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

Beauté de Kosé’s Esprique Precious will release its holiday 2009 collection in collaboration with Cosme.Net in Japan on November 16th.

The limited-edition Illuminate Fantasy set includes (from left to right in photo) Nail Color N, Glamorous Glossy Eyes, Face Color Case, Face Color, Dress On Glossy Rouge and Face Color Brush.

You can check out this page on Cosme.Net for more information and images.

Related posts:

Esprique Precious Holiday 2008 Collection

Esprique Precious Fall 2009 Collection

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

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

Last October, Ayura released Night Meditation, a version of the classic Ayura fragrance, Spirit of Ayura. On October 23rd this year, Ayura will release Night Harmonition Natural Spray (Cologne, 20ml). It features notes of milk, orange, and bodhi tree.

There will also be two limited-edition sets:

– Night Harmonition Room Collection (Natural Spray 20ml, Aroma Oil 5ml, Aroma Pot; released on October 23rd)



– Night Scented Collection (Natural Spray 20ml, Aroma Oil 5ml, Meditation Body Cream 50ml, Mini Chimney; released on November 20th)

Related posts:

Ayura Fall 2009 Makeup Collection

Ayura Spring 2009 Makeup Collection

Loving Japanese Brands – Ayura

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

On October 16th, Kosé’s Cosme Decorte will launch a new line, Maquiexpert. The debut lineup includes base makeup and skincare items.

The line has a minimal and professional look. The packaging is very Giorgio Armani, and Covering Makeup Foundation (above) reminds me of Max Factor’s pancake compact foundation.

Maquiexpert’s debut lineup includes:

– Covering Makeup Foundation (10 shades, sponge sold separately)

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

Face Powder

– Covering Makeup Base

– Textuner (primer)

– Deep Cleansing Oil

– Balancing Mist

Maquiexpert’s price point will be somewhat similar to those of Jill Stuart and Lunasol. Both Covering Makeup Foundation and Face Powder retail for 5250 JPY.

A limited-edition debut kit was available in Isetan Shinjuku in Tokyo from September 6th to 10th. Also, you can check out this post on a Japanese blog for the promotional image of the line.

Related posts:

Cosme Decorte Magie Deco Fall 2009 Collection

Cosme Decorte AQ Fall 2009 Collection

New Japanese Beauty Brand: Addiction

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Eat Smart Age Smart
Exercise won’t make you thin!

Beauty Match
Revlon Lash Fantasy Total Definition to extend your lashes.

A Touch of Blusher
A Touch of Blusher reviews Kanebo Lavshuca Finish Powder.

Splendicity Accessories
Do you love accessories? Then you’re definitely going to want to check out the Accessories Exhibit as part of New York Fashion Week.

Girl Gloss
Girl Gloss Looks at the trend Toward Bare Lips at New York Fashion Week

Beauty and Fashion Tech
Beauty and Fashion Tech Already Has a List of Fashion Week Wants.


image: Stock.xchg

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(image from Bond No. 9)

For Bond No. 9‘s fourth creation in the Andy Warhol series, Success Is a Job in New York, success and money are chosen as the theme. The creation is partly inspired by Warhol’s Dollar Sign in 1981.

Top notes: bergamot, cardamon seed, mandarin, coriander, nutmeg
Middle notes: pimento, tuberose, Rose de Mai, jasmine, plum, iris
Base notes: vanilla, patchouli, amber

Bond No. 9 describes Success as a warm and spicy gourmand. Gourmand it certainly is, while for me the scent is more warm than spicy. The top notes are very soft and have a transient existence. The main body of the scent is warm and gently floral.

Vanilla seems to characterize the whole composition, and it gives forth a warm, smooth, and rounded feel. Far from sweet and girlie, the scent is calm and sophisticated with a distinguished quality. Overall it conveys an aura of mature old-school glamour, and I think it should be a suitable scent for fall and winter.

Whenever I think about fragrances that explore abstract subject matters, I often think of Bond No. 9’s The Scent of Peace. The serene and comforting scent is a very successful attempt in interpreting the subject, and it happens to be one of my favorite Bond No. 9 scents. Success might not be such a firm personal favorite, but I think it has done just as well in tackling the elusive subject.

Success Is a Job in New York Eau de Parfum will be launched on October 1st in the US in Bond No. 9 stores in New York and branches of Saks Fifth Avenue.

Related posts:

Bond No. 9 Andy Warhol’s Silver Factory, Union Square and Lexington Avenue

Bond No. 9 Astor Place

Stella McCartney Sheer Stella 2009

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(image/info from www.nikkei.co.jp
& www3.kose.co.jp/bko)
Beauté de Kosé‘s base makeup range, Ultimation, has released its fall/winter items in Japan on September 1st.

The new items include:

– True Satin Perfect Liquid Foundation (6 shades, SPF 12 & PA++)
– Makeup Base N (1 shade)
– Loose Powder N (1 shade)
– Tone Up Liquid (highlighter for eye area, 1 new shade)

The new True Satin Perfect Liquid Foundation features Silk Filter Powder with enhanced moisturizing efficacy.

Related posts:

Foundation Face-Off: Dior vs. Esprique Precious

RMK Powder Foundation EX

Anna Sui Fall 2009 Point & Base Makeup Collection

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YSL Holiday 2009 Makeup Collection

by PJ on Saturday, September 12, 2009

in -YSL, 2009 Holiday, makeup

(images/info fromwww.joseishi.net/voce )

Here is a quick look at YSL’s holiday 2009 collection. (It will be available in Japan from October 30th.)

