(part of Lissage’s fall 2008 collection)
(image from www.nikkei.co.jp)

The currently Kanebo-owned Lissage was launched in 1992 and remained a predominantly skincare-focused (high-end) brand. (The pricings are similar to Lunasol’s.) Last fall, the brand went through a revamp and a readjustment of brand focus, and its products have been getting more print media coverage in Japan.

(Lissage Ltd. also owns ECM and Bath Tours. I will post more detailed brand profiles of Lissage and ECM later on.)

On August 16th, Lissage will launch its fall 2008 makeup collection, which includes:

– Nuance Fit Eyes (eye palette): 4 variations
– Long Curl Mascara: 1 shade
– Long Curl Mascara Base: 1 shade
– Contrast Eyeliner: 2 shades
– Slim Eyebrow: 3 shades
– Creamy Fit Rouge: 6 shades
– Lip Base Liner: 3 shades
– Lip Repair Serum
– Blush Veil: 2 new shades

(The holders of Contrast Eyeliner, Slim Eyebrow and Lip Base Liner refills are sold separately.)

(Lissage Blush Veil for spring 2008)
(image from www.lissage.jp)

Many Japanese makeup lines are quite specific about the consumers they are trying to appeal to. Somewhat similar to Twany Glamacy, the Lissage point makeup line focuses on understated basics that suit makeup-wearing consumers in corporate settings in Japan that tend to go for clean and low-key colors (as well as packaging).

Items of these two brands might not look as impressive on magazine pages as those from the dreamy Jill Stuart and the trend-setting Dior, but I think they do have a reasonably wide appeal to those who (have to) wear makeup on a daily basis but don’t necessarily use makeup to express themselves in certain sterile office environments. If you regularly stock up trust-worthy essentials, this line is worth following up on.

Fall 2008 collections from other Kanebo-owned brands/lines:

CHICCA

Lavshuca

Kate

Coffret D’Or (early fall 2008 collection)

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Beauty Duty for June 10, 2008

by PJ on Tuesday, June 10, 2008

in Weekly Beauty Duty

Enjoy!

KRiSTOPHER gets instacheekbones with NARS blush/bronzer duo in Sin Casino.

Makeup Moxie has beauty lust for the new Rice Ultra-Matte Face Fluid by L’Occitane.

SugarShock Beauty sounds off on the now-legendary Cor Silver Soap. Is it worth $125?

Strappy sandals and Croc pumps… Get your feet ready for summer naturally with The Organic Beauty Expert.

Enter TheMakeupGirl’s latest contest for a chance to win Estee Lauder’s new fragrance Sensuous…

A Touch of Blusher adores this face wash!

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(part of Cosme Decorte’s fall 2008 collection)
(image from www.nikkei.co.jp)


AQ (Absolute Quality) is Cosme Decorte‘s (owned by Kosé) top-end skincare and makeup line. AQ’s point* (color) makeup line was launched in 2000 and features some of the most expensive makeup items in Japan.

On August 21st, the existing AQ point makeup line will be replaced by new items with brand new packaging.

(image from www.nikkei.co.jp)

The new AQ makeup collection for fall 2008 includes:

– Rouge Supreme: 10 shades
– Shadow Supreme (eye palettes): 5 variations
– Light Focus (base/highlighter): 3 shades
– Nuance Glow (highlighter): 3 shades
– Face Color (blusher): 5 shades
– Mascara Excellent: 2 shades
– Liquid Eyeliner: 5 shades
– Pencil Eyeliner: 2 shades
– Pencil Eyebrow: 4 shades
– Lip Liner: 7 shades
– Nail Supreme: 10 shades

With Japanese cosmetics, renewals (particularly with makeup) are usually more about updating the packaging than the actual formulation of products. In Japan’s fiercely competitive beauty market, product packaging has to stay fresh and up-to-date, and many brands revamp the look of their products in their own time frames and either minimally (like Anna Sui and Lunasol) or drastically (like Sofina Aube). Replaced items are either phased out quickly or discontinued immediately.

