(image from www.kanebo-cosmetics.jp/milano-collection)

Milano Collection is an annual release of a luxury pressed powder and an eau de parfum from Kanebo. I believe it is only available in Asia.

The Milano Collection 2009 includes:

Milano Collection 2009 Face Up Powder (SPF 14, PA ++)

The set retails for 12600 JPY. Cosme.Net also quotes 21000 JPY for the set plus an extra refill. The powder puff includes high-quality silk produced in Kyoto.

(image from www.cosme.net)

(image from www.cosme.net)

Milano Collection 2009 Eau de Parfum

It is a rose-based scent which also features notes of cassis, apple, lemon, camomile, jasmine, melon, musk, and amber. It retails for 15750 JPY for 60ml.

This is a pre-order-only collection, and the pre-order period ends on September 19th. The eau de parfum will be available for collection on November 16th and the Face Up Powder will be available on December 16th.

You can see all the annual designs of the pressed powder from 1991 here.

Related Posts:

My Foundation Routine

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(image from Bond No. 9)

Lexington Avenue is the third creation from Bond No. 9‘s Andy Warhol series (after Silvery Factory and Union Square), as it celebrates Warhol’s 80th birthday (August 6th,1928).

The scent is inspired by Warhol’s shoe illustrations commissioned by I. Miller in the 1950s. (At the time, Warhol resided at Lexington Avenue, hence the name of the fragrance.) It aims to reflect the luxurious and seductive flair of footware, and Bond No. 9’s answer lies in a mixture of woody and gourmand notes.

Top notes: blue cypress, fennel, cardamom, roasted almonds
Middle notes: pink peony, florentine orris, creme brulee, pimento berry
Base notes: patchouli, sandalwood

Bond No. 9 describes the scent as “a floral woody chypre with highly coveted contemporary gourmand notes“. Woody it definitely is, as it is a unique scent in which a woody note is among the top notes. Blue cypress seems to linger until sandalwood takes over as one of the base notes. The whole Lexington Avenue is woody through and through and doesn’t strike me as floral.

It has a slightly smoky feel that radiates warmth. Apart from the woody notes, the warmth also comes from various gourmand (food) notes like cardamom and roasted almonds, although, for me, the role of gourmand notes is strictly a supporting one.

If you don’t enjoy woody notes, then Lexington Avenue can be a little overpowering. But if you are usually drawn to warm winter scents, then what is in this colorful shoe-adorned flacon might appeal to you. Overall, predominantly woody scents don’t tickle my fancy as much as citrusy fragrances or light florals, but I would certainly not question the unique identity of Lexington Avenue.

Lexington Avenue is launched in September, and there will also be limited-edition flacons that feature sterling silver shoe pendants designed by Robert Lee Morris.

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(image from www.s-woman.net/non-no)

– An Anna Sui “Rose Print” pouch will be enclosed in the September 20th issue of the popular Japanese teen fashion magazine Non.No. The issue is officially out in Japan on September 5th. (I first read about it here.)

– I came across some photos (not press photos on websites) of Anna Sui’s Makeup Color Collection D on this Japanese blog. Like what a couple of my readers have told me, it really looks gorgeous.

– Here are some swatch and FOTD photos of Coffret D’Or’s Trance Deep Eyes in Grey Variation (which I have reviewed earlier) and Full Memory Rouge (Color) in RD-168. Notice the shimmery finish of the eyeshadows that the blogger managed to capture on photos.

Related Posts:

Coffret D’Or Trance Deep Eyes in Rose Variation

Coffret D’Or 3D Lighting Eyes in Purple Variation

My Latest Anna Sui & Jill Stuart Foundation Cases

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(image from www.nikkei.co.jp)

Lavshuca will release Stick Eyeshadows on November 1st in Japan. Eight shades will be available.

They are mostly various tones of neutrals, plus a pastel pink and blue and quite a striking violet.

Their main appeals are the ease of use and the dual function. Apart from being eyeshadows, they can double as eyeliners.

Last year, Lavshuca released a cute lip and eye palette for the holiday season. I am hoping there will be more to come from Lavshuca later on!

