-Kanebo

Spring 2009 Makeup Top 10 (Part 2)

by PJ on Thursday, March 19, 2009

in -Aube (Couture), -Kanebo, -Kao, -Lavshuca, -Sofina, 2009 Spring, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup, seasonal makeup top 10

(continued from Part 1)

6. Max Factor

(image from www.maxfactor.jp)

Many of the Max Factor releases in Asia are very different from those in the west. In the case of the spring 2009 collection, these colorful palettes have a particularly Japanese feel and look very much like the tone-on-tone palettes that have constantly been brought out by Japanese brands. (The purple-toned palette reminds me of my Lunasol Lavender Coral.)

Do check this post for a great review of the green-toned palette (with swatches of all the palettes). The writer pointed out the improvement in the powder’s pigmentation level and lasting power. (The low pigmentation level from previous releases was mentioned by one reader under my initial post on this collection.)

5. Lavshuca

(image from www.kanebo-cosmetics.jp/lavshuca)

“Cute” is still the best word to describe Lavshuca‘s makeup, but I do like the fact that the brand doesn’t try to be overly girlie. (The plum cases look quite elegant.) The spring 2009 collection includes a new range of lipsticks and eye palettes. I nearly decided to get Grade Color Eyes in PU-1 (top right in the photo above), but the colors are a little too pale and don’t seem warm enough for me. On the other hand, I am still interested in trying the new Finish Powder.

4. Aube Couture

(Aube Couture Designing Eyes)
(image from www.sofina.co.jp/aube)

I wasn’t really a big fan of Aube’s last few collections, but the new Aube Couture‘s debut collection got my attention. A lot of design went into some of the items to make them as user-friendly as possible. (Please see this post for examples and more discussion.) I’d think that the packaging was still kept very simple so that it wouldn’t overtake the actual design features, and Aube Couture certainly gets extra points from making makeup application a little bit easier for us.

The countdown continues in Part 3.

Aube Couture Summer 2009 Collection

Lavshuca Summer 2009 Collection

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Lunasol Summer 2009 Collection

by PJ on Wednesday, March 11, 2009

in -Kanebo, -Lunasol, 2009 Summer, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup

A Taiwanese blogger, Gemilay, has posted information on Lunasol’s summer 2009 collection on her blog.

If you are familiar with Lunasol‘s spring 2009 collection and how Lunasol develops some of the summer collections based on the concept of the spring collections, you might have been speculating which flowers would be the inspiration for the summer 2009 eyeshadow palettes.

I will let you check out the post yourself and not spoil your fun. I will talk more about the collection as I have more information.

By the way, if you are a Lunasol fan, be sure to check out the links under Gemilay’s post. (Have a look at her amazing stash of Lunasol eyeshadow palettes.)

(Many thanks to my reader Littlewing for telling me about this post. Do check out her blog, The Rainbow Star.)

Updated on March 20, 2009:

Please see the update on the collection here.

Lunasol Sheer Contrast Eyes in Lavender Coral

Lunasol Scent Form Eyes in 02

Loving Japanese Brands – Lunasol

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Lavshuca Summer 2009 Collection

by PJ on Tuesday, March 10, 2009

in -Kanebo, -Lavshuca, 2009 Summer, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup

(image and info from www.nikkei.co.jp)

In my post on Lavshuca’s spring 2009 collection, I mentioned that Lavshuca seemed to have been marketing lipsticks (instead of eyeshadows) as the main items of the seasonal collections. It appears that, for summer 2009, Lavshuca will continue to strengthen its lip makeup lineup.

On May 1st, Lavshuca will release a new range of lip glosses (simply called “Lip Gloss“), which will include 8 shades. They are infused with sweet almond oil and (hydrolyzed) silk for extra moisture for the lips.

Loving Japanese Brands – Lavshuca

Lavshuca Gloss Stick in PK-3

Lavshuca Color Conc Rouge in PK-1

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Lunasol Website Update – 10th Anniversary

by PJ on Monday, February 2, 2009

in -Kanebo, -Lunasol, all about Japanese cosmetics

(image and info from www.kanebo-cosmetics.jp/lunasol)

The Lunasol website has been updated to include information on its 10th Anniversary Collection as well as a look back at the brand’s history.

You can go straight to the 10th-anniversary page from here. Do have a look at the Eyes Collection section, which features the beautiful eyeshadow palettes that Lunasol has released since 2003. (But it doesn’t include summer or holiday releases.)

(The reviews of the two palettes I have are listed below.)

Lunasol Scent Form Eyes in Leak

Loving Japanese Brands – Lunasol

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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

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Lavshuca Website Update – Spring 2009

by PJ on Monday, January 26, 2009

in -Kanebo, -Lavshuca, 2009 Spring, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup

(images and info from www.kanebo-cosmetics.jp/lavshuca)

The Lavshuca website has been updated to include information on the spring 2009 collection.

The layout of the website has been slightly revamped for easier navigation. Many of the items feature how they look when worn, including all the new shades of Dramatic Memory Rouge and Grade Color Eyes palettes from the spring 2009 collection.

Also, the “Lav Lip Collection” link (from the homepage) will take you to a chart where you can see the differences among all the currently available Lavshuca lip items in terms of how pigmented and how glossy they are.

pigmented
↑
matte←—————————————→glossy
↓
translucent

Further down the same page, under each lip product, you can also see how shimmery it is (indicated by the number of stars on the third row).

