Yves Saint Laurent, one of the greatest fashion designers in the 20th Century, died in Paris on June 1st, at the age of 71.
He and his revolutionary and inspiring sense of beauty and style will be long remembered.
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-YSL
(YSL Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils in 1 High Density Black)
Two weeks ago, I wrote about Clinique’s Naturally Glossy Mascara, which is one of my favorite mascaras due to its natural subtlety. Today the mascara I am talking about is almost the polar opposite.
(Perhaps one of the most beautifully packaged mascaras…)
YSL‘s Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils does add length, but it is mostly about volume. The heavy-duty densely creamy mascara coats lashes effectively, making them look thicker with minimal efforts. Very little layering is required to achieve a good deal of volume.
The shade in 1 High Density Black is a fairly black shade without greyishness. The intense shade adds to the dramatic effect.
(Perhaps one of the most beautifully packaged mascaras…)
What I have found is that I do have to be quite light-handed with the application. Otherwise it will clump a little. I think the best way to apply this mascara is to use soft upward strokes. The zig-zag technique, which is usually useful in building up volume, will create clumps with this mascara. Also, the mascara seems to dry fairly quickly, so a speedy application is more ideal.
Overall, I think this mascara is designed to perform efficiently with very simple, swift and soft strokes. Some initial practice does pay off in the end.
Like Clinique’s Naturally Glossy Mascara, this mascara has also been around for years, and I am not surprised. If you are after (instant) volume for your lashes, then this mascara might be worth considering.
Related Posts:
YSL Golden Gloss
(gold for packaging, gold for lips)
YSL Gold Celebration Palette
(from Holiday 2006)
Keep It Gold – YSL
(my personal take on YSL)
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(YSL Golden Gloss in 03 Golden Pink)Golden Gloss from Yves Saint Laurent was launched in summer 2006. I still remember walking past the YSL counter and the dazzling golden shimmer from these glosses was calling out to me. After testing the various shades, all with golden shimmer, I decided to pick up 03 Golden Pink.
As I mentioned in my very first post on YSL, I love the brand’s classy and opulent gold packaging. In the case of Golden Gloss, the packaging echoes the product perfectly. (According to the YSL website, each gloss contains 24-carat gold (a very tiny amount of course), and gold is indeed listed in the ingredient list.)
(YSL Golden Gloss)(image from www.ysl-parfums.com)
03 Golden Pink is a warm red pink with mainly very sparkling gold shimmer as well as some subtle shimmer in other hues. It has a fairly good amount of color and is not overly sheer. The gold shimmer works well with the shade, and it is sparse enough so the finish doesn’t look frosty.
The overall look is vibrant and glamorous, and the beautiful finish lasts well. The enclosed brush applicator is easy to use and quickly creates a very glossy shine on the lips.
The gloss has a subtle fruity scent. Normally I like my lipsticks and lip glosses to be scent-free, but I do find this scent quite pleasant.
If you like very sparkling (but not glittery) lip glosses to add pizazz to your lips, Golden Gloss is certainly a range to consider!
Some of my other favorite lip glosses:
Lunasol Full Glamor Gloss in Bright Pink
Paul & Joe Lip Gloss N in Black-Tie
Sony Curvy Lip Silicone in 501
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(Givenchy spring 2008 collection)(images from www.cosme.net)
I stopped by several department stores in London a couple of days ago and saw that some spring 2008 makeup collections had been launched. I tested some of the items and I’d like to share some initial thoughts with you.
Givenchy’
s spring 2008 collection (now available in Harrods), Denim Fétiche, features shades of blue and purple. The blue in the eyeshadow palette looks more vibrant and dimensional than it appears in photos and in the pan. Though still quite dark, it is not as ashy as it appears in some photos. It has some nice sparse silvery shimmer.(In the two eyeshadow palettes, the top-left and bottom-right shades are shimmery, the bottom-left shades are matte, and the top-right shades are of a creamy texture.)
As for purples and mauves, the Prisme Again! Blush in #11 looks good with a combination of cold pinks and soft muted mauves.
