-Kanebo

Coffret D’Or 3D Lighting Eyes in Gold Variation

by PJ on Tuesday, May 6, 2008

in -Coffret d'Or, -Kanebo, 2008 Spring, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup, makeup - eyeshadow, stash focus

(Kanebo Coffret D’Or 3D Lighting Eyes
in 05 Gold Variation)

I like a bit of variety in my makeup collection. I tend to pick up one shade from an eye palette series and that is it. No matter how much I like what I have, I often look elsewhere for my next gem. There usually has to be a compelling reason for a second purchase.

I have quite a few eyeshadows in blue, purple, turquoise, and pinks. But when it comes to neutral tones, what I had were mostly either very pale or quite dark. It didn’t bother me before, since I like a bit of color. But, sometimes, to go with what I wear, soft neutrals are by far the best choices. So, weeks ago, I finally decided not to make do with dusty pink and soft peach and get some nice neutrals.

The color I decided to look for is a medium gold with subtle shimmer (not overly metallic shimmer) that is not bronze or orangey, and I planned to pick up a palette with the shade and other coordinating ones.

As I was looking through my recent Biteki and Voce seasonal makeup catalogues, I remembered that, when Coffret D’Or was launched last December, I was allured by the 3D Lighting Eyes palette in Gold Variation used on Tokiwa Takako. (The full-page ad appeared on Biteki (February 2008) and showed the makeup look a lot more clearly than the (same) image below.)

(Tokiwa Takako for Coffret D’Or)
(image from http://www.kanebo-cosmetics.jp/coffretdor)

Also, the texture and the finish of my Purple Variation appealed to me so much that I thought it would be great to pick up a second one. So I did.

(The sun was out, so I decided to take a few more shots.
Later I found that this photo shows the actual shades a lot better.)

From left to right:

The top two:
– a sheer off-white with fine sparkles
– a moderately pigmented pearlescent white with fine shimmer

The bottom three:
– a medium gold with smooth shimmer and fine sparkles (moderately pigmented)
– a very shimmery sheer pale champagne gold with slightly larger sparkles
– a subtly shimmery well-pigmented medium brown with some fine sparkles (which goes on a little cooler than it looks in the pan)

(All the sparkles and shimmer are multi-colored.)

The texture of the powder is wonderfully soft and silky. The application is effortless and blending is a breeze.

The look it creates is just like what you see in the ad above. The soft gold and the coordinating pale champagne enhance the dimensions of the eyes very effectively, but the whole look is still elegant and understated. (The soft gold is exactly what I wanted. It is a subtle but effective shading color.)

The colors from 3D Lighting Eyes are very long-lasting. Once I wore Purple Variation (without any eye primer) and my eye makeup surprisingly more or less survived heavy wind and rain (the kind where an umbrella is basically useless…well, it’s the unpredictable British weather…).

I am very pleased that I got this palette so that I can enjoy all the great things about 3D Lighting Eyes when I am not wearing lilac for the day!

(For the clear instructions on where each shade is applied, my thoughts on the eye-sculpting concept of the 3D Lighting Eyes series, the look of the palette case, and the other color variations, please refer to my post on the Purple Variation.)

Coffret D’Or Late Summer/ Early Fall Collection
(with link to swatches)

Lunasol Sheer Contrast Eyes in Lavender Coral

Shiseido Maquillage Clean Contrast Eyes in SV844

{ 8 comments }

Coffret D’Or Update!

by PJ on Tuesday, April 29, 2008

in -Coffret d'Or, -Kanebo, 2008 Fall, 2008 Summer, makeup, makeup - eyeshadow

Coffret D’Or‘s late summer/ early fall collection will be launched in mid-June, but testers are already out in Japan and pre-ordering has started.

My post on this collection has been updated with a link to exciting photos of all the new palettes and their swatches. I am enjoying them at the moment!

There is a good chance that I will pick up one of them. (The blogger praises the superb quality of the powder, and she is usually spot-on.) I just need to decide which one to go for……

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Lavshuca Summer 2008 Collection – A Tuesday Teaser

by PJ on Tuesday, April 29, 2008

in -Kanebo, -Lavshuca, 2008 Summer, makeup, makeup - eyeshadow, stash focus

(Lavshuca Summer Gradually Compact in 01 Shiny Sandy Beach)
(image from www.kanebo-cosmetics.jp/lavshuca)

Lavshuca is releasing a gorgeous collection for summer 2008. Apart from two new shades of Rouge Essence Bar lipsticks (PK-4 and BE-3), the collection includes two limited-edition Summer Gradually Compacts, eye palettes with six coordinating shades.

