Sweets Sweets

Sweets Sweets is a very affordable Japanese drugstore brand. Unfortunately it's so cheap that it doesn't even have its own official website! Anyway, there's a new collection coming out on 15 June.

1. Pure Doll EDT (1365yen): Top notes of mandarin, lemon and bergamot; middle notes of basil and jasmine; and bottom notes of musk, sandalwood and amber.

2. Perfect Volume Mascara, 924yen. Can be removed with just warm water.

3. Perfect Long Mascara, 924yen. A fibre-based mascara that can be removed with warm water.

Other new products coming out on 9 July:
1. Perfect Eyes in PE5 Sugar Black, PE6 Brownie Chocolate, PE7 Cocoa Pink and PE8 Lime Blue, 672yen each.

2. Quick Dry Nail in QK43 Floral Pink, QK45 Shiney Bronze, QK46 Red Heat and QK47 Super Black, 315yen each.

Paul & Joe LE Pressed Powders

Some Cozycot members may remember that in around March 2005, there was a board craze for P&J's so-called 'Lollipop' pressed face powder which had swirls of pink and yellow that apparently gave a gorgeous finish. I don't own it personally but I think the new limited edition Pressed Powder #5 Sunset with yellow and light purple is an excellent replacement for it. I tested it at the counter yesterday and the face powder gives a very soft, glowy finish. The shimmer in the powder is very fine and delicate, so it won't make you look like a disco ball. The yellow and purple shades actually look very similar to each other once applied and I couldn't tell the difference.

The #4 Villa in bronze and light blue is more useful for those looking for a bronzing powder for that tan, healthy glow. The brown shade is a light tan shade that will suit even very fair skin tones but probably won't show up well on dark skin tones. The light blue shade provides quite the opposite effect of making skin appear slightly paler and more luminous. The shimmer in this is also very fine and delicate. These are due out in Japan on 1 June. Ok, I think these are going on my shopping list :-)

Urban Decay haul

Also made my first UD purchase in a long time, 2 Liquid Eye Liners in Thames and Shattered. I have to admit, I did it mainly to get the GWP which is the most adorable yet super cool loose powder container which I'll probably fill with one of my MJ Spices. I love the black & purple gothic gun design motif on the pouch and powder case. Thames is a complex deep dirty green (I just adore the name too as anything London-related makes me nostalgic) that has gotten rave reviews on Makeupalley with a whopping 97% saying they would buy it again. Shattered is a brighter metallic teal. I loved how these appear when swatched on the back of my hand. They did not budge once applied and the thin brush does a great job of drawing a sleek fine line. I much prefer this kind of eyeliners with a brush as they are much easier to control than those click-pen type of eyeliners where the liquid oozes out through the brush as it's just too tricky and time-consuming to try to get the right amount on the bristles.

The eyeliners retail for 2100yen each in Japan, a tad higher than the US price of US$14 (not including sales tax). I took some time deliberating between the eyeliners and the Eyeshadow Ammo Shadow Box which cost the same as the 2 eyeliners combined. In the end, I decided I have much prettier eyeshadow palettes at home already plus I'm not a fan of glitter in eyeshadows whereas the eyeliner shades were right up my alley :-)

Lunasol summer collection haul

Check out my new babies! I'm not a Lunasol addict but for some reason, I just fell hard for this summer collection even though my previous Lunasol purchase (Scent Form Eyes quads in #3 Black Tea and #2 Leak) did not work out as well as I had hoped (hated the glittery cream shade in the bottom left corner of the quads). The Skin Modelling Eyes series that first debuted in Spring 2007 didn't appeal to me much as I'm not a neutral kind of girl. I like my eyeshadows vibrant and colourful! What made me decide to get the two new LE Skin Modelling Eyes in EX01 Beige Bronze and EX02 Beige Cool was probably a combination of a few factors: I actually like all the shades in these two quads, the gorgeous promo image and of course, the LE factor that just makes them all the more collectible. Believe it or not, I have been thinking about this collection since the beginning of this week and had to restrain myself from running down to the counter yesterday to grab them. Today, I went by the Lunasol counter first thing in the morning and to my delight, the whole collection was still available.

