makeup Collection

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Anna Sui Fall 2010 Makeup Collection

by PJ on Wednesday, June 16, 2010

in -Anna Sui, 2010 Fall, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup

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

Anna Sui will release its fall 2010 makeup collection in Japan on August 5th. The collection includes:

– Eye Color Duo (above, 7 variations)

– Eye Color (25 shades)

– Eye Brightener (1 shade)

– Mini Rouge V (3 shades, limited editions)

– Nail Color N (5 shades, limited editions)

– Spot Concealer (3 shades)

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