(Ombre Éclat 4-Color Eyeshadow Palette)(image from woman.excite.co.jp)
Then I saw Guerlain‘s spring 2008 collection is Harvey Nichols. The palettes do look very nice. I tested the lilac and the blue palettes. The finish is smooth and matte, but it appeared to me that the powder doesn’t glide particularly well. I like the lilac palette, but I would like it even more if the bottom two shades had a little bit of a lilac undertone. (They are basically a pale grey and a dark grey.)
(Dior spring 2008 collection)(image from www.joseishi.net/voce/)
Then I tested some items from Dior‘s spring 2008 collection in Selfridges. I of course tried the limited-edition item Flower Blossom. Even though I am still leaning toward not buying it, this impressed me the most out of all the spring items I tried so far. The texture of the powder is very smooth and silky. The soft and almost fluffy powder imparts a sensually shimmery finish. The light pastel shades are pigmented enough to still look quite distinctive.
(YSL spring 2008 collection)
(images from woman.excite.co.jp)
Like me, some readers are concerned that the patterns will wear out. I think the
embossed patterns should stay for quite a while if the colors are only used lightly every now and then.
(YSL spring 2008 collection)(images from woman.excite.co.jp)
I also saw YSL‘s spring 2008 collection in Selfridges. The texture of Ombre Duo Lumière is soft and airy as usual, but none of the shade stands out. The Pop Stick Blush has a nice cooling sensation, but the finish as a blusher is too shimmery and glossy for my personal liking. The shades of Eyecolor Touche are less than exciting. Overall, for me, this is not one of YSL’s more inspiring collections.
One of the spring 2008 collectons I look forward to seeing is Chanel‘s. I know that it is already available in the US, but Chanel’s seasonal collections are usually launched later in the UK. So I will be waiting patiently.
Related Posts:
Spring 2008 Makeup Trend Report
(Read about the upcoming major makeup trends!)
Anna Sui’s Spring 2008 Makeup Collection
(featuring some vibrant colors)
Lunasol’s Spring 2008 Collection
(one of my favorite spring 2008 collections so far)
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I am sure many of you have seen some of the upcoming spring 2008 collections. Apart from returning guests like pink and beige, it seems that cool tones will be stealing the show.
Two major makeup trends for spring 2008:
– blue eye colors
– lilac eye colors
(part of Chanel’s spring 2008 collection, Aurora Blues Accent)
(images from Bjooti.Net)
The new Chanel eyeshadow palette, Les 4 Ombres in Blue Cèlestes, includes a dark cold blue and a pastel blue. It also features grey, which is carried over from the makeup trend from fall 2007. The collection has a distinctive look, but I personally feel that it lacks a bit of warmth.
Givenchy‘s new denim-themed spring 2008 collection, Denim Fétiche, is also blue-oriented, right from the packaging to the shades.
(part of the Givenchy spring 2008 makeup collection,Denim Fétiche)
(images from www.cosme.net)
Compared with Chanel’s collection, there seems to be a little more balance between cooler and warmer shades, which should make these palettes wearable for more people.
Coincidentally, the MAC for A-Mei collection, out in January 2008, includes a brighter, bolder, and slightly warmer blue. I have to say this is the kind of blue that I enjoy playing with more.
(MAC for A-Mei Eye Palettes)(image from www.urcosme.com)
The warm and cool palettes are also put together to complement each other to create more possibilities.
Let’s move on to purple. I have always loved soft purple shades like lilac/lavender as well as darker purples like violet. Since this fall, we have seen rich bright purples in fashion, especially in accessories. Mulberry‘s Bayswater patent leather bag in purple is just one example of a hot fashion trend in fall 2007.
(Mulberry Bayswater bag in purple)(image from www.mulberry.com)
Dior’s spring 2008 collection is very pretty in pink. It has a great mixture of warm and cool pinks, with mauves and lilacs as wonderful accent colors.
(Dior spring 2008 collection)(image from www.joseishi.net/voce/)
The 5-Color Eyeshadow Palettes in 470 Spring Bouquet and 909 Pink May both look beautiful and feminine. Pink May (the lower of the two palettes in the photo above) seems to be a great assembly of pink, peach, soft lilac, and purple. This certainly carries more of a spring atmosphere than Chanel’s Blue Cèlestes palette.