(Lavshuca Summer Gradually Palette in 02 Windy Aqua Beach)
(image from www.kanebo-cosmetics.jp/lavshuca)

I think both palettes are equally pretty, and I was tempted to get both. But, since I had been interested in gold and taupe at the moment, I decided to go for 01 Shiny Sandy Beach. (The official release date is May 1st, but many brands in Japan tend to put out new collections earlier by a week or two.)

I just received it and I haven’t tried it yet, but here it is!

(Golden Loveliness…)

The palette features, from left to right, pale champagne gold, bronze gold, off-white with a pale gold undertone, soft warm taupe, medium brown, and beige-brown. The middle four shades look nicely shimmery. The pale champagne gold on the left is quite sparkling, and the beige-brown on the right is semi-matte.

I am loving the look of the compact. It is made of metal and has a textured matte finish, so there won’t be any fingerprints. Like the eye/lip palette for holiday 2007, part of the fun is to put the colors into the compact.

I will try out the palette very soon, and I will be reviewing it in about two weeks’ time. Please do come back!

Updated on May 13, 2008

Please read my review of the palette here!

Other Lavshuca items:

Lavshuca Eye Color Select in PK-1, BU-1, and PU-2

Lavshuca Cheek Color in PK-1

Lavshuca Jewelry Lips in PK-1 & RS-1

{ 16 comments }

Coffret D’Or Late Summer/ Early Fall Collection – First Look

by PJ on Monday, April 21, 2008

in -Coffret d'Or, -Kanebo, 2008 Fall, 2008 Summer, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup

(part of Coffret D’Or’s late summer/ early fall collection)
(image from www.nikkei.co.jp)

Coffret D’Or has been doing so well in Asia since its launch in December last year (especially the eye palettes). If you have been looking forward to the second major color collection, here is a glimpse of it!

Coffret D’Or’s late summer/ early fall collection will be released in Japan on June 16th. The collection includes:

For eyes:
– Trance Deep Eyes palettes: 5 variations
– Star Dazzling Liner: 3 new shades

For eyebrows:
– W Styling Eyebrow (OV): 3 shades (oval-shaped pencil)
– W Styling Eyebrow (RO): 3 shades (round-shaped pencil)
– W Styling Eyebrow Tip Powder: 3 shades

For lips:
– Full Memory Rouge (Color): 10 shades
– Full Memory Rouge (Glow): 10 shades
– Full Styling Rouge (Color): 2 new shades
– Full Styling Rouge (Glow): 2 new shades

With the new Trance Deep Eyes palettes, the emphasis will be on adding definition to the eyes with the two highlighting shades and the two much darker shadowing shades. Compared with the 3D Lighting Eyes series, the new palettes will create a very different look. I look forward to seeing the other three palettes and the promotional images and videos later on.

I will definitely update this post when there is more information!

Updated on April 29th, 2008:

Please check out this blog post for photos of all the new eye palettes and their swatches!

Coffret D’Or 3D Lighting Eyes in Purple Variation

Coffret D’Or Full Styling Rouge (Color) in RS-241 & RS-242

Coffret D’Or Spring/Summer Base Makeup Collection

Coffret D’Or Summer Collection

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Sophisticated Elegance – Lunasol Scent Form Eyes

by PJ on Tuesday, April 15, 2008

in -Kanebo, -Lunasol, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup - eyeshadow, stash focus

(Lunasol Scent Form Eyes in 02, under sunlight)

Lunasol‘s Scent Form Eyes palettes were released in fall 2006. The brand’s eye palettes have always been popular, but, as I remember, the beautiful Scent Form Eyes made Lunasol an even more coveted brand.

(Lunasol Scent Form Eyes)
(image from /www.kanebo-cosmetics.jp/lunasol)

Out of the five, #03, with olive green and dusty warm rose, has been by far the most popular. It was also voted as Biteki readers’ favorite eye palette in the annual survey (Biteki, February 2007).

I nearly decided to have #03, but I settled for #02 instead.

