Just read on 2Channel that Gransenbon has ceased production and is being withdrawn from retail outlets in Japan. Even the official website has vanished from the website of its parent company, Cuore Cosme, which also makes K-Palette. Gransenbon hasn't released any new products for many months now, so the prospects for it weren't looking good.
It's always sad to see a brand meet its demise although to be fair, the brand's products were very much hit-and-miss. I'll treasure my collection of their blushes even more now. BHG has been selling Gransenbon blushes at just $15 each for awhile now. If you've been wanting to purchase them, don't wait too long!
Spotted this new Gransenbon Mix Blush (2310yen) on the Plaza Style website. It is available in 3 combinations) (#1 French Rose, #2 Peach Apricot and #3 Caramel Latte) and comes with a brush and mirror under the lid. The cover looks amateurishly designed though, giving it a cheap feel.
Gransenbon has revamped its website (about time!) and also introduced the new Diamond Jewel Eyes quads. Check it out here!
The Gransenbon website has been updated with the new Extra Keep Eyeliner (1260yen). It comes in only one shade, #1 Silk Black, and is supposed to be water/sweat/sebum-proof and yet removes easily with warm water. It is also the first eyeliner I've seen that is formulated with CoEnzyme Q10, plus acerola extract for deep moisturising benefits.
Here's a round-up of all the makeup and skincare that I came home with, not just stuff that I bought in Tokyo but also at the Changi Airport duty-free and some stuff that my colleague in the US helped me to buy.
My Tokyo haul of stuff for myself.
Love Clover Marshmallow Fit Powder N in 5194 Champagne Silver (12g, 2100yen) which is a loose pale beige powder with silver shimmer. This came with a free mini powder tub.
Canmake Loose Cheeks in #8 Peach Squash. This was an absolute steal at only 819yen.
Gransenbon blush #14 Maple Nuts, as compared with #9 Apricot Ginger
From left to right: #11, #9, #14 and #12
Sana Super Quick Eyeliner EX Vivid Black (1260yen). This is a crayon type eyeliner which can be used to line the waterline. I've always admired how Japanese ladies line their eyes to achieve the perfect smokey dramatic look but have yet to be able to master it without looking like a panda! Perhaps this will help :-p
AIAI Glyfoam 1300 is a facial cleanser that contains 13% glycolic acid and is free of fragrance, colourants, mineral oil and parabens. I've been wanting to try a glycolic cleanser for quite some time now to combat my acne-prone skin but they do not seem to be common in Singapore. This cost 3465yen, which was pricey, but as I had a 2500yen voucher at a store, it didn't cost me that much overall. There is also a soap version but it has only a 4% concentration and cost 2940yen so of course I went for the more powerful foam cleanser.
At Changi Airport's Terminal 3, I also picked up these lovelies from Bobbi Brown and Becca. Although I haven't been that impressed with Becca in the past except for their loose powder and concealer, I keep getting drawn back to the brand for some reason. This time, I fell for their Pressed Shimmer Powders which were very pricey at S$75 but somehow I ended up coming home with three of them. I think it was the fact that Becca is currently available in Singapore exclusively at Terminal 3 that made me go a bit nuts and snap up three at a go even though I already have enough shimmer powders to become a disco ball several times over!
The Becca counter itself was a bit of a mess with several items out of stock, including the ever popular Beach Tints. Becca has always seemed to have problems with their distribution, like when it was still available in Sephora, so I'm surprised it has survived until today. There was supposed to be a free concealer with purchase of $100 but as they had run out of stock, the SA gave me a Ralph Lauren Notorious perfume miniature and Jurlique Citrus Purifying Mist.
From left to right: Becca Pressed Shimmer Powders in Odette, Nefertiti and Gypsy
I also picked up the Bobbi Brown Rose Shimmer Brick and Lip Kit which came with a face brush and lip brush. The set cost S$101 and I believe it is available only in travel retail. As I already owned the Tawny and Bronze kits from my trip to New York last year, I thought the Rose would make a nice addition to my collection.
Rose Shimmer Brick
Lipglosses in Pink Mocha and Naked and Lip Colors in Brown and Tulle
From left to right: Tawny, Rose and Bronze
A colleague helped me to purchase these from Sephora.com during their Friends & Family 20% off sale. I got the MD Skincare Alpha Beta Daily Face Peel, Tarte the Vanity set, Tocca Stella solid perfume and travel candle set.
