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

Maquillage Summer 2009 Collection

by PJ on Friday, April 10, 2009

in -Maquillage, -Shiseido, 2009 Summer, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup

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

Maquillage will release its summer 2009 collection in Japan on May 21. The lineup includes:

– Eyes Creator 3D (2 new variations, limited editions)
– Full Vision Mascara & Liner (5 shades)
– Full Vision Gloss Coat Mascara (1 shade)
– Glossy Nail Color (22 shade)
– Top & Base Coat

The gold-toned Eyes Creator 3D (in GD831) got my attention. It seems to be the kind of neutral-to-gold palette that suits me and it reminds me of the Coffret D’Or 3D Lighting Eyes in Gold Variation, which I like very much.

Voce BeauTV Update

by PJ on Wednesday, April 8, 2009

in all about Japanese cosmetics

My post on Voce’s BeauTV has been updated with more information. Do have a look!

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Coffret D’Or Late Summer (Early Fall) 2009 Collection

by PJ on Wednesday, April 8, 2009

in -Coffret d'Or, -Kanebo, 2009 Fall, 2009 Summer, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup

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

Coffret D’Or will release the 2009 late summer collection in Japan on June 16. The lineup includes:

– Color Mixing Eyes palettes (5 variations)
– Eye Clear Up Base
– Double Action Mascara (2 shades)
– Full Keep Gel Liner (2 new shades)
– Quick Liner (2 shades)
– Juicy Memory Rouge (12 shades)
– Control Lip Base

In addition, Coffret D’Or’s early summer collection, out on April 16 in Japan, features eight new nail colors.

(image/info from www.kanebo-cosmetics.jp/coffretdor)

I have got the Shine Accent Eyes in 02 Pink Variation from Coffret D’Or’s spring 2009 collection. I will share my thoughts with you later on!

Updated on April 22 2009:

Check out the update here.

Spring 2009 Makeup Top Ten

Coffret D’Or Spring/Summer 2009 Base Makeup Collection

Cosme.Net 2008 The Best Cosmetics Awards

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Skincare Review: Clinique Youth Surge SPF 15

by PJ on Tuesday, April 7, 2009

in -Clinique, skincare, skincare - moisturizing/others

(image from www.clinique.com)

Launched in March in the UK, Clinique‘s Youth Surge SPF 15 is the brand’s new range of daytime moisturizers. Today I am reviewing the version for combination oily to oily skin.

The main moisturizing ingredients in this product are castor oil (ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate), cetyl ethylhexanoate, butylene glycol, glyceryl stearate and glycerin. The anti-UVA/UVB ingredient is titanium dioxide.

It features antioxidants such as polygonum cuspidatum (Japanese knotweed) root extract, algae extract, birch bark extract and linoleic acid. It also contains phytosphingosine, which can be a cell-communicating agent. (Please see this post for relevant links.)

The product contains no alcohol, parabens or fragrance.

One ingredient that might cause irritation is coleus barbatus (part of the mint family) extract.

As a moisturizer for combination and oily skin, it has a rich texture and feels quite emollient on the skin. It can initially leave a slight white cast on the skin, which is probably down to titanium dioxide, an active ingredient in this product.

Overall this is a competent facial moisturizer. It doesn’t leave the skin shiny but it can feel slightly filmy for those with oily skin. Even though this product is marketed for those with combination and oily skin, I think it will suit people with normal and slightly dry skin a lot more than those with oily skin. Those who are sensitive to chemical sunscreen ingredients might also want to consider this product as titanium dioxide is less likely to cause skin reaction.

Lancôme Génifique

Chanel Huilde Confort & Lotion Confort

Can’t Live Without – Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream

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Bodycare Review: Jergens Extra Softening Body Moisturiser

by PJ on Monday, April 6, 2009

in bodycare

(image from Jergens)

The American bodycare line Jergens (currently owned by Japanese beauty company Kao) is now available in the UK. Today I am featuring the Extra Softening Body Moisturiser from the four body moisturisers sold in the UK. (See Jergens’ new UK site here.)

Extra Softening Body Moisturiser has a light-cream texture when dispensed and it melts into a lotion consistency when spread on the skin. It is very easy to apply and it absorbs quickly. It has a pleasant sweet berry scent that is not too overpowering.

Some of the main moisturizing ingredients are glycerine, glycine soja oil, shea butter, sunflower seed oil, and jojoba seed oil. The product is paraben-free.

It leaves the skin softly moisturized and doesn’t leave any greasy residue. The moisture is relatively long-lasting. Because of the light consistency, I think it is more suitable for warmer months and for people with no severely dry skin. People with very dry skin might want to look for more emollient products.

Jill Stuart New Bodycare Items

Kanebo Sensai Premier The Body Cream

ESPA Detoxifying Salt Scrub

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Weekend Beauty Read for April 5, 2009

by PJ on Sunday, April 5, 2009

in Weekend Beauty Read

Elke shares a super cool mascara trick.

The Makeup Divas are giving away some MAC Sugarsweet products! So head on over and ENTER today!

Beauty Anonymous reviews Elizabeth Arden Pure Finish Mineral Powder Foundation SPF 20 PA++.

Beauty Junkie in SF finds spring inspiration from Smashbox’s Muse Collection.

The Shades Of U is having an Easter Giveaway contest with MAC Hello Kitty and Dame Edna items as prizes, along with other amazing giveaways! CLICK HERE to enter! Hurry, time is limited!

The girls over at Beauty in Real Life , got a chance to interview Cheri Keating from Head and Shoulders. Check it out here. And while you are there don’t forget to enter their giveaway to win a home Galvanic Spa!!

