Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone.
I didn’t consciously plan this, but I was going to talk about these gorgeous little eye palettes from Lavshuca featuring cute heart shapes. (Lavshuca is one of my favorite Japanese brands. Read more about it in my other post. I also reviewed its spring 2007 collection here.)
The Eye Color Select palette is out this spring and comes in five versions. I got the ones in pink and blue.
Pink is not the easiest color for me to wear but I wanted to try. Surprisingly, they came out nicely and I didn’t look like I had irritated eyelids. The deep pink (lower right on the palette) is very pigmented and is fun to experiment with.
The blue shades are all quite sheer, which I personally like. It is a subtle and elegant look.
All the colors have fine shimmering particles.
I am really loving these. They are great to use and look adorable on my dressing table. Definite keepers!!
(pictured: Sony CP Makemania
Curvy Lip Silicone)First of all, yes it’s Sony. They do cosmetics in Japan! (Or rather, they own a company in Japan that carries many budget and premium cosmetics lines. Makemania, which carries this Curvy Lip Silicone I have, is one of them.)
This lip gloss is claimed to have sold over 1 million copies in Japan and has been a huge sensation in some other Asian countries. It is nicknamed “Lip Attack” or “Lip Siege” (you get the idea).
It looks pretty ordinary, but it is one of the most lip-plumping lip glosses I have ever used. It is so good that I can’t even put too much on or I’ll end up having very fat lips, and it actually doesn’t feel too thick or sticky.
Also, one great design is the spatula applicator (see below). I always hate the sponge tip because it smudges off the lipstick and it is a hassle to clean. Now with the soft plastic spatula applicator, I can just wipe it with a tissue and it looks as clean as it can be. It also makes a smooth and even application! (Western brands please learn this!)
(pictured: the spatula applicator,
against the (very rare) bright summer sky in England)
Now that I have tried it, I can understand the hype about it all around Asia, especially when it only costs about $10 USD in Japan!
Edited on June 3, 2007: I’d like to point out that this is not the kind of lip-plumping lip gloss that gives you the tingling feeling and dilates the blood vessels in your lips. I personally don’t like that. For me the tingling feeling is a discomfort. The plumping effect of the Curvy lip Silicone lies in the spot-on texture, consistency, and the glassy and light-reflective effect.
Edited on July 18, 2007: Photos updated.
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(Jill Stuart Brilliance Eyes in 04 Gem Amethyst)
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This palette is from Jill Stuart’s spring 2007 makeup collection. When I saw this on the magazine, I just thought I had to get it. First of all, the packaging is ultra-pretty. Secondly, soft lilac and pink are colors that suit me quite well.
It proves to be what I wanted it to be and more. The featherweight powder feels soft on the skin. The colors are not heavily pigmented (which I like), and all of them are infused with shimmer and multi-colored sparkly particles. The effect is stunning. I can go for a barely-there look or I can layer the colors for a little bit more drama, For both looks, the shimmer adds subtle dimension to my eyes.
Overall, for this season, this is one of the best new items for me. Beautifully wearable colors and princessy packaging at their best!
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Related post:
Loving Japanese Brands: Jill Stuart
(my personal take on Jill Stuart)
(Pictured: my Avene Thermal Water)
My Shu Uemura Refreshing Lotion ran out and I knew it had been discontinued. So I asked a sample of another Shu Uemura toner beforehand (about a year ago). I tried it and liked it, thinking I would switch to this one.
I bought it last month and started using it a couple of weeks ago, and I actually didn’t like it. It felt a little bit thick on my face, and, more importantly, it made my skin flush just a little bit. As I decided not to use it anymore, I started to panic a little. I always use a toner but a really suitable one is very hard to come by. I can’t do alcohol, which rules out A LOT of toners. I also don’t like that sticky and filmy feel. It has to be something very fresh and calming. (I also tried not using a toner at all. That didn’t work. I know a toner is generally optional, but I actually need it.)
Then I started to think of all the toners I tired and kind of liked. Lancome’s Tonique Douceur is good, but it is still slightly filmy. Ayura’s AF1 toner is good too, but it is pricey and it is not available in the UK. (I would have to have my friend buy it for me, but that is too much of a hassle.) I needed something good and easily available locally.
Then I thought of Avene Thermal Water. I used it about 6 years ago. I used it to set my makeup and I didn’t like the effect. (Setting makeup with a face spray was never a good idea anyway, I later learned. It NEVER worked.) But it did feel light on my skin and certainly didn’t irritate it. Plus, my local Boots started to stock Avene products again. (It stopped stocking them about three years ago.) It was cheap anyway so I decided to give it a try.
I first bought the travel-size one (50ml). I used it for a couple of days and I liked it. It is of course really just spring water and it does feel light and refreshing. It calms my skin as well. I also notice that it seems to evaporate slightly more slowly (than if I splash tap water on my face). I think it might be because of the minute traces of silica that naturally exist in the spring water. But it does not feel filmy at all.
So far I am happy. I also bought the normal size a couple of days later.
I still have some samples of Ayura’s AF (Alcohol-Free) 1 toner and I will use them when I need to during this time of year (as they are more moisturising). But Avene Thermal Water will now be an official member of my skincare team.
(pictured: my only sale purchase…)
I went to Central London for the start of the winter sale on the 27th. I have to say I was quite disappointed. Usually there would be a few surprises apart from what I expected to see, so the fun was trying to decide what to buy. (Battling between budget and desire can be painful but exciting at the same time…) But this time there was just nothing.
