-Elégance

Elégance Fall 2009 Collection

Elégance Holiday 2009 Collection

by PJ on Monday, October 12, 2009

in -Elégance, 2009 Holiday, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup

(images/info from www.cosme.net)

On November 18th, Elégance will release a vast array of new items. It seems to me that this could be a revamp of at least part of Elégance’s makeup line, and the new packaging looks quite gorgeous. (I am filing this post under “Holiday 2009 Collections” only because of the timing of the release.)

The new items include:

– Phantom Eyes (10 variations)

– Aurora Storm (8 variations)

– Spice Shot Rouge (20 shades)

– Lip Liner (9 shades)

– Black Star Lash Mascara (4 shades)

– Volume Lash Fixer

– Curl Lash Fixer

– Stellar Night Eyeliner (7 shades)

– Eyeliner Perfect (1 shade)

– Eyebrow Slim (6 shades)

– Eyebrow Mascara (4 shades)

Updated on October 13th, 2009:

The lineup will also include a collection of false eyelashes:

– Lavish Lash Sparkle (4 shades: silver, gold, pink, blue)

– Lavish Lash Color Mix (4 shades: hazel, indigo, jade, papillon)

– Lavish Lash Feather (three shades: green, red, blue)

Elégance Summer 2009 Collection

Japanese Brand Focus: Elégance

Elégance Fall 2009 Makeup Collection

by PJ on Wednesday, July 1, 2009

in -Elégance, 2009 Fall, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup

(images/info from woman.excite.co.jp)

Elégance will release its fall 2009 makeup collection in Japan on August 18th. The collection focuses on plums and deep warm neutrals.

The new items include:

– Eyeshadow palettes (4 new variations, above)

– Cool Eye Color (2 new shades)

– Sweet Dew Rouge (4 new shades)

– Nail Color (4 new shades)

Elégance Summer 2009 Collection

Elégance Spring 2009 Collection

Summer 2009 Makeup Top 10 (Part 1)

by PJ on Thursday, June 18, 2009

in -Dior, -Elégance, -Paul & Joe, -RMK, 2009 Summer, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup, seasonal makeup top 10

The weather in the UK in the last couple of weeks has been pleasantly warm on the whole, so it seems to be a good time to count down my favorite summer 2009 makeup collections. (Let’s hope that the good weather will continue.)

10. Paul & Joe

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

Paul & Joe’s summer 2009 collection captures the beach holiday feel with gold-toned neutrals and soft cool pinks for eyes, lips and nails. The wearable colors have a subtly vibrant look, and I like the limited-edition champagne gold packaging.

9. Dior

(image from www.dior.com)

With the launch of the Lilas Addict collection (in some countries) and the new 5-Color Design Eyeshadow palettes, Dior’s summer 2009 collection seems a little drowned among all the new products. The seasonal star item, Dior Cristal Shine, is a slight disappointment for me, since it doesn’t have the luxurious feel that many of Dior’s past star items have. The real stars of this collection for me are the two 5-Color Iridescent Eyeshadow palettes. The cool-toned iridescent shades look vivid and edgy.

8. RMK

(image from www.rmkrmk.com)

RMK’s renewal collection was released in time for summer 2009. I like the fact that the 35 shades of Ingenious Powder Eyes are categorized into five groups: DR (Dark), BR (Brown), P (Pearly), SH (Shimmery), and ME (Metallic). I particularly like the dimensional finish of the SH shades I tested at the counter. Also, if you like very sparkly eyeshadows, the ME shades are a must-see. They are seriously sparkly. (They are definitely more sparkly than metallic.)

7. Elégance

(image from www.elegance-cosmetics.com)

Many Japanese beauty brands release colorful items for summer, and Elégance’s summer 2009 collection is a good example. The new Lustre Crush Eyes looks very lovely. (Many Japanese consumers seem to see blue and green as summer colors for eyes.) Since it is not a limited-edition item, I am hoping that there will be more shades in the future.

