makeup – eyeshadow

MAC Mineralize Eye Shadow Duo in Odd Couple

by PJ on Monday, January 25, 2010

in -MAC, 2008 Summer, makeup, makeup - eyeshadow, stash focus

As many of you might already know, I don’t buy products from MAC very often. The main reason is that makeup products from Japanese brands appeal to me a lot more. But, once in a while, some items do attract my attention.

MAC’s Mineralize Eye Shadow Duo in Odd Couple was from the Electro Flash collection back in July 2008. As far as I know, the Mineralize Eye Shadow Duos in this collection were limited editions in the US. But they seem to be regular items in the UK.

I was back and forth about Odd Couple for quite a while. I swatched the colors at the counter for several times since a few months ago, and I was speculating that the warm gold might be too bronze for me. Plus the violet was very similar to the one in Shiseido Maquillage’s Forming Shiny Eyes in 52. The lilac veins in the warm gold were what made me decide to get it in the end, as they created an interesting lilac undertone.

I was surprised at how understated the warm gold turned out to be. It is not too warm, too bronze, or too vibrant. It goes on sheer in the beginning but it can be layered. I do think the lilac veins tone down the bronze quite nicely, and the lilac undertone does show up on the eyes.

I like wearing the violet close to the lashlines as a lining color. The shade is warmer and more purple than how it looks in the photo above, and it is less shimmery than the warm gold. The vibrancy of the shade lasts well.

I am glad that I did go for it. The warm gold with lilac veins is a shade I didn’t have, and it turned out to be more wearable than how I expected it to be. I certainly think I will be paying a little more attention to future Mineralize Eye Shadow releases in the future.

Alexander McQueen for MAC Eye Shadow in Haunting

Fafi for MAC

A Splash of Color: More Lilting Lilac

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Makeup Review: Trish McEvoy Bejeweled Makeup Planner Collection for Holiday 2009

by PJ on Tuesday, December 22, 2009

in -Trish McEvoy, 2009 Holiday, makeup, makeup - base makeup, makeup - base makeup - primer/concealer, makeup - blusher, makeup - eyeshadow, makeup - lip color, makeup - lip gloss

(image from Trish McEvoy)

One feature that Trish McEvoy is known for is the Makeup Planner System, which combines Makeup Planners (makeup pouches with binder rings) and Makeup Planner Pages (refillable palettes). Today I am reviewing the limited-edition Bejeweled Makeup Planner Collection for holiday 2009.

The set contains a Petite Refillable Makeup Page, which holds up to eight eyeshadows and can be filed into the Planner.

The palette includes:

– Eye Definer in Deep Aubergine: dark brown-toned purple (matte)
– Eye Definer in Amethyst: dark violet (with sparse shimmer)
– Glaze Eye Shadow in Sable Bronze: light-to-medium warm beige (softly metallic)
– Eye Shadow in Delicate Pink: gently pigmented off-white pink (matte)
– Blush in Easy Going: soft warm pink (glowy matte with very subtle shimmer)
– Bronzer in Dual Resort: pale beige (shimmery) and brown-toned beige (mildly shimmery)

I personally really like Glaze Eye Shadow in Sable Bronze and Blush in Easy Going. Sable Bronze has a flattering sheen which doesn’t look flat or frosty, and the shade has a natural warmth to it. (It doesn’t look ashy or too bronze.) The blusher adds a soft and natural flush to the cheeks. The powder is smooth and velvety and is very easy to apply.

Overall I think this palette is more suitable for those with a light or light-to-medium complexion, as Sable Bronze, the blusher, and the bronzer might be too subtle for those with darker skin tones.

Eye Base Essentials is an eyeshadow base with quite a creamy texture. The shade included in the set is Bare, which is a pale beige with a pink undertone. It has sufficient pigment to even out the skin tone in the eyelid areas. It also contains ingredients to provide additional moisture for the eyelids, such as hydrogenated vegetable oil and bees wax.

The set also includes Beauty Booster SPF 15 Lip Gloss in Brightening Pink. It is a moderately pigmented cool berry pink with no shimmer. The color looks quite bright in the tube, but, as it is not too pigmented, it looks considerably more natural on the lips. It creates a vinyl-like glossy finish, which lasts well.

It contains avobenzone, which provides protection against UVA rays, and it is fragrance-free. It contains peppermint oil, which might be a concern for some people. But it is the last ingredient on the ingredient list, and it doesn’t feel tingly or cause discomfort or irritation when I wear it on my bare lips. (It only feels very mildly cooling.)

