As many of you might already know, I don’t buy products from MAC very often. The main reason is that makeup products from Japanese brands appeal to me a lot more. But, once in a while, some items do attract my attention.
MAC’s Mineralize Eye Shadow Duo in Odd Couple was from the Electro Flash collection back in July 2008. As far as I know, the Mineralize Eye Shadow Duos in this collection were limited editions in the US. But they seem to be regular items in the UK.
I was back and forth about Odd Couple for quite a while. I swatched the colors at the counter for several times since a few months ago, and I was speculating that the warm gold might be too bronze for me. Plus the violet was very similar to the one in Shiseido Maquillage’s Forming Shiny Eyes in 52. The lilac veins in the warm gold were what made me decide to get it in the end, as they created an interesting lilac undertone.
I was surprised at how understated the warm gold turned out to be. It is not too warm, too bronze, or too vibrant. It goes on sheer in the beginning but it can be layered. I do think the lilac veins tone down the bronze quite nicely, and the lilac undertone does show up on the eyes.
I like wearing the violet close to the lashlines as a lining color. The shade is warmer and more purple than how it looks in the photo above, and it is less shimmery than the warm gold. The vibrancy of the shade lasts well.
I am glad that I did go for it. The warm gold with lilac veins is a shade I didn’t have, and it turned out to be more wearable than how I expected it to be. I certainly think I will be paying a little more attention to future Mineralize Eye Shadow releases in the future.
Related posts:
Alexander McQueen for MAC Eye Shadow in Haunting
Fafi for MAC
A Splash of Color: More Lilting Lilac
(image/info from www.cosme.net)
(images/info from www.nikkei.co.jp)
Kosé’s Esprique Precious will release its spring/summer 2010 base makeup collection in Japan on February 16th.
The new powder foundation, Dramatical Veil Pact UV, features “diamond shelter powder” and “pore control powder” to enhance pore coverage and sebum control. (Esprique Precious refers to the area that needs pore coverage and sebum control the most “dia[mond]-zone”, which is the diamond-shaped area covering lower forehead at the top, the cheeks on the sides, and the chin at the bottom.)
The full lineup includes:
– Dramatical Veil Pact UV (7 shades, SPF 25, PA++)
– Clear Revision Base UV (SPF 22, PA++)
– Radiant Trick (concealer, 2 shades, SPF 14, PA+)
Related posts:
Foundation Face-Off (4): Dior vs. Esprique Precious
Esprique Precious Spring 2010 Point Makeup Collection
Esprique Precious Fall/Winter 2009 Point/Base Makeup Collection
(images from www.suqqu.com/japan.html)
SUQQU’s Japanese website has been updated with information on the brand’s spring 2010 collection. (See details of the collection here.)
I have always loved SUQQU’s seasonal ad images. For spring 2010, the elegant neutral shades that the model is wearing contrast the colorful watercolor hues, which echo the new Noble Nuance Face Color (top left in the image below). I am eager to see this multi-colored pressed powder in person.
The collection will be launched in Japan on February 5th, and all the items in this collection are limited editions. According to the SUQQU website, the pre-ordering will start on January 29th.
Related posts on SUQQU:
Clear Veil Powder
Loose Powder in Natural
Cheek Brush & Eyebrow Brush L
by PJ on Wednesday, January 20, 2010
in -Cosme Decorte, -Kosé, -Magie Deco, -Paul & Joe, -Shiseido, 2010 Spring, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup, mineral makeup, stash focus
(image from www.bareescentuals.co.uk)
– Shiseido Co., Ltd. will acquire Bare Escentuals, Inc. through a US subsidiary (Blush Acquisition Corporation). You can read more about the acquisition at Yahoo! Finance.
(information from Nikkei Net and Yahoo! Finance)
– My post on Paul & Joe’s spring 2010 makeup collection has been updated with more images of the Disney collection. Do have a look!
– I have got my first Magie Deco item (Shadow Brilliance II in DC 025 Foxy Lady) and my first impression of it is very good. I will be reviewing it later on.
(images from Pond’s)
Last week I featured two body moisturizers from Neutrogena that would be suitable for winter. Today I will be looking into two facial moisturizers from Pond’s.
Pond’s Hydro-Nourishing Cream has a light-cream consistency. The consistency of the cream is probably predominantly shaped by propylene glycol dicaprylate/dicaprate (second on the ingredient list), which, according to Paula Begoun, is an emollient with a gel texture and is used in many lightweight moisturizers.
Some of the other moisturizing ingredients in this product are
paraffinum liquidum, petrolatum, cetyl alcohol, stearic acid, glycerin, oenothera biennis oil (evening primrose oil, with anti-inflammatory properties), lecithin, and glyceryl strearate.
The product also includes tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E), tocopherol (vitamin E), ascorbyl palmitate (vitamin C), and BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene), all of which are anti-oxidants.
This product does not contain alcohol. Those who are sensitive to fragrance might want to know that It contains parfum and quite a few other scenting agents. (I do find that the scent of this product is slightly on the strong side.)
Compared with Hydro-Nourishing Cream, Dry Skin Cream is more emollient. One thing I have noticed is that when it is applied on damp/moist skin (after cleansing), it appears to almost float over the skin. Then it seems to switch positions with the water, as it sticks to the skin, leaving a layer of watery moistness on top of it. I am suspecting that this is due to the hydrophobic nature of the ingredients that this product contains, such as paraffinum liquidum, petrolatum, and paraffin/synthetic wax.
Some of the other moisturizing ingredients in this product are isopropyl palmitate, glycerin, stearic acid, persea gratissima oil (avocado oil, with anti-oxidant properties), glyceryl stearate, cetyl alcohol, and lecithin. The product also includes anti-oxidants (tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E) and tocopherol (vitamin E)).
Like Hydro-Nourishing Cream, it does not contain alcohol and it contains parfum and many other scenting agents. (I personally find that the fragrance in this product is more pleasant.)
Overall, both moisturizers are decent products with skin-benefiting ingredients, although some might not enjoy the occlusive feel of Dry Skin Cream. I think Hydro-Nourishing Cream will suit those with slightly dry skin and that Dry Skin Cream will suit those with dry skin.
(I am not opposed to mineral oil or petrolatum in skincare products. Mineral oil is unlikely to cause skin irritation, and petrolatum has anti-inflammatory and healing properties. But those with oily skin should avoid these occlusive emollients in skincare products, especially when they are towards the top of the ingredient lists.)
(The products featured in this article are provided by Pond’s.)
Related posts:
Daytime Moisturizer Update – Olay Complete Care Daily Sensitive UV Fluid SPF 15
Skincare Review: Nude Skincare
Skincare Review: Elizabeth Arden Intervene Radiance Serum & Night Cream
(image/info from www.nikkei.co.jp)