Please check out Part 2 and Part 3.

Spring 2009 Makeup Top 10: Part One, Two & Three

Elégance Summer 2009 Collection

by PJ on Friday, March 20, 2009

in -Elégance, 2009 Summer, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup

(images/info from www.joseishi.net/voce)

Elégance will release its summer 2009 collection in Japan on April 18th. The lineup includes:

– Lustre Crush Eyes (bi-phase liquid/powder eyeshadow, 5 shades, seen above)

– Lagoon Mascara Duo (2 variations, limited editions)

– Nail Bijou (4 new shades)

It is a very colorful and summery collection. I especially like the look of the Lustre Crush Eyes, and I look forward to seeing more close-up photos of them in Japanese beauty magazines later.

Elégance Spring 2009 Collection

Spring 2009 Makeup Top 10

Spring 2009 Makeup Trend Report

Spring 2009 Makeup Top 10 (Part 1)

by PJ on Monday, March 16, 2009

in -Elégance, -Esprique (Precious), -Kosé, -Maquillage, -RMK, -Shiseido, 2009 Spring, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup, seasonal makeup top 10

Spring makeup collections tend to be my favorites as compared with collections from the rest of the year, since the colors are usually soft, fresh, and wearable. This week, I will be counting down my top ten spring 2009 makeup collections.

10. Maquillage

(Maquillage Eyes Creators 3D)
(image from www.shiseido.co.jp/mq)

(Maquillage Face Creators 3D)

(image from www.shiseido.co.jp/mq)

Maquillage rolled out a large collection for spring 2009, changed a few of the brand ambassadors, and modified the packaging. The collection focuses on creating dimension for the face and the facial features. The Face Creator 3D includes highlighters, contourers and a blusher and aims to create depth for the face and a delicate jawline.

9. RMK

(image from www.rmkrmk.com)

RMK‘s spring 2009 collection, Spring Translucence, is full of soft ethereal hues. The idea is to use moderately pigmented shades with a gently luminous finish to enhance the lucidity of the complexion (rather than to cover the face with opaque colors). The star item is the Translucent Cheeks & Eyes, with one warmer and one cooler variation. The other items in the collection are also well-balanced and features both warmer and cooler shades.

8. Elégance

(Elégance EyeShadows)
(image from www.elegance-cosmetics.com)

(Elégance Radiance Quartet)

(image from www.elegance-cosmetics.com)

Like Sonia Rykiel and Paul & Joe, Elégance is a French fashion line with its beauty range mainly available in Asia. I particularly like the glamorous and opulent golden cases for many of its products. (Please see my profile of the brand here.) For spring 2009, the four new Eyeshadow palettes reflect all the main seasonal color trends (pinks, purples, and neutrals). The new Radiance Quartet is among the three cheek items from Elégance that I really want to check out in person.

7. Esprique Precious

(Esprique Precious True Impact Eyes)
(image from ep-bko.com)

Usually, spring is when most Japanese brands bring out the largest point makeup collection, but Kosé’s Esprique Precious‘ spring 2009 collection is very concise and consists of four eye palettes, two lipsticks and two lip glosses. The purple eye palette (True Impact Eyes in T-3) is featured as the main item of the collection. (Please see the ad image here.) I am still a little tempted to try this palette, as the purple seems to have the right tone for my complexion.

The countdown continues in Part 2 and Part 3.

Maquillage Clean Contrast Eyes 2 in SV844

Maquillage Forming Shiny Eyes in 52

RMK Water Colors Eyes in 02 Lavender

{ 10 comments }

Spring 2009 Makeup Trend Report

by PJ on Monday, January 26, 2009

in -Ayura, -Chanel, -Clarins, -Clé de Peau, -Cosme Decorte, -Dior, -Elégance, -Esprique (Precious), -Giorgio Armani, -Jill Stuart, -Kanebo, -Kosé, -Lancôme, -Lunasol, -Magie Deco, -Shiseido, -Shu Uemura, -YSL, 2009 Spring, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup, seasonal makeup trend reports

Partly due to the current world economy, many people are not spending as much money on makeup as before. It is also not surprising that many of us are looking for classic, wearable and trend-resistant colors.

