(Radiant Pastels – Shiseido The Makeup Spring 2008 Collection) (image from www.shiseido.com/themakeup)
With Dick Page as the artistic director, Shiseido The Makeup‘s spring 2008 collection is looking fresh and colorful. (On the Shiseido website, the collection is billed as a (Dick Page) “inspired collaboration”.) While there are no new product designs, this is a visually very pleasing collection, from the shade selection to the ad image.
The collection includes:
— Hydro-Powder Eye Shadow: 4 new shades (seen below) — Shimmering Lipstick: 4 new shades — Multi-Shade Enhancer: 2 shades, Terra-Cotta Glow and Sunset Glow (Sunset Glow is a limited-edition item from summer 2007 and is now a regular product.)
(Hydro-Powder Eye Shadow) (image from www.shiseido.com/themakeup)
I have tested Hydro-Powder Eye Shadow in H10 Languid Lagoon at the counter. The actual color is darker than what we see in the image above. It also looks greener and is less aqua-ish. I have to say, for me personally, it looks slightly better on the website and in magazine pages.
I might not pick up any item from this collection, but I will still look forward to more creations from the master.
(French graffiti artist Fafi at Henri Bendel) (from www.nypost.com)
The Fari for MAC collection might have a bright and funky image with its fair share of vibrant colors. But, there are some very wearable shades and several bright-looking items that are not too difficult to work with. Even though the packaging is obviously targeted at a young audience, I feel that many shades have a more universal appeal.
Here are my favorites from the Fafi for MAC collection:
(Clock-wise from upper right: Powder Blush in Hipness & Fashion Frenzy, Lipstick in Fun ‘n’ Sexy & Strawbaby, and Lipglass in Totally It)
My favorite items by far are the two blushers (Powder Blush in Fashion Frenzy & Hipness). Fashion Frenzy, my preferred one out of the two, has the kind of cool pink shade that I know would suit me. But because it is on the vibrant side and the blush is very pigmented, I do have to be very light-handed with it. (I also like the turquoise Fafi logo on the lid against the pink blusher.) Hipness initially appeared to be a peachy shade that might not suit me, but I was pleasantly surprised by its wearability as it turned more pink after a few hours’ wear. Both blushers have a fair lasting power.
Totally It is my favorite Lipglass from this collection. It is a bright pink with cherry pink and purple shimmer. Even though two of the other Lipglasses, Cult Fave and Sugar Trance, have more wearable shades, the shimmer is too frosty for my liking. On my lips, one sheer layer of Totally It actually looks relatively natural and this is how I’d wear it most of the time. With a second layer, the brightness of the pink really intensifies. Apart from the lovely pink and purple shimmer, I also enjoy the lasting shine.
The Lipstick in Strawbaby is a very wearable warm-rose with some delicate blue-green shimmer and should suit most skin-tones. On the other hand, Fun ‘n’ Sexy is a similar bright pink to the Totally It Lipglass with purple and bright pink shimmer.
I think the wearability of many items in the Fafi for MAC collection also appeals to some younger customers that have just started to experiment with makeup and want something easy to use. The Fafi Eyes palette in #1 is a very basic palette that would suit a beginner in makeup, and it actually reminds me of Chanel’s 4-color eyeshadow palette in Influences, which is one of the first eye palettes I bought. (The actual shades and finishes do vary, but the concepts are similar.)
(left: MAC Fafi Eyes #1; right: Chanel Quadra Eye Shadow in Influences)
Despite MAC Paint Pots‘ rich colors and long-lasting quality, I am not really a fan of them. The colors are difficult to blend and none of the finishes featured in the Fafi for MAC collection (cream, satin, and frost) looks optimally flattering. This is a bit of a shame, because Rollickin’ and Girl Friendly could have potentially been shades I’d constantly reach for. (Rollickin’ is a turquoise with pale gold shimmer, which is better than the distracting yellow and green shimmer commonly seen in turquoise eyeshadows. Girl Friendly is a dusty rose-petal pink that is subtly elegant.)
Overall, the Fafi for MAC collection offers something for most people, from eye-catching lip shades to subdue neutrals for eyes. I still find it hard to like most of the packaging and the Fafinettes, but the two lovely blushers (which, for me personally, pleasantly don’t feature the Fafinettes) will potentially be very active members in my blusher family.
I did more posts on award fashion this time last year, but this year I decided to just focus on the eagerly anticipated Oscars. So, for my only post on celebrity fashion for this award season, here is my list of the 5 best-dressed celebrities at Oscars 2008:
1. Anna Hathaway (Marchesa)
(image via Yahoo! Movies)
It was not a very difficult decision this year. The romantic scarlet gown with drape and rosette details looks exceptionally elegant on the fresh and statuesque Anne Hathaway. The dress also has a subtle vibrancy, sense of drama, and playfulness that suit her image and youth. I think everything is spot-on, from the color of the dress against her skin-tone to her simple hair and makeup.