The colors:

Bottom left: white with a very faint lilac undertone
(with silver, pink, lilac, blue, green sparkles)
(cream-to-powder texture)

Top left: sheer and pale lilac
(subtly iridescent with very fine shimmer)

Top right: dusty rosy pink with a faint lilac undertone
(luminous matte with almost no shimmer)

Bottom right: dark grey with an eggplant undertone
(with sparse sparkles)

Below is the palette under artificial lighting. This is mainly to show the level of shimmer in each shade. (The colors look a lot warmer here. Please refer to the photo above for the actual shades.)

(under artificial lighting)
(Please click on the photo to see a large version.)

Out of all my lilac eye palettes, this is perhaps the most understated one. If you want intensely pigmented colors, then you will be disappointed with this palette. Apart from the dark eye-lining shade, the other three are relatively sheer. (The top-right dusty rosy pink, as a shadowing shade, goes on slightly darker and is more opaque than the top-left pale lilac.) But all the shades do stay on very well.

Even though the look is subtle, it has its range of versatility. Since two main shades are not particularly shimmery, I can create a soft luminous matte look with them. But when I do want shimmer, I can apply the highlighter to top up as much shimmer as I want.

The cream-to-powder highlighter can be applied with a brush or with fingers. When applied with fingers, it gives a more intense finish. The subtle lilac undertone of the highlighter wonderfully complements the other colors, which show through from underneath and merge seamlessly with the multi-color shimmering particles. (The highlighter can also be used as a base.)

Overall I like the elegant subtlety of this palette. My only minor complaint is that the rosy pink goes on slightly more red. But this is nonetheless a beautifully arranged palette, and I think the Scent Form Eyes series really shows that Lunasol is one of the most sophisticated and elegant brands in Japan.

(In case you are wondering, the powder does have a faint scent. But it is not as strong as the scent in the Jill Stuart eye palettes.)

Some of my other lilac palettes:

Lunasol Sheer Contrast Eyes in Lavender Coral

Coffret D’Or 3D Lighting Eyes in 04

Chanel Quadra Eye Shadow in Stage Lights

{ 6 comments }

Coffret D’Or Makeovers

by PJ on Wednesday, April 9, 2008

in -Coffret d'Or, -Kanebo, 2008 Spring, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup

Continuing with Coffret D’Or from yesterday…

FAnet has put up photos and information on two makeovers featuring items entirely from Kanebo’s Coffret D’Or, from primer to lip gloss. Have a look!

There are also links (just above the two photos) to other brand-based makeovers from Stila, Paul & Joe, and RMK.

Enjoy!

Elegant Roses – Coffret D’Or Full Styling Rouge RS-241 & RS-242

by PJ on Tuesday, April 8, 2008

in -Coffret d'Or, -Kanebo, 2008 Spring, makeup, makeup - lip color, stash focus

(Coffret D’Or Full Styling Rouge Color
in RS-242 (left) and RS-241 (right))

Coffret D’Or has been growing on me more and more, and today I bring you two lipsticks from their launch collection.

Coffret D’Or currently has two ranges of lipsticks. Full Styling Rouge Glow is a range of sheer lipsticks with a glossy shine, while Full Styling Rouge Color features more pigmented lipsticks with a natural watery sheen.

(Coffret D’Or Full Styling Rouge Glow,
packaged in glossy and reflective cases)
(image from www.kanebo-cosmetics.jp/coffretdor)

(Coffret D’Or Full Styling Rouge Color,
packaged in textured matte cases)
(image from www.kanebo-cosmetics.jp/coffretdor)

(RS-242 (left) and RS-241 (right))

RS-241 and RS-242 are from the Color range. They are well-pigmented and have a beautiful natural sheen. There is very fine shimmer in both shades, and it doesn’t look obvious when worn. Both stay on well and are fairly non-drying. (But I always wear a lip balm before I wear any lipstick or lip gloss.) Like most lipsticks from Japanese brands, they are scentless (which I like).

RS-241 is a soft and feminine rose petal shade. It is the shade used on Nakatani Miki, one of the five brand ambassadors for Coffret D’Or (and one of my two favorites of the five, along with Tokiwa Takako). (Below, Nakatani Miki is also wearing 3D Lighting Eyes in 04 Purple Variation.)

(Nakatani Miki for Coffret D’Or )
(image from www.kanebo-cosmetics.jp)

RS-242 is a much deeper rose shade that looks slightly more vibrant and a tad warmer when worn. This more dramatic shade is great for an evening look.