If you are the kind of makeup fan that looks forward to unique shades, you might have already been disappointed with most of this season’s lineups. It seems that, for spring 2009, many brands are coming up with wearable colors that don’t easily date. But I find it very interesting to look into how various brands interpret “wearable colors”, and here are three shades from spring 2009 collections.

– Soft neutrals

(image from www.shiseido.co.jp/cpb)

Brown-toned neutrals will probably never date. This season, neutrals are soft, milky, and not overly intense. Neither too bronze nor too gray, these neutrals have maximal appeal for most complexions.

Some of the loveliest neutral palettes I have come across are from Clé de Peau and Dior. They are soft, elegant, chic, and easy to wear.

(Shiseido Clé de Peau Eye Color Quad
in 121 (top) and 120 (bottom))
(image from www.shiseido.co.jp/cpb)

(Dior 5-Color Eyeshadow in 553 Elégante)
(image from www.iswii.net)

If you want something slightly more intense, try Chanel‘s Les 4 Ombres (Quadra Eye Shadow) in Mystic Eyes from the spring 2009 Bohemian Fantasy collection.

(image from www.iswii.net)

– Pinks

(image from www.giorgioarmanibeauty-usa.com)

If you think neutrals are too predictable, try a little bit of pink. Soft light-to-medium pinks that are very slightly on the cool side should give you a youthful and gentle look, as seen above in the ad image from Giorgio Armani‘s Pink Light collection for spring 2009.

Like Giorgio Armani, YSL includes pink in the brand’s only new quad for the season. (Check my previous post to see the main makeup look).

(Palette D’Artiste Colletor Powder for the Eyes)
(image from www.cosme.net)

Jill Stuart regularly brings out pink shades, and this season’s Blossoming Pink collection adds two pink-toned palettes to Jill Stuart’s eye palette lineup.

(Seductive Eyes in 06 Romantic Goddess)
(image from www.jillstuart-beauty.com)

(Illuminance Eyes in 06 Blossoming Shine)
(image from www.jillstuart-beauty.com)

For an edgier look, try Lancôme‘s Irreverent Madame palette from the brand’s Pink Irreverence collection.

(image from www.lancome.co.uk)

– Lilacs

(image from ep-bko.com)

I think lilacs are just as wearable as neutrals and pinks. Like how we find the right neutrals/pinks, as long as we find the shades with the right color intensity and the right amount of warmth/coolness for our complexions, lilac can be a great everyday eyeshadow color.

Lilac was part of the spring 2008 makeup trend, and, as a lilac fan, I am pleased that it is still a very prominent shade this season, especially in Japanese beauty brands. Beauté de Kosé’s Esprique Precious is using the lilac-toned palette (from the new True Impact Eyes range) in the ad campaign. Lunasol‘s Layer Bloom Eyes in 03 Purple Gradation is also the feature item in the brand’s Floral Purification collection. (In the image below, it seems that the palettes are blossoming under the fresh spring sun.)

(www.kanebo-cosmetics.jp/lunasol)

In addition, AYURA‘s only new eye palette for spring 2009 is a cool-toned lilac/gray palette, somewhat reminiscent of Maquillage’s Clean Contrast Eyes 2 in SV844.

(image from www.ayura.co.jp)

– Mix & Match

(image from woman.excite.co.jp)

There are quite a few collections that feature two or more of the three colors mentioned above. For example, all four of Elégance‘s eye palettes incorporate pinks, lilacs, and neutrals. (There are one neutral palette, one pink palette, one lilac palette, and one with an off-white pink and an off-white lilac.)

