(Chanel Irréelle Blush in 80 Tea Rose)

Merry Christmas everyone!

Today I share my thoughts with you about one of my favorite makeup items. Chanel’s Irréelle Blush in Tea Rose is undoubtedly one of my favorite blushers.
(I really like the Chanel Irrèelle items, and I have the eyeshadows (single and duo), bronzing/shading powder, highlighter, and this lovely blusher.)

Tea Rose was out in spring 2005. I decided to use my Boots points on this after I tested it at the counter for many times. Initially, it looked either a bit too pink or a bit too pale. (I don’t really like putting counter testers on my face.) But, after even more testing, I decided that this shade should look good on me. (This is the Chanel blusher I mentioned in the post where my friend thought I was hypnotizing the sales assistant, who gave me all the skincare samples I asked for.)

When I put this blusher on my face for the first time, it actually looked better than I thought, and I wished I had made my decision a little sooner. It is a sheer and delicate pink with an essentially matte finish and a very subtle luminosity. It looks very natural and the finish doesn’t appear chalky.

For my complexion, this blusher stands on a great position in the cool-warm spectrum, and this is usually the blush I go for when I want a soft and effortlessly natural look. (I tend to go for soft matte pinks just slightly on the cool side anyway, but this shade suits me particularly well.)

One small complaint about this blusher is that the powder seems almost too firmly pressed, and, after a while, my blusher brush is not really able to pick up the powder very well. So, even for a sheer finish, it needs a bit of building up. But, simply because of this, the look is almost always very natural, as the powder goes on a little bit at a time. So the finish is even and seamless.

The brush that comes with the compact is quite coarse and I never use it. I hope Chanel will improve this.

Overall I love this blusher, and this is the one I usually travel with. The compact is not the slimmest by far, but, for me, I can’t go wrong with the look it gives me. Plus, the pouch protects the compact from scratches. A win-win for me indeed!

Related Posts:

Lavshuca Cheek Color in PK-1
(another very delicate pink)

Ayura Aura Veil α in Sweet Pink
(a slightly warmer pink)

Anna Sui Face Color Accent in 400
(looks naughty, but surprisingly wearable)

Chanel: The Perfect Black
(my personal take on Chanel)

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I am sure many of you have seen some of the upcoming spring 2008 collections. Apart from returning guests like pink and beige, it seems that cool tones will be stealing the show.

Two major makeup trends for spring 2008:

– blue eye colors
– lilac eye colors

First, blue. Chanel‘s spring 2008 makeup collection, Aurora Blues Accent, is now out in the US, and blue takes center stage.

(part of Chanel’s spring 2008 collection, Aurora Blues Accent)
(images from Bjooti.Net)

The new Chanel eyeshadow palette, Les 4 Ombres in Blue Cèlestes, includes a dark cold blue and a pastel blue. It also features grey, which is carried over from the makeup trend from fall 2007. The collection has a distinctive look, but I personally feel that it lacks a bit of warmth.

Givenchy‘s new denim-themed spring 2008 collection, Denim Fétiche, is also blue-oriented, right from the packaging to the shades.

(part of the Givenchy spring 2008 makeup collection,
Denim Fétiche)
(images from www.cosme.net)

Compared with Chanel’s collection, there seems to be a little more balance between cooler and warmer shades, which should make these palettes wearable for more people.

Coincidentally, the MAC for A-Mei collection, out in January 2008, includes a brighter, bolder, and slightly warmer blue. I have to say this is the kind of blue that I enjoy playing with more.

(MAC for A-Mei Eye Palettes)
(image from www.urcosme.com)

The warm and cool palettes are also put together to complement each other to create more possibilities.

Let’s move on to purple. I have always loved soft purple shades like lilac/lavender as well as darker purples like violet. Since this fall, we have seen rich bright purples in fashion, especially in accessories. Mulberry‘s Bayswater patent leather bag in purple is just one example of a hot fashion trend in fall 2007.

(Mulberry Bayswater bag in purple)
(image from www.mulberry.com)

Dior’s spring 2008 collection is very pretty in pink. It has a great mixture of warm and cool pinks, with mauves and lilacs as wonderful accent colors.

(Dior spring 2008 collection)
(image from www.joseishi.net/voce/)

The 5-Color Eyeshadow Palettes in 470 Spring Bouquet and 909 Pink May both look beautiful and feminine. Pink May (the lower of the two palettes in the photo above) seems to be a great assembly of pink, peach, soft lilac, and purple. This certainly carries more of a spring atmosphere than Chanel’s Blue Cèlestes palette.

