2007 Fall

Fall 2007 Makeup Focus: Dior Diorissime Palette

by PJ on Sunday, August 26, 2007

in -Dior, 2007 Fall, makeup, makeup - eyeshadow, makeup - lip color, makeup - lip gloss, stash focus

(Dior Diorissime Palette for fall 2007)

(with Dior Detective Chic palette from fall 2006)

In recent years, Dior has successfully merged fashion and cosmetics by bringing fashion elements into the design of seasonal limited-edition items. The Diorissime palette for fall 2007 is yet another example.

The design of the beautiful case is based on both the classic and the current Dior designs:

(Dior Pink Leather Lady Dior Bag)
(photo from fashion.dior.com)

(Dior Pink Leather Cannage Bag)
(photo from fashion.dior.com)

The one I got is 002 Seduction Drama:

(after some testing…)

From left:

Eyeshadows –
deep copper, medium grey, medium brown, sheer light beige
(All have metallic shine.)
Lip Colors –
sheer frosty pink with subtle green shimmer
pale blue-tinted gloss with minimal shimmer

I went for 002 (Seduction Drama) instead of 001 (Daylight Madonna) because I wanted to have a couple of darker neutrals to play with and because I am a fan of blue-tinted lip glosses. (But 001 Daylight Madonna does feature some cute pink shades as well as soft neutrals.)

As with all the Dior eyeshadows, the texture is so smooth and blending is a dream.

I was worried that the deep copper shade (on the very left) would be too warm for me as an eyeliner shade. But, blended with the grey, it becomes a very natural brown.

The grey shade is a great addition to my eyeshadow colors. It goes well with my very dark eyes and lashes, not to mention it is a trendy color for fall 2007. (Replace this with the medium brown next to it for the classic neutral look.)

The frosty pink lip color has a texture between a very creamy lipstick and a syrupy lip gloss. Very glossy and shimmery. The blue-tinted gloss goes on completely sheer. It feels like a very moisturizing lip balm which happens to have a lot of shine.

While 001 Daylight Madonna is more for daytime, 002 Seduction Drama is definitely for evening glamor.

I have been loving most of Dior’s seasonal limited-edition items. This one will also be joyfully displayed on my dresser top!

Fall 2007 Makeup Focus: Lavshuca Eye Color Select PU-2

by PJ on Sunday, August 19, 2007

in -Lavshuca, 2007 Fall, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup - eyeshadow, stash focus

(Lavshuca Eye Color Select PU-2)

Part of the Lavshuca Fall 2007 collection, this is the only new Eye Color Select palette for this season. In a way, it replaces the discontinued PU-1. (Also, a new line of eyeshadow palettes, Grade Color Select, has been released this fall.)

(top-left: pale lilac, with shimmer
top-right: lilac taupe, with shimmer and fine glitters
bottom-left: warm lilac, with shimmer
bottom-right: dark plum purple, with minimal shimmer)

This palette creates a sensually elegant look. For me, the bottom-left warm lilac shade is the star of this palette and the key to its elegance. A medium plum lilac, it has a warm neutral edge and is particularly wearable for me, as warmer purples suit me slightly better than cold blue-ish ones. It is a very beautiful soft and natural color.

All the shades are a great match and blend seamlessly together. Overall, I love this palette!

The instruction for all the Eye Color Select palettes indicates that the top-right shade, the one with fine glitters, can be worn as a base or on top of the finished look to add sparkles. But for this palette, I find that the top-right lilac taupe is slightly too dark to be used as a base shade. It goes on much darker than it looks in the palette and is almost darker than the bottom-left shade.

I actually think it works very well as a replacement of the bottom-left shade for a very sophisticated look. The fine glitters are not really a problem here. They bring a touch of vibrancy to this neutral color and don’t look over-powering.

In comparison, another purple palette, T’Estimo Frame Impact Eyes 03 (read my earlier post for a full review) is able to create a slightly edgier look. It has a wider range of purples and includes a dark purple cream eyeliner.

(Kanebo T’Estimo Frame Impact Eyes 03)

Released this spring with relatively colder lilac shades, this T’Estimo one is fresh and upbeat, while the Lavshuca one is soft and sensual. I do love both!

