10th: Lunasol
(image from www.cosme.net)
Collection highlights:
- Nuance Shade Eyes in 04 (above)
- Color Stick in 01 (from the base makeup lineup)
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-Giorgio Armani
(image from www.cosme.net)
Matte lip colors have been on-trend for some time, but, in fall 2018, many major beauty brands are releasing new lip color ranges that feature either a matte or a semi-matte finish.
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From bright yellow gold to deep bronze gold, fall 2015 is full of golden opportunities to add a touch of glamour to your makeup looks. For this season, try wearing gold with navy blue, olive green or bordeaux red.
Which one wins the gold for you?
– Giorgio Armani Eye Tint in 13 Zénith
(image from www.giorgioarmanibeauty-usa.com)
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According to Giorgio Armani‘s website, the Eyes to Kill Silk Eye Shadow (“Eyes to Kill Intense Eye Shadow” on the brand’s website) has a hybrid texture (between a powder and a cream) and provides smooth and lasting color. 16 shades are available (along with 2 limited-edition shades for holiday 2011), and today I am highlighting 2 Lust Red, 4 Pulp Fiction, and 7 Sweet Fire.
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I was expecting Giorgio Amarni’s latest fragrance, Acqua di Gioia, to be a very aquatic scent. It turns out to be sweeter and more floral, but it still presents a balance between a marine sensation and floral sweetness.
Top notes: mint, Italian lemon
Middle note: water jasmine
Base notes: cedarwood, brown sugar, labdanum
I would describe the scent as a fresh floral aquatic (though I nearly decided to describe it as an aquatic floral). The scent starts with a citrusy, effervescent, and cooling feel, as both the mint and the lemon have a clear and defined presence. The body of the scent is sweeter, and the water jasmine provides the scent with gentle sweetness and powderiness. But the overall composition remains relatively fresh and not overly syrupy.
I like the drydown of the scent. The floralness seems to be slightly reined in and the marine tone of the scent re-presents itself. The overall feel is quite intriguingly serene and comforting.
Compared with the previous two summery scents that I featured, SJP NYC is the sweetest of the three while Elemis Eau de Parfum is the least sweet. Acqua di Gioia is in the middle of the two, both in terms of sweetness and aquaticness.
Acqua di Gioia, available in eau de parfum in 30ml, 50ml, and 100ml, will be launched in the UK in July.
(The product featured in this article is provided by Giorgio Armani.)
Related posts:
Bulgari Eau Parfumée au Thé Vert
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(all images via www.picapp.com)
3rd: Cameron Diaz (Oscar de la Renta)
I think Cameron Diaz’s red carpet style is sometimes too casual, but this look is great for her. The shimmery Oscar de la Renta gown is glamorous without being too fussy, and the relaxed hairstyle suits her well.
2. Kate Winslet (Atelier Yves Saint Laurent)
Like last year, Kate Winslet chose to wear an Atelier Yves Saint Laurent gown for the Oscars. It is another simple and elegant look that works for her. The Tiffany & Co. necklace finishes the look beautifully, and her warm-toned makeup looks stunning too.
1st: Jennifer Lopez (Armani Privé)
I like a bit of visual impact on the red carpet, and this Armani Privé dress has it. Jennifer carries off the structured look well and the soft color complements her skin tone. It is a good move to keep the jewelry simple.
Besides, I also like Queen Latifah‘s dusky pink (some say lavender) gown by Badgley Mischka with asymmetric jewel details and Anna Kendrick‘s romantic blush pink number by Elie Saab.
Related posts:
“The new way of selling clothes seems to be not wearing them.”
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I was watching the Oscars 2009 red carpet coverage on E! on late Sunday night, and there were a lot of beautiful gowns. I liked Angelina Jolie‘s simple Elie Saab gown with striking emerald green jewels from Lorraine Schwartz, Freida Pinto‘s blue John Galliano gown with all the exquisite details, and Sarah Jessica Parker‘s “barely mint” Christian Dior Haute Couture number. But below are my top three:
3. Anne Hathaway (Armani Privé)
I don’t think I have ever seen Anne Hathaway dressed badly on the red carpet. Even though I don’t think this Armani Privé gown was as glorious as the red Marchesa gown she wore at last year’s Oscars, it was still stunning. The only pitfall is that, from certain angles, it seemed that the bodice was not fitted as perfectly as it could.
