(Maquillage Lasting Climax Rouge in RS310)

Since I tried Maquillage‘s Clean Contrast Eyes in SV844, I had wanted to try something else from the line. I decided to go for one of their lipsticks and picked up Lasting Climax Rouge in RS310, from Maquillage’s spring 2008 lineup.

RS310 is medium warm rose and goes on a little more vibrant. It has a natural and slightly glossy finish. It goes on easily and the color and finish last well. While it is not the most moisturizing lipstick I have, it is not drying. (So far, my SUQQU lipstick is probably the most moisturizing lipstick I’ve had.)

I was expecting the Lasting Climax Rouge range to be quite sheer, and I was surprised by the medium pigmentation level when I tried the sample card, which contained five shades (but didn’t contain RS310). RS310 also has a medium color pay-off, while its pigmentation level is slightly lower than that of Coffret D’Or Full Styling Rouge Color.

In terms of the finish, compared with Coffret D’Or Full Styling Rouge Color and Lavshuca Jewelry Lips, this one is slightly glossier and has a tad more micro-shimmer. But it doesn’t have a frosty/metallic finish, which I don’t like.

Shade-wise, it is lighter, warmer and slightly more vivid than Coffret D’Or Full Styling Rouge Color in RS-241 and Lavshuca Jewelry Lips in PK-1. It is quite a girlie color.

Overall, as an RS (Rose) shade, Lasting Climax Rouge in RS310 is relatively vibrant, and I feel it is more of a cool PK (Pink) shade than a typical RS shade from Japanese brands. (Many RS shades I have seen are more muted.) I personally prefer to wear it for the evening (without layering it too much). For daytime, I simply gently dab it on for a mild stained look.

For another review (written in Chinese, with this very shade worn on lips), please check out this post.

Updated on June 6th, 2008:

Please check out the review of RD359 on Autumn Masquerade.


————

Thoughts on photographing lipsticks: I have personally observed that capturing the actual color of a lipstick is a lot trickier than showing that of, for example, an eyeshadow. I think it is because the lipstick itself is more dimensional. A friend of mine commented that it might also be because it is in a semi-liquid form. (Interestingly, I don’t really have this issue with lip glosses. Maybe it is because they are inside solid containers.) The lipstick color in the photo you see above is closest to its actual color under sunlight. (I don’t tend to digitally fine-tune color, brightness, or contrast of my photos for my reviews.)

The two photos below are taken within minutes of the one above. As you can see, in terms of the lipstick color, the first one looks slightly warmer (than the one above), while the second one looks darker and cooler.



(You can see that, in the second one, less light is reflected back to the camera and the lipstick shade looks darker. When it comes to photographing other makeup items, there is usually not this degree of difference (when the amount of light reflected back to the camera slightly varies).)

Based on my experiences, I have also come to understand why a lipstick (in the container, not worn on a model’s lips), compared with other makeup items, can look so different in different magazines or even in different features in the same issue of a magazine.

————

Other Shiseido-Related Posts:

Maquillage Summer 2008 Collection

Can’t Live Without – ZA Two-Way Foundation

Budget Princess: Majolica Majorca


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Beauty Duty for May 27, 2008

by PJ on Tuesday, May 27, 2008

in Weekly Beauty Duty

Enjoy!

KRiSTOPHER gets her lips done in Beverly Hills, in “Born in 1984“.

Makeup Moxie reviews Tarte Four Day Lash Stain.

SugarShock Beauty is loving the pure romance of Annick Goutal’s Neroli fragrance.

Lianne
from TheMakeupGirl has fallen in love with Bobbi Brown’s new Bronzed Pink for summer…

WE LOVE BEAUTY.com learns about the amazing adventure our Magnet stylemakers participated in at SUPERLOVE in the Superdome in New Orleans.

A Touch of Blusher presents Lilting Lilac Part 2.

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My post on Lilting Lilac was back in December, and how time has flown. One of my readers predicted that there would be a Part 2, and she is right.

Here I share with you new faces (since last year), old favorites, and generosity from friends.