All the items are housed in a limited-edition White and Black Quilted Petite Makeup Planner. (It measures 11.5cm x 15cm x 7.5cm approximately.) The planner contains a small see-through pouch, which fits snugly in the Planner (as seen in the photo at the top).

Except Eye Shadow in Delicate Pink, which is not on Trish McEvoy’s website as an individual product, all the makeup shades in this set are available individually. I think this is a very nicely edited set with well-coordinated and easy-to-wear colors which are quality basics and can suit various occasions.

In the UK, this set is exclusive to Harvey Nichols.

(The product featured in this article is provided by Trish McEvoy.)

Dior Cristal Boréal

SUQQU Christmas Makeup Kit A (for Holiday 2009)

Paul & Joe Holiday 2009 Collection (Pearl Powder, Pencil Eyeliner, and Pouch C IV)

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Makeup Review: SUQQU Christmas Makeup Kit A for Holiday 2009

by PJ on Thursday, December 17, 2009

in -SUQQU, 2009 Holiday, all about Japanese cosmetics, beauty tools/accessories, makeup, makeup - eyeshadow

Earlier I posted the information on SUQQU‘s holiday 2009 collection. The collection features three limited-edition makeup kits, two for eyes and one for lips/nails. Today I am reviewing Christmas Makeup Kit A.

SUQQU Christmas Makeup Kit A includes Blend Eyeshadow in EX-06, Eye Lucent in EX-03, and a makeup bag.

Blend Eyeshadow in EX-06 is a cool-toned neutral palette. The case has the same deep violet shade as that of the other SUQQU Blend Eyeshadow palettes plus the snowflake details.

The four shades are (clock-wise from bottom right):

– moderately pigmented off-white with a pale yellow-toned pearly finish (base shade)
– pigmented dark brown with soft shimmer and a copper undertone
– sheer pale mauve with fine multi-colored shimmer
– pigmented medium warm grey with a soft pearly finish

SUQQU’s eyeshadows are renowned for their beautiful blendability, and, again, these shades blend seamlessly. Most of SUQQU’s eyeshadows are not very shimmery, and the Blend Eyeshadow palettes usually have either a softly glowy or a gently shimmery finish. EX-06, however, is overall more shimmery than many other Blend Eyeshadow palettes. If you like SUQQU eyeshadows but prefer them to be more shimmery, this palette is worth a look.

Compared with Blend Eyeshadow in #10 that I reviewed earlier this year, all the shades in EX-06 are more shimmery or pearly. The base is a lot more pearly, the lining shade looks a lot less matte, the lightening shade has more shimmer than pigment, and the warm grey has marginally more shimmer than the soft taupe in #10.

Also, the warm grey is more pigmented than the soft taupe in #10. This makes EX-06 more versatile, and it is easier to create a smoky-eye look with it. (But #10 is overall warmer and suits my warm-toned complexion better.)

The look that EX-06 creates is both chic and sophisticated. You can create a clean and demure look or a very sensuous look, depending on how you work the warm grey in particular.

If the finish of EX-06 is still not shimmery enough for you, you can layer Eye Lucent in EX-03 on top of EX-06. Eye Lucent is a loose powder eyeshadow, and it is one of the most shimmery eye makeup items from SUQQU. Two limited-edition shades (EX-01 and EX-02) were available back in spring 2008. EX-03 is a pale pink with a very pearly finish and very dynamic multi-colored shimmer.

One little nice touch I want to mention is that the seal stretches to the wall and the edge of the sifter (at the upper right edge of the pot in the photo above) with no glue underneath the extended part. With many seals that are firmly glued to the bottom of the sifters, I sometimes have to work hard to peel them off (and make a tiny mess). Little touches like this (at which Japanese consumer products excel) make things just a little bit easier.

The powder comes with a mini puff. It is particularly useful if you want to pack on the shimmer. If you want a sheer veil of shimmer, use an eyeshadow brush instead.

Christmas Makeup Kit A also includes a makeup bag. (It measures 12.5cm x 16.5cm x 6cm approximately.) I like the fact that the zippers come all the way down to the sides, which makes the bag easier and much less fiddly to use.

SUQQU’s holiday 2009 collection also includes Christmas Makeup Kit B (with a lip color palette, a nail color, and a makeup bag) and Christmas Makeup Kit C (with a mascara, a cream eyeliner, the popular eyelash curler, and a makeup bag).