Felicia from ThisThatBeauty uncovers an amazing Mineral High Definition line of cosmetics. CHECK IT OUT!!!

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Sass, Style & Substance for April 5, 2009

by PJ on Sunday, April 5, 2009

in Weekend Sass Style and Substance

eye4style
eye4style reviews the adorable miniature SumBody BonBon Salt Scrubs!

A Touch of Blusher
A Touch of Blusher samples Chanel’s skincare items.

Eat Smart Age Smart
7 diet myths that are holding you back from reaching your weight loss goals.

Beauty Match
Ken Paves’ and Jessica Simpson’s Hairdo Hollywood Celeb hair.

STYLEnosh
Why, oh why, do people insist on squeezing into jeans?

Splendicity Accessories
Check out some of the hot jewelry trends for Spring 2009 – great colors, bold details and more!

image: Stock.xchg

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The Body Shop Tantalising Lip Butter for the Staying Alive Foundation

by PJ on Friday, April 3, 2009

in -The Body Shop, skincare, skincare - moisturizing/others

(image from The Body Shop)

To support the global HIV and AIDS awareness campaign by the Staying Alive Foundation (founded by MTV), The Body Shop has launched Tantalising Lip Butter in the UK for the 2009 campaign.

The Staying Alive Foundation, established in 1998, funds youth-focused safe sex campaigns across the world. Have a look at the foundation’s official website to learn more about the foundation and the cause.

Tantalising Lip Butter contains Community Trade shea butter and Community Trade beeswax to moisturize the lips. It also contains vitamin E, which serves as an antioxidant. The lip butter has a smooth and emollient texture and it has a very fresh and sweet fruity scent.

The retail price of Tantalising Lip Butter is £5.00, with £3.98 of the sale going to the cause.

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Skincare Review: Lancôme Génifique

by PJ on Thursday, April 2, 2009

in -Lancôme, skincare, skincare - moisturizing/others

(image from www.lancome.co.uk)

Lancôme‘s Génifique is the brand’s latest anti-aging product. The media attention to it surrounds Lancôme’s references to studies of genomics (the study of genes) and proteomics (the study of proteins).

According to Lancôme, various proteins and genes were studied and the proteins that are related to the appearance of youthful skin were identified. The formula of Génefique is claimed to stimulate the activity of genes and the production of proteins that are associated with youthful skin.

One ingredient in question is salicyloyl phytosphingosine, which combines the benefits of salicylic acid and phytosphingosine. One paper published in International Journal of Cosmetic Science in 2007 (see abstract here) suggests that salicyloyl phytosphingosine is shown to reduce wrinkle depth and improve skin texture. Also, according to Paula Begoun, phytosphingosine may be a cell-communicating agent. (For more about cell-communicating agent, see this article by Paula Begoun.)

It is a very lightweight watery serum which is faintly scented. It is used after cleansing and toning and before any moisturizer.

Génifique has a relatively short ingredient list. It is essentially salicyloyl phytosphingosine that the product is about, and it doesn’t come with a host of gimmicks. (Nearly all the other ingredients are fairly standard ones often found in other skincare products.)

However, one major drawback of Génifique is the amount of alcohol it has. It is fourth on the ingredient list (after glycerine and before dimethicone), and it is somewhat easily detected by smell (which is usually not a good sign). Unfortunately, this can negate the possible skin-friendly benefits of this product, as alcohol (especially with such an amount) can be drying or irritating for the skin as well as causing free-radical damage. Those who can’t tolerate products with alcohol are most likely to find Génifique unusable.

If alcohol were left out of this product or kept to the absolute minimum, this could be a good product suitable for nearly all skin types. I would be interested to see if Lancôme will extend Génifique into a range of products and to look through the ingredients in each product.

Other skincare reviews:

Crème de la Mer

Elizabeth Arden Intervene

Rodial Glamotox

Amatokin

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Newsflash: Voce BeauTV

by PJ on Wednesday, April 1, 2009

in all about Japanese cosmetics

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

(I hope this is not an April Fools’ Day prank on Japanese cosmetics fans…)

The Japanese beauty magazine, Voce, will launch a weekly program on TV Asahi in Japan on Friday April 3rd. The program will focus on the latest beauty news and makeup looks in Japan. Below is the program schedule (in Japan time):

TV Asahi: Saturday 1:50 – 2:20am* (excluding the last Saturday of the month)
BS Asahi: Saturday 11:00 – 11:30am

* billed as “Friday late night” on the above Voce screen capture.

For further information, please check the webpage on Voce and the official Voce BeauTV site on TV Asahi.

It is mentioned on Voce that the program will be broadcast on-line, which is quite exciting. I will definitely see if I can view the program on-line and I will update this post with more information.

Updated on April 8, 2009:

I viewed the first episode of BeauTV, and I found it quite enjoyable (even though my Japanese is very basic).

The 30-minute program is divided into several segments. Beautist Talk featured the interview with makeup artist Chiaki Shimada, and Beauty Lesson showcased the Cool and Sweet makeup looks demonstrated by Shimada. The product news section highlighted new releases from Chanel, Guerlain, and Paul & Joe. The program ended with beauty tips from the presenter, Risa Hirako.

You can view BeauTV via the KeyHoleTV program, which streams Japanese TV in real-time and can be downloaded for free. (According to this post, KeyHoleTV is developed by Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs.) BeauTV is on the “テレビ朝日” channel. The video and audio quality is not top-notch but is still good, and the streaming is very smooth.

My Ultimate Cosmetics Archive

New Magazine: Voce Platinum

Beauty City Guide: Tokyo

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