Above:
– Maquillage Clean Contrast Eyes in SV844
– Chanel Quadra Eye Shadow in Stage Lights
– Paul & Joe Eye Color in 05 (to be reviewed later)
– MAC Pigments in Violet and Frozen White (off-white with blue/lilac iridescence), in small pots from a lilac-loving friend

– Dior 5-Color Eyeshadow palette in 250 Seascape
– Coffret D’Or 3D Lighting Eyes in 04 Purple Variation
– Clarins Palette Impression in 03 The Mauve Garden
– Anna Sui Pressed Face Powder in 200
– Ferro Eye Candy Shimmer in February

.

– (left) Lunasol Sheer Contrast Eyes in 02 Lavender Coral
– (right) Lunasol Scent Form Eyes in 02

.

…and one more before there is more:

– Revlon Glimmer Gloss Nail Enamel in 610 Grape Shimmer (upper left)

Other Splashes of Colors:

– Girlie Pink

– Citrus Orange

– New-Leaf Green

– Terrific Turquoise

– Aqua Blue

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Enjoy!

From Splendicity:

SHOPPING

CelebLOOK is in love with Gwyneth Paltrow’s shoes and finds a similar pair for us all.

Style It Less copied Gwyneth Paltrow’s Yummy Mommy look for less than $105.

The Well-Heeled Society is collaborating with Victoria’s Secret to host a pink-infused, Sex and the City Shoe Drive to benefit Dress For Success.

Wardrobe Oxygen offers some suggestions on how to add feminine and romantic elements to a classic wardrobe.

eye4style can’t wait for the new Sex and the City flick! These gorgeous images of Carrie and Big from Vogue tide her over…

STYLEnosh wonders why it’s sooo hard to find cute navy shoes.

BEAUTY

Aging Fabulous discovers Redpoint Beauty and shares her most wanted products from the line.

eBeautyDaily is checking out Redpoint Advanced Color Cosmetics.

Beauty Banter reviews the skincare line that Halle Berry, Naomi Watts, Jennifer Garner, Kristin Davis, and Amanda Bynes use on their A-list faces!

makeup loves me wants to know what you thought of the makeup looks in the gossip girl season finale.

15 Minute Beauty Fanatic gets a really close look at her skin, now and in the future!

TheScentedLife takes a retro trip to 1978 and rediscovers Estee Lauder White Linen.

Raging Rouge now understands why Americans and Canadians get along so famously… They share their beauty secrets, like AG Hair Cosmetics!

A Touch of Blusher gets the “false-eyelash treatment” from YSL.

FASHION

She Knows Best lists the fashion tips for Men 5’8 and Under from Alan Au.

Style Tots thinks Rachel Fox is a ray of sunshine in yellow.

The Latest Luxe is ready to turn up the heat and count down to summer in these Manolo Blahnik leopard sandals.

Snarkstress finds the fun in the wacky head-toppers worn last weekend at a Royal wedding. See if you get a laugh from them, too.

Teen Style Lounge has found the one watch you need this summer…on the cheap!

Let’s Go Shopping is giving away 2 Sex And The City Bracelets Worth $274

The Fashionable Kiffen heralds the arrival of summer with tons of cute sandal picks.

What do Angelina, Gwen and Jessica love wearing during their pregnancies? Check out Hot Mama Daily to find out!

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Weekend Beauty Reads for May 24, 2008

by PJ on Saturday, May 24, 2008

in Weekend Beauty Read


Enjoy!

From The Beauty Blog Network:

Raging Rouge gets tips and tricks for Spring makeup application from stylist Jenny Smith of NARS Cosmetics.

Need a new hair brush? Cybelesays is loving the new paddle one from Metropolis.

Makeup Moxie reviews Tarte 4 Day Stay Lash Stain mascara.

The Daily Cookie gives you a step-by-step tutorial on how to get Madonna’s Hard Candy album cover look with the help of Shu Uemura makeup artist Nicky Posley.

Beauty Anonymous
is very tempted by the Hair Spray from Anna Sui!

Kitiya from Mischo Beauty discusses hair texture in her “Mischo Beauty School: Hair Texture 101” post!

Want to win a whopping $824 in products? Then head to The Beauty of Life immediately for a supremely fantastic giveaway!

