-Jill Stuart

1st Poll Results Revealed!!

by PJ on Sunday, July 8, 2007

in -Anna Sui, -Aube (Couture), -Ayura, -Integrate, -Jill Stuart, -Kanebo, -Kao, -Kate, -Kosé, -Lavshuca, -Lunasol, -Majolica Majorca, -Maquillage, -Paul & Joe, -RMK, -Shiseido, -Shu Uemura, -Sofina, -T'Estimo, -Visée, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup, readers' polls

Majolica Majorca, with cute packaging, good quality, and affordable prices, edged Shu Uemura out at the last minute to become A Touch of Blusher readers’ favorite Japanese makeup line!

Shu Uemura, one of the ultimate professional makeup brands, also captured the heart of many of you.

Lunasol, Lavshuca, and Kate (all by Kanebo) shared the third place.

Here is the full result:

What are your favorite Japanese makeup lines? (Tick all that apply!!)
(from June 27 to July 8, 2007)

Majolica Majorca (13 votes)
Shu Uemura (12 votes)
Lunasol, Lavshuca, Kate (11 votes each)
Paul & Joe (9 votes)
Maquillage, T’Estimo, Jill Stuart, Anna Sui (8 votes each)
Visee (3 votes)
Aube, Ayura, RMK (2 votes each)
Integrate (1 vote)

Other favorites mentioned include Inoui ID and Canmake. Great choices!!

Thanks for everyone that has voted and left comments!! There will be more polls to come. (Suggestions are welcome!)

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Lilac Bouquet: Kanebo T’Estimo Frame Impact Eyes Palette

by PJ on Sunday, July 1, 2007

in -Jill Stuart, -Kanebo, -T'Estimo, 2007 Spring, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup, makeup - eyeshadow, stash focus

(pictured: my Kanebo T’Estimo Frame Impact Eyes in 03)

I have mentioned a couple of times that I am loving lilac/mauve/lavender eyeshadows. After I have tried Jill Stuart’s Brilliance Eyes palette (04 Gem Amethyst), I went for this Kanebo T’Estimo palette (part of the T’Estimo spring 2007 collection). This is actually the first T’Estimo item I bought, and I love it!

Mono-color gradation eye palettes have been very popular in Japan in 2007. Apart from Kanebo T’Estimo, Jill Stuart, and Lavshuca (Eye Color Select), there are also similar creations from Shiseido Maquillage (Clean Contrast Eyes) and Sofina Aube (Jewelry Shower Eyes).

This one by T’Estimo is gorgeous. (The range includes 4 palettes.) The far right slot is a cream eyeliner. This is the only cream eyeliner that I have at the moment, so I don’t know how it compares with popular ones by Stila, MAC, and Bobbi Brown. But I have no problem with it myself. It goes on smoothly and doesn’t smudge. (I am also okay with the little applicator for the liner. Though fiddly at times, it allows me to get very close to the mirror.)

The middle two shades are actually very different from each other. (From almost all the photos I have seen, they appear to be quite similar.) The right one of the two is much darker, as you can probably see from one of the corners near the eyeliner (the part my brush has been dipping into).

So, from the highlighter (with a touch of lilac sparkles) to the deep purple eyeliner and with the two perfect shades in between, this palette is great for creating both a fresh daytime look and a smoky evening look.

I’ll compare it with Jill Stuart’s Brilliance Eyes (in 04 Gem Amethyst), as both are purple-based palettes:

Pigmentation:
The T’Estimo one is certainly more pigmented, especially the shade next to the eyeliner. The Jill Stuart one is noticeably sheerer.

Shimmer:
Both are full of it, but the Jill Stuart one is more glittery than just shimmery (with larger multi-color sparkles). I think for big glitters, people either love it or hate it. But, used effectively, the Jill Stuart one can really make the eyes pop and give your eyes a floaty and airy ambiance.

Shade:
The T’Estimo palette has a wider range of shades (from the lightest to the darkest). It is much easier to achieve a smoky-eye look with it.

Versatility:
Even though the colors in the Jill Stuart palette are sheerer, it might be more suitable for evening makeup (unless you don’t mind big glitters in daytime). The Kanebo one is perhaps more versatile in this respect.

So, there you go. I love both and I have tried mixing colors from the two. They complement each other well and I can create even more looks and more sophisticated finishes. Fantastic!

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Newsflash! Possible Jill Stuart Cosmetics Launch in the US

by PJ on Tuesday, June 12, 2007

in -Jill Stuart, all about Japanese cosmetics

(Pictured: my Jill Stuart products)

One of my readers from New York City visited a Jill Stuart boutique the other day, and she kindly told me afterwards that she was told there had been talk about Jill Stuart cosmetics (which is currently exclusively sold in Japan) being launched in the US in a year.

