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

Jill Stuart Cosmetics Available in the US Soon

by PJ on Wednesday, September 10, 2008

in -Jill Stuart, all about Japanese cosmetics

(Illuminance Eyes and
Mix Blush Compact Illuminance)

Thanks to The Muse at Musings of a Muse and Jazmin at Makeup Moxie, I learned that Jill Stuart Cosmetics will be available in the US next year.

The report comes from The Wall Street Journal, which also suggests that the line will be launched in Hong Kong soon. (Jill Stuart’s beauty line is currently sold in Japan and Taiwan only.)

According to the report, the prices of the small selection of the line available soon in the US will be between 15 and 50 USD. It appears that the prices will be similar to those in Japan. (The Illuminance Eyes palette (pictured above) is among the more expensive Jill Stuart items and is priced at 5250 JPY, which is currently about 49 USD.) But it will depend on exactly what will be available in the US.

I think it will be interesting to see how well this edited version of the line does in the US and, more importantly (if the full line is introduced to the US), whether the overall direction of the line, from colors to packaging, will be modified to appeal to customers in both Asia and the US. We’ll soon find out.

Again I ask the question…will it make it to Europe? At the moment, I don’t think so…

Possible Jill Stuart Launch in the US?
(back in June 2007)

Jill Stuart Breaks Record

Loving Japanese Brands – Jill Stuart

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Lunasol Holiday 2008 Release

by PJ on Wednesday, September 10, 2008

in -Kanebo, -Lunasol, 2008 Holiday, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup

(image from www.nikkei.co.jp)

Lunasol will release items for the holiday 2008 period on November 15th in Japan. The lineup includes:

– Full Glamour Lips S: 3 shades
– Full Glamour Gloss S: 3 shades
– Shining Face Color: 1 shade (a shimmery lavender-toned pressed powder)
– Lip Essence (for Night) Kit: a lip moisturizer and a treatment lip mask

The “moonlight purification” themed collection will feature “soft silver” shimmer in Full Glamour Lips S and Full Glamour Gloss S.

If things remain the same as previous years, there will also be a coffret coming out. I will be looking forward to that.

Also, Lunasol has released the (limited-edition) 2008 Base Makeup Kit on August 28th.

(image from www.kanebo-cosmetics.jp/lunasol)

The kit includes:

– Water Cream Foundation (30g, full size)
– Creamy Makeup Base (30g, full size)
– Micro Finish Powder N (3.5g)
– Morning Wakening Massage (10g)
– Night Refining Cream (10g)
– Makeup Pouch

The kit is priced at 8925 JPY, which is the prices of Water Cream Foundation and Creamy Makeup Base combined. If you would like to try some key base and skincare products from Lunasol, this would be a good opportunity. (The foundation would be more suitable for drier skin.)

Lunasol Fall 2008 Collection

Lunasol Sheer Contrast Eyes in Lavender Coral

Lunasol Full Glamour Gloss in Bright Pink

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AYURA Night Meditation

by PJ on Wednesday, September 10, 2008

in -Ayura, all about Japanese cosmetics, fragrance

(AYURA Night Meditation)
(image from i-voce2.com)

On October 23rd, AYURA will release a brand new fragrance, Night Meditation. Featuring notes of sandalwood and bamboo, Night Meditation aims to be a calming scent that is used in the evening, particularly at bedtime.

This cologne will be available in 20ml. I think the portable size is meant to be suitable for travelling as it can help create a feel of familiarity and comfort (if the scent appeals to you, of course).

I personally think this is a significant release from AYURA as well as something I am really looking forward to. Since AYURA was launched in 1995, Spirit of AYURA has been AYURA’s only fragrance. Not only has it been one of my favorite scents, it has consistently been listed on readers’ favorite fragrance lists on Japanese beauty magazines over the years (while other scents come and go).

(part of the Spirit of AYURA range)
(image from www.ayura.co.jp)

If you are interested, you can get a sense of the scent from the note chart (on AYURA’s English site), which was added to the site only very recently. It is a beautiful light floral with a hint of green tea, but, for me, the stroke of genius is the very subtle addition of Chinese ink.

I always thought the scent was so wonderfully unique but I couldn’t figure out exactly why it was so. Then, I read more about it several years ago and realized it must have been the inclusion of Chinese ink. (It was one of those “That’s it!” moments.) According to the AYURA website, the addition of Chinese ink is “to express a noble translucence”. Indeed, the note is very sheer, but it can never be ignored.

But, however much I love Spirit of AYURA, I wouldn’t assume I will like Night Meditation. I will have to wait and see.

Related Posts:

My Three Favorite Fragrances

AYURA Fall 2008 Makeup Collection

Loving Japanese Brands – AYURA

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ck Calvin Klein Eyeshadow Quads

by PJ on Monday, September 8, 2008

in -Calvin Klein, 2008 Fall, makeup

(ck Calvin Klein Eyeshadow Quads)
(image from www.cosme.net)

These are the latest eyeshadow palettes from ck Calvin Klein that are currently available in the US and will be available in Japan from October 11th. One features shades of grey that will create a classic autumn look. On the other hand, it seems that plums are definitely on-trend for fall 2008, as the other quad includes a deep plum as the main shade.