Beauté de Kosé‘s two new Eye Fantasist liquid eyeshadows are of pink and lilac hues:

(image from www.iswii.net)

If you want pink and lilac in the same product, look into Shu Uemura‘s Spring Mode Makeup Eye Palette in Fantasia and the Nature Temptation Eye Palette from Clarins, which also includes some neutrals. (The picture below shows the version sold in Asia. The European/American version also has a pink and a lilac, which are paired with slightly darker shades.)

(image from www.shuuemura-usa.com)

(image from www.joseishi.net/voce)

If the pinks and lilacs above are too pale for your complexion or if you want a more striking look, try Magie Deco‘s Shadow Brilliance palette in 022 Flower Show.

(image from www.cosmedecorte.com/magiedeco)

So, do you like this spring’s trend (or non-trend…), and what colors will you be wearing this season?

More information on the spring 2009 collections featured above:

AYURA
Beauté de Kosé
Chanel
Dior
Elégance
Esprique Precious
Jill Stuart
Lunasol
Magie Deco
Shu Uemura
YSL

{ 6 comments }

Elégance Spring 2009 Collection

by PJ on Monday, December 22, 2008

in -Elégance, 2009 Spring, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup

(images and info from www.cosme.net)

Elégance will release its spring 2009 collection in Japan on February 18th. The items feature beautiful red, orange and berry tones. The Radiance Quartet blusher looks particularly lovely.

The lineup includes:

– Confiture Gloss: 6 new shades

– Sweet Dew Rouge: 3 new shades

– Radiance Quartet: 3 variations

– Eyeshadow: 4 new variations

– Nail Color: 3 new shades

Related Posts:

Elégance Fall 2008 Collection

A Splash of Color – Gorgeous Gold

by PJ on Monday, July 7, 2008

in _I Love Colors, -Anna Sui, -Coffret d'Or, -Dior, -Elégance, -Kanebo, -Lavshuca, -Majolica Majorca, -YSL, all about Japanese cosmetics, fragrance, makeup, stash focus

I used to like gold more as a (glamorous and opulent) makeup packaging color scheme than as a shade to be worn. But I have tried a couple of gold-toned eye palettes this summer, and I have been enjoying seeing how various shades of gold can do for my eyes.

It seems that gold will be leading the makeup trend for fall and winter 2008, and I think there will be more dazzling hues of gold all the way through the holiday season.

Base
Anna Sui Fluid Foundation
Majolica Majorca Skin Remake Powder Foundation
Versace Concealer & Highlighter Duo

Eyes
Coffret D’Or 3D Lighting Eyes in Gold Variation
Lavshuca Summer Gradually Compact in Shiny Sandy Beach
Elégance Purity Eyes 11

Cheeks
Anna Sui Face Color Stick 302

Lips
Dior Sparkling Lip Gloss Duo
YSL Golden Gloss 03 Golden Pink

Multi-purposed
Dior Golden Dior Luminizing Makeup Jewel
YSL Gold Celebration Palette “Star Glow”

Fragrance
Dior J’Adore Eau de Parfum

Other splashes of color:

Lilting Lilac (Part 1 and 2)

Elégance Fall 2008 Collection

by PJ on Friday, June 20, 2008

in -Elégance, 2008 Fall, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup

Elégance, the Albion-owned top-end beauty line, will release its fall 2008 collection on August 18th in Japan. It is a predominantly neutral-toned collection with wearable warm hues for eyes and lips.

The lineup includes:

– Eye Shadow (3 new variations)

– Sweet Dew Rouge (3 new shades)

– Confiture Gloss (3 new shades)

– Crayon Gloss (6 shades)

– Nail Color (3 new shades)

(images from www.cosme.net)

Some of the items do appear a little plain in these images. But the Elégance website tends to present their seasonal collections very well. I will update this post with more images later on.

Other Fall 2008 Collections:

EST

Coffret D’Or
(with link to swatches)

Maquillage
(featuring Agyness Deyn)