As many of you know, Kanebo (currently part of the Kao Group) is one of the largest beauty companies in Japan. It features department store brands/lines (Coffret d’Or, Blanchir, Lunasol, Impress, Chicca, etc.) as well as drugstore lines (Lavshuca, Kate, Media, etc.). In addition, it ultimately owns brands like SUQQU, RMK, and Lissage.
Over the years, I have tried eyeshadows from many Japanese brands/lines, and it seems to me that there is something common among many of the eyeshadows from Kanebo-owned brands/lines: the shimmer.
I am certainly not saying that all of Kanebo’s eyeshadows have the same shimmery finish or that non-Kanebo eyeshadows (Japanese or not) look nothing like Kanebo ones, but there is a shared trait regarding the shimmery finish and that is the way the shimmer creates dimension.
Many Kanebo eyeshadows use subtly different shades, sizes, and finishes of shimmery particles. (For example, according to Biteki (Match 2009), Lunasol’s Geminate Eyes in 02 Alexandrite incorporates 26 different types of shimmery particles.) When worn, these particles look as if they were floating on different layers within the pigment, almost creating a feel of cosmic depth.
Kanebo’s eyeshadows can look pearly, shimmery, sparkly, metallic, or iridescent, but it is this depth that prevents all the various finishes from looking flat or frosty. It is also this depth that helps create dimension for the eyes, sometimes even with just one shade in a palette.
On a practical level, the shimmery particles of Kanebo’s eyeshadows generally have a good lasting power, and I have noticed that, in the last few years, there has been further improvement. Now, even the very sparky shades such as the silver in SUQQU’s Blend Color Eyeshadow in EX-01 Yukiyo (from holiday 2010) and the pale pink in Coffret d’Or’s Eyes Appeal Shadow in 01 Sweet Brown (from spring 2011), which are among the most sparkly shades from the respective brand/line, have a very good adherence to the skin and very minimal (almost no) fallout.
There is no doubt that I will continue to enjoy eyeshadows from Kanebo. Apart from the various brands/lines that I already love, I also want to try those from Chicca, Lissage, and Twany Glamacy. I will continue to keep you posted on my thoughts!
Eyeshadow palettes featured in the image above (clockwise from upper left):
T’Estimo Frame Impact Eyes in 03 Purple
Coffret d’Or 3D Lighting Eyes in 04 Purple Variation
SUQQU Blend Color Eyeshadow in 01 Kakitsubata
Lavshuca Eye Color Select in BU-1
Lunasol Sheer Contrast Eyes in 02 Lavender Coral
RMK Spring Modern Eyes in 03 Orangy Brown
(The eyeshadow palettes from SUQQU and RMK featured in this article are provided by their respective companies.)
Related posts:
Lunasol Aurorize Eyes in 02 Light Variation
Lavshuca Star Decoration Eyes in BR-1
Coffret d’Or Jewelcious Eyes in 05 Purple Amethyst
Loving Japanese Cosmetics (6 of 7): Lavshuca
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Nice post!
I looked into my make-up stash, and my Kanebo eye shadows are by far the most. 5 Lavshuca palettes (the 6th on the way, hehe), two singles and three Coffret d’Or palettes. Plus, my lipsticks are also mostly Lavshuca, with one Coffret d’Or (and one lonely Kate lipgloss xD).
It’s not that I don’t like Shiseido, but it’s mostly (or almost exclusively) Majolica Majorca for me there – although I still want Maquillage’s Rouge Enamel Glamour. ;) My favourite mascara is MJ’s Lash Gorgeous Wing.
Kanebo really makes nice eye shadows and lip items – I’ve never paid much attention to the rest.
Hi Julia,
Thank you very much! I am delighted that you enjoyed this post! :)
Indeed, I do generally like eyeshadows from other Japanese brands/companies, but Kanebo’s eyeshadows do seem to have a particular shimmered look that really appeals to me.
At the moment I have five Lavshuca eyeshadow palettes as well (and one single). I also have at least one palette from each of Coffret d’Or’s eye palette series (as you already know) as well as a few Lunasol palettes. I like virtually all of them. (I also agree with you on Kanebo’s lip items.)
Thank you very much for stopping by again! :)
Hi PJ
I have to agree with you that there is something about the shimmer of kanebo’s eyeshadows that does make the eyes look very 3 dimensional! The effect is so subtle so it’s almost like wearing no make up. That said, I’ve done a head to head test of kate vs lunasol and I have to say that lunasol’s shadows definitely win in the shimmer department. (They are also much more expensive).
Anyway, I love your blog!
Hi HP,
Thank you very much for your kind words and for letting me know about Kate. I have not tried eyeshadows from Kate, but I have come across similar comments as yours. I have certainly been very happy with my Lunasol eyeshadows. :)
Thank you very much for sharing your thoughts! :)
Hi,
I like how you’ve given a fairly detailed review of this brand. I stumbled across Kanebo so decided to find out if it’s any good before I buy. Although from the sounds of it, it being shimmery would make it only suitable for nights out only? I’m looking for something that would work from day to night ideally.
Hi Bianca,
Thank you very much!
First of all, I would like to clarify that, in this post, “Kanebo” refers to Kanebo Cosmetics Inc., which has its own Kanebo brand and also owns brands like Chicca, SUQQU, and RMK. Therefore, I was not technically writing about one single brand. I was writing about a series of brands/lines owned by Kanebo.
(The beauty brand/line ownership in Japan has a multi-tiered structure. For example, SUQQU (which itself is a fully-fledged brand and not a sub-line) is owned by E’Quipe, which is owned by Kanebo Cosmetics Inc., which is currently financially under Kao Group.)
Among eyeshadows from Kanebo-owned brands/lines, some are more shimmery than others. But I would say that, generally, most of them are suitable for daytime. The shimmery particles are generally fine and don’t look sparkly or glittery. (I tend to use the terms “shimmery”, “sparkly”, and “glittery” carefully on my blog. They are used to refer to distinctively different finishes.) The shimmery finish is designed to create dimension for the eyes and it doesn’t look flat or frosty.
But do note that, in some palettes, the lightest shade can be quite sparkly and I usually avoid it for daytime.
Hope it helps, and thank you for posting your comment! :)
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