Majolica Majorca Pure Play Collection for Holiday 2013

Here are official pics of the Majolica Majorca Pure Play collection to be released on 21 October in Japan. All products are limited edition. See real life pics here.

1. Little Humming Book IV (1575yen)

2. Melty Snow Hand Cream (630yen)

3. Lash Expander Edge Meister #17: glossy black with blue pearl shimmer (1260yen)

4. Majoromantica P (1680yen)

5. Rouge Majex RD412 Pure Apple (924yen)

6. Rouge Majex RD311 Poisoned Apple (924yen)

Shiseido Sheer and Perfect Foundation Review

I received a sample of the new Shiseido Sheer & Perfect Foundation SPF17 PA++ at my local counter recently. This oil-free foundation promises long-lasting wear with all day hydration, a silky-smooth texture without shine or stickiness. It also contains 3 types of optical powder complex to cancel out uneven coloration: green powder for canceling redness and blemishes, blue for canceling dark spots and circles and white for visible pores.

It is already available in Singapore where it retails at S$56 for 30ml. In the US, it is US$35 and there are a whopping 18 shades available, versus only 6 shades in Japan where it retails at 4200yen. In Switzerland, it's around CH64, with I20 Natural Light Ivory being the lightest of the six shades available. Although it's a Japanese brand, this is made in the USA.

I20 is quite a bit darker than I00 Very Light Ivory. It is a tad dark for my skintone.

I found the texture quite similar to Perfect Refining Foundation. Both feel very lightweight on the skin with a soft matte finish. After Sheer & Perfect sets, my skin feels very soft, ultra smooth and cool to touch, without any discernible powderiness or greasiness. Applied using the Shiseido Perfect Foundation Brush, it glides over the skin easily, although it still needs some blending with the fingers to vanish the brush stroke marks.

It looks very natural, allowing the skin's natural radiance to show through and can be layered in areas that need more coverage. It offers at best medium coverage, so a separate concealer is still needed for the under-eye area and darker pigmentation/acne spots. It does reduce the appearance of pores and tones down the redness in my cheeks and the nose area. However, if you have dry patches or skin flakes, this can emphasise those.

In terms of oil control, this was not the best with my T-zone showing shine in less than two hours. I expect my skin would have gotten oily even faster if I was in Singapore's hot humid climate instead of the cool Swiss autumn weather over here. Blotting is required every couple of hours but if you have normal skin and do not need that much coverage, this would probably work better for you.

Below is the list of ingredients, which contains silicones and alcohol.

Application how-to video by Shiseido.

Majolica Majorca Lash Expander Edge Meister F

Lash Expander Edge Meister F (1260yen/S$25.90) is the first film-type mascara by Majolica Majorca that can be removed with just warm water. This was recently released as part of the Fantastic Fantasy collection for autumn .

It features a "duet" comb. The side with more teeth is for adding length and separating lashes while the other side is for "point catch" of shorter lashes at the corners and along the lower eyelid.

Like most of other Majolica mascaras, this contains black fibres that are 4mm long. The formula is relatively 'wet' and slick, which makes for easy gliding through the lashes even on repeated coats. However, the comb does tend to pull out of the tube with quite a bit of product, so you may want to wipe it down a little otherwise the mascara tends to gloop onto the lashes and weigh them down. I normally avoid fibre-based mascaras as they can irritate my eyes, but with Edge Meister F, as long as I am careful to pick out any stray fibres that fall along the lashline, it did not cause any irritation and there was no fallout during the rest of the day.

Here's a pic of my bare lashes after curling with Tarte's eyelash curler.

I love the intense jet black shade which adds great definition to my lashes. Edge Meister F also does a good job of adding length and some volume. My lashes are naturally thin and sparse, so no mascara can ever add enough volume to give the thick false eyelash effect. If there is too much product on the comb, it tends to make my lashes stick together but this can be easily corrected. It does take a bit more effort and time to ensure an even application compared to some other mascaras but the final lengthening effect is worth it.

In terms of holding the curl of my lashes, it is just average. My lashes do not end up poker-straight at the end of the day, but there is also no extra uplift to them when freshly applied. The long fibres can also look messy if they end up in a bunch on the lashes. As for removal, the mascara does come off when I take a warm shower, without the need to rub my lashes. I usually use Lancome Bifacil to remove my eye makeup but it does not take off the mascara completely. The rest of it washes off in the shower, although some black bits usually end up around my eyelids, inner corners and under-eye area that can be easily wiped off.

Below is another set of before and after pics. Overall, I liked Edge Meister F for the excellent definition and lengthening but it falls somewhat short in terms of curling the lashes. It is also smudgeproof and does not smear even after many hours of wear.


Edge Meister F is available for US$16.50 on AdamBeauty.com. A friend helped me purchase this from Watsons in Singapore.

Visee Video Clips

Here are the new video promos for the revamped Visee line.


Behind the scenes clip.

Coffret D'Or Total Designing Set 2013

Coffret D'Or is about to release these two Total Designing Sets, which will retail at 3990yen with a retail value of 6200yen. Each set includes a 3D Gradation Eyes palette, mini liquid rouge and a mini blush.