Joy from Makeup Junkie shares Prom beauty trends and tips!

The Muse checks up on jolly old England and brings you the latest news of Eyeko’s Summer Collection 2008!

Beauty Banter tells YOU how to achieve your best brows… 7 easy tips!

Beauty411 opens her little black beauty book and reports on an incredible facial at the ARCONA Studio in Santa Monica.

Beauty Blogging Junkie reports on the Total Beauty Blogger Summit in L.A. last weekend and on a trip to Anastasia’s Salon, one of the stops on the Total Beauty beauty tour of L.A.

StyleBell shows how you too can get The Hills inspired Side Ponytail as seen on Lauren Conrad and Nicole Ritchie.

makeup loves me wants to help you look hot this summer. but she knows you may be lazy like her. hence, she offers you a cheater’s guide to a summer body.

15 Minute Beauty Fanatic checks out the “New It Flat Iron”?

The Makeup Divas tells you about a Hot Lip Balm that Lauren Conrad of The Hills loves to use to keep her lips glossy.

Face Candy reviews Bobbi Brown’s newest scent, Almost Bare.

Don’t let humidity ruin your blow-out! Glossypink has found a serum that will help your blow-out stay sleek and fabulous!

All Lacquered Up reviews the OPI Mod About Brights collection and discovers a creepy resemblance to a victim from Showtime’s Dexter.

Pursebuzz.com is having a HUGE contest. Be sure to stop by for a chance to win my top favorite brushes from Coastalscents.com. Gimme Gimme. Good Luck!!!

Toya‘s started a new series: “Bronzers for Brown Girls” where she’ll be discussing the best bronzers for those of us who have deeper skintones. First up: Stila Sun Bronzer SPF 15!

The 80’s is back in a big way, inspiring new trends in fashion and beauty. So how do you embrace this trend without looking like a Dynasty reject? Three Custom Color Specialists has the perfect product and Spoiled Pretty is giving it away. Enter the giveaway today!

A Touch of Blusher gets the “false-eyelash treatment” from YSL.

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(cover of Biteki July 2008)
(image from www.biteki.com)

Some of you might be able to recognize the person on the magazine cover above.

Barbie (Hsi-Yuan) Hsu, a popular Taiwanese TV actress and singer in Asia, is the cover star of the July 2008 issue of Biteki.

Unlike Voce, Biteki rarely features celebrities on the covers, and there are very specific reasons why Hsu is fronting this issue:

– She is one of the Taiwanese actors/actresses that enjoy popularity in Japan, largely due to her leading role in the extremely successful TV drama Meteor Garden, an adaptation of the Japanese manga story Hana yori Dango (Boys Over Flowers). The series has been widely popular in East Asia.

– Hsu is the write of two beauty-related books, Beauty Queen and Beauty Queen II: Female Celebrities Exposed. According to Taipei Times, Beauty Queen II shifted 800,000 copies in China and Taiwan within two months of its release. (She shares some of her beauty secrets with the Japanese readers in the July issue of Biteki.)

– Most importantly, July 2008 sees the launch of Biteki’s Chinese Edition. Even though some popular Japanese fashion magazines already publish Chinese editions, this is a first for a Japanese beauty magazine. Despite the fact that Japanese beauty products have long been popular in the nearby Chinese-speaking regions, I am still deeply fascinated by this move from Biteki.

At the moment I don’t have full information on whether the Chinese edition is in Traditional or Simplified Chinese, but I’d imagine that it would be in both. (Currently, Traditional Chinese is used in Taiwan and Hong Kong, while Simplified Chinese is used in China and Singapore.)

It seems to me that the presence of Japanese cosmetics is slowly going international (even though, presumably, the Biteki Chinese edition will focus on what is available locally instead of a translation of the Japanese version). According to recent reports from Nikkei Net, not only is Shiseido expanding retail points in China, Europe, and Middle East, the Maquillage Fall 2008 collection will include items in collaboration with British designer Christopher Kane and the ad campaign will feature model of the moment Agyness Deyn. (Well, I’d say why not just bring Maquillage to the UK….)

These are all very interesting developments, and I will try my best to keep you updated.