Updated on October 21st, 2008:

Please check out this post to see more of Lavshuca’s holiday 2008 collection.

Related Posts:

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(image from www.nikkei.co.jp)

Riding on the success of Gel Eyeliners, Kate will release Gel Eyeshadows on November 1st in Japan.

Eight shades are available, with two different finishes among them. The pastels have a translucent feel, while the three darker shades are more pigmented. All shades have shimmer.

It might have already occurred to you that they seem similar to Coffret D’Or’s July release, Fluffy Shiny Eyes. Both Kate and Coffret D’Or are Kanebo lines, so I wouldn’t be surprised if they have a similar texture and finish. But notice that Kate’s lineup features the three darker colors not available in Fluffy Shiny Eyes.

Updated on November 11th, 2008:

Please see more of Kate’s holiday 2008 releases here.

Related Posts:

Kate – Lavshuca’s Darker, Edgier Sister

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(image from Prescriptives)

As the weather is cooling down for autumn, we will start to hear about all the holiday collections.

Prescriptives will once again bring out two versions of Colorscope Refillable Palettes for Eyes and Cheeks, one in Warm and one in Cool (pictured above). (See my review of the 2007 version here.)

Each palette includes:

– six (full-size) Colorscope Eye Colors
– two (full-size) Colorscope Cheek Colors
– Double-Ended Color & Contour Brush
– refillable compact

All the full-size slots give you the flexibility of customizing your own palette with other Colorscope Eye and Cheek Colors.

The two palettes and the rest of the Prescriptives Holiday Gift Set Collection will be available in the UK from October 13.

Other Posts on Prescriptives:

Spring 2008 Makeup Collection

Primer, Concealer and Cleanser Review

Flawless Skin and AnyWear Foundation

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Beauty Duty for September 2, 2008

by PJ on Tuesday, September 2, 2008

in Weekly Beauty Duty

Enjoy!

TheMakeupGirl checks out Bobbi Brown’s latest – Shimmering Nudes.

A Touch of Blusher brings you Fall 2008 Makeup Trend Report.

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(Velvet Creme Wash Expert Makeup Remover)

The De-maq Expert range is a relatively new line of cleansers from L’Oréal. I bought the Velvet Creme Wash Expert Makeup Remover last year and I have been using it on and off for a while.

It is a gel-cream makeup remover that foams somewhat like a face wash. (The main ingredients are emollients that can dissolve makeup. Decyl glucoside, a mild detergent, appears later in the list, after the emollients, water, and glycerin.) The direction on the back says, “Apply a small amount of Velvet Creme to damp skin using your fingertips. Gently massage into a creamy lather to foam and then rinse with water.”

It doesn’t really foam up in my hands like a face wash does, but it does slowly lather up as I apply it and gently massage my face. The lather is very cushiony and is not the kind of frothy/bubbly lather from an usual face wash. It dissolves the foundation quite quickly.

(When I don’t use a cleansing oil, I almost always use a bi-phase cleanser to remove my eye/lip makeup first. Like how I tested waterproof mascara removal with Dior’s Cleansing Gelee, I put Maybelline’s Volum’ Express Waterproof on the back of my hand, waited for it to dry up, and tried to remove it. I found that it did take a lot of massaging to dissolve the mascara.)

It takes more water to rinse than normal foaming face washes, but, as a cream cleanser, it rinses fine. There is still minimal emollient residue, and I usually use a face wash (with one-third of the amount I use in the morning) right afterwards.

Overall, I like it and don’t like it at the same time. I like it because it does do the job for me while not irritating my skin and it doesn’t drag my skin like many cream cleansers do during the massaging (mainly because it foams gently). But, what sometimes bothers me is how heavily scented it is. There are times when I can still smell the cleanser after using a face wash and having a shower. It is a little unsettling as I feel that I haven’t rinsed it off thoroughly, although it is clearly not the case.

I have still been using it alternately with my trusted RMK Cleansing Oil N (partly to save cost, since RMK Cleansing Oil N is about three times more expensive), but, as a cream-based cleanser, I think I slightly prefer Dior’s Cleansing Gelee mentioned earlier.