Apart from blue, Givenchy‘s spring 2008 collection also incorporates elements of purple. I will be interested in seeing the actual color and finish of the blusher (pictured in the middle).

(part of Givenchy’s spring 2008 collection)
(image from www.cosme.net)

One of YSL‘s two new Ombre Duo Lumière palettes also features a plum-purple:
(YSL Ombre Duo Lumière)
(image from woman.excite.co.jp)

There are also collections and individual items that put blue and purple together to create a pleasing mix. Among them, Chanel’s 4 Fleurs de Chanel includes pale pink, blue, and lilac.

(Chanel 4 Fleurs de Chanel)

(image from uma.chanel.com)

Anna Sui‘s latest eyeshadow addition, Glitter Eye Color Stick, features bright blue and purple. The two colors also jump out from the limited-edition items, Sui Lip Gloss and Eye Color Accent J palettes.

(Anna Sui Glitter Eye Color Stick)
(image from www.annasui-cosmetics.com)
(Anna Sui’s Sui Lip Gloss and Eye Color Accent J)
(image from www.annasui-cosmetics.com)

Guerlain‘s new array of 4-color eyeshadow palettes for spring 2008 includes a soft and sensual lilac palette and a cool blue palette. The blue one seems similar to the Chanel Blue Cèlestes in terms of the color combination.
(image from woman.excite.co.jp)

Clé de Peau‘s upcoming eyeshadow palette has a warm aqua blue and a stunning violet. A winning combination for me.

(part of Clé de Peau’s spring 2008 collection)
(image from www.biteki.com)

Finally, Lunasol‘s Sheer Contrast Eyes palettes include 03 Blue Coral and 02 Lavender Coral, two vibrant palettes with warm blues and very pretty purples. Lavender Coral looks particularly alluring to me.


(Lunasol Sheer Contrast Eyes)
(image from www.kanebo-cosmetics.jp/lunasol/)

It is worth mentioning that Lunasol’s existing eyeshadow palette ranges are doing extremely well this year. Skin Modeling Eyes (released spring 2007), Geminate Eyes (fall 2007), and Scent Form Eyes (fall 2006) occupy the top three positions in the eyeshadow category of @Cosme’ Best Cosmetics Award. I think the Sheer Contrast Eyes range, with the selection of both wearable and on-trend colors, is very likely to continue the immense popularity of Lunasol’s eyeshadows and Lunasol the brand itself.

I am personally very pleased to see more lilacs at makeup counters, as it is a very wearable color for me. As for blues, I am more excited about the warmer ones that seem to appear more from Japanese brands like Clé de Peau and Lunasol that we’ve just seen above.

I am probably going to pick up some (more) lilac eyeshadow palettes, and I will be reviewing them later on!

What about you? Are you happy with these spring 2008 makeup trends?

Related Posts:

The Allure of Blue Eyeshadows
(Everyone should try a bit of blue.)

A Splash of Color – Lilting Lilac
(one of my favorite colors)

T’Estimo Frame Impact Eyes in Purple

(out this spring and even more on-trend in spring 2008)

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Weekend Beauty Read for December 22, 2007

by PJ on Saturday, December 22, 2007

in Weekend Beauty Read

Enjoy!

From The Beauty Blog Network:

Got dry cow udders OR dry feet? Makeup and Beauty Blog finds Bag Balm Udderly Fantastic.

Temptalia reviews MAC’s latest launch — The Originals and has the swatches and product photos to entice you!

Makeup Loves Me gives you a sneak peak at Lancome’s last pout-a-porter, pixel pink!

The Muse reviews Guerlain’s Forever Gold from Guerlain’s Holiday Collection!

Savvy Skin is having a contest: Win Yourself A Holiday Gift

Beauty Anonymous is loving Lilac Collection’s Cosmetics Case and Makeup Brush Roll from Smythson.

Elke visits Space.NK for the Total Beauty Event.

Stylish Opinion approves the Body Shop’s Holiday Gel Set as a gift giving do.

The Beauty Blog Network welcomes Purse Buzz as it’s newest member.

A Touch of Blusher recaps the 10 best Holiday 2007 collections.

It will be a white Christmas for Spoiled Pretty, thanks to Aquafresh White Trays.

Beauty and Personality Grooming – 11 things you can do with olive oil

15 Minute Beauty Fanatic spends the day with Max Factor & Makeup Artist Jake Bailey

Makeup Moxie gets her holiday face on with the Tarte We Wish You Health gift set.