In many Japanese beauty brands (particularly major ones like Shiseido, Kao, Kanebo, and Kosé), lipsticks are named according to various color families (PK (pink), RD (red), OR (orange/peach), RS (rose/cool pink), BE (beige), and BR (brown)). When I started buying makeup, I often bought PK shades. But, later on, I began to pay more attention to RS shades and the more muted and rosier PK shades.

Even though I slightly prefer the lighter RS-241, my favorite way to wear them is to gently dab the darker RS-242 onto my lips and then softly glaze RS-241 on top. The mixture of the two gives me the kind of rose coloration I like. (The Full Styling Rouge Color lipsticks seem to be more pigmented than most lipsticks I have, and I try to be light-handed with them.)

Overall these two shades will suit people who love lipsticks in rose tones and enjoy pigmented lip colors with a natural sheen and very subtle shimmer. They will give you a sophisticated and feminine look.

(One of my friends kindly gave these two lipsticks to me, so I was able to enjoy them. (I know you are reading this, and thank you very much!))

Related Posts:

Lavshuca Jewelry Lips
(another two great lip shades,
slightly less pigmented than the two reviewed above)

Coffret D’Or 3D Lighting Eyes in 04
(one of my favorite items for spring 2008)

Coffret D’Or Beauty Lasting Pack UV
(a great powder foundation for the warmer months)

{ 6 comments }

Update! Lunasol Summer 2008 Collection

by PJ on Monday, April 7, 2008

in -Kanebo, -Lunasol, 2008 Summer, all about Japanese cosmetics, announcement, makeup

My post on Lunasol’s Summer 2008 Collection has been updated to include photos of the two new eye palettes as well as a link to swatches of the new palettes and the two new Geminate Liners.

Enjoy!

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Brand New Makeup Line: Kanebo’s Twany Glamacy

by PJ on Sunday, April 6, 2008

in _Japanese Brand Profile, -Glamacy, -Kanebo, -Twany, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup

(Twany Glamacy)
(image from www.kanebo-cosmetics.jp/twany/newitem/glamacy/)

Sold in Japan, Twany is a beauty brand under Kanebo. It carries a wide range of products (skincare, makeup, haircare, fragrance, and dietary supplements). On April 16th, Twany will launch a new line of point (color) makeup, Glamacy. (I am not sure if Glamacy will replace Twany’s two existing point makeup lines, Century and Century Technical, but it doesn’t seem so.)

(image from www.kanebo-cosmetics.jp/twany/newitem/glamacy)

According to Nikkei Net, “Glamacy” is a combination of the words “glamor” and “supremacy”. The brand targets those in their thirties, and the items are more about bringing out the dimension of the face than about keeping up with the trends.

Their eyeshadows and blushers have already been featured in Biteki magazine (May 2008), and I am liking the look of the blushers.

(Twany Glamacy Cheek Color)
(image from www.kanebo-cosmetics.jp/twany/newitem/glamacy)

I, for one, don’t mind large cases at all, and I like blushers packaged like this. Both PK-01 and RS-01 look very wearable for me. I think PK-01 is a definite maybe……

Other recent brand launches:

From Kanebo: CHICCA & Coffret D’Or

From Kao: EST (Point Makeup)

From Kosé: Magie Deco

{ 4 comments }

CHICCA Summer 2008 Collection

by PJ on Friday, April 4, 2008

in -Chicca, -Kanebo, 2008 Summer, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup

(image from www.nikkei.co.jp)

CHICCA will launch the summer 2008 collection in Japan on May 7th. The collection includes:

– Enthralling Powder Eye Shadow: 6 new shades, 4 of which limited editions
– Enthralling Powder Eyeliner: 1 new shade
– Enthralling Gel Eyeliner: 1 new shade
– Enticing Lipstick: 5 new shades
– Enticing Lip Gloss: 2 new shades
– Beauty Light Body Glow: new item, 2 shades

CHICCA, a top-end beauty brand under Kanebo, was launched in Japan on March 5th. It is already seen in Biteki’s (May 2008) mini-feature on three classy high-end beauty brands (along with Clé de Peau and SUQQU).

The summer 2008 collection mainly includes new shades of existing items. I am still waiting for CHICCA to release items like powder blusher and loose powder, which are items I often buy from a new brand. We’ll see what happens in fall…

CHICCA Launches in March 2008
(with a brief brand profile)

SUQQU: Sensuality with an Attitude
(a profile on this popular high-end brand in Japan)

Clé de Peau Spring 2008 Collection
(soft and feminine)

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