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From The Beauty Blog Network:

In honor of the newest limited edition collection from MAC Cosmetics, Cult of Cherry; Roselyn from Makeup Makes Me Happy does a gorgeous makeup tutorial, showing you how to achieve a fabulous look for this upcoming Fall season!

Beauty Anonymous reviews YSL’s fall eye shadow palette.

Lilan of The Daily Cookie shows you how easy it is to use Anastasia’s Brow Pen to tint your eyebrows with a fun video how-to!

The Muse from Musings of a Muse shows you three different looks you can create using Too Faced Smoky Eye Palette! She also reviews the Too Faced Mirror Mirror Gloss!!

Looking for a lipgloss that will stay put and last a long time? Then check out The Makeup Divas review on the Mac Lustre Twins.

Need smoother legs longer? Cybelesays has found one that keeps legs smooth and totally moisturized.

15 Minute Beauty Fanatic has found natural, medium coverage foundation, from the drugstore!

Beauty Blogging Junkie has partnered with Three Custom Color to provide 25 readers with TCC’s new Watercolours for Cheeks in Wallflower, a dewy beige. Click here for more info on how to enter.

If you’re a Bobbi Brown makeup fan (and who isn’t?) Beauty411 has the latest on new Bobbi Brown palettes!

Rouge Deluxe offers a sneak peek at Lancome Holiday’08!

Beauty Junkie in SF recommends going nude with NARS Striptease lip gloss. It’s HOT!

Beauty Banter tests the Worlds first organic skincare range… and finds the most AMAZING moisturizer!

Elke shares a great tip on how to mistake fix your makeup.

Product Girl shows you how to make your own lipstick palette and it’s easy as pie!

Need a new body cream? See which are Christine‘s favorites over at Beauty in Real Life.

Kyle at, Face Candy, shows you how she is using Pashmina shawls to brighten complexions at her wedding.

LashBlast had better watch her back. There’s a new voluptuous lash in town, and she’s wearing Exceptionnel de Chanel Intense Volume and Curl Mascara. The creamy formula and six-sided brush took Spoiled Pretty‘s lashes up, up and away!

makeup loves me wants to give you one of fall’s hottest mascaras. click here to learn how you can win your own spinlash.

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(Thi Cosmetics Eye Shadow in Dao
and Lip Gloss in Kanya)

Founded by professional makeup artist Taylor Pham, Thi Cosmetics aims to celebrate Asian beauty. According to its website, the line features colors “flattering yellow undertones with silky textures resulting in flawless application”. (See here for more information.) Today I am reviewing two of the line’s items.


Eyeshadow in Dao

Dao is a nice basic shade for most skin tones (not just Asian/Far-Eastern complexions). The warm pale pink has a slight gold undertone and shows on the skin more in the form of iridescence than actual color. It can be used as a base, alone, or on top of other eyeshadows. The talc-based formula is quite silky and easy to apply.

I think this is also a multi-purposed product that can work as a very subtle blusher or a highlighter. When applied with a fluffy powder brush, the iridescence is less intense and the finish doesn’t look too glowy. I find it to be a good cheek-bone highlighter, worn alone or on top of a blusher. (I would not suggest using it as a highlighter on any area with visible pores as iridescence can generally make pores look more obvious.)

Lip Gloss in Kanya

Kanya is a delicate sheer neutral peach-toned shade without obvious shimmer. (I prefer lip glosses with no or delicate shimmer to those with intense/frosty shimmer.) It can work well for a subtle neutral-lip look as it (worn alone) gently tones down the redness of the lips without making them look too pale. I think it should also work well with many neutral lipsticks.

While I am not really into neutral lips, I like the glossy shine from this shade. What might not appeal to everyone is the slightly dense texture, but sometimes it is the trade-off for a glossy and long-wearing shine. I don’t mind it personally and I find the formula moisturizing.

Overall, the line is currently very concise and highly-edited. (The Eye Shadow is available in seven neutral shades and, for lips, there is one Red Lipstick and five Lip Glosses.) Many of the shades appear to be universally wearable, and I think they should suit more skin tones than what the brand sets out to.

Related Posts:

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