Makeup, Skincare, Fragrance and a Bit of Fashion
(image from www.sensai-cosmetics.com,
info from www.kao.com)
Kanebo Sensai launched its on-line stores in France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and the UK last month. They are the line’s first on-line stores outside Japan.
Please refer to this page from the line’s Japanese website for the links to the on-line stores.
Related posts:
Review: Sensai Eye Shadow Palette in ES02 Kaede Momiji
Review: Sensai Cellular Performance Mask & Hydrachange Mask
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In most countries outside Asia, the Sensai line would be the only line available under the Kanebo brand. Last month, I reviewed Sensai’s Cellular Performance Mask and Hydrachange Mask. Sensai also carries base and point makeup items (as well as bodycare and haircare products), and, today, I am featuring the line’s Eye Shadow Palette in ES 02 Kaede Momiji.
(image from www.sensai-cosmetics.com)
Sensai’s Eye Shadow Palette range was launched in February 2009 as part of the line’s revamped point makeup collection. (See my post on this back in 2008.) The range currently includes four variations. ES 02 Kaede Momiji is the warmer one of the two neutral palettes.
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Kanebo’s Sensai line is one of the lines from the brand that have a more international presence. Today I am featuring two facial masks from the line’s Cellular Performance skincare range, Cellular Performance Hydrachange Mask and Cellular Performance Mask.
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(image and info from www.nikkei.co.jp)
Kanebo International does have a point makeup collection and a base makeup collection under Sensai. But, as far as I know, there hasn’t been much movement for a while in terms of new seasonal collections. This release follows the launch of Sensai Premier The Body Cream to further strengthen the prestigious image of Kanebo International and the profile of Sensai.
According to Nikkei Net, the collection will be available in boutiques, department stores and spas where Kanebo International is available (in America, Europe, and Middle East). The price range is from 8 to 45 euros.
Kanebo International is not available in Japan. In the UK, it is currently available in Harrods.
Related Posts:
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(Kanebo 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).
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(Selfridges, Oxford Street London)
I have to say that, personally, purely in terms of beauty shopping, London can’t really compete with Tokyo or Taipei. But it is one of my favorite cities and it does still have plenty to offer when it comes to beauty.
– WHERE TO GO –
If you have One Day
Oxford Street is your best bet, particularly Selfridges Department Store (Bond Street or Marble Arch Underground Station), which I think has the best beauty department in the UK. Apart from almost all the high-end brands (including one of the few Giorgio Armani counters in the UK), it also has a good selection of Japanese brands, such as Shiseido (carrying the usual lines sold in the west), SK II, RMK, and SUQQU. (The SUQQU counter is the only one outside Asia, and three RMK counters in the UK (Selfridges London, Selfridges Trafford Centre Manchester, and House of Fraser Glasgow) are the only ones outside Asia as well.)
If you have more time, head towards the nearby Boots store (on the other side of Oxford Street and slightly more towards Oxford Circus). It is a great place to browse through mid-range and budget British beauty lines, such as Ruby & Millie as well as Boots’ own No. 7, 17, and Natural Collection.
One Weekend
– You can stay on Oxford Street. There are several more department stores further towards Oxford Circus. Debenhams has a great fragrance department, while House of Fraser has a ck Calvin Klein counter. For those of you in Asia where Smashbox is not easily available, John Lewis has a Smashbox counter.
– In the Knightsbridge area (Knightsbridge Station), you can find both Harrods and Harvey Nichols. Apart from probably the best fragrance department in the UK, Harrods also has one of the remaining Kanebo International counters (carrying the Sensai line) in the UK. Over in Harvey Nichols, you can find Chanel Studios, featuring Chanel makeup and skincare items exclusive to the North American and Asian markets. (I have seen many Japan-exclusives there over the years.)
One Week
– If you are a beauty fan and have a few days in London, why not indulge in a British beauty experience? Some of the brands might be available where you are, but I think the experience will be more unique. Apart from the very widely known The Body Shop and Lush, try Eve Lom, Liz Earle, Neal’s Yard Remedies, Penhaligon’s, Jo Malone, Molton Brown, Culpepper, and Floris. (Please check the websites for store locations.)
– Try one of the Space NK boutiques to be surrounded by high-end beauty brands like Chantecaille, By Terry, Darphin and Jurlique. There is a Space NK concession in Harvey Nichols as well.
– If you would like to test out items from Paul & Joe, you can either visit Harrods or Fenwick (Bond Street Station). I’d suggest the counter in Fenwick, which is wider and airier. (The concession in Harrods is currently more of a shelf than a counter.)
