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

Fragrance Favorites: Stella, Bulgari, and Ayura

by PJ on Friday, November 10, 2006

in -Ayura, -Bulgari, -Stella McCartney, all about Japanese cosmetics, fragrance

(group shot of my top three)

These are my favorite fragrances:
Eau Parfumee au the vert by Bulgari
Stella by Stella McCartney
Spirit of AYURA by AYURA

The first one I came across was Eau Parfumee au the vert by Bulgari in 1997 after having been interested in fragrances for a couple of years. (Looking back, I think it was fragrances that got me interested in the world of beauty products.) I could really feel the refreshing green tea note, even though a friend of mine said it smelled very floral for her. I guess it is because of the lily and the rose notes.

It is such a great summer fragrance. Light and lilting. The Extreme version is obviously more intense but is still refreshing.

I discovered Stella in the Stella McCartney boutique in London. The first Stella fragrance I bought was actually Sheer Stella 2005. I don’t normally go for an obvious rose note but Sheer Stella 2005 is such a pleasant surprise. Compared with some other rose-based fragrances, Stella has a real depth, which is probably due to the amber note.

Then I really started to explore the whole Stella collection. I got the original Stella and managed to get Sheer Stella (2004). I then got Stella pure parfum (thank you, Boots points) and Stella Rose Absolute (merci, Nectar points). My latest addition was Sheer Stella 2006.

I don’t have a particular favorite among these, but I love the less vibrant and more sophisticated Stella Rose Absolute. Also, I sometimes dab a little Stella pure parfum under my ears before I go to bed. The scent is very calming.

As for Spirit of AYURA by AYURA, I have talked a little bit about it in a previous post. For me, it is the best of the three. It is a little close to Eau Parfumee au the vert but it seems to have even more substance. I also love the subtle oriental twists. It is the most multi-faceted out of the three, but all the different sides mix so incredibly well together. It is easy to wear but far from boring. I am not surprised that it is one of the best selling fragrances in Japan.

There are other fragrances I like, such as Blush by Marc Jacobs and Miss Dior Cherie. Perhaps I will talk about them later.

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Tu adores Dior?

by PJ on Thursday, November 9, 2006

in -Dior, makeup

(pictured: part of my collection)

Dior was completely out of my radar until four years ago when I saw the limited-edition ID tag lip palette (out in 2002, pictured middle left). It was all shiny and sparkly. I didn’t buy it then, thinking it was a bit too expensive. Then I regretted it but it was too late (and I didn’t like buying cosmetics products on eBay…I still don’t). When the 2003 Christmas ID tag palette came out, I just had to get it. It was my first Dior purchase. (I saw the 2002 Christmas one again a couple of years later at an airport duty-free shop. I bought it instantly.)

Since then, I have always been looking forward to their seasonal limited-edition items. Over the years, I have had a collection of them: the ring, the dice, the bracelet, the wallet, and the bag charm. I almost never use them. They sit on my dressing table like little charms.

Some people don’t like these limited editions, thinking they are too chunky and too tacky. (I like them chunky though.) They tend to think no one would actually wear the bracelet or the ring because they don’t really look like what people would normally put on themselves. They might have a point (for certain items). I have never seen any of these “cosmetics-accessories” on anyone. But I have worn the bracelet (limited-edition this spring) several times. It is quite wearable, and it is stylish but relatively understated.

I guess it is the idea that they can “work” as fashion accessories that is the appeal. Also, it is
the idea that people can buy Dior accessories sold at cosmetics counters as makeup products with makeup-product price tags.

I like the fact that Dior has been trying to bring together fashion and beauty products, and I think they are doing it very successfully. It is all part of the Dior experience, so it is great to see many aspects (especially visual ones) coming together to create a more unified and distinctive “Dior look”. (Their 2006 autumn Detective Chic does look like something accompanying their gorgeous Dior doctor’s bag.) It is also a good way to bring fans of Dior beauty product closer to the core of the Dior “culture”.

I’d like to see this trend in Chanel and YSL. (YSL has been doing a similar thing, but some of the products are actually a bit too tacky for my liking.) They should really play to their strengths as leading fashion brands, and it is something that even the top Japanese makeup brands won’t be able to emulate.

Makeup-wise, their eyeshadow palettes are both wearable and edgy. If you want a turquoise eyeshadow (it’s not for everyone, I know), theirs is one of the best. Soft, matte, and sheer (but buildable), not shiny or glittery. (It is already such a bold color as an eyeshadow that the finish doesn’t need to be glittery.) As for skincare, the moisturizers in the Hydraction range are good for my sensitive skin. (If my Lancome Hydra Zen (my ultimate moisturizer) discontinues, I will go straight to Dior Hydraction.)