The collection includes:

– Your Lovely Palette for Eyes (above)

– Your Lovely Palette for Lips


– Radiant Touch Collector (2 shades)


– Mini Touche Blush (2 shades)


– Rouge Pur Pure Lipstick (2 new shades)

– Sparking Lip Gloss (2 shades)


– Golden Gloss (1 new shade)



All the items are limited editions except the two Pure Lipsticks and the Golden Gloss.

It’s nice to see some nice purple shades for the holiday season. I do like the Golden Gloss I have, and I am looking forward to seeing the purple one.

Related posts:

YSL Fall 2009 Collection

YSL Holiday 2008 Collection

A Splash of Color – Gorgeous Gold

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(image from www.nikkei.co.jp)

Coffret D’Or will release its holiday 2009 collection in Japan on November 16th. The “LuxuLight Collection” palette features two variations. The Sweet Luxu palette features warmer shades such as pinks and warm neutrals for the eyes, while Cool Luxu includes blue-toned shades.

Both palettes have three eyeshadows, three lip colors and one lip gloss.

Related posts on Coffret D’Or:

Color Mixing Eyes in Lavender Purple Mix

Fall 2009 Collection

Fall/Winter 2009 Base Makeup Collection

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First of all, I know that some of you have been waiting for this review for quite a while. I am sorry for the delay, and I hope you will enjoy reading this review.

Lavshuca Finish Powder was released in February this year and it is meant to replace Face Powder. It is available in two shades, Lucent and High Cover. I wasn’t sure which shade to get, since I really liked Face Powder in Lucent and I was also curious about High Cover. In the end I decided to get both.

When I saw the packaging in person, I actually liked it more than I thought I would. Obviously it is not as princessy as the more ornate Face Powder, but I still think it is quite pretty. The center of the lid is gently raised, which I think is a nice touch.

The case is smaller than that of Face Powder. The Face Powder case measures 7.7 cm in diameter (at the widest part) while the Finish Powder case measures 6.4 cm in diameter. Face Powder has 16g of powder while Finish Powder in Lucent has 9.8g of powder and High Cover has 6.8g. (I find the difference quite interesting. The two cases seem to contain roughly the same amount of powder and I think the difference is down to the ingredients, which I will touch upon later.)

The powder puff still has the cute bow, but the puff itself is smaller than the one included in Face Powder to fit the smaller case.

(Lavshuca Finish Powder in Lucent)


Now onto the powder itself. If you like Face Powder in Lucent, you shouldn’t be disappointed with Finish Powder in Lucent, which is quite similar. It is a predominantly matte setting powder with a hint of fine shimmer and with a very light coverage. It has a good pore coverage and does well in oil control. The fine powder feels soft on the skin.

I was surprised to find that High Cover doesn’t have more coverage than Lucent. (It won’t be able to replace a foundation.) Finish-wise, it is more matte than Lucent and it has no visible shimmer. In terms of ingredients, High Cover has kaolin, which is second on the ingredient list. (Lucent doesn’t have kaolin but has mica, which High Cover doesn’t have.) I do find that High Cover does a slightly (only slightly) better job in shine control, and this is probably down to the absorbent quality of kaolin. (I think the differences in the ingredients might explain why Lucent weighs more than High Cover even though the two cases have more or less the same amount of powder.)

(I didn’t include a photo of High Cover in this post mainly because Lucent and High Cover look similar in color. High Cover looks slightly lighter and slightly less yellow-toned than Lucent. Both are relatively sheer so there is virtually no difference in color when they are worn on the skin.)

Even though High Cover does slightly better in shine control, I personally prefer Lucent. First of all, I like Lucent’s soft-focus finish. It disguises the look of pores well and it gives the face a polished look. High Cover is nicely matte (not chalky matte) but it doesn’t do as well in pore coverage. Secondly, I personally don’t like kaolin in foundations. It does help absorb sebum but it can also absorb moisture, which can potentially dry out the skin.

Overall, I think Lucent should suit most skin types and should please those who go for an almost-matte finish with a touch of shimmer. If you would like a shimmer-less loose powder and if you have no issue with kaolin, then High Cover might be a good choice as well.

Related posts:

SUQQU Loose Powder in Natural
(if you want more shimmer)

Crème de la Mer The Powder in Translucent
(another shimmery loose powder)

Kiss Mat Chiffon Powder
(another great loose powder for an almost-matte polished finish)

Coffret D’Or Makeup Powder
(an ultra-natural loose powder)

Japanese Base Makeup Week

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(image from Elizabeth Arden)
Elizabeth Arden‘s Ceramide line is certainly one of the brand’s most noted ranges. The Plump Perfect Gentle Line Smoothing Exfoliator is among the range’s latest products. It is claimed to give skin a gentle deep cleansing and to leave the skin smoother and plumper.

The product uses polyethylene as the exfoliating agent. When finely ground, this synthetic ingredient is often used in facial/body scrubs. The base of the scrub (which holds the exfoliating agent) is very emollient, as coconut oil and shea butter are second and third on the ingredient list. Not surprisingly, the scrub has a rich and creamy texture.

I feel that this is quite a heavy-duty facial scrub, as the base is densely filled with the polyethylene beads. The scrub doesn’t feel harsh on the skin, but the exfoliating beads are definitely working very hard. The scrub does leave the skin polished and conditioned, and it rinses well enough so that it doesn’t leave the skin filmy. However, personally, for my oily skin, I prefer facial scrubs with a less emollient base.

Overall, I would recommend this product to those with dry skin. It is able to create a smoother appearance for the skin while the occlusive emollients are able to condition the skin. For those with oily skin, gel-based scrubs should be more ideal.

Related posts:

Crème de la Mer The Refining Facial

Chanel Huile Confort & Lotion Confort

Nude Skincare Cleansing Facial Oil

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