Luckily it's payday this Friday :-) I'll try to post reviews as I start using the products but with my camera acting up strangely, it may be difficult to post clear pics.
I arrived in Tokyo yesterday and as always, it felt like coming home. Weather was chilly but not so cold that it's painful. After a good night's sleep, I hit the shops today and checked out all my favourite makeup stores like Plaza Style, Matsumoto Kiyoshi, Ainz Tulpe, Seibu department store and the Loft. This trip for me is really just to chill out rather than run around sightseeing. The only things on my agenda are shopping and eating :-)
It turned out to be a good time as several big Japanese brands have just launched their Spring '09 collections and there are also still all the Christmas collections on display.
Esprique Precious Xmas coffret
Esprique Precious True Impact Eyes. These actually look quite attractive in person and I would pick these over the Coffret D'Or spring palettes in a heartbeat. The texture is quite soft and velvety without being too powdery. The finish is a smooth pearl finish, which seems to be the trend among Japanese drugstore brands these days instead of the more metallic or intensely sparkly finish like Testimo or Aube Jewellery Shower Eyes.
Coffret D'Or Xmas palettes display
Coffret D'Or Shine Accent Eyes and the rest of the spring '09 collection just arrived in the drugstores. I swatched the new palettes and the texture is decent with a pearly shimmer rather than the bling-bling metallic finish of T'estimo eyeshadows. The metallic gel liners are terrible although they look very appealing and shiny in the palette. It proved to be almost impossible to get any payoff with these when I tried to swatch them with my finger but perhaps the result may be different with a liner brush.
The new palettes packaged with a free brush set (usually poor quality) and a Coffret D'Or mirror compact.
Coffret D'Or's new mascaras packaged with some freebies.
Gransenbon blushes
I'd been looking forward to checking out Gran Blush #14 Maple Nuts. This is a super pigmented orangish brown shade that would be great on medium to dark skin tones. If you go too heavy on this, it looks too orange but with a light hand, it gives a nice coral flush of color. Definitely the most pigmented shade out of all the Gransenbon blushes.
Gransenbon Gel Stay Liner
Gransenbon Premium Pore Cover Powder and High Tension Curl Mascara which are available exclusively at Plaza Style.
Rimmel Xmas collection display.
I was especially impressed by the gold Glitter On Cream Shadow which had a nice smooth texture that was not too greasy with just enough slip for easy application and dries down nicely to a powder finish. It has a gorgeous shimmery bright gold finish without chunky glitter like the NYX glitter cream palettes. And it cost only 630yen!
Kiss Xmas collection display. Both the Body Milk and highlight powder turned out to be lovely in person so I'm definitely getting these too!
Susie NY Xmas collection display. The Jewel On Multi Powder was just blah.
K-Palette limited edition Shiny Start Eyes #5 (purple), a lovely palette of smokey purples. This has also been added to my shopping list!
Excel Xmas collection display with the new pink eyelash curler.
NYX display of glitter cream palettes.
Loose face powder in a Tinkerbell case.
Bourjois display of the four new baked eyeshadows.
These were a total disappointment as the texture was rough and very dry to touch. I could get hardly any color payoff when swatching with my finger. Perhaps it is easier to apply with a wet brush but it's just not worth the effort when there are so many other better options at the store!
Lavshuca Xmas collection display and eyeshadow duos
Visee display. I was surprised to find that the Aqua Shining Eyes had been discontinued!
Majolica Majorca holiday collection display
Majolooks display
The Ainz Tulpe drugstore in Harajuku is a great place for buying prestige fragrances as it often has fragrances from brands such as Ferragamo, J. Lo, Elizabeth Arden etc discounted around 40% or more. This Lanvin Eclat D'Arpege (30ml) was only 1974yen (about S$32) and the 50ml size was about 2600yen!
Bihada Ichizoku masks and lipgloss set. I'm definitely getting a couple of these!
Crystal-encrusted mirror compacts at Plaza Style.
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Gorgeous selection of Xmas cards at the Loft.
Huge display of Chupa Chups (as in the famour lollipops) Bath Balls at the Loft!