I came across the plum variation quad and the grey variation quad on Sephora (the US site). They are marked as limited editions and “Only at Sephora” for the US market.

By the way, I really hope the ck Calvin Klein website will have a little more information and images on the beauty range…

Fall 2008 Makeup Trend Report

The First Taste of Autumn

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Splendid Weekend Reads for September 7, 2008

by PJ on Sunday, September 7, 2008

in Weekend Splendid Read

From the Splendicity community, comes this week best in beauty, fashion and shopping.

SHOPPING

The Well-Heeled Society reveals some skin for the upcoming Fall season.

eye4style shares an unexpected resource for all things chic.

BEAUTY

Beauty Banter does the summer beauty product roundup – the 15 items you NEED to own!

Beauty Blogging Junkie‘s Napoleon Perdis Lip Service is her version of Napoleon Dynamite’s precious ChapStick. If she were to leave it at home, she’d borrow “your guys’s” phone to get someone to drop it off, stat.

Teen Style Lounge is running a killer contest for your chance to win over $200 in skin care products all packed inside a great new laptop bag. Enter to win right here!

Steeping Beauty locks lips and shines with NARS Lip Lacquers!

15 Minute Beauty Fanatic has finally found a way to get rid of her shiny t-zone!

FASHION

Snarkstress invites you to witness how Pretty Boy Pitt can make even a wife-beater look like high style.

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Weekend Beauty Reads for September 6, 2008

by PJ on Saturday, September 6, 2008

in Weekend Beauty Read

From The Beauty Blog Network:

Lilan from The Daily Cookie gets Bombshell brows and gives you tips on how you can too!

Beauty Anonymous plays with the fall nail colors of OPI’s France Collection.

The Makeup Divas reviews Clinique’s High Impact Lip Colour and other products from their Modern Matte Fall 2008 Collection!

The Muse loves Benefit Powderflage! Check out her detailed review with tons of product photos!

Beauty Banter reveals 5 beauty secrets with 1 drug store product – a product we guarantee you already have in your arsenal of beauty items!

15 Minute Beauty Fanatic has the lowdown on Elizabeth Arden’s Fall 2008 Shadows!

Beauty411 discovers a foundation that thinks it’s a skin treatment product, too!

Beauty Junkie in SF find more lovely Grapefruit flavored products to gush over. Check them out!

Product Girl turns 3 years old in September! To celebrate they’re doing a series of giveaways all month long. Enter their first giveaway, goodies from the MAC Cult of Cherry collection. Good luck!

The girls of 90210 grace Nylon’s cover and inspires Beyond Beauty Basics to show you how to get the nude lip look!

Toya from The Life of A Ladybug has started a new feature: Ask me how to! Each week, she will answer a reader question. In the first installment, she shares how you can use your bronzer all year long!

Face Candy tests the new 3 Custom Color Specialist Light Brights Collection.

The girls over at Beauty in Real Life are at it again. This week they have a Pureology ScalpCure shampoo and conditioner giveaway and a SKINN lip gloss set giveaway. Enter for your chance to win here.

This week, Spoiled Pretty is hooking you up, Gossip Girl style. Get in touch with your inner Serena and Blair, with two haute headbands, courtesy of Colette Malouf. Winners will also receive Gossip Girl: The Complete First Season on DVD. Enter today!

Karen from Makeup and Beauty Blog gives you a cheap, stylish way to organize all of those eye shadow pans from MAC Cosmetics.

Have you heard about the vibrating mascaras? Are they worth the money? Cybelesays found one that is if volume and length are what you seek.

Pursebuzz.com has expanded and has officially launched a new hair site. From hair days, reviews and hair tutorials I am going have it all about hair. Also, don’t forget to enter the contest for a great set of Chi products. Starts this weekend.

Beauty and Fashion Tech is having a contest for a book and some Neutrogena products!

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Kanebo Milano Collection 2009

by PJ on Friday, September 5, 2008

in -Kanebo, -Kanebo Milano Collection, 2008 Holiday, all about Japanese cosmetics, fragrance, makeup, makeup - base makeup

(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)

– 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.

My Foundation Routine

Sofina Raycious Case Galore

“An Unprecedented Masterpiece”: SUQQU Clear Veil Powder

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Fragrance Review: Bond No. 9 Andy Warhol Lexington Avenue

by PJ on Friday, September 5, 2008

in -Bond No. 9, fragrance

(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.

(image from Bond No. 9)

Bond No. 9 The Scent of Peace

Bulgari Eau Parfumée au Thé Vert

Stella McCartney Sheer Stella 2008

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News in Brief – Anna Sui & Coffret D’Or

by PJ on Thursday, September 4, 2008

in -Anna Sui, -Coffret d'Or, -Kanebo

(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.

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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