Lunasol Star Shower #3 Dazzling Night

The Lunasol SA rang me today to inform that the Lunasol Star Shower #3 Dazzling Night (S$77) that I had pre-ordered yesterday had arrived today so I wasted no time in picking it up. I tried out #1 Start of Night today and was impressed by the smooth texture and excellent color payoff. I was expecting there to be some fallout of the small sparkly bits but to my surprise, there was none and all the shades lasted very well over more than 12 hours of wear with hardly any creasing or fading (over my usual Testimo eye primer). I always use the included sponge applicators/brush as they work very well with the eyeshadows, in terms of blending and getting the desired intensity.


The light blue shimmer in the bottom left shade is actually a spray-on and the eyeshadow underneath is not as sparkly as it looks in the pic.


The star print on the top left shade also rubs off so I'm going to be careful to use only the area around it! The Geminate Eyes palettes have been discontinued, leaving only the Noble Shade, Sheer Contrast and Layer Bloom Eyes. Nevertheless, I doubt many will miss the Geminate Eyes as the Star Shower Eyes are a much improved replacement as they offer gorgeous shimmery shades without the hard glittery shade that was in the centre of the Geminate Eyes palettes.

Lunasol Star Shower Eyes #1 Start Of Night

The Lunasol Stardrop Purification collection has finally launched at Takashimaya department store. The display set is not out yet but all the 5 eyeshadow palettes have been inserted into the eyeshadow display (with the other series like Sheer Contrast and Layer Bloom Eyes). The color payoff of the Star Shower Eyes is excellent and the texture is smooth but some of the shades have small glitter bits, which some ladies may not like because of the fallout factor.


Initially, I wanted to get #3 Dazzling Night, which had a gorgeous smokey blue shade, but all the current stocks were fully pre-ordered so I placed a pre-order for it (should arrive next week) and got #1 Start of Night instead. I was also vacillating over #2 Medium Night but decided #1 Start of Night was more flattering and easier to wear.


Here's a comparison pic with Layer Bloom Eyes #4 Red Gradation on the left and Intellectual Eyes #3 Rose Variation. As you can see, Lunasol seems quite fond of the purple/peachy pink and pinkish white combination. But the palettes are still different enough, especially in terms of the textures, that I think it's worthwhile having all three of them.

Lunasol will be doing makeovers using this collection from 20-26 November (usually a purchase is required).

Love Clover Marshmallow Fit Cream Foundation

The Love Clover website has been updated with the new Marshmallow Fit Cream Foundation SPF20 PA++ (2450yen). It is made up of 50% moisturising ingredients and is supposed to help cover up pores. As is typical of Love Clover, it is available in only 3 shades and comes with its own spatula.

Visee x Duras Ambient

Visee has teamed up with fashion label Duras Ambient to release two limited edition Glam Hunt Eyes (1890yen) G6 Beige Brown and G7 Mauve, and Lash Curl Designing Volume Mascara BK002 Warm Black (1575yen) on 15 October in Japan.


Check out the collection on Visee's website!

Anna Sui Website Update

The Anna Sui website has been updated with the second part of the fall collection, comprising a Moisturising Trial Kit, Foaming Moisture Wash, a limited edition Hair Band G and the new Rock Me eau de toilette which is fronted by Agyness Deyn looking like a female Billy Idol.


The promo video clip for Rock Me.

Chanel Rouge Allure Review

The Chanel Noirs Obscurs collection kept calling me back to the counter until eventually I caved in and bought the Rouge Allure #147 Maniac lipstick (S$44) during the recent Isetan Private Sale. I thought that it could be the perfect dark lip base for combining with various lipglosses. When faced with a range of lip colors, my eye is invariably drawn towards the darker plummy shades. My first makeup purchase was 12 years ago at a MAC counter in Montreal where I got MAC Underworld lipstick as the MA had the most gorgeously gothic blackened blood red lips. Unfortunately, I was never able to replicate that MA's look with Underworld!


Maniac looks like a blackened burgundy in the tube. Applied on its own, it is not that flattering on my MAC NC20 skintone as it looks like a flat purplish burgundy. But you can easily change the shade by layering a lipgloss shade on top to make it lighter, more red/pink-toned, more shimmery etc. You can see very accurate swatches of the three Rouge Allure lipsticks in the Noirs Obscurs collection on Blogdorf Goodman. It is intensely pigmented and goes on with a creamy matte finish that is not drying. The lipstick feels very luxurious and has a very faint berry scent that is hardly noticeable.