Bionic Beauty reviews Boots No. 7 Volumizing Mascara after a two week trial.

The Beauty of Life falls in love with products from Space NK for the holidays.

All Lacquered Up’s Nail Tip Of The Week – Fake a Pedicure

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(Von Natur Complete Hair and Body Wash in Citrus
& Complete Hair Conditioner in Citrus)

For me personally, I don’t particularly look for sulfate-free cleansing products or paraben-free cosmetics products. (Parabens are more of a necessary evil.) But if you have concerns about sulfates and parabens in hair and body products, you might be interested in the two Von Natur items I am reviewing below.

The Complete Hair & Body Wash in Citrus has quite a natural grapefruit scent, which is different from the artificial citrusy scent from daily toiletries that we are familiar with. The product has a liquidy consistency and I find that it doesn’t lather as well as some other cleansing products. So I do need a little more than the usual amount per use.

As a shampoo, I find it slightly drying and I would prefer something more moisturizing. As a body wash, it leaves the skin fresh and squeaky-clean, but it does not dry out the skin. (However, if you have very dry skin, you might not enjoy the squeaky-clean feeling as much.) It also leaves the skin with a delicate and pleasant scent. Overall this is a generally competent body cleansing product.

The Complete Hair Conditioner in Citrus has the same grapefruit scent. The product is in a greyish color. It reflects the inclusion of activated charcoal, which has absorption properties.

It lightly conditions the hair, but I would usually go for something more emollient. I am suspecting that the moisturizing properties of the emollients are overtaken by the charcoal, as the conditioner leaves the hair light and fresh rather than moisturized and nourished.

Overall, I enjoy using the Complete Hair and Body Wash as a body wash alone. The light conditioner should be more suitable in hotter weather, as I would go for something more nourishing for the rest of the year.

Related Posts:

Profound Beauty Haircare Review

James Brown London Haircare Review

Dove Cool Moisture Shampoo & Conditioner Review

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(continued from Part 1 and Part 2)

My Holiday 2007 Top Ten List concludes today!

3. Lavshuca

I realized a while ago that Lavshuca achieved grand slam for me in 2007, as I purchased items from all the four seasonal collections this year. Its affordability means I am able to pick up great items from each season without spending too much money.

The Lavshuca Christmas makeup palette is a sweet finish of the year. It is a cute little palette with three eyeshadows, a lip color, and a lip gloss. It is also the first eye/lip palette since Lavshuca’s launch in spring 2006.

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

See my other Lavshuca items throughout 2007:

Spring–
Eye Color Select in PK-1 & BU-1 (my favorite Lavshuca items for 2007)
Jewelry Lip in PK-1 & RS-1
Gloss Stick in PK-3

Summer

–
Cheek Color in PK-1

Fall

–
Eye Color Select in PU-2
Color Conc Rouge in PK-1

2.

Paul & Joe

(image from www.paul-joe-beaute.com)

Paul & Joe is another brand that is always visually very pleasing. Last year, Paul & Joe’s holiday collection reached number 3 with an absolutely stunning hummingbird-themed lineup. This year’s collection is weaker for me, but, among an overall weaker collection of holiday products across brands this year, it grabbed the runner-up spot.

The Lip Gloss N in 001 Black-Tie is perhaps my favorite holiday item for 2007, with an mouth-watering berry-red shade plus beautiful multi-color shimmer.

1.

Dior

(image from www.dior.com)


Overall, Dior’s holiday collection has won it for me. First of all, the limited-edition item, DiorLight Jewelled Makeup Necklace, is another very pretty piece of collectible makeup item created by Dior. Secondly, I love the fact that Dior usually comes up with a full collection of makeup items for the holiday season.

Readers in the US might not feel that Dior’s holiday lineup this year is a full-on collection, and I think it is because only half of the collection is available in the US.

For holiday 2007, Dior has come up with two makeup looks, each featuring a set of Jewelled Makeup Necklace, 5-color eyeshadow palette, Rouge Dior Crème de Gloss, Rouge Dior lipstick, and nail color. One is a beige-brown look (with the #360 Amber Treasure eyeshadow palette) and one is a pink-plum look (with the #340 Secret Charm palette). I might be wrong, but I think only the beige-brown look is available in the US, while both looks are sold in Asia and Europe. (I am aware that only the beige Jewelled Makeup Necklace is available in the US.)

Below, you can see that the Dior Japan site has two sets of everything (apart from Style Liner and DiorShow Powder in Dreamlight), whereas the Dior US site only has the beige-brown look.

