Makeup, Skincare, Fragrance and a Bit of Fashion
(images/info from www.cosme.net)
– Designing Premium Rouge (above, 4 new shades)
– Designing Mascara (1 shade)
Related posts:
Aube Couture Spring 2010 Collection
User-Friendly Makeup: Aube Couture
From My Treasure Chest (2) : Aube Rouge Dressious
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(image/info from www.cosme.net)
Related posts on Primavista:
Fall/Winter 2009 Base Makeup Collection
Spring/Summer 2009 Base Makeup Collection
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It is hard to believe that 2009 is coming to an end. Before we celebrate the arrival of 2010, it is now time to present my favorite holiday 2009 collections.
10. Coffret D’Or
(image from www.nikkei.co.jp)
For me, 2009 is another good year for Kanebo’s Coffret D’Or and the line is still as exciting as it was last year. This year’s LuxuLight Collection palettes contain eyeshadows and lip colors, like last year’s The Party Makeup Collection. The colors are housed in a lovely case with a festive vibe.
9. Aube Couture
(image from fanet.jp)
8. Sonia Rykiel
(image from fanet.jp)
7. Paul & Joe
(image from www.paul-joe-beaute.com)
Related posts:
Loving Japanese Brands – Paul & Joe
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(images/info from www.nikkei.co.jp)
– Designing Premium Rouge (16 shades)
– Designing Highlight (1 shade, used for the under-eye area)
The shapes of the powder in Aube Couture’s compacts usually indicate where the powder is used. (See my post “User-Friendly Makeup: Aube Couture” for an example.) In the case of Designing Highlight, the half-moon areas (as in the shape of the powder in the compact) under the eyes are where the powder is supposed to be used.
From My Treasure Chest: Sofina Aube Rouge Dressious
Aube Couture Fall 2009 Collection
Aube Couture Summer 2009 Collection
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(image from www.sofina.co.jp/hada-ka)
Hada.ka was launched a few years ago and is available at Sofina counters in Japan and Hong Kong. The line is targeted at consumers in their twenties with unstable skin conditions due to various factors such as lack of sleep and stress. The key product of the line is Deep Boost, which is used after the cleanser and before the toner. It is supposed to facilitate the absorption of the toner and whichever is applied afterwards and to help the skin stay optionally hydrated.
(Some other Japanese skincare brands/lines also feature products that are used before a toner. (I call them pre-toners.) Most are for deep hydration and some (infused with ingredients such as AHA or BHA and used with cotton pads) are wipe-off exfoliators.)
Here is the current lineup of Hada.ka (with notes on whether a product is for morning/night/both):
– Face wash
Skin Reset Washing Foam (morning/night)
– Massage serum
Refining Massage (night)
– Skin softener/texturizer (used before toner)
Deep Boost (morning/night)
– Toner
Aqua Charge Lotion (morning/night)
– Moisture serum
Night Moist Solution (night)
– Emulsion
Deep Moisturizer (night)
– Emulsion/sunscreen
UV Protect Moisturizer (morning)
(Aqua Charge Lotion and Deep Moisturizer are available in two versions for different skin types. Also, UV Protect Moisturizer is available in two versions, one with SPF 24 PA+++ and one with SPF 50 PA+++.)
Prices of Hada.ka’s items are similar to those of Sofina’s other skincare lines. For instance, Deep Boost (180ml) retails for 2835 JPY (about 30 USD).
I have not tried items from Hada.ka yet. If you have, do please let me know your thoughts on them. Thank you very much!
Related posts:
From My Treasure Chest – Sofina Aube Rouge Dressious
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(image from www.nikkei.co.jp)
– Powder Foundation Perfect Fit (SPF 15, PA++)
– Moisture Coat Base
– Serum Concealer Eye Zone
Related posts:
Sofina Primavista Spring/Summer 2009 Base Makeup Collection
Sofina Primavista Powder Foundation Moist Touch (for Fall/Winter 2008)
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With Japanese cosmetics, apart from the new lines springing up every now and then, an existing line sometimes revamps the packaging to keep things fresh.
