Susie NY Happy Bag set

Found this Susie NY Happy Bag set at It's Demo store in Shibuya today! It's Demo usually puts out these sets about twice a year and they usually consist of discontinued items. This set included the Eye Visualize #8 which has a mix of icy blues and sky blues; Duo Cheek #6 (pink and pinky peach); Nail Color #53 (dark blue with silver glitter) and Gradation Nail #3, all for only 1680yen which is a great deal as the Eye Visualize palettes usually retail for 1680yen each. The retail value of the set is 4725yen. All the sets had the same Eye Visualize palette but some had the Duo Cheek in #7 which is more reddish pink and some other different nail polish shades (brown and a clear red).

Givenchy Starry 777 Kit

Givenchy's new limited edition Starry 777 Kit comprising Prisme Again! Starry 777 quad, Eye Fly #11 Fly in Black mascara, Pop Gloss Crystal #402 Light Up and an original tote bag is due out in Japan on 7 July. Retail price is 6300yen. The quad looks pretty!

Packing my stash

In preparation for my move to New York, I've been trying to figure out how to cart my massive makeup collection back to Singapore and then to the US. This is the part that I hate most about moving across continents. Especially since I'll be a student again, which means no shipment allowance from the company. After toying briefly with the idea of splurging on the Shu Uemura Birthday Boutique limited edition white traincase with the red flower print, I decided that it was just too expensive for something that would would not even be able hold my whole MAC collection. And I almost wanted to laugh out loud when the SA told me earnestly that it's not even as expensive as their most pricey traincase which is 39,900yen. That's like three months worth of groceries expenses!

So I came to my senses and went to Muji where I got their large nylon makeup box (for a mere 2100yen) which is much lighter, easier to clean and more spacious than the Shu traincase. It would have been totally perfect if it came with a shoulder strap. Alas, when I got home and tried packing it with eyeshadow palettes, I was only able to fit in my MAC, Lunasol, Jill Stuart and half my Stila (dang those cutesy round cardboard trios) palettes. That's not even 1/5 of my collection which also includes a lot of Tarte, Stephane Marais, Inoui ID, Testimo, Pout, Milani and Cargo. Looks like everything else has to go into my check-in luggage. And packing all of it is not even the hardest part. That will come later when I need to choose what to bring with me to NY while the rest will have to sit idle in Singapore for a year... What a waste, right?

Moral of the story: I need more makeup like I need a hole in the head. And I really need to start using up more stuff. The good news is that I've fallen out of love with MAC which used to account for most of my makeup hauls. I got suckered into the endless LE collections madness but no more as I've come to realise that MAC's quality is just too uneven compared to other brands. For example, I've been collecting MAC's eyeshadow palettes but recently, I keep finding that I usually like only one or two shades out of the four in the palette unlike my palettes from Japanese brands where usually all four shades work beautifully with one another. Sad to say this but MAC just hasn't wowed me in a long time.

Jill Stuart fall collection

The JS fall collection will launch in August:
1. 5 blushes in a new portable packaging
2. Point Crystal loose eyeshadow in 5 shades (limited edition)
3. 3 new shades of Lip Lustres
4. 2 new shades of Brilliance Eyes palettes
5. 2 new shades of Jelly Eyes
6. 3 new shades of Nail Polishes

Looks like only the Point Crystal will be limited edition which is great news!

In September, JS will release a portable brush set, a lip cream and an eyebrow powder.

Lancome Juicy Tubes Tunes

Juicy Tubes Tunes (2625yen) is a new music-inspired series from Lancome that is supposed to be more moisturising and glossier than the original Juicy Tubes. Available in 11 shades, these also come in flavours such marshmallow, vanilla biscuit, caramel. Release date in Japan is 6 July.

