Kiss Spring '09

Kiss will release its spring collection on 23 February in Japan. It's a massive collection that includes a revamping of the lipsticks and mascaras in the regular line-up. However, the new packaging looks very similar to the current one, so there isn't really a feeling of any fresh or radical change. I wish Kiss would come up with some cuter stuff!

1. Eye Prism Gradation (1680yen): #7 Blue Lily

2. Pure Bloom Cheeks (1470yen): #5 Cherry Blossom

3. Rouge Kiss (1575yen): Apricot-scented long-lasting creamy lipsticks with royal jelly essence, honey and chamomile extract. #1 Milky Kiss, #2 Angel Kiss, #3 Baby Kiss, #4 Little Rose Kiss, #5 Candy Kiss, #6 Berry Kiss, #7 Earl Grey Kiss

4. Rouge Kiss G (1575yen): Apricot-scented long-lasting glossy lipstick with royal jelly essence, honey and chamomile extract. #1 Pure Cherry, #2 Pure Peach, #3 Pure Apricot, #4 Pure Topaz

5. Long & Separate Mascara (1470yen): Contains long fibres and micro fibres for helping to create long lashes and can be easily removed with warm water.

6. Volume & Glamarous Curl Mascara WP (1470yen): Waterproof mascara with "long fit fibres"

7. Natural Eyebrow Color (1050yen): Waterproof eyebrow mascara in #1 Light Brown and #2 Natural Brown

8. Nail Enamel R (630yen): #54 Peach Liquer, #55 Little Butterfly

9. Nail Decoration (630yen): #6 Topaz Beige

Bobbi Brown Platinum Collection

Bobbi Brown will release a Platinum collection on 19 March in Japan. The Platinum Pink Shimmerbrick looks interesting! I have a clutch of BB Shimmerbricks that I don't use as often as I should, like my MAC MSFs. I wasn't tempted by the Copper Diamond collection at all, although I loved the ad visual for it. Surprisingly, it also did not sell out as fast as BB's LE collections usually do as it was still available on the counters here in late January.

1. Platinum Pink Shimmerbrick (5775yen)

2. Shimmer Lip Gloss (2940yen): #31 Confetti, #32 Gracia

3. Long Wear Cream Shadows (3360yen): #22 Platinum, #23 Steel, #30 Heather and #31 Ash

4. Lip Gloss (2940yen): #41 Nougat

My Jill Stuart Collection

I wasn't happy with the photos that I had taken earlier of my new Jill Stuart stuff so I decided to re-take them along with the rest of my Jill Stuart collection. I've adored the brand ever since its inception and own way too many of their palettes as I like the shimmery and pigmented textures, as well as the princessy packaging.

Some of the shades can get quite repetitive, especially the multitude of pinks but there are also some very unique complex smokey shades that are great fun to experiment with. There's a distinct lack of intense emerald shades though, hopefully this will be rectified in the future as I think Jill Stuart does jewel tones very well. If I could only use one brand of eyeshadows, I would be happy with just using Jill Stuart.

I took these photos next to a window during the daytime so the eyeshadow shades look more muted.




Top Row: Mix Blush Compact Illuminance #101 Platinum Illuminance and #102 Gold Illuminance

Bottom Row: Mix Blush Compact #2 Rose Bloom, #6 Fresh Apricot and #8 Romantic Poppy


Illuminance Eyes #1 Jewel Dress, #4 Aqua Crystal and #6 Blossoming Shine


Left Column: Seductive Eyes #1 Seductive Doll, #2 Sugar Angel, #3 Twinkle Angel

Right Column: Seductive Eyes #4 Sensual Fairy, #6 Romantic Goddess


Left Column: Brilliance Eyes #1 Pink Quartz, #2 Crystal Jade and #4 Gem Amethyst

Right Column: Brilliance Eyes #5 Mauve Pearl, #6 Glazed Garnet and #7 Jewel Violet


Illuminance Eyes #6 Blossoming Shine



Seductive Eyes #6 Romantic Goddess



Mix Blush Compact#8 Romantic Poppy (left) and #6 Fresh Apricot (right)


Romantic Poppy is very similar to Fresh Apricot except that Romantic Poppy has slightly darker shades. But once mixed and applied, the difference between the two blushes is too subtle to tell. So if you already own Fresh Apricot, I would not recommend Romantic Poppy. Romantic Poppy applies as a matte medium rose pink. On me, it's quite average, not really knock-my-socks-off fantastic but as with lots of Jill Stuart makeup, the focus is on getting a pretty, feminine look.

Lunasol Spring Event & Tangs Sale

The Lunasol SA at the Takashimaya Kanebo counter told me yesterday that the spring collection will arrive on 20 February (Friday) and there will be a 3 day event with a makeup artist from Japan. All you have to do is make a purchase of any one item (on that day) to enjoy the makeover. I've already made my appointment for 21 Feb :-) The SA also said there is no increase in the prices, despite the high yen, which is great news! At the current rate, a Lunasol palette costs the equivalent of S$88 in Japan, compared to the current retail price of $77 in Singapore.