I also bought the Full Glamour Gloss in #6 Soft Beige (2625yen) which is a great nude (but not so pale that it doesn't show up) shade with some shimmer. #7 Light Pink was an average light candy pink that didn't look like it have much colour payoff and #5 Clear is for me, just useless since ordinary lip balm would give you the same effect.

On a whim, I also caved and bought the Jelly Eyes EX02 Sheer Beige (2310yen) which is a light metallic gold that is not too yellow or brown toned. The texture is actually more creamy than jelly-like so it's actually more similar to Lavshuca's Jelly Pot Eye Color rather than Jill Stuart Eye Jellies. The Lunasol Jelly Eyes feels more creamy to touch but dries down quite nicely with a smooth metallic shimmer that is not gritty and has no big chunky glitter which I hate. I haven't used any of the items yet but will definitely post a review later!

http://www.kanebo-cosmetics.jp/lunasol/

Esprique Precious Summer 2007

I was at the drugstore today and to my surprise, the Esprique Precious summer collection testers were already out :-) I already knew about the knock-off of Beaute de Kose's Eye Fantasist cream eyeshadows but I was surprised to find that there is a new series of cream gel eyeliner (like those by MAC, Bobbi Brown and Kate) which Beaute de Kose does not have. The collection includes the following:

1. Liquid Eye Color Stylish in 8 shades, GD002, BR301, WT001, PU100, BE300, PK800, BR302 and BL900. 2100yen.

2. Matte Lasting Cream Eyeliner in 5 shades, BK001 (standard matte black), BR300 (dark brown), RO600 (red-toned brown, IIRC but I may be wrong), BK002 (greyish black), BL900 (dark blue). 2940yen.

3. True Black Mascara WP in Curl Long and Volume Separate

4. Illuminate Nuancer #2 (the Meteorites knock-off powder balls). This shade includes brown balls for a warmer mix than #1 which contains mostly very light pastel shades.

5. Nail Color in 10 shades, Nail Base Coat and Nail Top Coat.

The makeup breakdown for each of the promo images is as follows:

Girlie Splash (described as "cool, dreamy and cute") - Liquid Eye Color Stylish BL900 and GD002, Matte Lasting Cream Eyeliner BR300, True Black Mascara WP (Volume Separate) BK001, Eyebrow Pencil BR300, Rouge Stylish Liquid Type BE621 or Rouge Stylish Stick Type BE301, Cheek Color RD400, Illuminate Nuancer #2 and Nail Color PK802.

Virgin Stream ("romantic, passionate, cute") - Liquid Eye Color Stylish BR302 and PK800, Matte Lasting Cream Eyeliner RO600, True Black Mascara WP (Volume Separate) BK001, Eyebrow Pencil BR300, Rouge Stylish Liquid Type PK822 or Rouge Stylish Stick Type RD401, Cheek Color RO600, Illuminate Nuancer #1 and Nail Color PK800.

I only tested the Liquid Eye Color Stylish and the texture is identical to Beaute de Kose Eye Fantasist. But I was slightly disappointed with the colour range which was mostly brown, beige and gold shades with hardly any dramatic, smokey or dark shades. It's not a bad selection by any means as the shades are all very wearable, shimmery shades. But you can probably find very similar shades in the Beaute de Kose Eye Fantasist line-up, which to me kind of defeats the whole purpose of putting out a new brand if it's just to rehash the same shades. Even the packaging is almost identical except that the Eye Fantasist tubes are more heart shaped. For me, PU100 is the most interesting shade in the line-up as it is a lovely medium lilac. The Liquid Eye Color Stylish is also very similar to Visee's Aqua Shining Eyes but Visee (which is targeted at a younger crowd) has a more diverse colour range. I don't have the prices yet for these products as Esprique Precious is a "no print price" brand (another stupid practice).

http://ep-bko.com/

Edited to add: someone posted this photo of a sample card of the Liquid Eye Color Stylish in GD002 and BL900 on 2Channel.

http://imepita.jp/20070512/084420

Beaute de Kose Summer Fantasist

Beaute de Kose's Summer Fantasist collection will be debuting on 1 June in Japan. The collection includes:

1. 2 new LE shades of Eye Fantasist in GD058 Cool Gold and GR753 Green Gleam, 2625yen.