Related Posts:

Biteki – My Ultimate Beauty Archive

Japanese Cosmetics in the UK

All about Japanese Cosmetics

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(Mini Rouge W)
(image from www.annasui-cosmetics.com)

On June 5th in Japan, there will be more items from Anna Sui‘s summer 2008 collection being released. They include:

– Mini Rouge W (limited-edition, 3 shades, seen above)

– Bath & Body Primary Kit: The set includes a pouch with Hair Shampoo, Conditioner, and Body Shampoo, each in a travel-size 60ml bottle.

(Bath & Body Primary Kit)
(image from www.annasui-cosmetics.com)

– Hair Spray G: A hair-conditioning product (not a styling product).

– UV Body Spray G: SPF 30/ PA+++

(Left: Anna Sui UV Body Spray G
Right: Anna Sui Hair Spray G)
(image from www.annasui-cosmetics.com)

These items join the currently available eyeliner pencils, mascaras, and nail colors as the full lineup of the Anna Sui summer 2008 collection.

Mini Rouge, released last fall (packaged in black cases), has been very popular, so I am sure these three white limited-edition ones will be equally coveted. (As far as I know, the black Mini Rouge shades are not limited-edition items.)

Related Posts:

Anna Sui Lip & Eye Luxury Palettes

Loving Japanese Brands – Anna Sui

My Latest Foundation Cases

(featuring Anna Sui and Jill Stuart)

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Haircare Review – Crème of Nature

by PJ on Friday, May 23, 2008

in haircare

(Kiwi & Citrus Moisture-Active Shampoo)

Today I am reviewing three products from Crème of Nature. If your hair tends to be on the dry side and needs more moisturizing haircare products, then these might be worth looking into.

– Kiwi & Citrus Moisture-Active Shampoo

This shampoo foams very well, but it is also very conditioning. It does take more time than usual to rinse and I feel that it is a little bit too emollient for my scalp, but the hair itself is left soft and nourished. While this is a good cleansing product for my slightly dry hair, I think it will suit people with both dry scalp and dry hair better.

(Jojoba & Olive Oil Moisture-Active Deep Conditioning Treatment)

– Jojoba & Olive Oil Moisture-Active Deep Conditioning Treatment

This is a hair treatment that is left for 20 minutes after shampooing. I have tried using this after my deep-cleansing shampoo (Pantene Pro-V Clarifying Shampoo, which is basically a shampoo with more detergent than standard shampoos) to remove product build-up and to see how well this treatment works. It does work well in infusing moisture into the hair, which is left conditioned and manageable.

(Most of the time, I shower when a hair treatment is at work. But with this product, which contains many rich emollients like paraffinum liquidum, coconut oil, soybean oil, shea butter, cocoa seed butter, jojoba seed oil, and olive oil, I rinse it off completely before showering. Otherwise there will be some unwanted emolliency particularly around the back of my neck and my back.)

(Lemongrass and Rosemary Leave-in Crème Conditioner)


– Lemongrass and Rosemary Leave-in Crème Conditioner

This is my favorite of the three. A leave-in conditioner or a (silicone-based) hair serum (like John Frieda’s Frizz-Ease) helps me a great deal in keeping my hair manageable, and this item does the job well. It has a light-cream texture and a little goes a long way. It adds moisture and a bit of gloss to the hair, but it does not make the hair look or feel greasy (provided that I don’t over-use it). The moisture is able to last throughout out the day.

If you have normal/oily hair that doesn’t have dryness issues, then these three products might not suit you and you might find them to be too rich. But if you have dry scalp and dry hair and/or if you regularly color-treat or heat-treat your hair, then these products might be worth a try.

(Crème of Nature products are currently available in the US.)

(A note on my hair: I have short-length and wavy hair. I have slightly oily scalp and slightly dry hair. Volume is never something I need to boost up, since I have quite a lot of hair. My hair can be on the puffy and unruly side, so I use haircare and styling products that make it look flatter, sleeker, and more groomed. I don’t color-treat or heat-treat my hair.)

