(Vecua’s spring 2008 makeup collection)(image from www.vecua.com)
(Vecua Smooth, a new skincare line for oily skin,launched on May 1)
(image from www.vecua.com)
Vecua’s main focus is on skincare, but the recent spring 2008 makeup collection (seen above) did catch my eye. The new white cases look a lot more refreshing than the previous slightly dated black cases. The new colors look soft and wearable.
One of the makeup products that have often been featured in Japanese beauty magazines is the Honey Luster N lip glosses (in 10 shades), and I have been interested in them for a while. From what I have read, they appear to be very lip-conditioning lip glosses.
(Vecua Honey Luster)(image from www.vecua.com)
(The main Vecua website is only available in Japanese and on-line ordering is for Japanese residents only.)
* Sony used to own StylingLife Holdings outright, but it sold the majority of its stock in June 2006 and now co-owns StylingLife Holdings.
** In January 2006, CP Laboratories was renamed B&C Laboratories as CP Cosmetics was set up as an independently-run company. I think this is the reason why most people in Asia still habitually say products like Makemania’s Curvy Lip Silicone are “Sony CP” products, even though Makemania is now officially under B&C Laboratories.
Updated on June 18th, 2014:
There are some updates on relevant corporate information in my post on Vecua Honey Wonder Honey Honey Dew Hand Creams.
Related Posts:
Japanese Brand Focus: Elégance
New Line! Kanebo Glamacy
Japanese cosmetics in the UK
(with notes on buying them from abroad)
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
I would love to try the Vecua Smooth skincare line!
Wonderful post! That is fascinating about Sony’s involvement in the Asian cosmetic world.
Hi Jen,
Thank you very much!
The beauty scene in Asian is indeed quite different, and there are other things I would like to mention in the future. I am glad you enjoyed this post!
Thank you for your comment again. Have a good weekend! :)
Hello PJ
As always your post was fascinating and informative. I hope they will launch some of these gorgeous Japanese skin care and cosmetics lines here in the UK soon. I’d love to try the Vecua Smooth skincare line too. I was amazed to learn about the Sony connection also. Thanks for replying to me about the strawberry.net the other week. I love your new Gold eyeshadows. The Coffret D’Or 3D Lighting Eyes in Gold Variation looks very subtle and pretty. I have difficulty wearing very goldy colours as I am very fair and need to stick to cool tones so I often opt for silvers but I do love the golds and those are beautiful. I can’t buy any more make-up for a while though as I have spent a fortune on my Japanese lessons and extra books and things. I am loving the course even though I am still on the alphabets and learning my first 250 Kanji. I am learning the writing too which is fun. I love all the shapes and the history behind them. The whole thing is an exciting new adventure for me. As an added incentive and reward to keep going, a sweet friend has subscribed me to Biteki. I am like a little girl trying to recognise my first words in the text. Ill health means I can’t travel far just now but I do look forward to a trip to Japan in the future especially to the countryside and coastal areas. I am enjoying the June issue of Biteki very much. The images and models are so beautiful and the adverts have a more romantic quality than the images in Vogue (which I hardly ever buy now). The cartoons are so cute. I can’t wait to be able to read what the characters are saying to each other hehe! For the moment I have to use my writer’s imagination which is hilarious! The recipes look delicious too, so I wish I could understand those. I don’t think I had better trust my imagination there though ;0). Hope you are enjoying the lovely weather at the moment and having fun with your latest beauty goodies.
Love Chloe x
Hi Chloe,
It’s great to hear from you again!
I do hope more Japanese brands will be available in the UK too. I think the latest additions are SUQQU in late 2006 and DHC last year, and since then I have been waiting for another Japanese brand to be launched here.
I read about Shiseido Maquillage’s collaboration with designer Christopher Kane and their new ads for autumn will feature Agyness Deyn. I will be talking about it on the blog a bit later. But my first reaction was “Why not just bring the whole brand over here?”
I am sorry to hear that it might not be very convenient at the moment for you to travel long-distance. But I hope one day you will be able to travel anywhere you want.
If I have a chance, I would invest in some proper Japanese lessons and perhaps cut back on my Japanese beauty purchases (for a limited period, of course). I can read kanji, as my first language is Mandarin. Two years ago I decided to learn katakana and that helps me with getting more information out of magazines like Biteki. But I do want to have systematic lessons to learn the grammar and to speak the language fluently.
It is exciting that you are a Biteki subscriber now. I really hope you will continue to enjoy both the photos and the texts!
I will pick up my June issue next week and I look forward to the summer makeup feature…
I am not sure where you live in the UK, but, if there is a chance, perhaps you would be interested in visiting a SUQQU or a RMK counter. SUQQU’s only UK counter is in Selfridges in London, and the RMK counter is right next to it. Also, RMK is available in Selfridges Trafford Centre in Manchester and House of Fraser in Glasgow. I think both SUQQU and RMK are able to show what Japanese cosmetics brands have to offer.
Also, Paul & Joe is a favorite brand of mine, and it is available in London’s Fenwick and Harrods.
I have been enjoying the wonderful weather. I really hope we’ll have a good summer this year.
Thank you very much for visiting my blog again. I look forward to hearing from you again.
PJ :)