2. Kate Winslet (Atelier Yves Saint Laurent)
Kate Winslet looks every inch of a goddess in this beautifully fitted YSL gown with asymmetric designs. The silhouette looks relaxed and not overly fussed. The unique color choice makes her stand out, but the overall look is somewhat low-key and very sophisticated.
1. Penelope Cruz (vintage Pierre Balmain)
In contrast to Kate Winslet, Penelope Cruz doesn’t often do low-key at the Oscars. Some people might think this gown looks too bridal, but I think Penelope Cruz looks classic and regal with tremendous flair. The hairdo and the accessories successfully complete my favorite Oscars look this year.
Apart from the ones mentioned above, I think Marisa Tomei and Tilda Swinton deserve a mention.
– Marisa Tomei (Atelier Versace)
Marisa Tomei has never looked better on the red carpet. She always has a unique style, which I like, but sometimes it is a little too casual at award ceremonies. This time, everything comes together as she pulls off this complex but very stylish origami gown. I am not usually a fan of a relaxed hairdo on the red carpet, but it does suit her and she looks chic and fresh.
– Tilda Swinton (Lanvin)
Tilda Swinton is in a category of her own, and only Tilda Swinton can do Tilda Swinton. (Imagine Tilda Swinton and Penelope Cruz swapping outfits. Both would have been total disasters.) Her avant-garde style is not to everyone’s taste, but I love her remarkbly distinctive sense of style. Her fashion choices are never random, contrived or purposefully attention-seeking (think Björk’s swan dress). They are always right for the occasion (without compromising her own sense of style and personality) and there is a refeshing coherence to them. A class act.
Related posts:
Golden Globe 2009 Fashion: Best-Dressed Three
Oscars 2008 Fashion: Best-Dressed 5
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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 Quadin 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)
(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
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It’s the award season again. Last year, there was no (traditional) award ceremony for the Golden Globe, but the stars were back on the red carpet on Sunday for the annual event. Here are my three best-dressed for the night. (I just noticed that they were all wearing strapless numbers…)
3. Eva Longoria Parker
3. Eva Longoria Parker
This form-fitting gown by Reem Acra creates a beautiful silhouette for Eva, and the warm red complements her skin tone. The mermaid cut elongates her petite figure, and the clutch bag adds pizazz to the whole look.
2. Anne Hathaway
I saw her on a worst-dressed list, and I wasn’t really sure why. The crystal-embellished blue gown by Armani Privé provides a flattering contrast to Anne’s fair skin. The accessories are kept very understated. She really looks like an old-school Hollywood star.
1. Kate Winslet
A winner in the ceremony, and a winner on the red carpet. Black is usually my least favorite red-carpet color for female celebrities, but this low-key Yves Saint Laurent gown is so stunning. It reminds me of what she wore to the 2007 BAFTAS, which was also a great choice, but I like this look even more. It is simple and elegant, and I adore the bow and jewel details at the waistline.
You can see more Golden Globe 2009 red carpet fashion at Yahoo.
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Viktor & Rolf at the Barbican Centre
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(Selfridges, Oxford Street London)(image from www.selfridges.com)
After shopping in Tokyo and Taipei for the past two weeks, today we are flying long-haul to London.
Japanese Beauty Brands in the UK
I have to say that, personally, purely in terms of beauty shopping, London can’t really compete with Tokyo or Taipei. But it is one of my favorite cities and it does still have plenty to offer when it comes to beauty.
– WHERE TO GO –
If you have One Day
Oxford Street is your best bet, particularly Selfridges Department Store (Bond Street or Marble Arch Underground Station), which I think has the best beauty department in the UK. Apart from almost all the high-end brands (including one of the few Giorgio Armani counters in the UK), it also has a good selection of Japanese brands, such as Shiseido (carrying the usual lines sold in the west), SK II, RMK, and SUQQU. (The SUQQU counter is the only one outside Asia, and three RMK counters in the UK (Selfridges London, Selfridges Trafford Centre Manchester, and House of Fraser Glasgow) are the only ones outside Asia as well.)
If you have more time, head towards the nearby Boots store (on the other side of Oxford Street and slightly more towards Oxford Circus). It is a great place to browse through mid-range and budget British beauty lines, such as Ruby & Millie as well as Boots’ own No. 7, 17, and Natural Collection.