– If you are a fan of Japanese cosmetics but don’t usually have easy access to Japanese beauty magazines like Biteki and Voce, do definitely head to JP-Books in Mitsukoshi London and the book shop in Japan Centre. Both are literally seconds away from the busy Piccadilly Station and stock all the major Japanese beauty and fashion magazines. The locations of these two are so central that there is almost no excuse not to have a quick look if you want to check out the latest beauty products and makeup looks from Japanese as well as international beauty brands.
(By the way, the food section of Japan Centre carries lovely (and affordable) bento boxes, which are some of the yummiest and healthiest meal options while you are out and about in London.)
– WHEN TO GO –
I think a good time to go to London for beauty shopping is during the summer/winter sale period. (The summer sale starts in late June and most stores start the winter sale on December 27.)
During the sale period, many high-end brands have about 30% discount (and sometimes 50%) on surplus stock, soon-to-be-discontinued items, and past limited-edition items. (Last year, I was able to purchase Paul & Joe’s Light Cream Foundation, Face Powder and Pressed Powder at 50% off at Harrods and Fenwick. Also, a couple of weeks ago, I saw YSL’s silver makeup palette from last year’s holiday collection in Harrods and a few items from Guerlain’s Pucci summer 2007 collection in Harvey Nichols.)
Also, I have seen brands like YSL and Guerlain start carrying new fall/spring collections during the summer/winter sale period (particularly in top-end department stores like Harrods, Harvey Nichols, and Selfridges). These exclusive releases can sometimes be slightly earlier than those in North America and Asia.
– NOTE –
– Just like Japan and Taiwan, opened and used beauty items are usually not refundable.
– Check out this post from Kiss & Makeup for a list of British beauty brands.
– One of the best resources for beauty shopping in London is TimeOut London’s Shops & Services guide (9.99 GBP for the 2008 edition, currently on sale on TimeOut’s website). It is updated annually and the latest edition usually comes out in November.
It covers virtually everything you need to know if one of the reasons for your London trip is to shop. (It is also helpful if you are going to live in London for any period of time.) The Health & Beauty section covers beauty stores, perfumeries, salons, spas, and hairdressers, and all the practical details are listed. (It should be available in most major bookstores in the UK. I think it is worth having even as a souvenir for your one-off London shopping extravaganza.)
This concludes my mini-series on Beauty City Guide, at least for the time being, I hope. I have been to other places like Paris and Hong Kong, but I don’t think I know enough at the moment to bring you my personal recommendations. Hope one day I’ll be able to share my thoughts with you! (But do please e-mail me if you would like a few quick suggestions.)
Related Posts:
Beauty Phenomenon: Seasonal Sale on Cosmetics in the UKJapanese Brand Profile – SUQQU
Can’t Live Without – RMK Cleansing Oil N
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(All available in the UK!)As requested by a reader, today I am focusing on Japanese cosmetics brands available in the UK and where they can be found.
(If you are reading this from other countries or if you live in the UK but are quite far away from the counters, I will be mentioning possible ways to purchase from some of these brands on-line or through Selfridges.)
Here we go…
So far, there never seems to be a wide array of Japanese cosmetics lines in the UK. But what is available here is nonetheless a good selection of what the Japanese cosmetics industry has to offer. It also includes one of my favorite Japanese brands, Paul & Joe, which we will start with.
— Paul & Joe
(Paul & Joe spring 2008 collection: Sweetie)
Launched in Japan in spring 2002, Paul & Joe was an instant sensation. With its beautifully feminine packaging, it was almost the Jill Stuart before there was Jill Stuart.
To my delight, it was launched a couple of years later in London’s Harvey Nichols, where I saw the line in person for the very first time. Now it is available in Fenwick and Harrods in London, apart from the three Paul & Joe’s London boutiques. If you only have time for one counter when you are in London, go straight to Fenwick. The counter there is larger and has a better testing area.
There are several authorized on-line sellers of Paul & Joe in the UK, some of which deliver internationally. You can find them on the Shop Info page on Paul & Joe’s English website.
If you are interested, you can read my reviews on Paul & Joe’s Foundation Primer N, Lip Gloss N, and Face Powder, as well as my personal take on the brand.
— RMK
(RMK spring 2008 collection: Shiny Mix Dots)
Developed by Japanese makeup artist Rumiko, the minimally packaged makeup range is trendy but wearable and has featured a lot of distinctive seasonal collections. Some of RMK‘s most popular products include primers, lip glosses, and mascaras. I myself love RMK’s Cleansing Oil N.