(part of Cosme Decorte’s summer 2008 collection)
(image from www.biteki.com)

For me, AQ’s packaging renewal is successful. The current packaging (seen above) looks clean and sophisticated but slightly lacks character. The new look is opulent and glamorous. I think Cosme Decorte has worked out a look for AQ that goes with its prices. The lipsticks and blushers are particularly pricey:

Rouge Supreme: 6300 yen (about 59 USD)
Face Color: 7350 yen (about 69 USD)

In contrast, the Shadow Supreme eye palettes (6825 yes, about 64 USD) almost seem relatively reasonable. (The price is about the same as that of a Dior 5-color eye palette in the UK.) If I decide to try an item from AQ, the eye palette will probably be my choice.

* In Japanese cosmetics, the term “point makeup” (constantly written as “point make” in Japan) refers to color makeup items like eyeshadows, mascaras, lipsticks and lip glosses. On the the hand, “base makeup” (“base make”) refers to items such as primers, concealers, foundations, and loose/pressed powder (and not just bases (primers)).

Other Fall 2008 Makeup Collections:

Chanel

CHICCA

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(part from Lunasol’s fall 2008 collection)
(image from www.nikkei.co.jp)

Many of Lunasol‘s past makeup collection themes are based on the idea of “purification”. So far, we’ve had:

“Scent Purification” for fall 2006 (Scent Form Eyes)
“Brilliance Purification” for fall 2007 (Geminate Eyes)
“Color Purification” for spring 2008 (Sheer Contrast Eyes)

The clear brand philosophy and the individual yet coherent seasonal makeup themes are what set Lunasol apart from the other Japanese makeup brands, and their brand image has always been very appealing to me.

For fall 2008, it will be all about red, as Lunasol brings us the theme “Red Purification“. For a change, Lunasol’s latest collection will focus on the lips, and 16 red lipsticks take center stage.

All the items are brand new and are not new shades added to the existing items. The full Lunasol fall 2008 lineup includes:

– Full Glamour Lips S: 16 shades
– Contrasting W Lip Liners: 2 shades
– Noble Shade Eyes: 5 variations
– Noble Shade Liner: 3 shades
– Brow Styling Compact: 2 variations
– Coloring Cheeks: 2 shades (refill only, case and applicator sold separately)

Apart from the color makeup items, the fall lineup will also include Nuance Change Foundation B (2 shades), which is supposed to be Lunasol’s equivalent of YSL’s Touche Éclat. The new skincare addition will be Lip Essence, with SPF 20 and PA+.

The collection will be launched in Japan on August 22nd.

I would describe this collection as both classic and edgy, with beautiful red lipsticks and rather bold red-toned eyeshadows. (It seems that each of the five Noble Shade Eyes palette will feature a shade of red.) I am really looking forward to seeing how these red eyeshadow shades will be worn on models in Japanese makeup magazines. Also, for those who look for the ultimate red lipstick, this collection is worth a serious look.

This seems to be another seasonal makeup collection from Lunasol that has a tremendously unique identity, and I think Japanese makeup fans will remember this collection for a long time.

I will update this post when I come across more information.

Updated on July 24th, 2008:

The Lunasol website has been updated
.

Updated on August 21st, 2008:

Please check out this link for swatches of nearly all the items from Lunasol’s fall 2008 collection, including all the eye palettes, lipsticks, blushers, and eyeliners (from a Lunasol press event in Taiwan).

Other Posts on Lunasol:

Lunasol Summer 2008 Collection

Lunasol Full Glamour Gloss in Bright Pink

Loving Japanese Brands – Lunasol

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(part of the Twany Glamacy Fall 2008 Collection)
(image from www.nikkei.co.jp)

Twany Glamacy was launched in April with a full range of wearable basics. For fall 2008, more shades will be added to the existing items of the lineup, plus the new Mascara EU (Under-Eye), a mascara specifically for lower lashes.

The fall 2008 additions include:

– Eye Color UE (Under-Eye): 2 new shades
(luminous powder eye colors for the under-eye area)
– Eye Color Set (palette): 2 new variations
– Eyeliner Pencil: 1 new shade
– Gel Eyeliner: 1 new shade
– Mascara UE (Under-Eye): 1 shade
– Lipstick: 5 new shades
– Lip Liner: 2 new shades

(Apart from Eye Color and Eye Color UE, Twany Glamacy also has Eye Color UB (Under-Brow), which currently includes two eye colors specifically for highlighting the under-brow area.)

