Looking back on 2014

Today being the last day of 2014, I wanted to thank everyone still reading Rouge Deluxe for taking the time to stop by even though I no longer blog as frequently as before having my baby. With my son getting more hyperactive each day, something had to give, which meant that I simply did not have the time to write product reviews anymore as swatching, taking and editing photos were all too time-consuming. Time that I would rather spend with him, as these precious sweet baby months do fly by in the blink of an eye. I still try to post updates on upcoming collections as that's what most are interested in but the reality is that I only check in here only about once a week.

It's been an eventful year filled with lots of memorable adventures, including our first trip with the baby to Mykonos, Greece, and two trips to the UK to visit family. We have just moved back to Singapore for awhile and will be relocating to Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, in a few months' time. In the meantime, I'm enjoying being back home for now (3 years away means a lot of local cuisine to eat our way through) and exploring all the water playgrounds with my toddler. I haven't written about him as I didn't want to turn this into a mummy blog. I never expected to be a mother and put it off for a long time but now that he's here, every day is a day that I'm truly grateful for, filled with his cheeky smiles, excited babbling and deliciously warm chubby hugs.

Oct '13 - Arrival of the little one at last!


Nov '13 - We stayed at home the whole of his first month until his first appointment with the pediatrician. Although he was an average weight at birth (3.3kg), he managed to pack on more than 1kg in that first month. Since then, he was always solidly on the 95th percentile in terms of weight for his age.


Dec '13 - Out for a walk by Lake Geneva.


Jan '14 - Bundling up for his first winter!


Feb '14


Mar '14 - Enjoying the first blooms of spring in Geneva


Apr '14 - At the tulip festival in Morges


May '14 - Iris garden at the Castle of Vullierens


Jun '14


Jul '14


Aug '14 - in red and white for our National Day


Sep '14 - Visited his baby cousin in the UK


Oct '14 - Celebrated his first birthday


Nov '14 - Visited his baby cousin again in the UK and moved out of Switzerland.


Dec '14 - Back in Singapore for the first time since he was born and getting excited by all the Christmas trees.


So this was my year. I hope that yours was a good one too and that 2015 will be even better!

Shiseido Tsubaki Oil Shampoo & Conditioner

Shiseido has released a limited edition version of its popular Tsubaki shampoo and conditioner, formulated with camellia oil harvested just this autumn in Nagasaki's Goto Islands. With 10 natural ingredients (camellia leaf, sophora flavescena, wild thyme, soybean, St John's wort, camomile, saxifrage, angelica keiskei, camellia flower and rosemary), this oil shampoo and conditioner will be exclusively available only this winter. Both are free of silicones and sodium laureth sulfate, with the shampoo designed to provide a creamy lather and deep cleansing effect.

Addiction TV CM and Dutyfree

Here's the first ever TV commercial for Addiction, featuring the pop group E-girls for the Tokyo Mon Amour collection. Addiction has also just made its first long-awaited foray into dutyfree travel retail. The full range is now available at Narita Airport Terminal 1 South Wing's level 3 in the Fa-So-Ra beauty store.

Shu Uemura Spring 2015 Metallic Bouquet

Shu Uemura will launch this Metallic Bouquet collection for Spring/Summer 2015. Inspired by Japan's New Year and summer fireworks (known as 'hanabi'), the collection features four metallic eyeshadow trios, five Rouge Unlimited lipsticks, Swarovski-encrusted false eyelashes and a new line of Metal:Ink liquid eyeliners in 10 shades.

Anna Sui Spring 2015

Here's the ad visual featuring model Ine Neefs for Anna Sui's Spring 2015 collection, due out on 4 January in Japan.

Majolica Majorca Spring 2015

Majolica Majorca will release its Spring 2015 collection on 21 January in Japan. It includes:

1. Lash King Film: A film-type mascara that can be easily removed with warm water.

2. Lash Bone Film: Mascara primer with black fibers that can be removed with warm water.

3. Majolook (Illuminator): Two limited edition palettes.

Three Lip Jam

Here's another pic from Spur of Three Lip Jam (11 shades, 3000yen) coming on 7 January in Japan. These contain cherry extract, argan oil, jojoba oil, camellia oil, evening primrose oil, rosehip oil, shea butter, beeswax See more pics and swatches on Beautist, close-up pics of the rest of the spring collection on Kuri's Beauty Report and the list of Lip Jam shade names on the Three website.

