RMK has also launched their Christmas Palette '09 website.
Here's a look created with the palette from the website. Surprisingly, it featured an Asian model instead of the usual Caucasian models that are featured in RMK's advertising campaigns.
The four Aube Couture holiday palettes (5250yen) are also up on the official website.
The promo visual featuring Kanno Miho (above) is alright but the visual featuring the other model (below) just looks like she's trying too hard.
The Coffret D'Or website has been updated with both the Christmas collection and the Spring 2010 collection. The makeup tutorials and TV CMs for the Spring 2010 collection should be uploaded closer to the release of the collection in mid-December.
The December issue of InRed will come with a Tsumori Chisato large tote bag (53cm in width) that features the same star and ribbon print as the Tsumori Chisato makeup collection for Shu Uemura. You can watch the video clip here. Although I like the print, I think the dimensions of the bag are actually a bit awkward. For such a large bag, it would have been easier to carry if the straps were longer such that the top of the bag does not sit so tightly under the arm. The magazine is due out on 7 November in Japan. Please call Kinokuniya if you want to know when the magazine will arrive in its stores in Singapore.
Also to be released on the same day is the December issue of Steady which comes with three HbG zip pouches and Coach stickers. Check out the video here.
Cosme.net has listed this set of three Bobbi Brown Mini Shimmer Bricks in Plum, Sandstone and Nectar (5575yen) for release on 1 December in Japan. In the US, they will be exclusive to Neiman Marcus. You can see another pic of the set on this Malaysian blog, which hopefully means that Singapore will be getting it too. I already have several Shimmer Bricks but none of the three shades in the set.
The Lavshuca website has been updated with the winter collection, which will be released on 1 November in Japan. Unlike past years, Lavshuca is not releasing any holiday palettes/sets this year. Instead, 12 new Custom Select Deep Eyes (eyeshadow duos) and 22 mini lipsticks (10 shades of Shiny Lips N [Color] and 12 shades of Shiny Lips N [Shiny]) have been added to the permanent line-up. The mini lipsticks usually cost 1050yen and the Custom Select Deep Eyes are 997yen each. Too bad the grey accessory box in the pic below is not for sale!
It's interesting to see Lavshuca release three green duos as there used to be a distinct scarcity of green shades in Lavshuca's eyeshadow lineup. The shade selection include the usual crowd-pleasers of pastel pinks and neutral browns. If I could pick one brand that I would like Watsons to bring in next, it would probably be Lavshuca. I think it would do very well here with its affordable price points and cute packaging.
The Bobbi Brown counter at Tangs Vivocity also had the Black Plum collection on display. The palette with the 3 eyeshadows, 3 blushes and 3 lip colors plus 5 brushes retails for a whopping S$400 (it's US$245 in the US). The brushes felt very soft but I liked less than half the shades in the palette so it's definitely not for me.
They also had the Black Plum Deluxe Beauty Trunk. The interior is faux leather and feels quite nice but I prefer lighter cases that are easier to clean. This retails for US$500 in the US, £350 in the UK and S$750 in Singapore.
The Lunasol website has been updated with the holiday White Lighting collection. The coffret is on my list of collections to check out but I'm expecting the Spring 2010 collection will probably have more colorful palettes. Nevertheless, it would be kinda cool to have a white Lunasol quad! Anyway, we're still waiting for the fall collection to launch in Singapore, hopefully by end-October, so it'll likely be another long wait for the holiday coffret to arrive.
The November issue of Her World (S$6) comes with samples of RMK Creamy Polished Base 00 and 02 (1g each), Bio-essence Tanaka White White & Firm Double Action Essence and FlowerbyKenzo Essentielle eau de parfum 1.5ml. Pretty good deal!
The Anna Sui website has been updated with the holiday collection plus new downloadable wallpapers and screensaver.
Also spotted these at Robinsons' Bobbi Brown counter: the Black Plum collection palette and brush set. I didn't ask about the prices.
I dropped by Robinsons at Raffles City to check out the Beauty Fair and came across the new launch of the MAC Magic, Mirth and Mischief! holiday color collection plus the mega-display of holiday palettes, makeup and brush sets.
I liked the Conjure Up Mineralize Blush, which is a deep plum pink. As many other beauty blogs have noted, the larger crescent shaped shades in the Mineralize Eyeshadows are gorgeous with excellent color payoff and feel extremely silky to touch. Unfortunately, the smaller shade in each has an awful gritty glittery texture. The huge size of these eyeshadows also mean that they are virtually impossible to finish so I just could not justify getting these as I doubt I would use them often enough. The 4-color Mineralize Eyeshadows that MAC had released awhile ago were more attractive in that respect. You can see excellent close-up photos and swatches of the Mineralize Eyeshadows on Temptalia.com.
MAC's holiday sets have never held much appeal for me, probably because they are designed to be crowd-pleasers and yet I can never find a set where all of the shades are attractive to me. I also usually find the packaging a bit tacky. This year's offerings are again, fairly lacklustre. I couldn't even bothered to swatch them, just moved right on to Magic, Mirth & Mischief. Compared to my recent acquisition, Tarte Treasure Chest, the value-for-money factor of MAC sets comes up a bit short although if you are just starting to get into MAC, these can be a good way to try out several MAC products for a fairly affordable price.
It's well-known that MAC's brush sets are of much lesser quality compared to their regular brushes. I'd much rather invest in the regular brushes as they last for many years with good care.