As some of you have commented over the last two years, Japanese cosmetics websites tend to have more pleasing visual designs, and I think the Lavshuca website is certainly a great example.

Kate Spring 2009 Collection

Ettusais Spring 2009 Collection

Anna Sui Website Update – Spring 2009

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A Splash of Color – Sensuous Plum

by PJ on Tuesday, January 20, 2009

in _I Love Colors, -Kanebo, -Lavshuca, -MAC, -Prescriptives, -Stella McCartney, bodycare, fragrance, makeup, makeup - base makeup

Plum is not really one of my favorite makeup colors to wear, as it is a little too warm and dark for my complexion. (I prefer more purple shades for eyes and slightly lighter shades for lips.) But I do have a few plum-colored sweaters and scarves, which I enjoy wearing in winter.

For me, plum is a beautiful color to look at. I love its richness and elegance as well as its understated femininity.

Makeup
Lavshuca Jewelry Lips
Lavshuca Face Powder in Lucent
MAC Paint Pot in Nice Vice (from the Fafi collection)
Prescriptives Colorscope Eye Color in plum (right of photo)
Prescriptives Colorscope Eye Color in Aubergine (bottom of photo)

Fragrance
Stella McCartney STELLA Eau de Parfum
Stella McCartney Sheer STELLA Eau de Toilette 2004 & 2005

Bodycare
Stella McCartney STELLA Precious Body Cream
ESPA Detoxifying Salt Scrub (to be reviewed next month)

Home Fragrance
Stella McCartney STELLA Scented Candle

More Splashes of Colors:

Gorgeous Gold

Lilting Lilac

Girlie Pink

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Update: Lavshuca Spring 2009 Collection

by PJ on Friday, January 9, 2009

in -Kanebo, -Lavshuca, 2009 Spring, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup, makeup - base makeup

The Kanebo website has posted images of Lavshuca’s spring 2009 items. The various Grade Color Eyes palettes are what I am particularly interested in.

(PK-1)
(images from www.kanebo-cosmetics.co.jp)

(BR-1)

(BR-2)

(GN-1)

(PU-1)

PU-1 looks very cool-toned to me here. It looks more lilac-y on the February 2009 issues of Biteki and Voce, but I still think the second darkest shade, supposedly the main shade for the lids, looks a little too pale for my liking. I will probably not go for this.

(Finish Powder)

The dark-plum lid of the new loose powder is not surprising, since plum is currently the main color for Lavshuca’s packaging. Even though it looks quite elegant (and there is still the puff with the cute bow), I would have liked a slightly more ornate case. The current Face Powder is available in Lucent (which I have) and Glow, and the new Finish Powder will be available in Lucent and High Cover. I am still intrigued in how High Cover performs.

A Splash of Color – Girlie Pink

Lavshuca Cheek Color in PK-1

Lavshuca Jewelry Lips

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Update: Coffret D’Or Spring/Summer 2009 Base Makeup Collection

by PJ on Friday, January 9, 2009

in -Coffret d'Or, -Kanebo, 2009 Spring, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup, makeup - base makeup

(image and info from www.nikkei.co.jp)

Earlier I posted a link to an image of Coffret D’Or’s spring/summer base makeup collection as well as my initial thoughts. Now, here is more information on the individual items:

– Lasting Power Pact UV (7 shades, SPF 22, PA++)
– Lasting Power Soft Gel Foundation UV (7 shades, SPF 23, PA++)
– Lasting Power Veil UV (primer)
– Magical Flat (pore-smoothing concealer)
– One-Touch Gloss Powder (loose powder with a brush applicator)

The collection will be out in Japan on March 1st, 2009.

Coffret D’Or Makeup Powder

Coffret D’Or Spring 2009 Point Makeup Collection

Coffret D’Or Trance Deep Eyes in Rose Variation

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Japanese Cosmetics Focus: Lissage

by PJ on Saturday, January 3, 2009

in _Japanese Brand Profile, -Kanebo, -Lissage, all about Japanese cosmetics

(image from www.lissage.jp)

It has been quite a while since my last Japanese Cosmetics Focus post. Today, I bring you Lissage.

Lissage was launched in 1992 and is owned by Lissage Ltd., which also owns ECM (which I talked about earlier) and Bath Tours. (Lissage Ltd. is currently owned by Kanebo Corp..) The brand currently carries skincare, makeup, fragrance, bodycare, and haircare products. (The haircare line seems remarkably extensive for a high-end Japanese beauty brand.)

Lissage used to focus on skincare, but the launch of the revamped base and point makeup ranges in 2007 (partly to celebrate the brand’s 15th anniversary) has re-positioned the brand in the Japanese beauty scene. Items like the foundation bases, Face Up Creamy Pact (compact cream foundation), Brush Up Foundation (powder foundation) and the multi-colored Blush Veil have been getting considerable magazine coverage in Japan.

(Face Up Creamy Pact)

(items from Lissage’s
Collagen Maintenance skincare range)

Lissage reminds me slightly of Twany Glamacy, another Kanebo line. The brand image and product packaging are never showy (and some would say very plain), but the simplicity and the low-keyness do have a subtle appeal for me.

Lissage is currently available in Japan (only) and the official website is for information only. In Tokyo, Lissage can be found in department stores such as Keio Shinjuku, Seibu Shibuya and Seibu Yurakucho.

You can see the post on Lissage’s fall 2007 makeup collection here.

Profiles on other Japanese brands:

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