Kose’s Magie Deco was launched in Japan in fall this year, and this is its debut holiday collection. I like the fact that the packaging is a variation of the usual Magie Deco look. It is different but instantly recognizable. I also like the rich red color scheme.
The two items are sold as a set, and both of them look so glamorous and beautiful, with an appropriate festive vibe.
MAC’s holiday 2007 collections (including Royal Assets, Antiquitease, and others) are some of my favorite MAC collections for 2007. The packaging looks good, and there are a very wide selection of items.
But when I saw the items in person for the first time, I was slightly underwhelmed by the details of the packaging. I think they looked just a little bit rough around the edges and they could have been slightly more refined.
Nonetheless, these collections present a pleasant departure from MAC’s usual dark and minimal look and I am sure many MAC fans have been enjoying collecting some of the goodies.
I haven’t really talked about this adorable holiday set from my personal favorite brand, which I am doing in this post.
Ayura’s holiday sets usually include best-selling items in limited-edition travel sizes as well as some one-off creations. The set for holiday 2007 includes:
-Spirit of Ayura Aroma Bath Powder (X2, limited edition)
-Spirit of Ayura Aroma Treatment Oil (for hair and body, limited edition)
-Spirit of Ayura Aroma Body Powder (limited edition)
-Spirit of Ayura Aroma Hands (30g, limited-edition size)
-Shiny Face (face highlighter, limited-edition, choice of blue and pink)
-Nail Color (choice of 23 shades, including limited-edition pink and violet shades)
-Cosmetics Box
Spirit of Ayura is Ayura’s one and only fragrance, and, apart from the hand cream, the three Spirit of Ayura items in the set are one-off creations based on this wonderful scent.
I really love the look of this collection (and I like the combination of all the fresh colors), not to mention that Spirit of Ayura is one of my favorite fragrances, But I already have quite a few somewhat similar limited-edition items based on this fragrance and this is the only reason why I didn’t consider getting this set.
The final part of my Holiday 2007 Top Ten List will be coming soon!
The MAC A-Mei Color Collection post has been updated with a link to an image featuring A-Mei wearing shades from the collection. The image was released to the Taiwanese press but I am not certain whether this would be one of the official promotional images.
Please go to the end of the post for the link, and enjoy!
One of my readers, CK, has kindly left a comment under my post on A-Mei’s Collaboration with MAC with a link to some great footage featuring A-Mei sporting the shades from her color collection in the photo shoot!
(Alexander McQueen for MAC Eye Shadow in Haunting… Loving the McQueen logo)
I have bought this on Monday and I have tried it on today. I think I am liking it…
As I said on my last post on this eyeshadow, I spent quite some time deciding whether to get this or not. The main reason is that I have a similar shade, the turquoise shade in Dior’s two-color eyeshadow in DiorLagoon. While in the store, I went over to the Dior counter to put the turquoise shade on the back of my hand and then put Haunting next to it. They looked very similar and I decided at the time not to buy it and left the store.
But, under the natural sunlight, I immediately noticed a difference. Haunting is more blue than DiorLagoon and is a tad lighter. As a lover of turquoise shades, I decided that this particular shade was different enough to justify the purchase, so I went back to get it.
(This is actually my first MAC eyeshadow in several years…)
One of the things I have noticed from comparing the actual item with how it looks on the promotional images is that Haunting is darker when seen in person. I thought it would be a light aqua-ish turquoise but it is basically a proper turquoise with a subtle blue undertone.
I tried it on today and I do like it. I like the very slight blue undertone compared with the usual turquoise shades. I also think MAC’s Satin is a finish I like. It has a smooth and mildly luminous finish, not shimmery or glittery.
So I am glad I got this. Also, I like the Alexander McQueen Fall 07 print on the lid. Very chic!
Update (October 15, 2007)
Beauty Anonymous also picked up Haunting. Do have a look at her review!
Taiwanese pop artist A-Mei (image from Specktra.Net)
Am I gradually becoming a MAC person? First of all, Alexander McQueen for MAC really caught my eye and I have got the eyeshadow in Haunting. Also, some items from the Holiday 2007 Antiquitease collection have already been on my shopping list for a while.
Then, a couple of days ago, I saw the face of A-Mei (pronounced “Ah-May“, a Taiwanese pop star) on Specktra Beauty Blog. (I saw her name as the name of one of MAC’s future releases earlier on the site, and I was wondering back then.)
For people who grew up or have lived in any part of the Chinese-speaking part of the world, A-Mei needs no introduction. I think it is fair to say that she is the queen of pop in the Chinese-speaking world.
Ethnically, A-Mei is Austronesian (not Han Chinese or Sino-Tibetan, in a more general term) as she shares genetic ties with peoples in the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Oceania, which is reflected on her features. Her ancestors have been living in Taiwan for thousands of years before Han Chinese began settlements in Taiwan four centuries ago. In many people’s eyes, she and her heritage say more about the Taiwanese history, even though the Austronesians only account for around 2% of the Taiwanese population.