Before being replaced by Aube Couture, Aube went through a few packaging revamps. About every two years, we would get a whole new Aube look. As the brand attempted to look and be more and more youthful and approachable, I have to stay I generally liked the packaging less and less. There was something about some of the older cases that really appealed to me.
I think I purchased Rouge Dressious in RS376 in 2001. At the time, the next Aube look had been introduced. It still featured dark-blue cases (with a gloss finish), but I think some of them (especially the lipstick cases) looked almost too streamline and simple. The old products, such as Rouge Dressious, were on their way out for good, and I thought I’d at least get one item and have it join my permanent collection.
(RS376 is an elegant deep rose-red.
I don’t think this is how Aube looked when it was first launched, but it was how it looked when I first got interested in Japanese cosmetics and this is still by far my favorite Aube look. As “Aube” means “dawn” or “leaf” in French, I think the motif at the waist of the lipstick case was probably meant to be a leaf (even though it also looked like a tulip).
I absolutely love the gold details against the frosted dark-blue case. The case looks so classy and elegant and it also has a somewhat assertive air about it.
Now, Aube Couture is all about easy-to-use wearable makeup to create everyday looks, and the soft and amiable packaging was designed to help convey the brand message. But I think I will still miss the Aube that was glamorous, regal and sensual all at the same time.
Related posts:
From My Treasure Chest (1) – Dior Princess Ring
User-Friendly Makeup: Aube Couture
Aube Couture Early Fall 2009 Collection
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(images/info from www.cosme.net)
– Designing Eyes (above, two new variations)
– Designing Stay Rouge (16 shades)
– Designing Eyebrow Compact (2 variations)
– Designing Liquid Eyeliner (2 shades, according to Voce)
Related posts:
User-Friendly Makeup: Aube Couture
Aube Early Fall 2008 Collection
Holiday Flashback – Aube Astral Rouge
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(image from www.sofina.co.jp/beaute)
Sofina Beauté was launch in January 2008. It is positioned as Sofina’s anti-aging skincare range for those in their 30s and 40s. (Meanwhile, Vital Rich is targeted at those in their 40s, and Grace Sofina is marketed towards those in their 50s and beyond.)
The main claim of the line is that the products are formulated to improve the penetration of the ingredients and to be able to reach the “core” of the skin. According the press release from Kao, some of the ingredients in the products are ginger extract, citron extract, and eucalyptus extract.
The range features a full lineup of basic skincare products, which include:
– four makeup removers (oil, cream, gel, and foam)
– two face washes (foaming and non-foaming)
– four toners (I being the least emollient and IV being the most emollient)
– one skin-firming serum
– four night-time moisturizers (three emulsions and one cream)
– four daytime moisturizers (two with SPF 24, PA+++ and two with SPF 50, PA+++)
– eye mask sheets
The prices of the products are similar to those of the existing Sofina skincare products. (The night-time emulsion is 3675 JPY (about 37 USD).)
I haven’t tried products from this range so I don’t really have any first-hand experience. One reason is the alcohol, which is a recurring issue with many Japanese skincare products. (You can see the ingredient lists of the night-time emulsion (II) and the makeup removal cream here and here. The emulsion has too much alcohol and my skin will certainly not be able to tolerate the product.) I have not had a chance to see all the ingredient lists so I don’t know precisely which other products also contain alcohol.
If you have had a chance to try products from Sofina Beauté, do please leave your comment and let us know what you think of them. Thank you very much!
Related posts:
Japanese Cosmetics Focus: Kanebo Freeplus
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(continued from Part 1)
6. Max Factor
(image from www.maxfactor.jp)
Do check this post for a great review of the green-toned palette (with swatches of all the palettes). The writer pointed out the improvement in the powder’s pigmentation level and lasting power. (The low pigmentation level from previous releases was mentioned by one reader under my initial post on this collection.)
5. Lavshuca
(image from www.kanebo-cosmetics.jp/lavshuca)
4. Aube Couture
(Aube Couture Designing Eyes)
The countdown continues in Part 3.
Related posts:
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Kanebo Milano Collection 2025 for Holiday 2024 (image from www.fashion-press.net)