Apart from blue, Givenchy‘s spring 2008 collection also incorporates elements of purple. I will be interested in seeing the actual color and finish of the blusher (pictured in the middle).
(part of Givenchy’s spring 2008 collection)(image from www.cosme.net)
One of YSL‘s two new Ombre Duo Lumière palettes also features a plum-purple:
(YSL Ombre Duo Lumière)(image from woman.excite.co.jp)
There are also collections and individual items that put blue and purple together to create a pleasing mix. Among them, Chanel’s 4 Fleurs de Chanel includes pale pink, blue, and lilac.
(Chanel 4 Fleurs de Chanel)(image from uma.chanel.com)
Anna Sui‘s latest eyeshadow addition, Glitter Eye Color Stick, features bright blue and purple. The two colors also jump out from the limited-edition items, Sui Lip Gloss and Eye Color Accent J palettes.
(Anna Sui Glitter Eye Color Stick)(image from www.annasui-cosmetics.com)
(Anna Sui’s Sui Lip Gloss and Eye Color Accent J)(image from www.annasui-cosmetics.com)
Guerlain‘s new array of 4-color eyeshadow palettes for spring 2008 includes a soft and sensual lilac palette and a cool blue palette. The blue one seems similar to the Chanel Blue Cèlestes in terms of the color combination.
(image from woman.excite.co.jp)Clé de Peau‘s upcoming eyeshadow palette has a warm aqua blue and a stunning violet. A winning combination for me.
(part of Clé de Peau’s spring 2008 collection)(image from www.biteki.com)
Finally, Lunasol‘s Sheer Contrast Eyes palettes include 03 Blue Coral and 02 Lavender Coral, two vibrant palettes with warm blues and very pretty purples. Lavender Coral looks particularly alluring to me.
(Lunasol Sheer Contrast Eyes)(image from www.kanebo-cosmetics.jp/lunasol/)
It is worth mentioning that Lunasol’s existing eyeshadow palette ranges are doing extremely well this year. Skin Modeling Eyes (released spring 2007), Geminate Eyes (fall 2007), and Scent Form Eyes (fall 2006) occupy the top three positions in the eyeshadow category of @Cosme’ Best Cosmetics Award. I think the Sheer Contrast Eyes range, with the selection of both wearable and on-trend colors, is very likely to continue the immense popularity of Lunasol’s eyeshadows and Lunasol the brand itself.
I am personally very pleased to see more lilacs at makeup counters, as it is a very wearable color for me. As for blues, I am more excited about the warmer ones that seem to appear more from Japanese brands like Clé de Peau and Lunasol that we’ve just seen above.
I am probably going to pick up some (more) lilac eyeshadow palettes, and I will be reviewing them later on!
What about you? Are you happy with these spring 2008 makeup trends?
Related Posts:
The Allure of Blue Eyeshadows
(Everyone should try a bit of blue.)
(Everyone should try a bit of blue.)
A Splash of Color – Lilting Lilac
(one of my favorite colors)
T’Estimo Frame Impact Eyes in Purple
(out this spring and even more on-trend in spring 2008)
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We have already seen many spring 2008 makeup collections, and I am sure some favorites have emerged on your list. But let’s look back, just in time in the midst of the holiday season, at my own top 10 holiday 2007 collections.
10. Lunasol
(image from www.kanebo-cosmetics.jp/lunasol)
2007 is a great year for Lunasol, which brought out fantastic collections for spring and fall. Lunasol’s Christmas 2007 coffret presents the usual dose of neutral and wearable colors as seen in Lunasol’s previous holiday sets. Some might say they are unimaginative, but this doesn’t stop Lunasol fans from collecting this sophisticated coffret for lips, eyes, and face.