#88 Chestnut Reggae (limited edition)

#89 Hip Hop Apricot

#90 Cherry Rock

#91 Mulberry Blues

#92 Vanilla Soul

#93 Toffee R&B

#94 Caramel Gospel

#95 Marshmallow Electro

#96 Disco Melon (limited edition)

#97 Grape (limited edition)

#98 Strawberry Funk

Awake, Jill Stuart and Testimo haul

Went down to the stores bright and early today to get the new Jill Stuart Brilliance Eyes #5 Mauve Pearl palette and as luck would have it, the Awake Reflectance Eyes E4 Mint Frost (limited edition) and Testimo summer collection had also just arrived in stores so I ended up getting all these palettes! The Testimo Grande Shine Eyes palettes were 2572yen after 30% discount at the drugstore. I'll be doing a round of CPs tomorrow (Saturday) so if anyone wants them, just PM me at MUA or Cozycot. Sorry for the short notice but after tomorrow, I'll be busy travelling with my family for the next few weeks :-) I'll be mailing out all the CP packages on next Monday.

According to the great SA I met at Awake, the fall collection is due out on 1 August (yay, just in time before I leave Tokyo!) and it will include two new Reflectance Eyes palettes in lavender tones and grey/blues. Can't wait to see them!

Shu Uemura Website Revamp

The Shu Uemura official website has been revamped with a new layout and the Boutique Birthday collection is also up on the website. In addition, the prices of the eyeshadows are going up from 1 July onwards from 2100yen to 2300yen. The eyelash curler price has also increased as of 1 June from 1050yen to 1260yen.

http://www.shu-uemura.co.jp/index.html

Ipsa skincare

Ipsa's re-formulated foam cleansers and soaps will debut on 29 June:

1. Cleansing Milky Foam - 125ml, 2625yen. A milky foam cleanser for dry skin.

2. Cleansing Smooth Foam - 125ml, 2625yen. A foam cleanser which includes clay as an ingredient for oily skin.

3. Cleansing Fresh Cake - 100g, 2100yen. Dual layer soap for oily skin.

4. Cleansing Creamy Cake - 100g, 2100yen. Dual layer soap for dry skin.

Summer skincare kits

Tokyu department store's website has several skincare and makeup kits from the various Japanese brands listed here.

http://www.tokyu-dept.co.jp/toyoko/urbancosmetics/info.html

Paul & Joe GWPs

The beige with pink floral print jewellery pouch is the GWP starting 1 June with purchases of 5250yen. Just in time for my purchase of the summer pressed powders :-) The white floral print travel pouch is the GWP starting 1 July with purchases of 8400yen.

Anna Sui Bath Mat GWP

This is the kind of GWP that makes me wish I was into Anna Sui makeup! Measuring 40cm x 60cm, it is free with any purchase of 5250yen and above starting 7 June. I'd take this any day over yet another useless plastic makeup pouch!

Kesalan Patharan Summer Innovation

Kesalan Patharan's Summer Innovation collection will be released in Japan on 22 June. It includes:

1. Face Color N #11 Brown Beige (for shading; 2625yen)

2. Nail Color N S17 Bright Gold, S18Sunset Pink, S19 Hibiscus Orange, S20 Sea Green, S21 Golden Black. 1575yen each.

3. Lip Jellee S11 Rose Coral, S12 Golden Orange, S13 Florida Gold.

All items are limited edition.

http://www.kesalanpatharan.co.jp/

Paul & Joe tote

The July 2007 issue of More magazine (600yen) comes with a cute little Paul & Joe tote bag. The material is a lightweight vinyl, pretty decent quality. It's just the right size for a small novel, purse etc. The magazine focuses more on fashion than makeup.

http://www.s-woman.net/more/200707more_pauljoe/index.html

Canmake fall collection

Canmake's new collection due out on 25 July in Japan:

1. Cheek Gradation #4 Chocolate Stripe (limited edition), 840yen

2. Powder Cheeks PW21 Bronze Gold, 577yen

3. Nail Polish #83 Pink Raspberry, #84 Tropical Mango, #85 Shiny Yellow, #86 Kiwi Green and #87 Marine Blue. 315yen.

SKII Aqua Physics

SKII will be debuting a new series Aqua Physics that will be priced under 10,000yen and targeted at the 20s-30s age group. There will be an Aqua Physics Serum (40ml, 9450yen) and Aqua Physics moisturiser (50g, 9450yen) debuting on 21 June in Japan. These cost about 1/3 less than the regular SKII range. Aqua Physics Serum is supposed to be used after cleansing your face and before moisturiser.

Majolica Majorca Jewelling Pencil

Pics of the new MM Jewelling Pencil eyeliners which will be available in 10 shades, 735yen each. Launching on 21 July with the fall collection.