(image from Dior Japan)

(image from Dior US)

I had a chance to test out shades from both looks last week. Both are very good, but, as usual, I am partial to the pink/purple/plum hues.

With a relatively complete collection featuring various items and different color tones and fronted by an adorable limited-edition item, Dior, for me, has the best holiday collection of 2007!

Related Posts:

Dior Pretty Charms
(holiday 2006 limited-edition item)

Loving Japanese Brands: Lavshuca

(the latest addition to my favorite Japanese brands)

Loving Japanese brands: Paul & Joe
(my personal take on Paul & Joe)

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(Kanebo Coffret D’Or spring 2008 base makeup collection)
(images from www.nikkei.co.jp)

The Coffret D’Or spring 2008 base makeup collection will be launched in Japan on March 1, 2008.

Coffret D’Or is replacing the color makeup line T’Estimo and the base makeup line Revue, so I have been waiting to see the base makeup lineup. As expected. the collection consists of the usual basics:

(top-down from left)
-Beauty Lasting Pack UV (powder foundation)
-Beauty Lasting Pack UV Case
-Beauty Lasting Liquid UV foundation
-Beauty Lasting Veil UV (foundation primer)
-Makeup Concealer (2 shades)
-Makeup Powder (loose powder refill, 1 shade)
-Makeup Powder Case
-Prismal Blush (4 shades)

The packaging is in keeping with the color makeup line, as some of the items look like presents wrapped up in pink ribbons.

Coffret D’Or has been growing on me. The packaging has been appealing to me more and more, and I have been reading positive reviews of their color makeup items.

Currently I am interested in the eyeshadow palette (3D Lighting Eyes) in 04 Purple Variation. I would love to try it and compare it with my T’Estimo Frame Impact Eyes in 03, which is also a lilac-based eyeshadow palette (out in spring this year).


(Coffret D’Or 3D Lighting Eyes)
(image from www.kanebo-cosmetics.jp/coffretdor)

I am also slightly interested in Full Styling Rouge (Glow), which is a collection of sheer lipsticks (as opposed to Full Styling Rouge (Color)).

(Coffret D’Or Full Styling Rouge (Glow))
(image from www.kanebo-cosmetics.jp/coffretdor)


If I do pick up anything from Coffret D’Or, I will surely share my thoughts with you here!

Related Post:

Coffret D’Or Spring 2008 Collection
(more goodies from Coffret D’Or, plus more of my thoughts on the brand)

Other new collections under Kanebo:

Lunasol Spring 2008 Collection

Lavshuca Spring 2008 Collection

Kate Spring 2008 Collection

Which one tickles your fancy?

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My Holiday 2007 Top 10 List continues from Part 1!

6. Magie Deco

(image from www.cosmedecorte.com/magiedeco/)

Kose’s Magie Deco was launched in Japan in fall this year, and this is its debut holiday collection. I like the fact that the packaging is a variation of the usual Magie Deco look. It is different but instantly recognizable. I also like the rich red color scheme.

The two items are sold as a set, and both of them look so glamorous and beautiful, with an appropriate festive vibe.

If you like the look of this collection, you may want to check out Magie Deco’s spring 2008 collection.

5. MAC

(image from www.iswii.net)

MAC’s holiday 2007 collections (including Royal Assets, Antiquitease, and others) are some of my favorite MAC collections for 2007. The packaging looks good, and there are a very wide selection of items.

But when I saw the items in person for the first time, I was slightly underwhelmed by the details of the packaging. I think they looked just a little bit rough around the edges and they could have been slightly more refined.

Nonetheless, these collections present a pleasant departure from MAC’s usual dark and minimal look and I am sure many MAC fans have been enjoying collecting some of the goodies.

4. Ayura

(image from www.ayura.co.jp/jp/)


I haven’t really talked about this adorable holiday set from my personal favorite brand, which I am doing in this post.

Ayura’s holiday sets usually include best-selling items in limited-edition travel sizes as well as some one-off creations. The set for holiday 2007 includes:

-Spirit of Ayura Aroma Bath Powder (X2, limited edition)
-Spirit of Ayura Aroma Treatment Oil (for hair and body, limited edition)
-Spirit of Ayura Aroma Body Powder (limited edition)
-Spirit of Ayura Aroma Hands (30g, limited-edition size)
-Shiny Face (face highlighter, limited-edition, choice of blue and pink)
-Nail Color (choice of 23 shades, including limited-edition pink and violet shades)
-Cosmetics Box

Spirit of Ayura is Ayura’s one and only fragrance, and, apart from the hand cream, the three Spirit of Ayura items in the set are one-off creations based on this wonderful scent.