9. Guerlain
(Forever Gold)(image from www.guerlain.co.jp)
Guerlain’s holiday 2007 collection did not get my full attention until I tested Forever Gold (pictured above) and a couple of other items. Forever Gold delivers a sheer and fine mist of very sparkling shimmer. The finish is quite even, and the sparkles are very glamorous without being over the top. A star item for this holiday season indeed. (You can read more about my thoughts of Forever Gold here.)
8. YSL
(image from www.yslbeautyus.com)
I mentioned in my initial review of the YSL holiday 2007 collection that I preferred the usual gold packaging. But, compared with many other holiday collections, this is still a strong one. The collection is well-themed with memorable designs. The heart-shaped necklace is very pretty even though I don’t think this is the best makeup necklace for this season.
This is the first time in five years that YSL’s holiday collection didn’t make the top five on my holiday top 10 list, as the overall collection didn’t impress me as much as the previous ones did. (Read about YSL’s Gold Celebration Palette from the 2006 holiday collection if you are interested.)
7. Jill Stuart
(image from www.jillstuart-beauty.com)Jill Stuart’s holiday 2007 set is instantly appealing, with the kind of feminine and princessy packaging that Jill Stuart is famous for. Like Lunasol’s holiday 2007 coffret, the set features universally flattering shades.
According to this blog post, all the slots were full within an hour after one department store started to take pre-orders for this set, while the set was completely sold out in another department store within two hours after the set was officially launched. I am not really surprised. Since the Jill Stuart beauty line was launched in Japan in 2005, the holiday sets in 2005 and 2006 have been extremely popular. (This post also features a swatch video, in which you can actually see how the eyeshadow shades shimmer!)
(Continue to read Part 2 and Part 3!)
Related Posts:
Loving Japanese Brands: Jill Stuart
(featuring my Jill Stuart Christmas 2005 set)
Loving Japanese Brands: Lunasol
(one of my three favorite Japanese brands for the moment)
Keep It Gold: YSL
(my personal take on the glamorous YSL)
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(YSL spring 2008 makeup collection)(image from woman.excite.co.jp)
(Click on the image to see a larger version.)
YSL’s seasonal collections have been doing fairly well in the past few seasons. For the upcoming spring 2008, there is another relatively extensive collection in store for us.
The YSL spring 2008 makeup collection includes:
Rogue Pure Shine: 2 new shades
Golden Gloss: 2 new shades
Rouge Pure: 2 new shades
Mascara Volume Infini Curl: 1 new shade
Ombre Duo Lumière: 2 new variations
Eyecolor Touche: 5 shades (limited editions)
Pop Stick Blush: 3 shades (limited editions)
Palette Pop (limited edition)
So far, I have to say, overall, I am not too excited about the shades. Perhaps I will change my mind when I see the items in person.
But, for me, one exciting thing is that lilac and plum seem to be a big part of the spring 2008 makeup trend! We have seen
Chanel’s and Lunasol’s stunning lilac eyeshadow palettes. (Both are already on my shopping list now.) On Makeup Bag’s post on Guerlain’s spring 2008 collection, we see that the purple eyeshadow palette is featured right in the center of the palette lineup. Now we see even more lilac/plum above in YSL’s Ombre Duo Lumière.Keep them coming!
Related Posts:
Keep It Gold: YSL
(my personal Take on YSL)
T’Estimo Frame Impact Eyes Palette
(an absolutely lovely lilac eyeshadow palette)
Lavshuca Eye Color Select in PU-2
(yet another purple palette that I adore)
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(Dior’s DiorLight…safely made it to my shopping list)
(image from www.cosme.net)
Three upscale department stores in London, Selfridges, Harvey Nichols, and Harrods, have launched several holiday 2007 makeup collections. It’s getting earlier and earlier each year. I think it is rather ridiculous for shops to display Christmas gift sets in the beginning of October, but at least I have enough time to look through the items without making any impulsive purchase.
(image from www.cosme.net)
Three upscale department stores in London, Selfridges, Harvey Nichols, and Harrods, have launched several holiday 2007 makeup collections. It’s getting earlier and earlier each year. I think it is rather ridiculous for shops to display Christmas gift sets in the beginning of October, but at least I have enough time to look through the items without making any impulsive purchase.