The collection will be launched in Japan on August 16th.

Other Fall 2008 Collections:

Coffret D’Or

Lavshuca

Kate

Sofina Aube

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From the Splendicity Community, comes this week’s best in Beauty, Fashion and Shopping. Check out the very splendid best!

BEAUTY

Teri from Aging Fabulous has been testing the Lancome Absolue Premium bx Cloth Masks and the results are in.

Viva Woman takes a look at sunscreen ingredient Helioplex from Neutrogena and compares its Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch with La Roche-Posay Anthelios containing Mexoryl.

Karen from Makeup and Beauty Blog shows you how to get a silver and pink eye look with eyeshadows from MAC Cosmetics.

Beauty and Fashion Tech tries the Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Foundation, Concealer, and Powder and loves them!

Beauty Secrets Revealed is Giving Away Bramble Berry’s DIY Eyeshadow Kit Worth $45.

Youthful skin is IN! Beauty Banter dishes on Jurlique’s new anti-aging collection! After all, who doesn’t want to look younger?!

Raging Rouge gets lipstick tips and tricks from the Lipstick Queen herself, Poppy King! You won’t want to miss her advice, or information about her new book!

Krizia from Beauty Match Network highlights her Interview with Lancôme’s makeup artist and Beauty at Every Age Expert.

15 Minute Beauty Fanatic continues to add to her summer bright nail polish options with Essie’s Summer Neons!

Steeping Beauty rediscovers the Pleasure of a Japanese Bath with Shu Uemura.

The Scented Life can’t believe that Lindsay Lohan is finally going to launch her own perfume!

A Touch of Blusher‘s guest reviewer reports on the new Thierry Mugler makeup line.

FASHION

Style…a work in progress‘s husband has found his summer muse…but can they find the right pants? Find out why she says No white after Labor Day (and not much before either).

Snarkstress doesn’t recommend taking Office Wear style cues from the ever-so-classy Amy Winehouse, but notes there are moments when the fashion forces of Kat Von D may take over – right, Charlize?

Petite Fashionista is all shiny and new and invites you to check out all the new features, plus to celebrate there will be lots of contests in the next few weeks!

The Space Between My Peers describes three color combining techniques for blondes who want to wear black.

SHOPPING

Over at NY Spender, Bullitt the cat points you to some great online deals. This week he has found some cool bermuda shorts!

Shopalicious has found a place to score cute summer dresses for under $50!

Her Accessories is loving the vintage style of these metal and enamel pendants from designer Peggy Li.

Indie Style File is is looking for a brave soul to try these Hammertime Pants.

ShopDiary has invites to The Top Secret, a private online sample sale site.

eye4style tells lucky readers how to get their hands on an iconic piece of Sex and the City movie memorabilia.

STYLEnosh asks readers to weigh in with their opinion on Wear or Return these heels?

Style It Less took time to find 5 Under $50 Father’s Day gifts to show Fathers how we appreciate and love them this Father’s Day.

The Latest Luxe is playing Lady in Red with the Donna Karan Crossover Gown.

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Weekend Beauty Reads for June 7, 2008

by PJ on Saturday, June 7, 2008

in Weekend Beauty Read

Enjoy!

From The Beauty Blog Network:

Lilan from The Daily Cookie gets the low-down on Nordstrom Beauty Director Joelle Russo’s Dior must-haves for your makeup bag.

Raging Rouge is totally stumped about what to buy Dad, until she stumbles upon these perfect Father’s Day Gifts.

The Beauty of Life bares it all with Bobbi Brown’s new Yogi Bare Lip Balm!

Beauty Anonymous invites you to Peach-a-Boo! from OPI.

Looking for a cool beauty gadget? Bionic Beauty absolutely loves her PedEgg for summer pedicure preparation!

Intergallactic glamour! Roselyn from Makeup Makes Me Happy™ does an amazing tutorial and revamps the smokey eye with the Solar Bits from the latest M.A.C. Solar Field Collection!