Overall, I really like Dior. (My local Dior sales assistant is absolutely fantastic, which helps.) I will always (try to) have a budget to increase my collection bit by bit.

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Loving Japanese Brands (1 of 7) : AYURA

by PJ on Wednesday, November 8, 2006

in _Japanese Brand Profile, _Loving Japanese Brands, -Ayura, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup, skincare

(pictured: part of my own collection)

If I had to stick to only one brand of cosmetics for the rest of my life, I would choose AYURA. It is a brand that exudes an understated ambiance of oriental sensitivity and elegance.

AYURA is named after the word “ayus” in Sanskrit, which means “life”, according to an AYURA dairy book I was given as a gift with purchase.

When I first saw this brand on a Japanese magazine, I was instantly attracted to its understated and elegant packaging. I like the fact that each product looks a bit different but is instantly recognizable as an AYURA product and that the products don’t have the individual names of the products printed on the containers (they are on a sticker on the bottom of the containers).

So when I went to Japan for the first time several years ago, I went a bit crazy. Also, the staff at the counter were so helpful, even when I couldn’t really speak Japanese.

Most of the body products I have have a wonderful scent, especially the Spirit of AYURA range. “It must be what heaven smells like,” I once said to a friend.

Here are some of my favorites:

Meditation Bath (bath soak): It turns milky once it is in contact with water. It is almost like taking a milk bath. The scent is very relaxing.

Arising Shower eau de cologne: Very zesty and invigorating. Light but lasting. I usually use it during daytime.

Spirit of AYURA eau de parfum: One of my three favorite fragrances. Even though it is supposed to be eau de parfum, I don’t feel that it is as strong and long-lasting as eau de parfum should be. It is a good balance between sensual floral and crispy citrus notes, with oriental twists.

Spirit of AYURA Aroma Hand (hand cream): A best-seller for AYURA, it is under the Spirit of AYURA range so it has the same scent. Lightly moisturizing and not greasy. It has very fine and sparse light-reflecting particles to make hands look smoother.

Lip Moist Wrapping: One of the best lip balms I have ever used, even though I don’t usually like lip balm in a spot (less hygienic). Moisturizing, long-lasting, and doesn’t give me the glossy and greasy look which I don’t like in a lip balm.

Lip Retouch Compact: It has a lip base, lip liner, lip gloss, and highlight liner to define lip shape. The compact (inside and out) looks divine!

I like the face care range as well. The oil cleanser and toners are fairly good. Their hair care range is also good, but I personally won’t spend that much on shampoo and conditioner.

One of the things they do which keep me going back to them is that they often bring out limited edition sets. They usually contain travel-size versions of their popular products, teamed with a limited edition product, which is only available as part of the set. Many people buy the sets for the limited editions and they get to try the products they don’t normally buy. Seems like a good business idea.

I think AYURA is available only in Japan and Taiwan. It is the brand I want to see in the UK the most!!

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Future Posts

by PJ on Wednesday, November 8, 2006

in announcement

-Christmas 2006 limited edition makeup review

-My favourite Japanese brands: Ayura, Anna Sui, Jill Stuart, Paul & Joe, Lavshuca, Lunasol, and Sofina

-My favourite Europrean brands: Dior, Chanel, and YSL

-My favourite fragrances

-sunscreen basics

-my daily skincare routine (for my sensitive skin)

-highstreet favourite: River Island

-Japanese beauty magazine: Biteki

and more…

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SUQQU in Selfridges Oxford Street

by PJ on Wednesday, November 8, 2006

in -SUQQU, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup, skincare

I found out about this while logging onto the SUQQU website.

SUQQU is a Japanese skincare and makeup line. (I think it is pronounced ‘suku’.) The only retail point outside Japan used to be in Bangkok. Now, following Japanese brands like Paul & Joe (which is one of my favourites…I will talk about it later) and RMK, SUQQU has also come to the UK.

SUQQU is targeted toward a more mature clientele and has a very grown-up image. No flashy or overly-girly packaging. Most products are packaged in plain white with the engraved brand name. I really like the simple and elegant look.

I have not yet been to the counter (which I’ll do next month). I read somewhere that the counter is tucked away at the back of the beauty hall. So it should be where Caudalie is.

I am very interested in their colour makeup, especially lipsticks (24 pounds) and blushers (22 pounds). As you can see, price-wise, it is very “grown-up” as well! (A Chanel Aqualumiere lipstick costs 14.50.)

RMK and Paul & Joe seem to have been doing fairly well in the UK. I hope SUQQU gets the marketing right and does well too. I certainly need more Japanese products here!

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