I really love the look of this collection (and I like the combination of all the fresh colors), not to mention that Spirit of Ayura is one of my favorite fragrances, But I already have quite a few somewhat similar limited-edition items based on this fragrance and this is the only reason why I didn’t consider getting this set.

The final part of my Holiday 2007 Top Ten List will be coming soon!

Related Posts:

Loving Japanese Brands: Ayura
(my all-time favorite brand)

MAC A-Mei Color Collection
(another exciting collection from MAC)

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Beauty Duty for December 18, 2007

by PJ on Tuesday, December 18, 2007

in Weekly Beauty Duty

Enjoy!

A Touch of Blusher can’t live without this body cream!

GlamBlush
says Charlize Theron rocks hard as hell in both Dior J’Adore commercials. Which one is your favorite?

You’ve got only one week to win a Fendi hologram clutch from KRiSTOPHER.

Ellen from Lipstick, Powder ‘n Paint loves all things French. Check out the Holiday gift sets from Bourjois. They are fantastic!

$110.00 set from Smashbox, for only $39.00! Perfect last minute Christmas gift ideas at Make Her Up!

Makeup Bag shows us the Lancome Spring 2008 Collection: L.U.C.I by Gucci Westman

Makeup Moxie perfects the art of giving goof-proof beauty gifts.

TheMakeupGirl’s
December contest is ON!! Win Tarte’s FAB limited edition palette that is exclusive to Sephora called We Wish You Wealth.

Meet WELOVEBEAUTY.com’s newest celebrity stylemaker, makeup artist to the stars Kate Lee!

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Today I feature a post by my guest blogger Vicky Zhou, who brings you 10 Beauty Tips for the First Date.

Vicky Zhou is a part-time journalist, writer and blogger as well as co-founder and lead writer of GotACrush.com. Her writing voice is friendly and engaging, and I have certainly enjoyed reading her tips!


10 Beauty Tips for the First Date

Looking good on your first date is important because first impressions matter. Regardless of what you may have heard before, people do formulate an opinion of you when they first see you and it’s no secret that attractiveness will factor in.

Luckily, you don’t need to be the next Miss America to get a positive reaction, you just need to learn the correct beauty approach and then emphasize the good qualities you have.

Here are some points to consider.

1. Emphasize One Key Area on the Face

Far too many women will go with bold eyes and bold lips, creating a look that is just a little too overwhelming. Instead, focus on playing up your eyes, whether you choose to make them smokey or really open them up with bright colors and then play down your lips with a barely-there color.

2. Add Some White Shadow in the Corner of Your Eye

As long as you are not going for something very dark with your eye color, try adding a small amount of white to the very corner. This will really give your eyes a wide-eyed look and help set them out, showing off your beautiful eye color.

Many men say the first thing they notice about a woman is her eyes, so why not use this to your advantage?

3. Always Go for the Gloss

Whether you’re using lipstick or not, a gloss is a must on a first date. It’ll make your lips look softer, moister, and definitely more kissable. Do watch that you don’t put on too sticky of a gloss, as this is a turn-off for most men, but go with something that lays on the shine and potentially even tastes great for his added benefit.

4. Leave Curls by Your Face

When it comes to your hairstyle, one that’s a can’t-miss by most men is half of it pulled back with a few delicate, curly tendrils framing the face. This further enhances the eyes and gives you a playful yet sexy appearance.

5. Go Easy on the Perfume

While you definitely do want to make sure you smell good for your first date, try not to overload yourself. At this point you won’t entirely know what types of scents your date finds attractive and if you happen to choose wrong and are overwhelmingly strong, this could really impact how long he wants to stay near you.

Choose a fresh scent since most people find these appealing and apply with ease.

6. Don’t Overlook Gold

Gold is a great make-up color that many women never make use of. You don’t necessarily have to use strictly gold on any part of your face, but rather, enhance the look you already have with a small amount of gold powder.

It’ll give you a nice tanned appearance as well, that’ll really glow when you hit the light.

7. Take the Occasion into Consideration

Make sure when you are applying your make-up that you take into consideration the location of your date. For an evening date at a classier restaurant you will want to wear a different look of make-up for example than if you were meeting at a local coffee house for lunch.

Always ensure that your look is appropriate, not only so that you give off the right impression, but also so that you feel comfortable yourself. If you feel as though you’re out of place, this will come across in the confidence level you project.