This is quite exciting. If it does materialize, it confirms my speculation that when the Jill Stuart fragrances were launched in the US a while ago, they were probably testing the water before they would consider bringing in the beauty line.

So far, I don’t see it happening in the UK anytime soon. First of all, her fragrances are not sold here. Also, Jill Stuart seems to be less known in the UK. (Her designs are only sold in one private boutique here.)

I am going to make a prediction here. If it is launched in the US, I have a feeling that they might slightly lower the pricing on some of the items. Right now, Jill Stuart’s pricing in Japan is very similar to Lancome’s and slightly below Chanel’s in the US. To market Jill Stuart’s dreamy and girlie packaging and their glittery and shimmery eyeshadows to their potential customers in the US, maybe it would be a good move to lower the pricing to gain the maximal appeal. (It has happened to Paul & Joe before and it can certainly happen again.)

If you feel excited about this, please spread the word! Maybe it will help make it happen just a little bit sooner!

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Jill Stuart Summer 2007 Collection

by PJ on Friday, June 1, 2007

in -Jill Stuart, 2007 Summer, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup

(pictured: my Jill Stuart stash)

First of all, take a look at the visual ad for this collection. I have heard several people say that it is the best one for Jill Stuart cosmetics to date. It is certainly very soft, pretty, and feminine. (Please note that the link might not work after the Jill Stuart Fall 2007 collection comes out.)

It is not an extensive collection, but it has a bit of everything. The limited-edition eye palette is a new addition to the wonderful Brilliance Eyes collection. (It is one of the most sparkling eyeshadow palettes I have ever used. I’ve reviewed mine here.)

It also includes two Lip Lusters and two Jelly Eye Colors. There are also five nail colors and nail art stickers (both limited editions).

Instead of the bold and colorful tropical looks that many brands usually feature for summer, Jill Stuart goes for the ultra-gentle and breezy look for the steamy hot weather. With the beautiful packaging and luminous shades, they will sell!

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My Top 10: Spring 2007 Makeup Round-Up (#2, #1)

by PJ on Sunday, March 11, 2007

in -Jill Stuart, -Kanebo, -Lavshuca, 2007 Spring, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup, seasonal makeup top 10

#2: Jill Stuart (“Brilliant Veil” Collection)

The Look: “Brilliant Veil” is quite an accurate description of the colors on offer here. Medium-pigmented colors add soft hues to the face with a great amount of glow and sheen. The emphasis is on the eyes, with the launch of Jill Stuart’s first collection of eye palettes.

Key Item: Brilliance Eyes palette in 04 Gem Amethyst (reviewed earlier here). A beautiful lilac palette with featherweight powder and intense shimmer and glitter. It gives a veil of color with dazzling and multi-dimensional sparkles. A palette that adds a bit of drama to the eyes.

Winner: Lavshuca

The Look: When I saw the ad campaign featuring the Japanese girl band PUFFY (the two girls you see as soon as you enter the Lavshuca website), I couldn’t believe their transformation. They used to be two funky girls with slightly mad hair jumping around the stage. Now they cannot look more polished and sophisticated while they still keep the coolness and edge. I guess this is the image that Lavshuca’s new collection is trying to convey: cute, fun, feminine, and with a bit of an attitude.

Key Item: Too many to mention, actually, but I will single out Eye Color Select in PK-1 (reviewed earlier here). Pink eyeshadow is hot for this spring, and this pink palette gives a couple of different looks. You can go for a soft pale pink or an intense cherry pink. The lightest shade is good as a base or a highlighter and the brown can be a natural eyeliner.

For me, it was very close between Jill Stuart and Lavshuca this season. They kept switching positions when I was finalizing my rankings. But Lavshuca wins at the end with its more complete range and updated packaging to keep the brand image fresh.

If you are interested in mineral makeup, my next post will be about von Natur’s mineral powder foundation.

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Jill Stuart Spring 2007 Eyeshadow Palette: Brilliance Eyes

by PJ on Monday, February 5, 2007

in -Jill Stuart, 2007 Spring, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup, makeup - eyeshadow, stash focus

(Jill Stuart Brilliance Eyes in 04 Gem Amethyst)

This palette is from Jill Stuart’s spring 2007 makeup collection. When I saw this on the magazine, I just thought I had to get it. First of all, the packaging is ultra-pretty. Secondly, soft lilac and pink are colors that suit me quite well.

It proves to be what I wanted it to be and more. The featherweight powder feels soft on the skin. The colors are not heavily pigmented (which I like), and all of them are infused with shimmer and multi-colored sparkly particles. The effect is stunning. I can go for a barely-there look or I can layer the colors for a little bit more drama, For both looks, the shimmer adds subtle dimension to my eyes.