As promised, here are my initial thoughts after I saw the actual items. (Please follow the links to see all the photos.)
Dior:
First I saw the Trotter Romantique palettes in Harvey Nichols. The larger one (with the mascara and the lip gloss) looks decent with wearable colors. It is smaller than the similar ones I saw. (The sales assistant seemed defensive when I compared it with the pink purse palette that I saw in Heathrow Airport, but I did mean it as a compliment. I would love to see more airport-exclusive Dior items sold in department stores.)
The two smaller square palettes are disappointing. There is no problem with the shades. It is the flimsy packaging. Very un-Dior-like. The lids are a bit wobbly and the shiny black PVC edge trimmings look brassy. The quality of the packaging is simply not as good as that of the Detective Chic or the Diorissime palette.
Then I saw the DiorLight pendant in Selfridges. The surprise is that it is bigger than what I imagined. I thought it would be slightly bigger than the size of a cherry, but it is only slightly smaller than a ping-pong ball. Quite a huge pendant. But it also highlights the fact that it is very light…almost too light, even though it sports many Swarovski crystals. (The Holiday 2006 Dior Pretty Charms is pleasantly weighty.) The two shades are the usual warm pink and light beige.
The sales assistant seemed bemused at the fact that I was carefully checking out the details of the “crystal ball”. Well, it costs 54 pounds (108 USD), and obviously it is the packaging that we are paying for, not the gloss.
I do like it and I will consider getting it, but I will think really hard about whether to spend that amount of money on a gloss pendant.
YSL:
I saw all the holiday 2007 items in Harvey Nichols. The heart-shape pendant, unlike DiorLight, has a good chunky feel. But I still think that, while the design idea is good, the actual finished product is not. I personally think that It needs more fluidity in the whole design.
As for the silver palette, I like the cute color of the blusher. There is actually a heart-shape spongy pad placed on top of the blusher pan. Cute, but not very useful. (But maybe it is precisely for printing a heart-shape blush on your face or body.) The other shades are very nondescript. After seeing in person the first silver holiday palette for YSL in years, I still prefer the gold packaging, like I said before.
Guerlain: (images from Makeup Bag)
The main buzz surrounds the Forever Gold Sublime Radiant Powder, which, along with the rest of the Guerlain Holiday 2007 collection, was launched in Selfridges. I spayed it on the back of my hand and saw a veil of delicate but very sparkly shimmer revealed itself. I was impressed with the gentle and even finish, and it should be great to add a touch of shimmer to the face and the body. The idea of the product works in theory and in reality, and I am sure this unique item will sell very well.
Givenchy: (image from Bjooti.Net, another image here)
The star item is Prisme Solitaire, which I saw in Harrods. Compared with Guerlain’s Forever Gold, this one gives a more intense and concentrated shimmer. (Guerlain’s Forever Gold is soft and airy, but still very sparkly.) It really is like diamond dust. Depending on how you use it, it can be an all-over shimmer or it can inject a dose of beaming sparkles to your eyes. Packaging-wise, I like the case very much, which looks like a real diamond ring case.
I personally don’t like too much shimmer, so Guerlain’s Forever Gold and Givenchy’s Prisme Solitaire will not make any appearance on my shopping list. But, if you like sparkles and shimmer, I highly recommend that you check out these two.
So far, the items on my holiday shopping list are Dior’s DiorLight and palettes from MAC’s Antiquitease. I can’t wait to see Antiquitease in person…
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(all photos from woman.excite.co.jp)
The YSL Holiday 2007 Collection presents itself in chic silvery packaging.
But I still prefer the gold packaging that YSL does so well, as the title of my personal take on YSL has noted. Not that I don’t love these items…every year I anxiously wait for the first glimpse of the YSL holiday collection, which always has the most gorgeous items around. But, after the initial seconds of sudden blood-rush upon seeing these photos, I quickly calmed down (and didn’t reach for my shopping list).
I know I am being very picky here (for my bank balance’s sake)…they look glamorous but I am not overly excited by the shades or the packaging. In a way that’s a good thing…since the final quarter of the year is always the time when I spend the most money and I already have some makeup purchases lined up.