Next week, I will review another item of the Lavshuca Fall 2007 collection, Color Conc Rouge.

Don’t miss these related posts:
Jill Stuart Brilliance Eyes palette in 04 Gem Amethyst
(another of my lilac-based palette)

Lavshuca Eye Color Select palettes in PK-1 and BU-1
(spring 2007 releases)

Fall 2007 Makeup Trend Report

by PJ on Tuesday, August 14, 2007

in -Chanel, -Clé de Peau, -Cosme Decorte, -Dior, -Estée Lauder, -Givenchy, -Integrate, -Kanebo, -Kate, -Kosé, -Magie Deco, -Majolica Majorca, -Maquillage, -Shiseido, -SHISEIDO (Global Brand), -Shiseido The Makeup, -SUQQU, -YSL, 2007 Fall, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup, seasonal makeup trend reports

Some distinctive trends in the fall 2007 makeup releases:

– olive green / grey eyeshadows
– intense lip colors
– retro Audrey Hepburn look

Which trend are you going to experiment with this fall?

—Grey Areas—————

In fashion, grey has been hailed as The New Black for a while. I am surprised that it didn’t trickle down to makeup earlier. This fall, grey eyeshadows will be big, among all the neutral tones.

One palette that epitomizes this trend is Shiseido Clé de Peau‘s Ombres Couleurs Quadri palette in 114 (seen below):

(Clé de Peau fall 2007 makeup ad,

Biteki magazine September 2007, p. 152-153)

(Clé de Peau fall 2007 makeup ad,
Biteki magazine September 2007, p.152)

Also, Dior‘s 5-Color Eyeshadow Palette in 060 Silver Goddess features an array of grey hues along with a sensual light blue.

Other servings of grey eyeshadows:
-Shiseido Maquillage: Sparkle Contrast Eyes 2 GY851
-Majolica Majorca: Shadow Customize BK922
-Kate: Gradical Eyes S BK-1
-Integrate: Live Fix Eyes GY812
–SUQQU: Blend Eyeshadow 04

In a way, grey (especially in metallic finishes) is simply a darker silver. The look reminds me of an old-school silver-screen goddess. Very nostalgic and glamorous.

—Green with Envy—————

Another trendy color this season is olive green. Paired with pink, olive green is featured in Lush & Lovely, Chanel fall 2007 makeup collection, as it appears in the latest eyeshadow palettes: Garden Party (Les 4 Ombres Quadra) and Lotus-Cactus (Irréelle Duo).

(photo: from Chanel
at www.bergdorfgoodman.com)

Also, YSL fall 2007 makeup collection features olive green eyeshadows in a couple of the new Ombres Duo Lumières palettes.

In Japanese cosmetics, Cosme Decorte’s new line, Magie Deco, uses pink and olive green in the opposite way, with olive green above the eyes and pink along the lower lash line:

(Magie Deco ad, backcover of makeup booklet,
Biteki September 2007)

Apart from Magie Deco, olive green eyeshadows are also used in:

Kate‘s fall 2007 TV ad (with Gradical Eyes S GN-1)
SUQQU‘s fall 2007 printed ad (with Blend Eyeshadow 01).

Olive green seems to be a relatively masculine color as an eyeshadow, which might be why it has been paired with pink to create a balanced look. But, worn alone, it can be very edgy.

—A La Audrey—————

Givenchy‘s fall 2007 collection, Camouflage Chic, pays tribute to the classic Givenchy muse, Audrey Hepburn. A search in Google Images comes out with photos of what I think is one of the most beautiful people ever, with clean, crisp, and defined eye makeup. Intense color fills between the lash line and the crease line and it is kept clean everywhere else. No smoky eyes here.

Givenchy’s latest Prismissime Eyes in 54 Cache Cache can get you this classic look:

(photo: from www.sephora.com)

Shiseido The Makeup‘s new Silky Eye Shadow Quad in Q9 Lunar Phases is based on the same trend.

Again, this is definitely a very retro look. I think “Less is more” is the key here. Don’t overdo it and keep it nice and simple.