One Weekend
– You can stay on Oxford Street. There are several more department stores further towards Oxford Circus. Debenhams has a great fragrance department, while House of Fraser has a ck Calvin Klein counter. For those of you in Asia where Smashbox is not easily available, John Lewis has a Smashbox counter.
– In the Knightsbridge area (Knightsbridge Station), you can find both Harrods and Harvey Nichols. Apart from probably the best fragrance department in the UK, Harrods also has one of the remaining Kanebo International counters (carrying the Sensai line) in the UK. Over in Harvey Nichols, you can find Chanel Studios, featuring Chanel makeup and skincare items exclusive to the North American and Asian markets. (I have seen many Japan-exclusives there over the years.)
One Week
– If you are a beauty fan and have a few days in London, why not indulge in a British beauty experience? Some of the brands might be available where you are, but I think the experience will be more unique. Apart from the very widely known The Body Shop and Lush, try Eve Lom, Liz Earle, Neal’s Yard Remedies, Penhaligon’s, Jo Malone, Molton Brown, Culpepper, and Floris. (Please check the websites for store locations.)
– Try one of the Space NK boutiques to be surrounded by high-end beauty brands like Chantecaille, By Terry, Darphin and Jurlique. There is a Space NK concession in Harvey Nichols as well.
– If you would like to test out items from Paul & Joe, you can either visit Harrods or Fenwick (Bond Street Station). I’d suggest the counter in Fenwick, which is wider and airier. (The concession in Harrods is currently more of a shelf than a counter.)
– If you are a fan of Japanese cosmetics but don’t usually have easy access to Japanese beauty magazines like Biteki and Voce, do definitely head to JP-Books in Mitsukoshi London and the book shop in Japan Centre. Both are literally seconds away from the busy Piccadilly Station and stock all the major Japanese beauty and fashion magazines. The locations of these two are so central that there is almost no excuse not to have a quick look if you want to check out the latest beauty products and makeup looks from Japanese as well as international beauty brands.
(By the way, the food section of Japan Centre carries lovely (and affordable) bento boxes, which are some of the yummiest and healthiest meal options while you are out and about in London.)
– WHEN TO GO –
I think a good time to go to London for beauty shopping is during the summer/winter sale period. (The summer sale starts in late June and most stores start the winter sale on December 27.)
During the sale period, many high-end brands have about 30% discount (and sometimes 50%) on surplus stock, soon-to-be-discontinued items, and past limited-edition items. (Last year, I was able to purchase Paul & Joe’s Light Cream Foundation, Face Powder and Pressed Powder at 50% off at Harrods and Fenwick. Also, a couple of weeks ago, I saw YSL’s silver makeup palette from last year’s holiday collection in Harrods and a few items from Guerlain’s Pucci summer 2007 collection in Harvey Nichols.)
Also, I have seen brands like YSL and Guerlain start carrying new fall/spring collections during the summer/winter sale period (particularly in top-end department stores like Harrods, Harvey Nichols, and Selfridges). These exclusive releases can sometimes be slightly earlier than those in North America and Asia.
– NOTE –
– Just like Japan and Taiwan, opened and used beauty items are usually not refundable.
– Check out this post from Kiss & Makeup for a list of British beauty brands.
– One of the best resources for beauty shopping in London is TimeOut London’s Shops & Services guide (9.99 GBP for the 2008 edition, currently on sale on TimeOut’s website). It is updated annually and the latest edition usually comes out in November.
It covers virtually everything you need to know if one of the reasons for your London trip is to shop. (It is also helpful if you are going to live in London for any period of time.) The Health & Beauty section covers beauty stores, perfumeries, salons, spas, and hairdressers, and all the practical details are listed. (It should be available in most major bookstores in the UK. I think it is worth having even as a souvenir for your one-off London shopping extravaganza.)
This concludes my mini-series on Beauty City Guide, at least for the time being, I hope. I have been to other places like Paris and Hong Kong, but I don’t think I know enough at the moment to bring you my personal recommendations. Hope one day I’ll be able to share my thoughts with you! (But do please e-mail me if you would like a few quick suggestions.)
Related Posts:
Beauty Phenomenon: Seasonal Sale on Cosmetics in the UKJapanese Beauty Brands in the UK
Japanese Brand Profile – SUQQU
Can’t Live Without – RMK Cleansing Oil N
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