Chanel Le Blanc Collection 2015 and new Rouge Coco

Chanel will release its new whitening skincare and makeup collection on 20 February in Japan. It looks like there will be a few new primers, along with a five-toned lip palette, Les Quatre Ombres #248 eyeshadow quad, two blushes (one cream and one powder), a silver Illusion D'Ombre eyeshadow, two lipglosses and at least one lipstick. Pic below by Nao, who will be posting more details on her blog.


Pic below from Baila


Chanel will launch its revamped Rouge Coco lipstick range on 20 March, featuring 24 shades in a creamy and more deeply hydrating formula. Pic below by Tomoichi.

Pic below from Spur. See another pic by Abe Sawako here and on Maquia.

Shu Uemura Spring 2015

Here are the official visuals of the Shu Uemura Laque Supreme (3200yen) and Shu Palette (12000yen) that will be released on 1 February. There will also be five new Pressed Eyeshadow shades (1800yen).

BG01, BG02, BG03, CR01


OR01, PK01, PK02, PK03


PK04, RD01, RD02, RD03 (RD01 is a special collaboration with Yamada Heiando, which makes the lacquer ware used in the Japanese Imperial Palace.)


The Shu Palette features six different finishes, including matte, glitter and silky.


Pressed Eyeshadow in ME 150, P 820, P983, P241,ME 340

SK-II Auractivator CC Cream

Up next from SK-II is this Auractivator CC Cream, launching on 5 March in Japan. It performs 5 functions of moisturising, concealing, brightening, protecting and nourishing. Formulated with two types of micro pearl to enhance the skin's glow and a "Day Soft Aura White' complex composed of pitera, niacinamide and plum extract, it boasts SK-II's highest ever level of sun protection level at SPF50 PA++++.

Coffret D'Or Brand Renewal

Coffret D'Or, Kanebo's so-called 'total makeup brand' targeted at ladies in their 30s, will undergo a rebranding in March 2015 with the new brand theme being 'Make Your True Beauty'. On 1 March, Coffret D'Or will release 6 limited edition shades of Premium Stay Rouge, Premium Silky Pact UV powder foundation with SPF27 PA++ (7 shades), a primer (2 types) and a limited edition foundation case. Unfortunately, the product packaging still looks rather uninspired.

Shu Uemura Spring 2015

For Spring 2015, Shu Uemura will be releasing what looks like its most comprehensive eyeshadow palette ever. Boasting a whopping 16 shades and a double-ended brush, this will retail for 12,000yen starting 1 February in Japan. The shade combination looks inspired by (what else) Urban Decay's Naked series but will no doubt be popular. Pic below from Spur.


There will also be a new Laque Supreme,a liquid rouge in 15 shades inspired by the glossy high shine finish of Japanese lacquer ware. The brand's flagship store in Omotesando, Tokyo, will also undergo a major renewal in February as the first part of the 50th anniversary celebration of Shu Uemura's establishment of his private makeup atelier. See more pics here and here.

Pic below from Fashionsnap.com.

Kate Spring 2015

Kate will launch its Spring 2015 makeup collection on 1 February in Japan. Flush from the success of its Brown Shade Eyes series which sold 1 million units in just 4 months, Kate is introducing a new line of Monochrome Shine palettes in five variations (1600yen), designed specifically to complement black eyes (as well as to ride on the trend of iris-enhancing circle lens).


Now, which panda is cuter?

Kate also seems to be taking a cue from the Korean-style brow trend in promoting this thicker arch-less brow style (shown on the mannequin on the right in pic below), which can be created with its Lasting Design Brow W (2 shades).


There will also be a new Snow Skin CC Base SPF35 PA++ (1200yen) and Color Wrapping Rouge (10 shades, 1400yen). The Snow Skin CC base helps to conceal pores, skin redness and yellowness, to create a translucent, pink-nuanced tone.