8. Make Sure It’s ‘You’

Next, you want to make sure the make-up you do wear is ‘you’. If you get all done up for your first date and it doesn’t even resemble how you normally prefer to wear your make-up, you’ll be sending a false impression to your date.

While it’s fine to add a few extra touches to really enhance yourself, don’t go for a complete opposite look of that that you normally use.

9. Use Jewellery Selectively

Make sure the jewellery you choose isn’t too overdone. This can lead some men to think of you as more high-maintenance so it’s best to error on the side of caution for this.

If there is one piece you definitely do want to go for, it’s a really nice dangling pair of earrings. These help to draw more attention to your face, especially if you’ve used the principles mentioned above.

10. When in Doubt, Use the Less-Is-More Approach

Finally, when you’re prepping for your first date, if you are even in question as to whether you should put on more make-up, chances are you should leave it off.

The vast majority of men actually prefer women who look more natural and whose make-up isn’t noticeable rather than women where it’s clearly obvious they’ve painted the colors of the rainbow on their faces.

Keep eye make-up natural and use a fresh lipstick color that’s not too overwhelming. You’ll likely find this is what turns the most heads – particularly that of your date.


So, keep all of these points in mind next time you find yourself preparing for your first date.
While it shouldn’t make or break whether he wants to see you again, if you enhance your natural beauty just right, it might add a little something extra to that ‘spark’ of excitement he feels when he lays his eyes upon you.

Looking for more dating/relationship tips? Read more women lifestyle articles here.

Related Posts:

Based on Vicky’s tip, A Touch of Blusher recommends:

Rimmel Light Beam Lip Gloss
(natural and glossy)

Lavshuca Eye Color Select in PU-2
(elegant and feminine)

Ayura Aura Veil α Blusher in Sweet Pink
(soft and youthful)

White Eyeshadows
(brightening your eyes)

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We have already seen many spring 2008 makeup collections, and I am sure some favorites have emerged on your list. But let’s look back, just in time in the midst of the holiday season, at my own top 10 holiday 2007 collections.

10. Lunasol

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


2007 is a great year for Lunasol, which brought out fantastic collections for spring and fall. Lunasol’s Christmas 2007 coffret presents the usual dose of neutral and wearable colors as seen in Lunasol’s previous holiday sets. Some might say they are unimaginative, but this doesn’t stop Lunasol fans from collecting this sophisticated coffret for lips, eyes, and face.

9. Guerlain

(Forever Gold)

(image from www.guerlain.co.jp)


Guerlain’s holiday 2007 collection did not get my full attention until I tested Forever Gold (pictured above) and a couple of other items. Forever Gold delivers a sheer and fine mist of very sparkling shimmer. The finish is quite even, and the sparkles are very glamorous without being over the top. A star item for this holiday season indeed. (You can read more about my thoughts of Forever Gold here.)

8. YSL

(image from www.yslbeautyus.com)

I mentioned in my initial review of the YSL holiday 2007 collection that I preferred the usual gold packaging. But, compared with many other holiday collections, this is still a strong one. The collection is well-themed with memorable designs. The heart-shaped necklace is very pretty even though I don’t think this is the best makeup necklace for this season.

This is the first time in five years that YSL’s holiday collection didn’t make the top five on my holiday top 10 list, as the overall collection didn’t impress me as much as the previous ones did. (Read about YSL’s Gold Celebration Palette from the 2006 holiday collection if you are interested.)

7. Jill Stuart

(image from www.jillstuart-beauty.com)

Jill Stuart’s holiday 2007 set is instantly appealing, with the kind of feminine and princessy packaging that Jill Stuart is famous for. Like Lunasol’s holiday 2007 coffret, the set features universally flattering shades.

According to this blog post, all the slots were full within an hour after one department store started to take pre-orders for this set, while the set was completely sold out in another department store within two hours after the set was officially launched. I am not really surprised. Since the Jill Stuart beauty line was launched in Japan in 2005, the holiday sets in 2005 and 2006 have been extremely popular. (This post also features a swatch video, in which you can actually see how the eyeshadow shades shimmer!)

(Continue to read Part 2 and Part 3!)

Related Posts:

Loving Japanese Brands: Jill Stuart
(featuring my Jill Stuart Christmas 2005 set)

Loving Japanese Brands: Lunasol
(one of my three favorite Japanese brands for the moment)

Keep It Gold: YSL
(my personal take on the glamorous YSL)

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