Kiss nailpolish collection

Pics of the Kiss nailpolishes due out on 22 June that I had posted about earlier.

Cineora Actress Fantastic

Cineora is a Korean brand that is also sold in Japanese drugstores. Actress Fantastic is a powder puff that contains a shimmery powder that can be used on the face or body. Priced at 1260yen, it will be available in 2 shades starting 1 June in Japan.

Awake Reflectance Eye E3 review

I tried out the Awake Reflectance Eye E3 Always Blue palette (4.5g/0.15oz; 5040yen) today and loved it! The Reflectance Eye palettes were released in Spring 2007 and back in January, I was already impressed by the texture of these palettes but put off buying them until yesterday as at that time, I was more taken with the Jill Stuart Brilliance Eyes series. The eyeshadows in the Awake palette have a smoother, silkier texture than their single eyeshadows. They are also richly pigmented with a very fine shimmer (no chunky glitter bits) and feel almost creamy to touch. The texture is similar to Testimo's Frame Impact or Grand Shine Eyes series. On Cosme.net, they have an excellent average rating of 5.7 stars. I applied the eyeshadows according to the steps that the Awake SA had advised:

(1) Apply the top left silver shade as the base colour all over the lid with the fat end of the sponge applicator

(2) Apply the bottom left medium blue shade from the lashline to the crease with the fat end of the sponge applicator

(3) Using the slim end of the sponge applicator, apply the bottom right dark lilac shade along the lashline as the eyeliner shade

(4) Using the brush, lightly brush the top right metallic silvery blue over the whole lid for additional sparkle. It also helps to make the different colours look as though they have been blended seamlessly for a more polished, elegant finish.

I loved the colours in this palette which worked very well with my MAC NC20 skintone. I usually avoid dark navy or blues that are too ashy or dull as these make my eyes look bruised and tired. Blues with lilac or lavender tones and a silvery shimmer such as the shades in the Awake palette are more suitable for my skintone. You can also layer the darker shades for a more dramatic look. The eyeshadows lasted very well on me for more than 8 hours despite it being a hot summer day and my skin oiling up like crazy. At the end of 8 hours, my face was drenched in oil as I had not bothered to blot but my eyeshadows remained almost perfect! There was no fading at all and the eyeshadows looked as shimmery as when I first applied them. There was only a bit of creasing at the inner corners of my eyes. Now I can't wait to get the E-4 palette next weekend! The Awake palette costs quite a bit more than the Aube or Testimo palettes (usually 2572yen after 30% discount at the drugstore) but the blue palettes from the Aube Jewellery Shower Eyes and Testimo Frame Impact Eyes series never appealed to me that much because the blue tones just looked a bit off on my skintone.

Awake is a high-end department store brand by Kose. Aside from Japan, it is also sold in Taiwan, USA and the Philippines. In Tokyo, Awake is available at Isetan department store in Shinjuku, Tokyu department store in Shibuya station, Matsuya department store in Ginza and Seibu department store in Ikebukuro.

MAC & Awake haul

Just completed a major project at work successfully today after a very long and stressful week so I headed for Shinjuku to pick up the MAC Showflower quad which is exclusive to Isetan department store in Japan. After that, I wandered over to the Awake counter and ended up hauling the Awake Lip Lacquer Stardom #5 Lavender Mauve (2940yen), a super shimmery berry mauve, and Awake Reflectance Eye Stardom E3 Always Blue (5040yen). I had been using my Jill Stuart Brilliance Eyes palettes for the past two days and while I still love the shades, some micro glitter particles fell on my cheeks as the day went by so I was looking for a palette that had rich shimmery shades but with a more velvety, less powdery texture. The Awake eyeshadows felt great when I swatched them. And finally, the Majolica Majorca Little Black Book that I had bought at a Yahoo auction arrived in the mail!


Also reserved the limited edition E4 Mint Frost palette from the "Magnificent Sky" summer collection which will be released in Japan on 2 June :-) Isetan department store is also offering an exclusive kit which includes the palette and an Isetan-exclusive All Direction Mascara Stardom X1 (a greyish green) with an original red clutch bag for 8190yen.

http://www.awake.co.jp/index2.html