Overall, for this season, this is one of the best new items for me. Beautifully wearable colors and princessy packaging at their best!

Loving Japanese Brands: Jill Stuart
(my personal take on Jill Stuart)

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Jill Stuart Spring 2007 Collection

by PJ on Sunday, December 31, 2006

in -Jill Stuart, 2007 Spring, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup

(my Jill Stuart items)

Happy New Year, everyone!

Jill Stuart has updated its website to feature the upcoming spring 2007 makeup collection. It is a very pink collection with a lilac and aqua-blue edge.

I saw magazine photos of the collection items on MakeupAlley a while ago, and the first things that caught my eye were the eyeshadow palettes. All four palettes look great. I read from Bea’s Up magazine (January 2007) that they are quite pigmented and glittery. Not for everyone, I guess, but I’d certainly like to try them.

I am particularly interested in 04, which is a lilac-toned palette. The case looks extremely cute and I like the longer double-ended applicator, which should be easier to work with than those fiddly ultra-short ones.

The rest of the collection seems great as well. There has been some buzz about the two new shades of Jelly Eye Color. I have never tried Jelly Eye Color, but it seems to be one of Jill Stuart’s best-sellers.

Judging by what I have seen so far, I think this collection is among the best in spring 2007.

The collection will be released in Japan on January 19th.

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PJ’s Rankings: Christmas 2006 (6th to 4th)

by PJ on Monday, December 11, 2006

in -Ayura, -Jill Stuart, -Kosé, 2006 Holiday, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup, seasonal makeup top 10

(continued from yesterday)

6th: Jill Stuart
The collection includes a set of pressed powder, two eye glosses, and a nail polish. The collection also includes two lipstick charms. Everything is ultra cute and glossy. The pink and golden eye glosses look extremely cute, but the color might a bit too sheer for some people. I nearly decided to buy the lipstick charm, but I settled for another one (you can look for it on the photo above), which I will review tomorrow.

5th: AYURA
Another makeup and evening bag set. The bag looks exquisite. There are one-off creations like the bubble bath, the hair gloss, and the face highlighter. The set also includes a choice of lipstick. Again, AYURA creates interesting one-off products to entice us. (I want the bubble bath and the hair gloss!!)

4th: Visee
I have never bought anything from Visee before, but this chic and edgy Gothic-style lip palette won me over (pictured upper left). The palette features a lip base, a lip liner, four lip colors and two lip glosses. The colors are basic and wearable, with the catchy exterior being the main selling point. The Gothic design, not the usual Visee packaging, is also a one-off. The real thing looks as good as it does on the website and on the magazine.

Tomorrow I will reveal the top 3.

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Loving Japanese brands (4 of 7) : Jill Stuart

by PJ on Tuesday, November 14, 2006

in _Japanese Brand Profile, _Loving Japanese Brands, -Jill Stuart, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup

(pictured: part of my collection)

Like Anna Sui and Paul & Joe, Jill Stuart is a non-Japanese fashion label that launched the beauty line in Japan, and, just like the former two, the cosmetics line was a sensation in Japan.

It was launched on August 31 last year with a full range of products (for eyes, cheeks, lips, nails,…) Later on, there was a full foundation line. The star product is the loose powder blusher. The shape of the container is not something that fits comfortably in any makeup bag, but this does not stop people from wanting to own it and put it on their dressing tables. It looks fancy and feminine.The loose-powder form of the blusher is obviously quite a novelty, too.

October 6 saw the launch of the Jill Stuart skincare line, with products mostly catered to the Japanese market.

I was simply wondering how many people in the US knew about Jill Stuart cosmetics, so I posted a question on the discussion board at MakeupAlley about this. Only two people replied and they had never heard of it. That was what I thought would be the case.

Out of the whole beauty line, only the fragrances are available in the US so far.

Part of my Jill Stuart collection includes the 2005 Christmas Collection, with a face highlighter and a mini lip gloss. The container of the highlighter (pictured left) is basically the same as that of the loose powder blusher. For me, I don’t think a pot of blusher can look any cuter than this.

So far, the whole Jill Stuart cosmetics collection is still only exclusive to Japan. I have heard some cosmetics fans in Asia saying that it is going to be introduced to some other parts of Asia. It is quite possible, since there are people from Hong Kong and Taiwan buying Jill Stuart products in Japan. They bring them back and sell them in their boutiques or on-line, and the demand is high. I think Jill Stuart will definitely have a market in these two places at least.

I don’t expect to see Jill Stuart anytime soon in the UK. But as long as it is going strong in Japan, I’ll make my way there whenever I can…

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