(image via Yahoo! Movies)
This Marchesa dress also reminds me of Kate Winslet’s Ben di Lisi dress in Oscars 2002. This is probably still my favorite Oscar look ever.
(image via Yahoo! Movies)
2. Hilary Swank (Versace)
(image from AP Photo via E!)
I think her Oscar look has been getting better and better. (I still remember her gently wavy hair and the floral hairpiece from last year.) Again, with floral details and the one-shoulder cut, this Versace number is delicate and feminine. The simple hair and makeup is definitely the right way to go.
3. Marion Cotillard (Jean Paul Gaultier)
(image from AP Photo via E!)
Marion Cotillard’s mermaid dress is stunning and full of impact. It certainly beats a lot of insipid choices.
Her Chanel dress at the BAFTA earlier this month is worth mentioning. I did surprise myself by liking it, but I think it is because she wore it so well with that almost quirky quality and a pleasing lack of self-consciousness that few Hollywood actresses had.
(image from Startraksphoto via Style.com)
Both looks have a fantasy-like flavor, with one sweet and innocent and the other sensual and quite sexy. I like both.
(If you are interested, there are some wonderful and touching images of her just after she won the Oscar (here and here). Absolutely beautiful.)
4. Katherine Heigl (Escada)
(image via Yahoo! Movies!)
Another one-shoulder dress here. (I do tend to favor them as long as they are generally kept simple but with interesting and well thought-out details.) The red is warmer than the shade on Anne Hathaway’s dress, and it suits her well. I like the slightly retro touch on the shoulder, which is very eye-catching and memorable. However, I do think her makeup and hair was a little bit overdone.
5. Renée Zellweger (Carolina Herrera)
(image via Oscar.com)
Renée Zellweger usually gets it right on the red carpet, and she did it again. This might not be one of my favorite Oscar looks for her, since, on some photos, she did look a bit washed-out. But this simple but glitzy dress did still make her stand out for many good reasons.
I have added two new categories on my side bar so you can locate my past posts more easily:
— My Current Makeup Favorites
— My Skincare Essentials
The items in “My Current Makeup Favorites” include both some of my long-term staples and seasonal favorites. “The Skincare Essentials” feature items I am using on a daily basis now.
I will update these two categories constantly to reflect my current preferences (especially regarding my seasonal favorites), so do check back!
A reader once asked me why, regardless of the generally consistent quality, certain Japanese makeup lines (under the same company) are more expensive than others. To summarize my answer for her, apart from the fact that price-points and target consumer groups define each other, more prestigious makeup lines tend to have a fuller philosophy behind their creations.
Sofina‘s EST is not new. It has been a skincare line under Kao’s Sofina for many years, and it is Sofina’s most expensive line. In fall 2007, EST launched a full color makeup line, following the earlier debut of the base makeup range. (While, obviously, the brand name reminds people of the superlative suffix “-est”, Sofina also advocates that it is an acronym for “EssenceofSofinaTechnology”.)
The over-arching concept of EST’s color makeup is Emotional Beauty. As our faces are always displaying various feelings and emotions, EST attempts to use colors and finishes to enhance our day-to-day expressions of emotions. So, our beaming smiles look even more dazzling, our focused determination is even more infectious, and our sorrow melts the hardest of hearts.
(image from www.kao.co.jp/est)
I love EST’s recent ad images. They are beautifully and subtly compelling, with colors that enhance the facial features rather than overtake them. To embody the essence of the line, the model (April) displays a much wider range of emotions than what we usually see in makeup advertisements. The image on the top of this post is by far my favorite. As for the two below, I call them “despair & hope”:
(image from www.kao.co.jp/est)
(image from www.kao.co.jp/est)
However, all this ethos will be hollow if it can’t translate to product designs. So how does EST carry out their promise?
One item that defines the line is Emotional Aura Pact. Essentially, this is a highlighter for the eye area. It includes four subtly different shades of various finishes and opaqueness, and each of them is used on a specific part of the eye area.
(Emotional Aura Pack)
(image from www.kao.co.jp/est)
Apart from the eye area, this multi-purpose item can also be used around the lips to sculpt your pout. So, when you feel surprised, happy, curious, excited, inspired, or moved, this item is designed to capture your million faces and help them make a lasting impression.