Like Paul & Joe, RMK debuted in London’s Harvey Nichols. Later, it moved to House of Fraser on Oxford Street and it now resides in the nearby Selfridges. It is also available in Selfridges in Trafford Centre in Manchester and House of Fraser in Glasgow.
At the moment, UK is the only country outside Asia where RMK has a retail point. But you might be able to buy from the line from Selfridges by phone (from within or outside the UK). Check out Selfridges‘ Service Directory page for detail. (Select “Delivery” for the relevant information).
— SUQQU
(image from www.suqqu.com/global/)
SUQQU‘s launch in London’s Selfridges in November 2006 took me by surprise, as it took a different expansion path. Prior to that, outside Japan, it was only available in Bangkok, which was another slightly unconventional move.
SUQQU’s strength and popularity lie in its base makeup range. Its concealers, cream foundation and Clear Veil Powder are what make the brand well-known in Japan. Its eyelash curler is another cult item. I personally love the ultra-sophisticated brand image as well as the luxuriously smooth and silky texture of SUQQU’s lipsticks, eyeshadows, and blushers.
Recently, I have noticed that SUQQU has been trying hard to get featured in major fashion and lifestyle magazines in the UK, which is great to see. You can read my personal thoughts about SUQQU as well as my reviews on SUQQU’s Powder Foundation Glow and Sanzekan Eau de Toilette.
Like RMK, SUQQU’s counter in Selfridges is the only retail point outside Asia. (Again, please check Selfridges‘ Service Directory page if you are interested in purchasing their items by phone.)
— DHC
(image from www.dhcuk.co.uk)
DHC is a very recent addition to the UK beauty scene and is currently available on DHC’s UK website. You can read about my thoughts on the brand in one of my recent posts.
Updated on February 25th, 2014:
DHC’s Deep Cleansing Oil and Eyelash Tonic are available at Fenwick Bond Street in London (from February 13th, 2014). (information from DHC)
— SK-II
(Cate Blanchett for SK-II)
Currently owned by Procter & Gamble, this luxury skincare and base makeup line has its roots in Kobe, Japan, and its brand image has always maintained an oriental feel.
SK-II is currently available in several major cities in England and Wales.
— Shiseido International
(Shiseido The Makeup fall 2007 collection)
The Shiseido lines available in the UK include Shiseido The Makeup, Shiseido The Skincare, Bio-Performance, Benefiance, Pureness, Future Solution, Shiseido Men, and a selection of body and fragrance products.
Shiseido International is currently available in London’s Harrods and Selfridges as well as various other department stores in the UK (apart from Northern Ireland). You can use the Store Locator on Shiseido’s UK website to find your nearest Shiseido counter. A selection of skincare products is also available on QVC UK.
— Kanebo International
(image from www.sensai-cosmetics.com)
Only Kanebo International’s Sensai line (skincare, bodycare, sun care, haircare, and makeup) is available in the UK. It is currently sold in Harrods and its on-line store (where you can also find Shiseido International and SK-II). I am not entirely certain if the line is available in other department stores in the UK. (Do please let me know if you have more information on this. Thank you!)
—
It is perhaps worth mentioning that Anna Sui was available in the UK for some time before it left several years ago. (It used to be seen in Selfridges and House of Fraser in London.) Also, very intriguingly, one of Kanebo’s makeup and skincare lines, Chic Choc, was very briefly available in the Boots store at Piccadilly Circus in London.
According to what has been happening in the UK in recent years, I suspect that there might be more Japanese brands coming to the UK. I am sure it will only happen very gradually, but I remain optimistic!
—
Updated on February 21st, 2011:
Japanese lifestyle brand Muji also carries basic skincare products in the UK. You can purchase them on-line as well as at Muji stores in the UK and concessions in Selfridges in London and Manchester (The Trafford Centre). (Have a look at the store locator here.)
See my review of Muji Cleansing Oil here.
Updated on August 25th, 2012:
Astalift is now available in the UK. (Read my review of Regenerating Night Cream.)
Updated on December 9th, 2013:
It seems that Muji stopped carrying skincare items in the UK. Only beauty accessories are available now.
Updated on January 22nd, 2014:
Some Anna Sui items are now available on www.asos.com. (Many thanks to Leila for bringing my attention to this!
Updated on March 1st, 2016:
Some Muji skincare products are available in the UK again.
Related Posts:
All About Japanese Cosmetics
(celebrating my love for Japanese cosmetics)
Japanese vs. Western
(my comparison of the two camps)
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