Since there was a rebate for purchase of $100, I topped up my purchase with two Glossimers, #134 Jupiter and #128 Meteore (S$38 each). These are intensely jampacked with shimmer and looked absolutely dazzlingly under the counter lights. While I liked the texture and shades, I didn't like the glitter bits that were left on my lips after I wiped off the lipgloss during a meal. It took several more hard wipes to get the glitter bits off.


Jupiter (below) is a bright cherry red with pink shimmer while Meteore is a rosey pink.


Here's what Maniac looked like on my lips with Meteore layered over it. As you can see, Meteore brightens Maniac up, takes away the dark purple tone and gives it more of a reddish berry tone. It's a perfect shade for the holiday season, and is much more flattering than Maniac on its own!

Shu Uemura New Eyeshadows

Shu Uemura will add another 22 eyeshadows to its already impressive line-up on 1 October in Japan. The 22 shades comprise 7 Artist Colors and 15 fall/winter shades. With this collection, there will be 91 shades of Pressed Eyeshadow N and 7 Artist Colors.

I recall that there used to be 108 shades of Pressed Eyeshadow N, so this probably means that some shades have been discontinued but I'm not sure which ones. You can check out the new line-up here.

Lunasol New Base Makeup

The Lunasol website has been updated with the new fall/winter '09 base makeup collection which introduces a new Under Eye Base and Eye Essence Kit. The model is wearing Star Shower Eyes #2 Medium Night in the promo visual. The complete list of products used on her can be viewed here.

Majolica Majorca Fairy Sadistic

The Majolica Majorca Fairy Sadistic collection has been released at the Watsons store in Ngee Ann City. The highlight of the collection are the new Perfect Automatic Liners (S$22.90). I picked up the green one, which I'll review later after I've tried it out.

Fall Collections

Spotted at Tangs today: the fall collections from Guerlain, Ipsa, Yves Saint Laurent and the Chanel Noirs Obscurs collection. The Chanel collection, which was just launched today, looked tempting at first and perfect for those into Gothic vampy looks. I was briefly tempted by the dark lipsticks but the texture felt a bit dry when I swatched them. These were quite pricey too at S$44 each so I passed on them.

Maquillage Website Update

The Maquillage website has been updated with the new fall/winter base makeup collection, including the new Moisture FInish Powder UV Foundation and Moisture Cream Foundation UV.


The new TV ad featuring actress Ryoko Shinohara.

Magie Decorte & Cosme Decorte Fall '09

The Cosme Decorte AQ and Magie Decorte fall collections are up on the official websites. I think these two brands have the most elegant and classy ad visuals, featuring UK model Lily Donaldson, among Japanese makeup brands. Magie Decorte's fall collection, which includes 6 new Shadow Brilliance II palettes, will be released on 21 August in Japan.



Cosme Decorte AQ will also launch its fall collection on 21 August which includes three new Shadow Supreme eyeshadow quads (6300yen).

Canmake Fall '09

Canmake is releasing a small collection on 4 October in Japan.

1. Lashes (3 designs, 525yen)
2. Eye Nuance #24 Espresso Mocha (609yen)
3. Cream Cheek in 6 shades (609yen)

Body Shop Haul

I stopped by the Body Shop today to use my Star Loyalty 30% discount on the Precious Pearlescents Blush Trios. These came up to S$51+ after discount. I also received a $10 voucher, an cloth tote bag and a deluxe sample kit which was the "mystery gift" for Star Loyalty members.


The sample pack included a Buriti Baby Body Butter 10ml, Aqua Lily EDT 2ml, Colorglide Lip Color in Pink Ginger and Berry Shimmer, Deep Sleep Dreamy Pillow and Body Mist 0.3ml and a voucher for a complimentary eye treatment with purchase of $80 or $25 off any body treatments worth $95 and above at the Green Sanctuary. Although there was also a 4-piece GWP for purchase of $120, I managed to resist the temptation as I just have too many TBS shower gels still sitting at home in my shower. I also skipped the Pearlescent eyeshadow trios as I already have similar colours in my collection.


#1 Cool Dusk


#2 Warm Sunset


You can check out the current promotions at TBS here

The Body Shop Precious Pearlescents

Another lemming alert: the Body Shop's Precious Pearlescents fall makeup collection has also just been released at the stores here. If you like shimmery, glowy baked mineral blushes/bronzers, then you will probably like new blush trios (S$36.90). The shimmer in these is pretty intense with #2 Warm Sunset being more pigmented than #1 Cool Dusk, a sweet baby pink. These are very generously sized at 8g each, which means they'll probably take forever to use up. The eyeshadows (S$28.90) are lovely too with good color payoff but the shades are not that unique.