2. 2 new LE shades of Rouge Fantasist Aqua Vinyl in BR382 Golden Glow and PK886 Twinkle Pink, 2940yen.

3. 3 new LE shades of Nail Dramatist in SV011 Silver Gleam, GD012 Golden Beam and PU108 Sparkling Grape, 1575yen.

4. Mascara Fantasist Volume Show WP Blackest Black (curved comb applicator), 2940yen.

Starting 1 June, there will also be a limited edition Perfect Volume set of the new Mascara Fantasist Volume Show WP in Blackest Black with another tube of the mascara with a shorter spiral brush that is meant for those hard to reach lashes. The set will retail for 2940yen so it's quite a good deal.

The model in the promo image is wearing: Eye Fantasist in GD058 and GR753, Liquid Eyeliner Fantasist BK001, Mascara Fantasist Volume Show WP Blackest Black BK001, Eyebrow Pencil BR301, Rouge Fantasist Aqua Vinyl PK886, Lipliner Pencil PK800, Blush Color OR200, Face Highlight SP001 and Nail Dramatist SV011.

The official website hasn't been updated with the summer collection yet but it should be up soon.

http://www.kose.co.jp/bko/

Maquillage LE foundation case

Found this very cheerful and bright Maquillage Compact Case 07SS (fits Maquillage and other Shiseido brand powder foundations) that is limited edition for summer. Retails for 735yen.

K-Palette summer collection

K-Palette's blue-themed summer collection will launch on 1 June in Japan. All items are limited edition.


Star Tears Eyeliner #5 Mercury Blue (with silver, red and blue glitter) 1470yen

Star Tears Mascara #5 Mercury Blue (with silver, red and blue glitter) 1470yen

Crystal Powder #6 Sky Lustre, 1785yen

Gransenbon Candy Drop Liner EX

Debuting on 22 June in Japan is Gransenbon's Candy Drop Liner EX in 3 shades. It's a liquid glitter eyeliner with "candy crush pearl" for a sweet, juicy sparkley colour. 1680yen each.

#1 Maple Candy (gorgeous brown)

#2 Candy Berry (sweet pink)

#3 Candy Soda (refreshing soda blue)

Shu Uemura #24 Boutique Birthday Collection

Found great pics of the Shu Uemura Boutique Collection coming out on 1 June that I posted about earlier! This collection looks so gorgeous, it's my first lemming from Shu in a very long time. Think I may actually get that supremely overpriced traincase....

Train Case (H21cm×W29cm×D14cm) 19950yen

Makeup Pouch (13cm x22cm) 4410yen

Lip Color Palette, 5775yen

Palette Case, 1260yen (eyeshadows not included)

Pro Principe Pore Solution Kit, 5250yen


Depsea Water in Orange Flower, 2100yen


Lashes, 2100yen

Maquillage fall collection

Details on Maquillage's fall collection due out on 21 July:

1. Neo Climax Lip (lipgloss in twist-click packaging), 8 shades, 2625yen

2. Sheer Climax Rouge (lipstick), 6 new shades, 3150yen

3. Colour On Climax Rouge (lipstick), 6 new shades, 3150yen

4. Sparkle Contrast Eyes II (eyeshadow palette), 4 shades, 3675yen

5. Brow & Shadow Compact, 2 shades, 3150yen

6. Eye Color (single eyeshadow), 4 new shades, 1050yen

7. Nail Color, 4 new shades, 945yen

Majolica Majorca fall collection

Details of the complete fall collection from MM (sorry, no pics yet) due out on 21 July:

1. Lash Expander Neo (revamped version of Lash Expander), 1 shade, 1260yen

2. Lash Bond (mascara base), 1260yen

3. Jewelling Pencil (eyeliner), 10 shades (yes, 10!), 735yen

4. Rouge Majo Kiss, 9 shades, 924yen

5. Majo Kiss (lip cream), 819yen

6. Shadow Customise (finally!!) , 4 shades, 525yen

Giorgio Armani summer

Giorgio Armani summer collection due out in Japan on 1 June:

1. Bronze Mania Summer Foundation SPF20 in 2 shades (LE), 5775yen

2. Lip Shimmer in 2 LE shades, #34 Red Orange and #35 Copper Red, 3675yen

3. Maestro Mascara in #3 Brown, 4200yen

4. Shine Lipstick in #37 Orange Red (LE), 3360yen

5. Bronze Mania Gel (LE), 6300yen

6. Gold Eye Shadow (with a gradational effect) in 3 shades (LE), 3675yen

7. Bronze Mania Face Duo (LE), 6825yen

8. Golden Mediterranean Palette (LE), 8925yen

Shu Uemura summer collection

The Shu Uemura official website has been updated with the Summer Prism collection. The promo image can also be viewed below. Interesting, isn't it?
http://www.shu-uemura.co.jp/new/20070502_summerprism.html

Cosme.net also lists a big release coming up on 1 June that will include a LE flower-print makeup box (designed by a Japanese graphic designer Hideki Inaba) that will retail for a whopping 19,950yen, a lip gloss palette qith 4 shades (5775yen), a LE makeup bag (4410yen), a LE flower-print version of the palette case that can hold 4 eyeshadows (1260yen), 2 LE Depsea Water in Orange Flower and Myrtle (2100yen), a WR EX Whitening Kit (8925yen), Pore Principe Pore Solution kit (5250yen) and WR EX Intensive Brightening mask (8925yen).

Testimo website update!

The T'estimo official website has been updated with the new summer collection which has the dual themes of "Pure" and "Modern". There are 2 very useful makeup videos on the website that show in great detail how to apply the new eyeshadow palettes. They make the steps look very easy. I highly recommend checking these out to pick up useful application techniques for Asian eyes, even if you're not interested in T'estimo products.

http://www.kanebo-cosmetics.jp/testimo/

For the Gorgeous Modern look, the products used are:

1. Grand Shine Eyes #3 Brown

2. Shining Eyeliner EX02

3. Attractappeal Mascara BK-30 (first coat)

4. Strongproof Mascara 38 BK32 (used as top coat)

5. Grand Shine Rouge BE175

For the Pure Brightness look, the products used are:

1. Grand Shine Eyes #2 Grey
2. Shining Eyeliner EX01
3. Attractappeal Mascara BK-31 (first coat)
4. Grand Shine Rouge PK225

5. Lasting Gloss Coat

I also saw the testers for the two new shades of Pure Layered Blush, PK21 and OR21. PK21 is the typical light baby pink, most similar to Jill Stuart blush #1. It is paler and less rosy than PK20. PK-21 is used on the model in the Pure Brightness look while OR21 is used on the model for the Gorgeous Modern look. OR21 is a light apricot orange, quite similar to Jill Stuart blush #5. The new Grand Shine Eyes palettes are made with a new "Grand Shine" pearl formula that includes a highly reflective glass powder that has been coated with iron oxide for extra shine.

Canmake Pop'n'Jelly Gloss

Canmake's new interestingly-named pluming lipgloss, Pop'n'Jelly Gloss (567yen) is due out in Japan on 27 June. It supposedly contains a "Volume Up Complex" that keeps lips well moisturised. Also just out in the stores is Make Me Happy fragrance (1575yen), a sweet tropical fruity scent.

