(continued from Part 1 & Part 2)
3. Maquillage
(images from www.shiseido.co.jp/mq/)
2008 is the year when Maquillage started to grow on me. The fall collection includes shades of purple, plum, gold, and gentle neutrals, which happen to be the shades I have been wearing the most lately. Later on I will be trying out Forming Shiny Eyes in 52 (seen above), with an alluring combination of purple and gold (with a pale pink cream base). The collection also features twelve new shades of Lasting Climax Rouge, which debuted in spring and has been selling well in Asia.
2. Lavshuca
(images from www.kanebo-cosmetics.jp/lavshuca/)
When you don’t want to spend too much on makeup but still want quality and all the prettiness, you can almost always count on Lavshuca. A couple of items have been on my shopping list for a while (Dual Prism Eyes in PU-1 and Rouge Star Classics in (probably) PK-1). There are no limited-edition items in this collection so I will think about getting them after deciding which holiday 2008 items to have.
1. Coffret D’Or
For me, at this point, I think I can say that 2008 is the year of Coffret D’Or in terms of Japanese makeup. Launched just before the beginning of 2008 with a lot of expectation, Coffret D’Or has done well this year, both as T’Estimo’s successor, which continues to help shape the overall image of Kanebo, and for me as a makeup fan.
(images from www.kanebo-cosmetics.jp/coffretdor/)
Coffret D’Or’s solid fall 2008 collection does what the line is supposed to do, which is to create beautifully wearable shades with dependable quality for a wide range of consumers, from those wearing makeup on a regular basis to those new to makeup. With a price point lower than those of brands like Lunasol, it does have its own advantage.
Coffret D’Or is still expanding, and I think in 2009 we will see more new products. (The point makeup range hasn’t included basic items such as pencil eyeliners, and there will probably be more base makeup products. I am expecting to see an under-eye concealer pen that Revue used to have.) I certainly hope it will be worth the wait.
Related Posts:
Loving Japanese Brands – Lavshuca
Coffret D’Or Trance Deep Eyes in Rose Variation
Coffret D’Or Trance Deep Eyes in Grey Variation
Please see more photos of Coffret D’Or’s The Party Makeup Collection on this blog post.
The compact is looking prettier already (than what we see in the photo earlier.) The cool palette (Sweet Dress) reminds me very slightly of the Lavshuca holiday 2007 palette I have. Both the eyeshadows and lip colors are looking somewhat similar.
Also, have a look at photos of Lunasol’s upcoming holiday 2008 makeup coffret. It includes an eyeshadow palette, a blusher, an eyeliner, a nail color, and a clutch bag (which is just beneath the items in the first photo). Not surprisingly, the colors are very neutral-toned.
The blog photos in both posts are taken by blogger Sharon at a Kanebo press event in Taiwan. She notices how similar Lunasol’s holiday 2008 eyeshadow palette is to the 2007 one (the photo of which is just above the eyeshadow swatch photos). She mentions that one minor difference is that the shimmer is more gold-based in the 2007 palette and mainly silver-based in the 2008 one.
(image from www.nikkei.co.jp)
Kanebo seems to be among the first Japanese beauty companies to unveil their holiday 2008 releases. We’ve heard about some of the items from Kate, Lavshuca, and Lunasol, and now it is the palettes from Coffret D’Or.
Coffret D’Or will release its first holiday collection on November 16th in Japan. (The line was launched in December last year with the spring 2008 collection.) The Party Makeup Collection includes two versions of the eye and lip palette, one cooler (Sweet Dress) and one warmer (Noble Dress).
(image from www.nikkei.co.jp)
Both palettes include three eyeshadows (a base color, a shimmery color and a dark color) and three lip colors (a glow-type lip color (sheer and glossy), a color-type lip color (more pigmented) and a shimmery gloss).
Holiday palettes from Japanese brands are mostly about wearability (good as presents for others) and collectibility (good as presents…for yourself…), and they rarely make any bold statement in terms of color combinations. But if you like shimmer and sparkles, holiday palettes from Japanese brands often have a lot of them.
I like the fact that the design of the compact is in keeping with the Coffret D’Or look that we have quickly come to be familiar with (but with a nice little curvy twist). The shades themselves are not calling out to me yet, but I certainly prefer the cooler palette and I think we’ll see more appealing photos of them on magazines and the Coffret D’Or website later.
One thing worth mentioning is that, in photos, some palettes from Japanese brands can create an illusion of size. (I have had experiences of thinking the palettes look a lot smaller in person…or maybe it is just that I usually like larger and more substantial-looking palettes.) I think one thing we can look at in the photo above is the size/length of the applicators (which should be the standard small ones in Japanese palettes) in relation to the size of the palette. I am guessing that these will be around the same size as the very compact Lavshuca Summer Gradually Compacts (which are about 3.7x12cm and are very slim).
Other posts on Coffret D’Or:
Coffret D’Or Makeup Powder
Trance Deep Eyes in Rose Variation
Full Styling Rouge (Color)
(image from www.nikkei.co.jp)
Lunasol will release items for the holiday 2008 period on November 15th in Japan. The lineup includes:
– Full Glamour Lips S: 3 shades
– Full Glamour Gloss S: 3 shades
– Shining Face Color: 1 shade (a shimmery lavender-toned pressed powder)
– Lip Essence (for Night) Kit: a lip moisturizer and a treatment lip mask
The “moonlight purification” themed collection will feature “soft silver” shimmer in Full Glamour Lips S and Full Glamour Gloss S.