Also, so far, I have come across good comments on Emotional Aura Eyes, the eye palette range:
(Emotional Aura Eyes palettes) (image from www.kao.co.jp/est)
After the huge success of Kanebo’s Lunasol in the last couple of years, Kosé’s Magie Deco and Sofina’s EST were two of the major makeup launches in late 2007 that posed as rivals. Similarly priced and packaged with a sophisticated flair, they appeal to similar demographics. With a strong and distinctive concept behind it, Sofina EST’s development and evolution will be immensely interesting to chart and will serve as an indication of the future of Japanese cosmetics.
[Even though Sofina is available in Japan and several other countries in Asia, the EST line is currently only available in Japan as far as I know. The EST website is for information only and does not offer on-line ordering.]
Today I bring you reviews of products from Neutrogena. Their body products are usually noted for heavy-duty moisture. How would these two fair?
Neutrogena Everyday Repair Body Lotion
At first, when I tested it on the back of my hand, I thought the consistency might be a little too dense for the whole body and that it might be better suited for particularly dry patches. But it turns out that, for me, it is a good all-over body lotion without making the skin feel greasy or sticky.
It has a rich and densely creamy texture and feels very moisturizing when it goes on. But it spreads easily and absorbs relatively well.
On the whole, this is a competent body lotion with minimal fragrance. Compared with my favorite Dove Body Silk, it feels creamier and more emollient. However, I think the moisture from Dove Body Silk lasts a little longer.
Neutrogena Fast Absorbing Hand Cream
A lot of Neutrogena’s hand creams that I’ve tried have quite a greasy finish. (It seems to be a trade-off regarding some heavy-duty hand creams, and I don’t mind it that much most of the time.) Also, it sometimes seems that most of the emolliency sits on top of the hands and doesn’t sink in any further, and, as soon as it wears off, the hands feel and look dry again.
The Fast Absorbing Hand Cream seems to attempt an improvement. It feels slightly lighter than the other Neutrogena hand creams I’ve tried. While I wouldn’t describe it as “fast absorbing”, it does feel that the emolliency is absorbed a little better. (I always check my cuticle area to see how well the emolliency penetrates.)
However, compared with some of my favorite hand creams (particularly Garnier Hand Cocoon), it is still very similar to other Neutrogena hand creams and is not substantially better. I would probably be more tempted to layer this on top of my usual hand cream before bedtime to help seal the moisture. It would be an extra step that is not really vital.
[By March 31st, with any purchase of Neutrogena product, you can claim a free activity at the Neutrogena website. Promotion is open to UK residents only.]
As a fan of Japanese cosmetics, apart from all the colorful products available, I am also interested in knowing more about the history behind the various brands and companies. So I was delighted to come across a time-line featuring the launches of many major Japanese cosmetics companies in Biteki‘s January 2008 issue. Let’s have a look:
1872 Shiseido
1887 Kao
1929 Pola
1936 Kanebo
1946 Kosé
1956 Albion
1959 Menard
1967 Shu Uemura
1972 DHC
1981 Fancl
1987 IPSA
1991 Ettusais
1995 AYURA
1996 Equipe (which now owns RMK and SUQQU)
(Biteki, January 2008, p. 102-125)
It is interesting that, like many western cosmetics brands, some of the recent major Japanese cosmetics companies in the last couple of decades have also been acquired by more established ones. For example, IPSA, Ettusais, and AYURA were acquired by Shiseido. Kanebo now owns Equipe, while Kosé owns Albion. Also, in early 2006, Kanebo was sold to Kao.
I will be equally interested in these slightly more corporate and behind-the-scene developments and in all the shiny new releases from these brands…
I started this blog in November 2006. If I had started it several months earlier, many of my initial posts would have probably been about finding the best turquoise eyeshadow for myself.
That was a major quest in the summer of that year. I got Dior’s Seascape a couple of months earlier. While loving the purple and the blue, I decided I wanted a nice turquoise. Not a soft pastel turquoise…a real turquoise. So the search began.
I soon found that many turquoise shades had yellow and/or green shimmer. While I see how it balances the blue undertone of the shade and makes the finish more dynamic, I think it is a little distracting, and I really just wanted a nice straightforward rich turquoise. (Bourjois’ Mono Eyeshadow in Turquoise Ensoleillée is one that has the yellow/green shimmer that doesn’t appeal to me.)
After auditioning many turquoise contenders during that time, I found myself going back to Dior.
Apart from the fact that Dior’s eyeshadows are consistently silky and easy to blend, I like the satiny finish in the eyeshadow duo range. DiorLagoon features a cream white with soft pearlescent sheen and a semi-matte turquoise which is slightly more matte than the cream white. It is a true turquoise with no trace of yellow/green shimmer. Both shades are nicely pigmented and last well.
It has become my gold standard for turquoise shades as it still remains one of the nicest I have ever seen.
Related Posts: (featuring two other lovely turquoise shades)
(Radiant Pastels –