Shiseido The Makeup Quad Q8 Ocean Shimmer

Went to the stores today to do some JS CPs and chanced upon the Shiseido The Makeup's new limited edition summer Eye Shadow Quad Q8 Ocean Shimmer (4200yen). I had seen it in the magazines earlier and was already lemming the gorgeous white and red packaging of this quad. When I saw the eyeshadow shades at the counter, I immediately knew I had to have it as all the shades are just the type of vibrant shimmery colours that I love to use. There is a black cream eyeliner shade and three shimmer powder eyeshadow shades.

I don't usually care for STM makeup but this was a great exception. The black cream eyeliner shade has a deep blue-green shimmer while the light baby blue shade has a mint green shimmer. What I love about the blue shade is that it's not so pale that it's comes out looking more white than blue. The green shade is a vibrant leaf green, not too lime or yellow-toned. And the purple shade is a gorgeous deep lilac with pink shimmer. The texture is excellent, smooth with great colour payoff. My only quibble is that for such a big palm-sized compact, the eyeshadow pans look quite a bit smaller compared to most other brands! *Edited to add* Wore the new quad today and I'm loving the purple shade the best. It has a slight pink tone so my eyes don't end up looking bruised like with some other dark plum shades. The light blue shade applies as an icy minty pale blue that is just lovely. The shimmer is fine and elegant, not as sparkly as the Aube Jewellery Shower Eyes palettes. My only disappointment was the black cream eyeliner which creased and faded on me within a few hours and I had to re-apply them. The cream eyeliners in the Testimo Fresh Clear Eyes palettes were much longer lasting than that. So I'll probably go back to using the Opera Magical liquid eyeliner instead as that is totally budge-proof.

http://www.shiseido.co.jp/themakeup/summer/index.htm

I also found a great deal on Masaki Matsushima Orange Mat EDP, a fresh citrus scent that just smells deliciously fresh for only 980yen. I was very tempted to get the Anna Sui Secret Wish perfumes which were going for less than half the original retail price but I still have a shelf full of perfumes to use up so perhaps next month ;-p Also picked up 3 bottles Fancl Washing Powder Light (3460yen for 3 bottles; 1260yen if you buy only one) in the limited edition poppy design packaging today. All in all, a very satisfying haul!

Bourjois Eau de Gloss

Don't these new Eau de Glosses from Bourjois just look so deliciously yummy? These are coming out in Japan on 29 May (not sure if they are available in other territories) and will retail for 1785yen each. These supposedly give a fresh splash of translucent, glossy colour and have a fresh mint formula and a fruity scent.

Lola Color Play summer collection

Lola is another of my favourite niche brands. It's quite similar to Tarte in that its new makeup collections often have innovative, fun and multi-functional products that are easy to use. The new summer collection is already up on Sephora.com and will launch in Japan on 22 June. It includes:

1. Lola Laptop (US$36, 5670yen): Four shades of richly pigmented, creme-to-powder shadow/blush, two shades of the smoothest high-shine lip gloss, and a complementary highlighter - all in an ingenious, swivel-top compact.

2. Socialeyes Gel Eyecolor (US$20, 3150yen): Waterproof, smudge-resistant shadow/liner that comes in Sand (shimmer beige), Fiji (teal), Bora Bora (bronze) and Tahiti (khaki).

3. Double Play (US$26, 3990yen): Duo that includes a matte cream-to-powder blush shade and a complementary shimmery highlighter. Comes in Riviera (rose), Calypso (warm plum) and Sunset (coral)

4. Balm Quad (US$22, 3360yen): Balm Shell (bronze shimmer), Balms Away (coral), Balm Fire (red), and Balm Voyage (plum brown), plus a mini retractable lip brush

Esprique Precious Summer

Got some details on the forthcoming Esprique Precious release in June. There will be a new cream eyeshadow series like Beaute de Kose's Eye Fantasist, cream eyeliners (in black, shimmery black, brown, rose, navy) , nailpolishes, a new shade of Illuminate Nuancer (the Guerlain Meteorites-like balls) and a waterproof mascara. Definitely a collection to look forward to!