According to the SA, the Coffret D'Or spring collection will arrive only in March. She knew that it had already been launched in Hong Kong and Taiwan but for some reason, Southeast Asia would get the collection only in March, 4 months after the launch in Japan.

I was browsing through the local edition of L'Officiel magazine and it featured the RMK Cheeks & Eyes Palette for S$49. That's a lot cheaper than the Japan retail price of 5250yen! Not sure when that will be launched though.

Tangs department store will be offering 12% rebate cardmembers on 4-5 Feb! Cardmembers also get additional 10% off sale itesm at Tang + Co. The mailer also featured a bunch of Lancome GWPs and promotional bundles. For purchase of $160, you can get an 8-piece GWP; with $230, you get a matching bag and $10 Lancome voucher; with $320, you get a Blanc Expert Nx3 Emulsion 75ml worth $115 and a $20 Lancome voucher. Cardmembers also get an additional Blanc Expert skincare item.

Japanese Makeup Spring Haul!

Just received my CP haul from my friend in Tokyo! Everything looks so pretty in the palette, I didn't regret getting any of them even with the astronomical heights that the yen is at right now.


Jill Stuart Illuminance Eyes #6 Blossoming Shine


Jill Stuart Seductive Eyes #6 Romantic Goddess


Jill Stuart Mix Blush Compact #8 Romantic Poppy


Visee Blackish Forming Eyes #5



Est Emotional Multiple Eyes #2


Est Emotional Multiple Eyes #1


I'll try to post reviews soon after I get the chance to play with everything!

Ettusais LE Foundation Case

Ettusais will release a limited edition powder foundation case as part of a set on 19 March in Japan. The set, which retails for 3150yen, comes with either the Zero Pore Oil Block Pact Foundation or the Zero Pore Dry Block Pact Foundation.

Lavshuca Website Update

The Lavshuca website has been updated with the new Spring '09 collection which will be released on 1 February in Japan.



The four looks for this collection. The Puffy duo's lashes look amazingly lush but I'm pretty sure this is with the help of falsies.


The new design of the website is more user-friendly as there are now swatches on models for the lipstick and eyeshadow shades, which are very helpful.

Coffret D'Or S/S '09 Base Makeup

The Coffret D'Or website has been updated with the new base makeup collection which will be released on 1 March in Japan.



The collection includes:

1. Lasting Power Pact UV SPF22 PA++ 7 shades

2. Pact Case

3. Lasting Power Soft Gel Foundation UV SPF23 PA++ 7 shades

4. Lasting Power Veil UV: foundation primer

5. Magical Flat: concealer for the pores

6. One Touch Gloss Powder (2 shades): Illuminating nuance powder in Beige Gold and Mint White


The foundations are made with a "Change Block Fixer" and two types of "Poreless Powders" to cover up pores and better lasting power. The Poreless Powders contain dimethicone-based gloss polymers.

It'd be interesting to see how the Lasting Power Veil UV compares to Revue Superior Stay UV Fix which was one of Revue's powerhouse products.


I also found it strange that the Change Block Fixer in the Lasting Power Pact Foundation contains mineral oil, given that the foundation markets itself as being long-lasting and sebum-resistant. But the Change Block fixer in the Gel Foundation, Lasting Power Veil and Magical Flat does not contain mineral oil.

Anna Sui New Releases

Anna Sui will be launching the following new products on 5 March in Japan. I've got my eye on the lilac Compact Powder G!

1. Whitening Lotion (3675yen, 200ml)

2. Intensive White Serum (4725yen, 35ml)

3. Trial Kit W (3150yen): Deep Cleansing Oil 50ml, Whitening Lotion 50ml, Intensive Whitening Serum 10ml

4. Compact Powder G SPF12 PA++ (4725yen): 2 limited edition purple compacts with loose powder

5. Foundation Compact Case 09: limited edition (1260yen)

Stila Japan-exclusive Barbie Collection

As reported earlier, Stila will be releasing several Barbie items that appear to be exclusive to the Japanese market. I'm hoping that these will show up on Stila's US website as the items are super pricey in Japan, given the astronomical yen now. I calculated the whole collection will cost 51975yen, which is about US$587. Yikes! But knowing how Japanese ladies love anything cute and doll-like, I'm sure this will sell out in a flash.

The collection launches on 13 March and includes:

1. Barbie Eye Mousse Pot: 2 shades (3360yen)

2. Barbie Cheek Mousse Pot: warm pink (3360yen)

3. Barbie Face Shimmer Powder: Pink Doll and Bisque Doll (4410yen)

4. Barbie 3-pan palette: 2 palettes, each contains 2 eyeshadows and 1 blush (5775yen)

5. Barbie Paint Can Pony Tail (7875yen)

6. Barbie Makeup Pouch (6195yen)

7. Barbie Clutch Pouch (5985yen): with hot pnk interior

8. Barbie Pouch & Scrunchie set (7245yen)