There are four sets to choose from. Set EX1 contains 3D Gradation Eyes #1 Pink Beige in the pink limited edition case, Bright Up Rouge (Creamy Liquid) PK264 and Color Blush PK22. Set EX2 is the same as EX1 but with 3D Gradation Eyes #5 Soft Plum (LE). Set EX3 includes 3D Gradation Eyes #2 Mint Brown in the blue case, Bright Up Rouge (Creamy Liquid) PK263 and Color Blush RS17. Set EX4 is the same as EX3 but with 3D Gradation Eyes #6 Beige Navy (LE). See swatches on the Coffret D'Or website.

These are due out on 24 September in Japan. Adambeauty also stocks Coffret D'Or so you may want to monitor it if you are interested in these sets.

SKII Christmas Coffrets 2013

For this holiday season, SK-II will be offering various coffrets and a limited edition design of its Facial Treatment Essence featuring Swarovski's Xilion cut crystal design.

The Facial Treatment Essence Limited Edition Xmas Coffret includes the FTE 215ml and a mirror with Swarovski accents for 20475yen. There is an alternative version without the mirror that includes the Science Eye Mask (2x7 sets) and Magic Mask (15 uses).

The Pitera Essence Set Festive Edition (8925yen) includes the FTE 75ml, Facial Treatment Mask (2 sheets), Facial Treatment Clear Lotion (30ml), Stem Power 2.5g and cotton pads (30 sheets).

The Stem Power Xmas Coffret includes Stem Power 80g, Facial Treatment Gentle Cleansing Cream 15g, Facial Treatment Gentle Cleanser 20g, Skin Signature 3D Redefining Mask and a holder charm accessory.

With purchase of any two new makeup items, there is a gift that contains the Facial Treatment Gentle Cleansing Cream 2.5g, Facial Treatment Gentle Cleanser 6g, FTE 10ml, Stem Power 2.5g and a pouch

Due out on 5 November in Japan.

Jill Stuart Moist Silk Jelly Foundation Review

This week, I've been testing out the new Jill Stuart Moist Silk Jelly Foundation SPF20 PA++ and Natural Up Creator sponge. I purchased these from Gooddealer, which is based in Hong Kong. Shipping was quite fast with my order taking about two weeks to reach me. Gooddealer also included samples, which I always appreciate.

The foundation retails for US$46.23 on Gooddealer(versus in 4200yen in Japan) while the sponge is US$13.12 (versus 1050yen). The foundation is housed in a glass pot. There is an inner plastic lid under the cover which helps to keep the foundation from smearing all over the cover.

A plastic spatula sprinkled with silver glitter is also included.

I picked the lightest shade #101 Linen, which is quite a good match for me but it would not suit anyone fairer than MAC NC20. Unfortunately Japanese makeup brands offer very limited shades for their foundations. There are only five shades available for Moist Silk Jelly. The texture is more like a light gel-cream, rather than a bouncy jelly like their Jelly Eye Colors. The first ingredient on the list is rose water, followed by cyclomethicone and dimethicone. It also contains mineral powder, amino acid derivative powder, rosemary extract, lavender oil and avocado oil. The foundation has a soft rose scent which is subtle enough that I did not notice it during the application process.

It is recommended to use the broader end of the sponge to apply the foundation and blend with a gentle tapping motion. The smaller end is supposed to be used for blending around the eye and nose areas.


The Jill Stuart sponge has a wider base than the Beautyblender sponge which has a more pointed tip. The Beautyblender is also softer to squeeze whereas the Jill Stuart version feels firmer. In terms of performance, I think the Beautyblender is still superior as the pointed tip allows for easier manoeuvring around the nose area. Nevertheless, the Jill Stuart sponge does a pretty good job of applying the foundation evenly and seamlessly.

The foundation is supposed to give a silky-soft, translucent finish, coating the skin with a highly emollient veil for naturally radiant skin. It contains a pore focus powder to reduce the appearance of pores while the light diffusion jelly reflects light, naturally covering any uneven skin coloration. It provides light to medium coverage.

I found it easy to apply and blend including in the areas with enlarged pores. Only a small pea-sized amount is needed for one application. It is also easy to layer this in areas that need more coverage. However, if you have dry flaky skin, you will need to moisturise adequately beforehand otherwise this can emphasise the dry patches. I like the natural finish that does not look overly matte or dull. It does not make me look like I'm wearing heavy makeup. Instead, it makes my skin look healthier and more even-toned.

The oil control was also surprisingly good. My nose started to show some shine after three hours. After five hours without blotting, there was a gentle sheen on my T-zone and cheeks but no smearing, cakiness or oxidisation. After blotting, it looked just as good as when freshly applied. Overall, I quite liked the Moist Silk Jelly Foundation, which should be suitable for normal to oily skintypes. I probably won't re-purchase it but that's more because I have an insatiable desire to try out new foundations.