—Strong Lips—————

What if you don’t want to pile on intense eye colors? You can channel the intensity to the lips. Keep the eye makeup fuss-free and choose a rich satiny (not glossy) lip shade. The cover of Biteki September 2007 shows how it’s done:

(cover of Biteki, September 2007)

It can be a wine red, berry red (as in the Chanel ad above), or a warm brownish red. With careful coordination, they can go with grey or olive green eyeshadows, as in Estee Lauder’s fall 2007 look:

(photo: from esteelauder.co.uk)

I quite like this look. Chic and timeless.

What other trends have you spotted?

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Brand Debut!! Shiseido’s Integrate Gracy

by PJ on Monday, July 23, 2007

in _Japanese Brand Profile, -Integrate, -Integrate Gracy, -Shiseido, 2007 Fall, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup, makeup - base makeup

Shiseido’s Integrate Gracy will be one of the latest drugstore lines in Japan. (The logo is instantly recognizable as the sister brand of Integrate.)

Launched in Japan on August 21st, Integrate Gracy is targeted mainly at consumers in their 50’s, with understated packaging and timeless, elegant, and wearable colors. Also, all the products are fragrance-free, which can be a huge plus for people across all ages.

Integrate Gracy is not the first drugstore brand in Japan to specifically appeal to a more mature clientèle. Kanebo’s Evita (skincare and foundation) and Media (foundation and color makeup) are two examples. Now it’s Shiseido’s turn to add a new player.

The packaging is predominantly black and the overall look reminds me of Media and another of Shiseido’s drugstore lines, Selfit. I actually slightly prefer Integrate Gracy’s packaging to Integrate’s, which I think is painfully plain. (The case of Integrate Gracy’s loose powder looks simple and elegant.)

The line-up is vast and is actually larger than Integrate (launched in August 2006, targeting consumers in their 20’s and 30’s). It features a full range of foundation products, which Integrate does not have at the moment. It includes cream/liquid/powder foundation, primers, concealer, and loose/pressed powder. I think it is quite exciting.

The color makeup includes lipsticks, lip liners, blushers, eyeshadows, eyeliners, brow pencils, mascaras, and nail colors.

The target audience is very specific. But good prices and good quality are definitely for everyone!!

Source: Nikki Net

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Anna Sui Fall 2007 Collection

by PJ on Sunday, July 22, 2007

in -Anna Sui, 2007 Fall, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup

(pictured: my Anna Sui items)

Anna Sui, the mother of dreamy packaging and the Gothic princess of the cosmetics land, will release its fall 2007 collection in August. You’ll find:

NEW Sui Rouge V (8 shades)
NEW Liquid Eye Color (10 shades)
NEW Mini Rouge (with chain and mirror, 10 shades)
NEW Pressed Powder M (with marble patterns, 3 shades, limited editions)
Nail Color (5 new shades, limited editions)

The Mini Rouge, with rose decorative details, looks very cute and reminds me of one of my favorite Anna Sui items, the discontinued Ring Rouge (a lip color housed in a ring, see lower left on the photo above).

Even though the quality of Anna Sui’s products have remain consistent, the past several collections looked lackluster and tiresome and lacked interesting ideas. (I also don’t like the fact that it left the UK several years ago!) This collection looks better, but I would still love to see more ingenious and innovative product designs and to see Anna Sui reclaim her edgy identity.

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"True Elegance": Guerlain Fall 2007 Collection

by PJ on Friday, July 20, 2007

in -Guerlain, 2007 Fall, makeup

(My three beloved Guerlain lip glosses:
KissKiss Gloss in #02,
Terracotta Gloss & Shine in #71,
Guerlain by Emilio Pucci Lip Gloss in #03 Sparking Sea)

The Guerlain Japanese website has been updated with the Guerlain fall 2007 collection. (Many western cosmetics lines update their Japanese websites much more timely. It is often worth checking them even if you don’t understand the language.)