Beauty Banter spent the day on location for a new NBC TV show… and she raided the hair and makeup trailer! Find out all the beauty tips from her day spent on-set (these are too good to miss)!

It’s All About the Men this month!! Beyond Beauty Basics tells you how to take care of your guy’s skin with these simple skincare products in their Father’s Day Men’s Special!

makeup loves me lashes out!…and gives you the 411 on two of the much-buzzed about new tools in for eye lash curling and separating.

The Makeup Divas reviews and tells you about a great mattifying product that Carmindy and professional make-up artists use and recommend.

What’s Beauty Blogging Junkie using to achieve Valley of the Dolls Hair? Find out here.

15 Minute Beauty Fanatic continues to add to her summer bright nail polish options with Essie’s Summer Neons!

StyleBell discusses Redken’s fab tips on how to do the perfect blow out for your hair!

The girls over at Beauty in Real Life are having such an amazing giveaway…your lips will thank you if you win!

Karen from Makeup and Beauty Blog shows you how to get a silver and pink eye look with eyeshadows from MAC Cosmetics.

Scandalous Beauty shows you how to easily and effortlessly cover Acne, Blemishes and Skin Discolorations. This is a video you don’t want to miss!!

Toya of The Life of A Ladybug introduces you to Laura Mercier’s Bronzing Duo in Pink Bronze, another in her “Bronzers for Brown Girls” series!

Makeup Moxie reviews the new Hourglass Bronzer Duo.

Kitiya from Mischo Beauty invites you to enter her SPINLASH giveaway!

Cybelesays picks their favorite springtime flower-scent products.

Kyle at Face Candy loves Boots No. 7 Quick Thinking 4 in 1 Wipes.

Are Escada fragrances too sweet for your liking? Kia of Yummy411 recommends another fragrance you are sure to like!

The Beauty Bug previews new products that have just hit counters and shelves this month.

Pursebuzz.com interviews Ford Model’s Johnny Lavoy. Spend an hour with us as we talk about his start and his secrets to fabulous hair and so much more!

Beth from Beauty Junkie in SF found a way to flirt with boys without getting into trouble. Genius!

The Mineral Makeup Blog reviews and loves Cosminology’s Mineral Concealers!

Michelle from All Lacquered Up shares her latest nail polish obsession, a gray lacquer she’s dubbing the next “it” color.

This week, Kim Kardashian revealed some more of her beauty secrets. What are they? Visit Spoiled Pretty to find out!

A Touch of Blusher‘s guest reviewer reports on the new Thierry Mugler makeup line.

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(Jo Malone Lime Basil & Mandarin Cologne)

With its first store opened in London in 1994, Jo Malone is the youngest of what I think of as the three classy (in very different ways) British beauty brands, along with Penhaligon’s and Molton Brown. (All three happen to be fragrance-based brands.)

Lime Basil & Mandarin Cologne is one of Jo Malone’s 19 modern classics, and this clean citrusy scent will appeal to both men and women. As a Father’s Day present, I think it will appeal to energetic, confident, and debonair dads who are young at heart.

Top notes: lime, mandarin, bergamot
Middle notes: basil, white thyme, lilac, iris
Base notes: patchouli, vetiver, costus

The scent opens with a burst of fresh citrusy energy. Zingy, zesty, but not overpowering. It strikes me as a good morning fragrance. The subtle floral middle notes are not overly sweet at all. Otherwise, I think the flow of notes might become sluggish and the scent would lose its identity very quickly.

There is a distinctive feel of crispness and dryness carried through to the base notes, but the crispness doesn’t feel abrasive or excessively sharp. The woody drydown is still very clean and light.

The scent is long-lasting. With several sprays on the wrists, it lasts for up to 10 hours on me.

Jo Malone advocates scent-layering, and their Fragrance Combining menu shows the array of possibilities. With Lime Basil & Mandarin Cologne being beautifully clean, I can see how it can be paired with others.

For me, this is a fresh, modern and seamlessly put-together fragrance with a unisex appeal. I enjoy it as a daytime scent as well as a summer scent. The longer days in the warmer months are definitely a good time to savor the aroma.

You can find out more about Jo Malone and Lime Basil & Mandarin Cologne on the About Jo Malone page.