Products used for this look include: Anna Sui Eye Color Duo 04 and Eye Color 203 over Too Faced Shadow Insurance, Jill Stuart Layer Blush Compact #3 Relax Smile, Majolica Majorca Lash Expander Edge Meister F, Stila Sparkle Luxe Gloss in Dazzling and K-Palette Real Lasting Eyebrow 01.

This is my first Layer Blush Compact, which has a glowier finish and softer texture compared to the Mix Blush Compacts thanks to the emollient base, smooth glow oil and lucent powder in the formula. The color payoff is sheer but buildable, for a flattering glowy hint of color. I like this formula much more than the Mix Blush Compact!

Anna Sui Pressed Powder Kit

I'm liking the look of this Anna Sui Pressed Powder Kit(4725yen) which will be released on 3 October in Japan. The powder comes in two variations, #1 which contains a swirl of purple, light blue and green tones, and #2 which is a swirl of pink, orange beige and ivory. See more photos by MakeupStash here and here. Each kit also includes a Moisturising Gel 10ml that can be used for spot treatment of dry patches.

RMK Holiday Makeup Kit 2013

RMK will release its Holiday Makeup Kit (7350yen) on 1 November in Japan. The love-themed set features a Holiday Makeup Palette with four eyeshadows and two blushes, Mascara Top Coat EX01 (4g), Lip Crayon EX01 (soft pink with gold pearl), Nail Color EX08 (8ml) and a shiny silver pouch. The brown, pink, gold and white eyeshadows can be used to create a pink to coral gradational look. The mascara contains gold shimmer flecks.

Pic below by Abe Sawako.

Ettusais November Releases

Ettusais will release a limited edition Lip Essence (Deep Moist) (1260yen) featuring Cheburashka and a Puru Puru Serum (1470yen) on 14 November in Japan. Pics by Story.

Below is yet another limited edition collaboration with Japanese fashion label Mercury Duo, which will be released on 3 October.

Catrice Eve In Bloom, L'Afrique C'est Chic and Thrilling Me Softly

Eve In Bloom is one of two new Catrice collections for September. See the collection details here.

Lavish bouquets of flowers: colourful foliage and warm light in the park, millfleurs and XL prints on the international catwalks. Floral fantasies ranging from authentic to stylised upon flowing dresses, blouses and headbands. In September 2013, let’s celebrate the magnificence of autumn with the Limited Edition “Eve in Bloom” by CATRICE. The colour scheme is reminiscent of a fresh bouquet of bright red and coral shades as well as autumnal purple in its most beautiful facets.

The collection includes three powder eyeshadow duos in a lucite packaging much like the old Shu Uemura eyeshadows.

There are also three lip and cheek creams. The rose design on the lids looks reminiscent of a Body Shop collection from a couple of years ago.

I picked up the Loose Moisturizing Highlighter, which is an ultra-refined shimmery loose powder. Although it is described as giving a matte effect, this is much too glowy to be matte.

Just peeling off the sticker inside the pot threw up a fine mist of the loose powder. It is very finely milled and featherlight, so the effect is a subtle radiant glow. There are no loud glitter bits.


Thrilling Me Softly is the other new collection for the autumn. See the collection details here.

Belles Rebelles. A rebellion on a mission to create new paths and more passion in the world of fashion. A reunion with gothic culture is developing into an exciting encounter. Catwalks are covered in leather and lace. Graceful, mysterious and feminine. Black dominates the field in a modern interpretation combined with bright reds as well as soft rosé and nude shades. Highlights are set in a cool gold and purple.

It's a gorgeous collection that includes three lip stains, two blush sticks and two Absolute Eye Color Trios.

Catrice's blush sticks are usually good quality so I snapped up the Smooth Blush Sticks in C01 Feverish and C02 Daredevil without hesitation. Feverish is a peachy pink while Daredevil is more red-toned. These are made in Germany and contain a generous 8g.

Below is the Absolute Eye Color Trio C01 Soft Thrill, which looks suitable for everyday wear.

Swatches (from left to right) of the blush sticks in Feverish and Daredevil, plus the Wet Shine Stain Lip Lacquer C03 Fatal.


L'Afrique C'est Chic was released earlier in July for the summer. See the collection details here.

African appeal: colourful, traditional, exotic. Designers are discovering the new AFROdisiac – a journey into the African fashion culture. Folkloristic and colourful with bold influences of the next generation. The diversity of patterns is the central element. Tribal, Zulu and animal prints are all the rage in this summer’s collections and great designers are using them in flowing, elegant caftans as well as for feminine business looks. With an opulent palette of colours ranging from papaya to cinnabar to the iridescent blue of the ocean, the Limited Edition “L’Afrique, c’est chic” by CATRICE will be making a great impression this August and September 2013.

This included four Liquid Metal eyeshadows, a new formula that has been added to Catrice's permanent range. However, these felt a tad dry and lack the molten velvety texture of the Estee Lauder Gelée Powder Eyeshadows.





The shades in this collection did not really appeal to me so I only picked up the blush brush, more for the novelty factor. This is made in China and feels pretty soft for a drugstore brand.