(The product featured in this article is provided by SUQQU.)

SUQQU Clear Veil Powder

SUQQU Cheek Brush & Eyebrow Brush L

Japanese Beauty Brand Profile – SUQQU

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Makeup Review: Paul & Joe Pearl Powder & Holiday 2009 Collection

by PJ on Thursday, December 10, 2009

in -Paul & Joe, 2009 Holiday, all about Japanese cosmetics, beauty tools/accessories, fashion, makeup, makeup - eyeshadow

(Pearl Powder in 01)

In October, I featured information on Paul & Joe‘s holiday 2009 collection, which includes makeup, fragrance, and bodycare products. Today I am reviewing two items from the collection as well as Pearl Powder in 01 (released in 2008).

Pearl Powder is a loose powder eyeshadow that feels soft and lightweight. 01 is a sheer pale beige with a very light-reflective pearly finish and multi-colored shimmer. It goes on much lighter than how it looks in the jar, and it is a brightening color that doesn’t create a shadow. It mainly shows up as a veil of pearly shimmer.

It can be used as an eyeshadow base if you like quite shimmery eyeshadow bases. Also, as a pale beige that happens to be quite sheer, it can also be used very light-handedly as a highlighter for the face or as a shimmering powder for the body.

Pencil Eye Liner in 001 is a dark blue-black. It has a velvety finish with a hint of shimmer. It goes on relatively smoothly and is waterproof. The staying power is satisfactory. (There can be minimal movement after a day’s wear.)

It is lovely to see purple, one of my favorite colors and a trendy makeup/fashion shade in the last few seasons, used in Paul & Joe’s holiday makeup pouch for 2009 (Pouch C IV). The purple goes well with the gold, and it nicely shows off the satiny sheen of the fabric. As I mentioned in the earlier post on the collection, I would have liked the gold pattens to be a little more delicate.

Paul & Joe’s holiday 2009 collection also includes two eyeshadow palettes, two new Pearl Powders, the other (of the two) Pencil Eye Liner, and two highlighting powders, and all these items, along with those two reviewed above, are limited editions. On the other hand, the new Lip Lacquer, the re-launched fragrances (Blanc and Bleu), the new bodycare items, and Cosmetic Pouch III are regular items.

(The products featured in this article are provided by Paul & Joe.)

Paul & Joe Spring 2010 Collection

Paul & Joe Fall 2009 Collection

Japanese Cosmetics in the UK

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Makeup Review: SHISEIDO Luminizing Satin Eye Color

by PJ on Wednesday, October 14, 2009

in -Shiseido, -SHISEIDO (Global Brand), all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup, makeup - eyeshadow

The Shiseido international line has been going through a revamp this year. The new makeup line, created in collaboration with Dick Page, is simply called Shiseido (instead of the original Shiseido The Makeup). In January, the line debuted with Perfect Rouge and Smoothing Lip Pencil. In August, the fall 2009 collection was released. The collection includes 15 shades of Luminizing Satin Eye Color. Today I am reviewing two of them.

(Luminizing Satin Eye Color in BE202 Caramel)

(Luminizing Satin Eye Color in WT907 Paperwhite)

BE202 Caramel is a medium bronze-toned beige and WT907 Paperwhite is a cream white. They are moderately pigmented and they have very fine shimmery particles. They impart a satiny finish that looks soft and understated. The lasting power is good.

The powder is exceptionally fine and has an almost-creamy texture. Apart from talc (2nd on the ingredient lists of both shades), Luminizing Satin Eye Color uses petrolatum (4th on the ingredient list of WT907 and 6th of BE202) to create the silky and almost-creamy texture. I find this to be slightly unusual, as most eyeshadows rely on a combination of talc and silicones to create the smooth and silky texture. (Silicones are further down the lists of these two shades.)

WT907 is good for brightening the eye area and as a base for other eyeshadows. I also prefer it as a brow highlighter to more shimmery off-whites, as the effect is a lot more natural. BE202 is a gentle shadowing shade as it is able to give a very natural depth to the eyes. (This relatively light shade is able to be depth-enhancing because it is not too shimmery.) Since it is more of a warm neutral, I think it should suit those with a warm complexion better. (It may look quite bronze on those with a cooler complexion.)