After winning a major talent contest and releasing her debut album in 1996, she became an instant sensation. (For me, that album is still a sentimental favorite of mine, among all her others.) Her fame grew and grew as she became a household name in many East Asian countries.
As she reached an iconic status in Asia, her achievements unavoidably carry a weight of cultural significance. I will be excited to see A-Mei’s stunning features gracing MAC counters! We still haven’t seen the actual shades of the line-up, but who knows…maybe they will be on my list later on.
According to a thread on Specktra.Net Forum, the A-Mei collection will be sold in selected shops in the US and various countries in Asia. I will definitely follow the news of this upcoming collection and keep you posted.
Update on December 7, 2007:
Check out this clip, freshly out today. A-Mei looks great here!
I assume the first part of the clip features the shooting of the promotional images. In the second part of the clip, A-Mei mentions that she is very happy to be collaborating with MAC on the upcoming color collection. She also says that she is not usually used to wearing such a red lip color (she usually wears quite nude shades) but that she is now getting into it more.
Also, she looks forward to all the challenges in 2008, including a production of Turandot in Japan. But at the moment she is gearing up for the three concerts in Taipei later this month.
One thing I have noticed about the MAC A-Mei logo design (00:56 and throughout the clip) is the use of cross-stitching patterns featured in the traditional costumes of her native Puyuma tribe in Taiwan. I think it is a great touch.
(MAC for A-Mei Color Collection) (image from www.urcosme.com)
Again, the packaging features colorful cross-stitching patterns from A-Mei’s native Puyuma tribe. I like the fact that the packaging reflects and celebrates A-Mei’s heritage. I am particularly liking the one on the right (both the packaging and the shades). Perhaps a potential purchase!
Updated on December 11, 2007:
Check out this link to see a striking image of A-Mei wearing the collection, which was released to the Taiwanese press.
Also, she has pointed me to a thread on Specktra.Net Forum, which includes stock images of the collection. Let’s keep track of this thread and hopefully see more and more images of the collection!
Thank you very much, Janice!
I love the stock images. It was fantastic to see the actual items up close. The packaging is as stunning as it appears on previous images, and it almost gives me goosebumps to see the colorful tribal cross-stitching concept being well carried-out with a good sense of authenticity. Marvelous!
(The comment function for this post doesn’t seem to be working at the moment. I do apologize for this. If you would like to leave a comment, please do so under the post where you found this update. Thank you very much!)
Updated on January 11, 2008:
The collection was out earlier this month. Check out this post for photos of the storefront decoration for the launch of the A-Mei collection in a MAC store in Taipei, collection counter display, and color swatches.
(Alexander McQueen for MAC Eye Shadow in Haunting)
The Alexander McQueen for MAC collection is exclusive to Harrods in the UK and was out on October 3. The eyeshadow in Haunting was the item I looked forward to the most. I stopped by Harrods today and decided to buy it after being so indecisive about whether to get it or not. (I shall explain more later.)
I will post a review of this after I try it on. Do come back!
(See images of the items and the swatches of the collection on Specktra.Net Forum.)
(part of the MAC Holiday 2007 Collection) (photo from www.iswii.net)
I am not usually a MAC person. The last time I wrote about MAC was back in November last year when I was talking about the MACouture collection. I didn’t buy anything from MACouture, but months later I did buy a Patternmaker lip palette, which is the only MAC item I have at the moment. (I shall write a post about it later.)
But it seems my lone Patternmaker lip palette might soon welcome some siblings. Nowadays I rarely get excited about MAC as I used to years ago, but the upcoming Holiday 2007 lineup really caught my eye! Antiquitease (pictured above) is part of what will be appearing at MAC counters in the coming months.
Well, yes, it is the packaging. It has a retro and fancy Baroque feel with some elaborate patterns. It is a little similar to my princessy Majolica Majorca cases…just the kind of things I love!
For (many!!) more photos, have a look at the Specktra.Net Beauty Blog. I know I will be there to do some serious picking and choosing! (Also, get your diary out for the release dates.)
(A special thanks goes to A-Mused at Musings of a Muse, who knows what I like, for bringing my attention to the MAC holiday 2007 collections.)
I really like the packaging of the new MACouture collection. It is very chic and glamorous. I know it is more expensive than the usual MAC products (and it will be more expensive in the UK), but I will be more than happy to own a piece of it. Right now I am interested in MACouture Lipstick, Lipglass, and Sheer Mystery Powder.
The other thing is Shu Uemura’s new range of lipsticks “Rouge Unlimited“. I don’t normally like transparent packaging, but out of the 48 shades, there are a few interesting choices. The six artist shades (white, yellow, green, blue, purple, and black) are to be layered onto the other shades to give a sheer accent color, according to my Biteki magazine (November 2006). It also suggests PK308 as the base shade to experiment the layering. (You have to go to the Japanese website to see the shade. The color naming is different in the US. But I think it might be Nude Pink Pearl under Pink.) Can’t wait to see how the layering works, especially how the green and the blue layer on to the pink shade.
(image from www.cosmedecorte.com/magiedeco/)
(image from www.iswii.net)
(image from www.ayura.co.jp/jp/)
