(both images from voce-platinum.jp)
Many of us are aware of the fact that Japan has a very vibrant beauty market. Apart from people’s pursuit of flawless skin and exquisite makeup, I think another reason for this is the strong media support.
Biteki, Voce, and Maquia are considered to be the top-three mainstream magazines that focus on skincare and makeup. Also, among many others, FRAU runs a great Best of Beauty issue in November, and Makeup Magazine is a solid quarterly publication.)
Beauty magazines in Japan also have specific target age groups. The three main ones mentioned above are mainly for those in their thirties and late twenties, while the ones like Bea’s Up are for slightly younger readers.
In October, Kodansha (which publishes fashion magazines like With and Vivi) launched Voce Platinum, a sister magazine to Voce. The tagline is “beauty magazine for mature women”, which clearly indicates the target age group.
The tagline may not appeal to all readers, but, based on the pages on the Voce Platinum website, it seems that the magazine is essentially a slightly more upmarket version of the mainstream ones. (But I am sure there are features that specifically interest more mature readers.) Overall, I think this magazine will appeal to whoever is interested in quality beauty brands presented in a sophisticated and elegant editing style.
But I think the birth of this magazine does reflect a trend. Apart from the age makeup of the Japanese society, we have seen recent launches of both top-end and drugstore brands, such as like (Kanebo’s) CHICCA and (Shiseido’s) Integrate Gracy, which are targeted at the more mature customers. Voce Platinum fills in the gap in the market and will probably give these brands the coverage they deserve for a lot of readers.
I certainly hope the magazine does well, because variety benefits all of us in the long run.
Related Posts:
Biteki – My Ultimate Cosmetics Archive
Voce 10th Anniversary Monthly Feature
(image from YSL)
YSL‘s Golden Gloss range is among my favorite lip gloss ranges (along with Lunasol’s Full Glamour Gloss). Supporting the Breast Cancer Awareness Month in 2008, YSL has released a limited-edition Golden Gloss in 27. Just like the rest of the Golden Gloss range, this wearable shimmery peach-pink shade contains 24-carat gold.
30% of the purchase of this product will be donated to the National Breast Cancer Coalition Fund.
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(image and info from www.nikkei.co.jp)
Maquillage will release its holiday 2008 collection in Japan on November 21st.
The collection will include two Jewelling Palettes, again featuring collaboration with British fashion designer Christopher Kane. Both the Noble Glamorous palette (in the gold case) and the Princess Tiara palette (in the black case) will have four eye colors and a face color.
The collection will also include:
– Dramatical Gel Liner (in RD632 and GY831 (
I know “dramatical” isn’t a real English word…))
– Jewel Rich Gel (for face and body, 16g)
Related Posts:
Maquillage Clean Contrast Eyes 2 in SV844
Maquillage Lasting Climax Rouge in RS310
(image from www.kanebo-cosmetics.jp/lunasol/)
(image and info from www.urcosme.com)
Like many other Japanese brands, Jill Stuart will release a makeup set for the holiday season.
The set will include an eye palette (Vintage Glaze), a lip gloss (Deep Bordeaux), a solid perfume ring, a hand mirror, and a vintage-style clutch bag.
As with all the limited-edition holiday items from Jill Stuart, I think this set will sell exceptionally well. So far, the Jill Stuart holiday set I have is from 2005 and is the brand’s first holiday collection. It includes a shimmery face powder (similar to Guerlain Meteorites) and a lip gloss, packaged in a little round box. You can see the items (minus the box) here.
The set will be released in Japan on November 21st (according to Rouge Deluxe) and in Taiwan on December 1st.
Also, Jill Stuart released a base makeup set in Taiwan. The contents differ slightly from those in the Japanese release, but the clutch bag in the set is the same. Please see the photos of the actual items on this Taiwanese blog.
Related Posts:
Jill Stuart Cosmetics Available in US Soon
Jill Stuart Fall 2008 Makeup Collection
Jill Stuart Moist Silk Liquid Foundation
(image and info from www.urcosme.com)
(image from Bobbi Brown)
Supporting the Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Bobbi Brown has released the Pink Ribbon Collection. The collection includes Lip Colour in Tulle and the exclusive Glitter Lip Gloss in Pink Quartz.
The collection is priced at £27. In the UK, the entire purchase price less VAT will be donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation‘s research study at The Royal Marsden in London. In the Republic of Ireland, the same donation will go to the Cancer Clinical Research Trust at St. Vincent’s University Hospital in Dublin.
The collection will be available throughout October 2008.
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(all images from www.cosme.net)
Sonia Rykiel will release its holiday 2008 collection in Japan on November 14th. The collection includes:
– Rouge à Lèvres (above, 3 variations)
– Ombre à Paupières Crème (2 shades)
– Nail Color L (3 shades)
– Poudre Visage (1 variation)
All items are limited editions. The rich and vibrant magenta-toned packaging is also unique to this collection, as the brand currently features striped cases that reflect the classic Sonia Rykiel designs.
Updated on October 23, 2008:
Please check out photos of all the shades available. (All images are from woman.excite.co.jp.)
Related Posts:
Beauty Brand Focus: Sonia Rykiel
Sonia Rykiel Fall 2008 Makeup Collection
(image from www.cosme.net)
Apart from the Stick Eyeshadows, Lavshuca will release Antique Collection for holiday 2008. Each of the two versions will include a Liquid Rouge and an eyeshadow duo.
The Antique Sepia version features a brown-toned eye duo with a beige-brown Liquid Rouge, while the Antique Monochrome version includes a grey-based eye duo with a pink Liquid Rouge.
I think, overall, I prefer the look (and the originality) of the Winter Make Collection from Lavshuca’s holiday 2007 release, so I think I will be saving the money for some other holiday items.
Other posts on Lavshuca:
Loving Japanese Brands – Lavshuca
Eye Color Select in PU-2
Jewelry Lips in PK-1 and RS-1
(button design by Teri Cosenzi
at
Aging Beautiful and
Beautiful Makeup Search)
Last June, members of The Beauty Blog Network joined together for Comments for a Cure to raise money for cancer-related charities. This year, we decided to do it again in October, the Beast Cancer Awareness month.
As with last year, for every comment that you leave on A Touch of Blusher (under this post or any other post) on the 13th (today), 14th and 15th, I will donate 1 USD (up to 30 USD in total) to Cancer Research UK, which is the word’s leading independent organization dedicated to cancer research.
Please check out The Beauty Blog Network Comments for a Cure page for all the participating blogs (which start the Comments for a Cure on various dates) and the chip-in widget where you can make your own donation.
Please also check out Beauty and Fashion Tech, Girl Gloss and Raging Rouge, which are holding the Comments for a Cure event from today as well. In addition, Makeup Moxie‘s and Christina Loves‘ Comments for a Cure events are lasting all the way until the end of this month.
Please do kindly take time to leave your comment, and thank you very much for all your support!
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(both images from voce-platinum.jp)