The 15 Luminizing Satin Eye Color shades are elegant and understated (except YE306 Solaris, which is a vibrant yellow). I would be curious to see whether more vibrant shades will be added to the range and whether a new range of eyeshadow singles, perhaps with a different finish, will join the line.

(The products featured in this review are provided by Shiseido.)

Posts on Shiseido’s other lines:

Clé de Peau Fall 2009 Collection

Maquillage Fall 2009 Collection

Maquillage Forming Shiny Eyes in 52

Maquillage Clean Contrast Eyes 2 in SV844

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Jill Stuart Jelly Eye Color N in 08 Crystal Sky

by PJ on Monday, October 12, 2009

in -Jill Stuart, 2009 Summer, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup, makeup - eyeshadow, stash focus

Jill Stuart‘s Jelly Eye Color was a very popular item in the brand’s makeup lineup. Earlier this year, the new Jelly Eye Color N was released. I was instantly drawn to the lovely container. The previous version was cute, while the new one is more ornate.

08 Crystal Sky is a medium-to-dark mauve that has a slight grey undertone, and it is a color that I didn’t have before. (The purples I tend to go for are lighter than this.) It has a lot of sparkly particles, which are silver-toned under sunlight and beautifully multi-colored under certain kinds of artificial lighting. The particles are sparkly but not glittery.

It has a spongy jelly texture and is relatively easy to apply with fingertips. It dries up quite quickly, so blending has to be swift. Once it sets, the color is very long-lasting and it doesn’t crease on my eyes. The sparkly finish holds well too.

It has the same light floral scent as that in many of Jill Stuart’s makeup products. It is subtle and not overpowering.

For me, the shade is a little too dark and too sparkly to be worn as a shadowing shade on the lids (especially for daytime makeup). It is the kind of shade that I would usually only wear near the lashlines, and obviously it is difficult to keep the color very close to the eyes when I apply it with my fingertips. I find it much easier to use a cotton bud or a sponge eyeshadow applicator to apply the shade exactly where I want. Then I use the fingertips to blend and blur the edges.

I do really like it very close to my lashlines. As a soft eyelining shade, it is dark enough to gently frame and accentuate the eyes while still looking natural. The sparkles also look subtler this way.

I have mentioned before that I do prefer powder eyeshadows to non-powder ones. It is still the case with Jill Stuart’s Jelly Eye Color N and my powder eyeshadows, but I think Jelly Eye Color N’s formula does help hold the sparkly particles on the eyes. (There is almost no sparkle fallout.) If you like sparkly or very shimmery eyeshadows, Jelly Eye Color N is certainly worth your consideration.

Jill Stuart Mix Blush Compact in 01 Baby Blush

Jill Stuart Holiday 2009 Collection

Jill Stuart Fall 2009 Collection & 5th Anniversary Jewel Collection

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Stash Update: Jill Stuart

by PJ on Sunday, October 4, 2009

in -Jill Stuart, 2009 Summer, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup, makeup - eyeshadow

(image from www.jillstuart-beauty.com)

I have got Jill Stuart’s Jelly Eye Color N in 08 Crystal Sky a while back. It is a color that I haven’t really tried before, and I will be posting my thoughts in the next few days.

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Makeup Review: RMK Ingenious Powder Eyes

by PJ on Monday, September 21, 2009

in -RMK, 2009 Summer, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup, makeup - eyeshadow

(RMK Ingenious Powder Eyes in P-13 Purple)

Last month, I reviewed RMK’s Ingenious Powder Cheeks, which is part of RMK’s makeup revamp this May. Today I am sharing my thoughts on three shades of the new Ingenious Powder Eyes.

As I mentioned earlier, the shade names of the new blushers and eyeshadows put the items into various categories. With Ingenious Powder Eyes, there are DK (dark), BR (brown), P (pearlescent), SH (shimmery) and ME (metallic) shades. (There is also Ingenious Jelly Eyes, with all shade names beginning with JE.) The three shades I am reviewing here are from different categories.

P-13 Purple is a moderately pigmented medium-to-light purple that has a soft pearly finish with subtly multi-colored shimmer. It goes on slightly cooler than it looks in the pan. The powder is smooth and silky and it is very easy to apply and blend. It can create both a sheer and a slightly more intense look when layered, and I particularly like the delicate shimmer of the finish.

Compared with SH-07 Shiny Purple that I had a chance to try at the counter, SH-07, as I remember, is slightly darker and has a more dimensional finish (possibly due to the shimmery particles of varying sizes). But P-13 is by no means flat. It has a gentler finish compared with SH-07.