If things remain the same as previous years, there will also be a coffret coming out. I will be looking forward to that.
Also, Lunasol has released the (limited-edition) 2008 Base Makeup Kit on August 28th.
(image from www.kanebo-cosmetics.jp/lunasol)
The kit includes:
– Water Cream Foundation (30g, full size)
– Creamy Makeup Base (30g, full size)
– Micro Finish Powder N (3.5g)
– Morning Wakening Massage (10g)
– Night Refining Cream (10g)
– Makeup Pouch
The kit is priced at 8925 JPY, which is the prices of Water Cream Foundation and Creamy Makeup Base combined. If you would like to try some key base and skincare products from Lunasol, this would be a good opportunity. (The foundation would be more suitable for drier skin.)
Related Posts:
Lunasol Fall 2008 Collection
Lunasol Sheer Contrast Eyes in Lavender Coral
Lunasol Full Glamour Gloss in Bright Pink
(image from www.kanebo-cosmetics.jp/milano-collection)
Milano Collection is an annual release of a luxury pressed powder and an eau de parfum from Kanebo. I believe it is only available in Asia.
The Milano Collection 2009 includes:
– Milano Collection 2009 Face Up Powder (SPF 14, PA ++)
The set retails for 12600 JPY. Cosme.Net also quotes 21000 JPY for the set plus an extra refill. The powder puff includes high-quality silk produced in Kyoto.
(image from www.cosme.net)
(image from www.cosme.net)
– Milano Collection 2009 Eau de Parfum
It is a rose-based scent which also features notes of cassis, apple, lemon, camomile, jasmine, melon, musk, and amber. It retails for 15750 JPY for 60ml.
This is a pre-order-only collection, and the pre-order period ends on September 19th. The eau de parfum will be available for collection on November 16th and the Face Up Powder will be available on December 16th.
You can see all the annual designs of the pressed powder from 1991 here.
Related Posts:
My Foundation Routine
Sofina Raycious Case Galore
“An Unprecedented Masterpiece”: SUQQU Clear Veil Powder
(image from www.s-woman.net/non-no)
(image from www.nikkei.co.jp)
Lavshuca will release Stick Eyeshadows on November 1st in Japan. Eight shades will be available.
They are mostly various tones of neutrals, plus a pastel pink and blue and quite a striking violet.
Their main appeals are the ease of use and the dual function. Apart from being eyeshadows, they can double as eyeliners.
Last year, Lavshuca released a cute lip and eye palette for the holiday season. I am hoping there will be more to come from Lavshuca later on!
Updated on October 21st, 2008:
Please check out this post to see more of Lavshuca’s holiday 2008 collection.
Related Posts:
Loving Japanese Brand – Lavshuca
Lavshuca Fall 2008 Collection
Lavshuca Face Powder
(image from www.nikkei.co.jp)
Riding on the success of Gel Eyeliners, Kate will release Gel Eyeshadows on November 1st in Japan.
Eight shades are available, with two different finishes among them. The pastels have a translucent feel, while the three darker shades are more pigmented. All shades have shimmer.
It might have already occurred to you that they seem similar to Coffret D’Or’s July release, Fluffy Shiny Eyes. Both Kate and Coffret D’Or are Kanebo lines, so I wouldn’t be surprised if they have a similar texture and finish. But notice that Kate’s lineup features the three darker colors not available in Fluffy Shiny Eyes.
Updated on November 11th, 2008:
Please see more of Kate’s holiday 2008 releases here.
Related Posts:
Kate – Lavshuca’s Darker, Edgier Sister
Kate Fall 2008 Collection
Kate Summer 2008 Collection
(Kanebo Sensai Premier The Body Cream)
(image from www.nikkei.co.jp)
Kanebo has been marketing Sensai as a “Super-Prestige” brand. As part of the plan to expand Kanebo’s western market and to probe the luxury bodycare niche in the west, Sensai will debut the Sensai Premier range on September 1 by releasing Sensai Premier The Body Cream.
The product (200ml) will retail at 300 euros and will be available in Europe, Middle East, and the US (37 countries in total). This item will not be officially available in Japan.
It claims to feature 20 moisturizing ingredients that will help prevent signs of aging.
If you are a beauty trivia buff (as I am), you might be interested to know that Sensai debuted in London’s Harrods department store in 1979 and was introduced to France, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland a year later. It was launched in Saudi Arabia in 1997 and New York’s Bergdorf Goodman in 2000 (information from Nikkei Net).
Related Posts:
Japanese Cosmetics in the UK
CHICCA Fall 2008 Collection
Kanebo Dew Superior Base Makeup Debut
For fellow Lunasol lovers-
My post on Lunasol’s fall 2008 collection has been updated with a link to an extensive array of swatches. Have a look!
For all my UK readers-
According to WWD, while La Roche-Posay has recently been introduced to the UK, another pharmacy line, Lierac, will be available in the UK in September.
(images from www.shiseido.co.jp/mq/)
(images from www.kanebo-cosmetics.jp/lavshuca/)
(images from www.kanebo-cosmetics.jp/coffretdor/)