(Jo Malone’s on-line orders are for UK residents only. Please check the FAQ-Delivery page for details about international orders.)

Other fragrance posts:

Bond No. 9 Saks Fifth Avenue for Him

Sheer Stella 2008 by Stella McCartney

Escada Moon Sparkle

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(Chillessence Be Great Body Wash)
(image from www.chillessence.com)


Chillessence is a recently launched website which carries organic-based bodycare products as well as three jewellery collections inspired by sustainable resources. Their bodycare products are paraben-free and are mostly packaged with recycled or recyclable materials.

The Be Great Body Wash (above) has a clear liquidy-gel consistency. It foams pleasantly well, and rinses very efficiently. It cleanses gently and doesn’t leave the skin feeling dry or tight. The skin is left both fresh and fresh-smelling, with no slippery/filmy residue. It should be a good year-round body wash.

(Chillessence Be Great Body Lotion)
(image from www.chillessence.com)

The Be Great Body Lotion features aloe vera leaf juice, safflower seed oil, shea butter, jojoba seed oil, olive oil, and avocado oil, among other moisturizing agents. The light gel-cream consistency has a weightless feel and spreads effortlessly. It absorbs easily and seems to almost disappear into the skin, but the moisture lasts well. This is a particularly good body moisturizer in warmer days.

The two products have the same scent, which is a cool grassy and light citrusy aroma, with a slight floral twist. (But the scent can be relatively strong if you tend to go for very lightly-scented body moisturizers.)

The orange peel oil used in these two products might be a skin irritant for some, but I have not experienced sensitive reactions. (You can see full ingredient lists of all Chillessence’s bodycare products on their website.)

(Chillessence.com ships internationally. Please refer to their FAQ page for details.)

Updated on June 28, 2008:

Now the Chillessence on-line store offers fragrance-free versions of the Be Great Body Wash, Body Lotion, and Body Creme.

Related Bodycare Posts:

Can’t Live Without: Dove Body Silk
(my favorite body cream)

Anna Sui Summer 2008 Collection
(featuring UV Body Spray G SPF 30 PA+++)

Johnson’s Baby Lightoil Spray

(light and moisturizing)

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(Simple Moisturising Foaming Facial Wash)

In my post on RMK’s Cleansing Oil N, I mentioned that I used a face wash after the cleansing oil. In the last few years, I have used (foaming) face washes from Chanel, Lancôme, L’Oréal, Nivea, and Johnson’s. After the Johnson’s one was discontinued (at least here in the UK) last year, I went through a mini-hunt for my next staple face wash.

(One of my favorite face washes is Lancôme’s Gel Clarté. But, it costs 17.5 GBP (for 125ml) and lasts about 5 weeks for me, so I’d rather go for a cheaper alternative, which is not impossible to find.)

Among the several face washes I picked up, two were from Simple, which is a UK drugstore skincare brand available in major chains like Boots and Superdrug. (It doesn’t seem to be available outside the UK, but I might be wrong.) I had never tried their products before, but the Moisturising Foaming Facial Wash (2.79 GBP for 150ml) impressed me.

It is a straightforward and gimmick-free face wash that gets the job done, and it happens to be fragrance-free and colourant-free. It has a fluidy gel consistency and it foams and rinses very well. (The main cleansing agents in this product are, as in the order on the ingredient list, sodium laureth sulfate, decyl glucoside, and cocamidopropyl betaine.)

What I like the most about this face wash is that, after I rinse it off, I simply feel nothing. No tightness, filminess, or slipperiness. The face feels well-cleansed, fresh, and not stripped. (I much prefer this to the other Simple’s face wash I tried, Refreshing Facial Wash Gel, which feels a little filmy after rinsing.)

This is very suitable for my oily-dry skin, and I have been using it both in the morning and the evening (after the cleansing oil if I wear makeup for the day). (When I use it after the cleansing oil, I only use 1/3 of the amount I use in the morning.) I think this face wash will suit people with most skin types (apart from those with very dry skin).

My other current daily skincare products:

Lancôme Tonique Douceur

Olay Daily Illuminating UV Fluid SPF 15

Olay Complete Care Night Enriched Cream

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