Titled “True Elegance“, the collection features understated and sophisticated shades. The new Radiant Shadow Duo & Liner, with two powder eyeshadows and one cream eyeliner, looks chic and glamorous. The muted colors are great for a grown-up look. The collection includes:

Radiant Blush (2 new shades)
KissKiss Laque (2 new shades)
KissKiss Lipstick (6 new shades)
NEW Lip Pencils (8 shades)
NEW Radiant Shadow Duo & Liner (6 palettes)
NEW Lip Lift (lip primer)

The stunningly beautiful jewel-like casing of KissKiss Lipstick is designed by French jewelry designer Hervé van der Straeten (once for Yves Saint Laurent and Christian Lacroix). The style has been applied to KissKiss Gloss and KissKiss Laque and is now extending to the new Lip Lift and Radiant Shadow Duo & Liner. I hope Guerlain will further extend it to the blushers (whose current casing design I never really like).

The Guerlain fall 2007 collection will be out in August.

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Lunasol Fall 2007 Collection

by PJ on Sunday, July 15, 2007

in -Kanebo, -Lunasol, 2007 Fall, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup

(pictured: my Lunasol items)

Lunasol’s official website has not been updated with the fall collection yet, but have a look at shots of the Lunasol fall 2007 collection from the printed catalog on a Japanese blog.

The collection will be out in Japan on August 17th, 2007.

I love that there are five different looks in the collection. (It has been done for their spring 2007 collection, where each of the four looks includes coordinating eyeshadow palette, lipstick, lip palette, and nail color.) Named Cat’s Eye, Alexandrite, Diamond, Sapphire, and Ruby, they are like five mini collections.

For fall 2007, each look includes a five-color eyeshadow palette (a first for Lunasol), a liquid eyeliner, a lipstick, a lip gloss, and a nail color. Among them, I am particularly excited about Sapphire and Ruby, which are very striking and distinctive. (See my pattern here? I am adding another member into my blue-tinted lip gloss collection.)

Packaging-wise, Lunasol’s simple and sophisticated style never fails to impress me. When Lunasol was launched in 1999, it featured bronze and silver checked-pattern cases (see powder case on top and lipstick on bottom of the photo above). In 2003, the color scheme changed into a low-key dark brown. Several seasons ago, the finish became much more reflective, as what we see now. I like the fact that the packaging never changes drastically. Instead, it evolves with the time.

Aside from its superior quality and consistently great seasonal collections, the distinctive but understated image is part of Lunasol’s appeal.

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Jill Stuart Fall 2007 Collection

by PJ on Friday, July 13, 2007

in -Jill Stuart, 2007 Fall, all about Japanese cosmetics

(pictured: my Jill Stuart items…
more joining my collection soon)

Finally, Jill Stuart’s fall collection has appeared on the official website.

This fall for Jill Stuart, it is all about the cheeks. Following the success of what is now the cult product, Blush Powder, the new pressed powder blusher (Mix Blush Compact) will debut on August 3rd, 2007. (It’s about time!)

Each compact includes four coordinated shades. Five versions are available, one of which is a limited edition. Each compact comes with a cute retractable brush.

I usually go for cool-pink blushers, so #01 (Baby Blush) and #02 (Rose Bloom) look like my kind of blushers.

The collection also includes (check link above to see the shades):

Brilliance Eyes: two new palettes (slightly more sedate and low-key than the spring 2007 shades)
Jelly Eye Color: two new shades (to join the line-up of this best seller)
Lip Lustre: three new shades
Liquid Eyeliner: two new shades
Nail Lacquer: three new shades (limited editions)
Point Crystal II: five shades (out on August 24, 2007, limited editions)
Pouch II: out on August 24, 2007, limited edition

I love the packaging of the new blusher. It is just too adorable to pass up. You will probably see a review of it later!

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Esprique Precious Fall 2007 Collection (Featuring Gemma Ward)

by PJ on Friday, July 6, 2007

in -Esprique (Precious), -Kosé, 2007 Fall, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup

Here is a preview of Esprique Precious fall 2007 collection ad campaign. The spokesperson is still the very popular Gemma Ward.

The collection includes lipsticks, liquid lip colors, lip liners, single-color eyeshadows, and eyeshadow palettes. There will also be new foundation products, including liquid foundations, powder foundations, and two primers.

The collection is officially out in Japan on August 21.

Even though I am not a Gemma Ward fan, I do think Kose picked a spokesperson who successfully appealed to the target consumers and created buzz for the line.

Watch her TV ads here and here.

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