I'd probably cave on the two blushes soon, just waiting to see if the Body Shop will offer any promotional prices on them! If not, I'd just use my Star Loyalty 15% discount.

MAC Makeup Art Cosmetics

MAC's Makeup Art Cosmetics collection has been launched exclusively at Isetan Scotts. The counter is offering makeover sessions with your look to be "immortalised on canvas by an accomplished artist" after the makeover for $120 (fully redeemable for products).


I was very tempted to get On Display and Young Thing lipglasses as well as Full Body lipstick. Full Body and On Display are deep plummy reds that I always have a soft spot for while Young Thing looks like a lovely shimmery nude. The eyeshadow quads were too blah for my liking. The green-toned quad Photo Realism looked the most interesting but I think Chanel's Murano quad beats it hands down in terms of texture and the color combination.


Despite the attractive offers on at the Isetan Beauty Festival, I left empty-handed tonight as there were just too many items that I was tempted by! Except for RMK's Autumn Mystique collection which turned out to be a disappointment. The blush and eyeshadow palettes have some chalky shades with poor color payoff.

Here's the Anna Sui GWP currently at Isetan Orchard.

Esprique Precious Fall '09

Another Japanese pop star, Mai Kuraki, has become the new face of Esprique Precious, replacing British supermodel Karen Elson. The new TV CM featuring Kuraki promoting the Dramatical Veil Pact (Moisture) foundation SPF20 PA++. Made with Pure Cover Powder and Clear Smooth Powder for a soft focus "marshmallow veil" effect and good coverage, the foundation also has skin moisturising benefits as the foundation powder particles are coated with a micro emulsion. There is also a liquid version available.


A longer promotion movie clip.


Check out the updated Esprique Precious website here.
Incidentally, Esprique Precious has also just debuted in Takashimaya department store in Singapore this week but I haven't had the time to go check it out. The price points are around that of Coffret D'Or, with the eyeshadow palettes going for S$54.

Paul & Joe Breathless Collection

I dropped by the Paul & Joe counter at Isetan Scotts last Thursday to check out the new Breathless fall makeup collection. The SA informed me that it was also the last day that they were doing makeovers with hairstyling and a photo shot if you purchase a $60 voucher (fully redeemable), plus they would give you an extra Nail Color #40 Sorbet Chatagigne and Pearl Powder #1.

I really liked the new GWP, a purple and pink floral print pouch plus 3 skincare samples with purchase of $100 so I ended up getting two of the new lipsticks (S$39) and one eyeshadow duo (S$37). Here's what I came back with.



Color Powder CS #63 Breathless contains a pinkish beige paired with a bordeaux. Both have a soft pearl glimmer and good color payoff. The other two Color Powders were a tad boring for my liking.


Of the two lipsticks, I thought I would like #65 Cruising ("juicy sexy pink plum") more but it felt less creamy than #63 Reckless, probably due to the sparkle micro-particles in #65. #63 Reckless is a creamy, velvety red that adds a lovely pop of color and brightens up my face. (IUnfortunately, I'm one of those people who gets asked if I'm ill if I'm not wearing any makeup as my bare face looks very pale and washed out.) Paul & Joe is actually one of my favourite brands for lipsticks as I like the creamy semi-matte shades that are non-drying and come in gorgeous classic shades. They do have some lipsticks that are more glossy and sheer or with a more obvious glimmer but my favourite ones tend to be the creamy mattes.


Nail Color #40 Sorbet Chatagigne is a metallic beige, not really my kind of color.


Pearl Powder #1 is a shimmery basic beige that I can see myself using mainly as a highlighter on the browbone area.


The GWP pouch is one of my favourites from Paul & Joe so far. It feels very cushy with plenty of room inside. Plus it goes nicely with the zip pouch that I got from Voce magazine but of course the former is of much better quality.




This was the special promotional area where they were doing the makeovers and photos.








To be honest, I was puzzled why P&J made these eyeshadows so much larger than their usual Collection Sparkles Face Colors. I would have preferred the usual size, as I find the new ones to be clunky and too bulky for my liking even though the included sponge applicator does make it slightly more convenient.


My makeover photo :-) This was the first time I had my picture taken at a makeup counter so I felt quite stiff and awkward! It was fun getting my hair curled though, which was another first for me!