BR-03 Brown is a pigmented semi-matte brown with a hint of shimmer. It goes on slightly warmer than it looks in the pan, and it doesn’t turn grey or ashy overtime. It can be used as an effective depth-enhancing shadowing color for the eyelids or as a subtle eye-lining color. If you are looking for brown-toned essentials for your eyeshadow collection, this is definitely worth a look.

The shades in the ME (Metallic) category are among the most sparkly eyeshadows that I have come across in Japanese cosmetics. ME-05 Metallic Green is a very sparkly light warm green. The shade is mainly composed of sparkly particles (with only a little bit of pigment), and the green finish is mostly from the sparkles. (There are also hints of sparkles of other shades.)

I was worrying about the sparkle fallout when I was trying it for the first time, but it was not as bad as I had expected. The sparkles stayed on my eyelids with just a slight fallout after a day’s wear. Considering the size of the sparkles, I think the shade lasts quite well.

P-13 and BR-03 come with brush applicators and ME-05 comes with a sponge applicator. All three shades are easy to apply and last relatively well.

Overall these are quality items. I also like the shade categories. Once we are familiar with the various finishes, we know more or less what to expect when new shades are added to the lineup. If you have a chance to stop by the RMK counter, do have a play with all the different shades of Ingenious Powder Eyes.

(In the UK, RMK counters can be found at Selfridges London Oxford Street and Selfridges Trafford Centre Manchester. You can check out this page on the RMK Global website for all the RMK counters in and outside Japan.)

RMK Powder Foundation EX

RMK Super Basic Liquid Concealer

Can’t Live Without: RMK Cleansing Oil

Japanese Cosmetics in the UK

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Coffret D’Or Color Mixing Eyes in Lavender Purple Mix

by PJ on Friday, August 7, 2009

in -Coffret d'Or, -Kanebo, 2009 Summer, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup, makeup - eyeshadow, stash focus

The Color Mixing Eyes series is part of Kanebo Coffret D’Or‘s summer 2009 collection. Today I am sharing my thoughts on 04 Lavender Purple Mix.

The four colors in this palette are:

Bottom left: sheer off-white with soft shimmer
Top left: moderately pigmented light cool lavender with a mildly sparkly finish
Top right: moderately pigmented light-to-medium purple with soft shimmer
Bottom right: pigmented dark plum-purple

All shades have multi-colored shimmer. They go on easily and have a decent staying power.

The interesting thing about Color Mixing Eyes is that the top two shades are designed to be mixed together for the eyelids, and the two shades in this palette do work well together. With two slightly different finishes (the cool lavender on the left is more sparkly), the two shades together are able to create a dimensional look and the overall color is a soft cool purple.

(According to the eye chart on the back of the outer packaging, the cool lavender is also used along the inner 1/3 of the lower lashline.)

Compared with the previous series of Coffret D’Or’s eyeshadow palettes, Color Mixing Eyes is sheerer than Trance Deep Eyes (fall 2008) and 3D Lighting Eyes (spring 2008, marginally the most pigmented among the four series) and is more or less as sheer as Shine Accent Eyes (spring 2009). Among the four, Trance Deep Eyes is still the most shimmery/sparkly.

The look that this palette creates is fresh, cool, and summery, mainly due to the cool-toned lavender. For me, the color from mixing the two purples is a little too cool for my liking. I have tried using the purple on the right on its own on my lids, and I think this look suits my slightly warm-toned complexion better.

Overall, this is a satisfying palette and I should be going back to it quite often. If you would like a light and cool look for the eyes for summer (instead of the warm bronze look), this palette will be a very good choice. Also, if the purples you usually go for are medium-to-cool ones, then this palette would also be quite ideal.

Coffret D’Or Fall 2009 Point Makeup Collection

Coffret D’Or Fall 2009 Base Makeup Collection

Coffret D’Or Makeup Powder

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Lunasol Eyeshadow Palette Swatch Galore

by PJ on Monday, July 6, 2009

in -Kanebo, -Lunasol, 2009 Fall, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup, makeup - eyeshadow

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

Beauty blogger (and fellow Lunasol fan) Gemilay has posted swatches of Lunasol’s eyeshadow palettes released between fall 2005 and fall 2008. (Thank you for posting a commet to let me know, Gemilay!)

Also, beauty blogger Karman has posted the ad image of Lunasol’s fall 2009 collection.

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