Other Haircare Reviews:

Profound Beauty

James Brown

Dove

Von Natur

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(More from Coffret D’Or fall 2008)
(image from www.nikkei.co.jp)

I have been quite excited about Coffret D’Or’s early fall 2008 collection, and now there is more.

On July 16th, Coffret D’Or will release Part II of its early fall 2008 collection, which includes:

– Fluffy Shine Eyes (new, 5 shades, seen above)
– Combient Rouge (5 new shades)

The Fuffy Shine Eyes shades look soft and wearable. I am liking the lilac and the pale cool green at the moment. I think the emphasis will be on shimmer rather than pigmentation.

I’d like to see swatches of these to have an idea of the finish, as I much prefer something not too shimmery or glittery. Before that, I will concentrate on saving up for the upcoming Trance Deep Eyes palettes.

Related Posts:

Coffret D’Or 3D Lighting Eyes in Purple and Gold Variations

Coffret D’Or Full Styling Rouge in RS-241 & RS-242

Lavshuca Fall 2008 Collection

Kate Fall 2008 Collection

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(Jill Stuart Smooth Silk Powder Foundation
& SUQQU Powder Foundation Fresh)

Today I am bringing you the third foundation face-off, this time between Jill Stuart’s Smooth Silk Powder Foundation and SUQQU’s Powder Foundation Fresh. Both are spring/summer 2008 releases.

(A note on my foundation concerns, preferences, and habits to set the perspective for the review: I have oily skin which is prone to some slight redness. I prefer powder foundations that control shine well, offer at least medium coverage, and have decent pore coverage. I usually don’t wear a primer or a concealer.)

Basics

– Jill Stuart Smooth Silk Powder Foundation: SPF 20/ PA ++, 5 shades
– SUQQU Powder Foundation Fresh: SPF 27/ PA ++, 6 shades

Finish

Jill Stuart has a very soft-focus and glowy finish, while SUQQU gives a luminous matte finish. Neither has visible shimmer.

Texture

Jill Stuart’s powder is very smooth and velvety and has an almost-moist feel. SUQQU’s powder is slightly drier but it is still quite silky.

Coverage

Jill Stuart offers a nearly-medium coverage, which I am quite happy with. SUQQU offers a good medium-to-full coverage. I feel that SUQQU covers my mild redness better than Jill Stuart, but I think this might be only because the SUQQU shade I tried, #25, is more yellow-based than Jill Stuart’s #103.

Pore Coverage

Jill Stuart’s pore coverage is satisfactory, while SUQQU’s pore-concealing ability has some room for improvement.

Shine Control

For me, this is usually the deciding factor on a foundation. Here, the luminous and glowy Jill Stuart fails to impress me as it has very little shine-control ability. Even a good matte loose powder can’t keep the shine away (my face becomes shiny within an hour) and constant touch-ups are a must for me.

On the other hand, even though SUQQU’s shine control is not the best that I have experienced, at least it is what I would expect from a spring/summer powder foundation release from a Japanese brand, which is usually more about sebum control than a fall/winter release. (Again, out of all the foundations featured in the face-off posts along with the ZA Two-Way Foundation, Coffret D’Or’s Beauty Lasting Pact UV offers the best shine control.)

Staying Power

Neither of them darkens overtime or loses the coverage too quickly, but, as mentioned above, Jill Stuart’s silky smoothness turns shiny very quickly on me, making it a very high-maintenance foundation for my oily skin.

Between the two, I favor SUQQU Powder Foundation Fresh. It offers good coverage and decent shine-control, and it stays on well throughout the day. A good loose powder can easily enhance the pore coverage. I think this should be a good powder foundation for most skin types. As for Jill Stuart’s Smooth Silk Powder Foundation, I wouldn’t recommend it if any part of your face tends to be on the oily side, as it doesn’t control shine and the glowy finish will make shine appear more obvious.

(I’d like to thank my friend Betsy at Autumn Masquerade for very kindly sending these samples to me. Please head over to read her review on SUQQU’s Powder Foundation Fresh.)

Related Posts:

Foundation Face-Off (1) – Chanel vs. SUQQU

Foundation Face-Off (2) – Lunasol vs. Coffret D’Or

My Latest Foundation Cases
(Anna Sui and Jill Stuart)

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