In Selfridges Oxford Street, where major cosmetics brands often unveil their latest collections before the actual UK launch date, I happened to see YSL’s and Givenchy’s Spring 2007 Collections. Givenchy’s new eyeshadow palette looked very exciting with all the vibrant colors. But when I tested them, I found that most of them were not very wearbale. On the other hand, YSL’s eyeshadow palettes were better in that respect. Two of them featured brown tones and the other one had soft green, pink, and lilac.
What happens in most UK department stores during the sale is that some brands have items with 30-50% discounts. They are usually surplus stock or unsold limited edition items from previous seasons. They are usually placed in a small box at the counter. This time I saw YSL’s Gold Celebration Palette from 2005 (the one with a heart in the middle), YSL’s Palette Signes D’Orient (Autumn 2006), and Dior’s 5-color eyeshadow palette in 370 (Autumn 2006).
The only thing I did get from the sale was this year’s Lancome Hydra Zen gift set, which includes Hydra Zen 50ml for normal to dry skin, Hydra Zen Nuit 15ml, Hydra Zen Yeux 3ml, and Juicy Tube 7ml in Fraise. The original price was more or less the normal retail price of the Hydra Zen 50ml. With 30% off, it was a good bargain, especially when I also use the richer Hydra Zen Nuit when the weather is very cold.
Overall, this is one of the most underwhelming sale trips. But on the bright side, it is money saved for next year…
Next few days: more updates and thoughts about some upcoming stuff
(Clarins Palette Impression)
(Monet-inspired)
This is one of my absolute favorite makeup items. I acquired it in Japan several years ago. (It was only sold in Japan.) Monet is my favorite painter, so this Monet-inspired palette was simply a must-have for me while I was in Tokyo.
I have only sampled it very lightly. I think I will only use it rarely so that I get to keep the beautiful pattern.
I’ll stop here and let the photos do the talking.
by PJ on Thursday, December 14, 2006
in -Dior, -Kosé, -Paul & Joe, -Visée, -YSL, 2006 Holiday, all about Japanese cosmetics, fashion, makeup, makeup - blusher, makeup - eyeshadow, makeup - lip color, makeup - lip gloss, stash focus
For me, I bought these:
*Visee Dual Shine Rouge Palette*
I always like lip palettes. Visee’s Gothic design looks cute and glamorous. The grey lipgloss looks very dark on the photo, but it is actually quite a transparent grey hue with sparse glitters. It is mainly for a very toned-down version of dark gothic lips.
*Paul & Joe Hummingbird Collection*
Cosmetics stuff don’t get prettier than this. I like the fact that the lipstick does not have any shimmer. It is just a nice creamy muted pink. The eyeshadow, however, has tones of iridescence. When used light-handedly, it can be a good blusher.
*Dior Pretty Charm*
Tacky as some might think, I love this one-off design. I have not used the lip colors yet, and I doubt I will soon. I am just enjoying the sight of it for the time being. I like the fact that it is rather heavy so there is a sense of existence, as I always call it.
*YSL Gold Celebration Palette “Star Glow”*
Except for the fact that I need to be careful not to leave fingerprints all over the case, I am really glad that I bought this. The two pale lipglosses look like they have tons of glitters. I would like to try them soon. YSL should definitely keep releasing a palette for each Christmas. But I feel that, after four years, they might want to do something different…
*Marc Jacobs votive candle set*
I finally got it after missing it last year. Since last year, I have developed an interest in fragranced candles. The Stella McCartney candle is my favorite. Smaller than the usual glass candles, each one of the three features a different Marc Jacobs scent.
I realize that there are loads of lip colors from what I bought. Ummm…maybe I will buy more things for eyes in the coming spring, to balance out…
by PJ on Friday, December 8, 2006
in -Chanel, -Estée Lauder, -Lancôme, -RMK, -Shu Uemura, all about Japanese cosmetics, skincare, skincare - cleansing/toning, skincare - moisturizing/others, stash focus
I don’t have naturally perfect skin. It is a bit sensitive, a bit oily, and a bit dry underneath all at the same time. These are the products that really work for me and help keep my skin in its best possible condition.
Morning:
Johnson’s Sensitive Facial Wash
Shu Uemura Refreshing Lotion
Estee Lauder DayWear Plus SPF 15 for Oily Skin
Chanel’s Soin Tendre Levres SPF 15
No7 Uplifting Day Cream SPF 15 (something more emollient for my neck)
Evening:
RMK Cleansing Oil (if I wear makeup during the day)
Johnson’s Sensitive Facial Wash
Shu Uemura Refreshing Lotion
Lancome Hydra Zen for Normal to Dry Skin
Rose & Co. Apothecary Rose Petal Salve (for lips)
I try to keep the routine simple. I don’t use an exfoliator or a moisturizing mask regularly. I have them and I use them when I need to. They are SOS products that I only use several times a year.
I don’t switch between products in different seasons. I simply apply a more generous amount of moisturizer in winter.
Also, I don’t use an eye cream. Eye creams are a complete marketing myth. A well-formulated moistuizer should work on the entire face, and there is no need to have another moisturizer that usually costs three times more than the facial moisturizer in the same line (in terms of unit price). I don’t have dark cycles, dry lines, and puffy eyes, and I don’t own an eye cream.
In terms of skincare, I think simpler is better. Cleansing, moisturizing, and sunscreening are all you need.