I still look forward to seeing all these in person, but it is unlikely that I will take them home with me…
Related Post:
What did you buy for the holidays…for yourself?
(featuring the YSL Holiday 2006 Gold Celebration palette)
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Some distinctive trends in the fall 2007 makeup releases:
– olive green / grey eyeshadows
– intense lip colors
– retro Audrey Hepburn look
Which trend are you going to experiment with this fall?
—Grey Areas—————
In fashion, grey has been hailed as The New Black for a while. I am surprised that it didn’t trickle down to makeup earlier. This fall, grey eyeshadows will be big, among all the neutral tones.
One palette that epitomizes this trend is Shiseido Clé de Peau‘s Ombres Couleurs Quadri palette in 114 (seen below):
(Clé de Peau fall 2007 makeup ad, Biteki magazine September 2007, p. 152-153)
(Clé de Peau fall 2007 makeup ad,Biteki magazine September 2007, p.152)
Also, Dior‘s 5-Color Eyeshadow Palette in 060 Silver Goddess features an array of grey hues along with a sensual light blue.
Other servings of grey eyeshadows:
-Shiseido Maquillage: Sparkle Contrast Eyes 2 GY851
-Majolica Majorca: Shadow Customize BK922
-Kate: Gradical Eyes S BK-1
-Integrate: Live Fix Eyes GY812
–SUQQU: Blend Eyeshadow 04
In a way, grey (especially in metallic finishes) is simply a darker silver. The look reminds me of an old-school silver-screen goddess. Very nostalgic and glamorous.
—Green with Envy—————
Another trendy color this season is olive green. Paired with pink, olive green is featured in Lush & Lovely, Chanel fall 2007 makeup collection, as it appears in the latest eyeshadow palettes: Garden Party (Les 4 Ombres Quadra) and Lotus-Cactus (Irréelle Duo).
(photo: from Chanel at www.bergdorfgoodman.com)
Also, YSL fall 2007 makeup collection features olive green eyeshadows in a couple of the new Ombres Duo Lumières palettes.
In Japanese cosmetics, Cosme Decorte’s new line, Magie Deco, uses pink and olive green in the opposite way, with olive green above the eyes and pink along the lower lash line:
(Magie Deco ad, backcover of makeup booklet,Biteki September 2007)
Apart from Magie Deco, olive green eyeshadows are also used in:
Kate‘s fall 2007 TV ad (with Gradical Eyes S GN-1)
SUQQU‘s fall 2007 printed ad (with Blend Eyeshadow 01).
Olive green seems to be a relatively masculine color as an eyeshadow, which might be why it has been paired with pink to create a balanced look. But, worn alone, it can be very edgy.
—A La Audrey—————
Givenchy‘s fall 2007 collection, Camouflage Chic, pays tribute to the classic Givenchy muse, Audrey Hepburn. A search in Google Images comes out with photos of what I think is one of the most beautiful people ever, with clean, crisp, and defined eye makeup. Intense color fills between the lash line and the crease line and it is kept clean everywhere else. No smoky eyes here.
Givenchy’s latest Prismissime Eyes in 54 Cache Cache can get you this classic look:
(photo: from www.sephora.com)
Shiseido The Makeup‘s new Silky Eye Shadow Quad in Q9 Lunar Phases is based on the same trend.
Again, this is definitely a very retro look. I think “Less is more” is the key here. Don’t overdo it and keep it nice and simple.
—Strong Lips—————
What if you don’t want to pile on intense eye colors? You can channel the intensity to the lips. Keep the eye makeup fuss-free and choose a rich satiny (not glossy) lip shade. The cover of Biteki September 2007 shows how it’s done:
(cover of Biteki, September 2007)It can be a wine red, berry red (as in the Chanel ad above), or a warm brownish red. With careful coordination, they can go with grey or olive green eyeshadows, as in Estee Lauder’s fall 2007 look:
(photo: from esteelauder.co.uk)
I quite like this look. Chic and timeless.
What other trends have you spotted?
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