We have moved! Please head to http://www.lavieenbeaute.wordpress.com if your browser does not automatically redirect you. Please update your bookmarks with the change! La Vie en Beauté: September 2008

Introduction

Welcome to my abode of pretty things (:. Continuing Oscar Wilde's aesthetic one beautiful possession at a time.

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IMPORTANT: I will ALWAYS disclose which products I have received from companies free of cost. I will never write sponsored or paid articles. Products sent to me are sent for consideration only, and are not guaranteed a good review. Unless otherwise indicated, everything reviewed are products purchased by me.

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Sunday, September 28, 2008

Haul: MAC Lipstick!


Yesterday when I went to go check out MAC Cremesheen and hopefully score a Jampacked lipgloss (sold out :/), I picked up High Tea. It's a gorgeous nude shade, definetly a winner! I've lemmed it ever since last year when it was part of the Finery sets.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Porn: Some MAC stuff!

Here are my single eyeshadow and blushes--not including MSFS. Also, all my MAC lip stuff. Relatively small compared with the average collector on Makeupalley!



Sunday, September 21, 2008

Shu Uemura Holiday Now On The Site!


Mika Holiday collection:
"shu uemura, the master of make-up, and acclaimed Japanese photographer Mika Ninagawa, realize a fantastic collaboration for the 2008 Holiday season that captures a woman's unlimited possibility for beauty. Explosive vivid colors for the eyes, lips and nails, combined with one-of-a-kind packaging bring distinctive looks and artistic beauty to the most festive time of year! This holiday season, enjoy the world of shu uemura as designed through the eyes of Mika Ninagawa."
--taken from shuuemura-usa.com

Again, we see the new 8 color palettes as in the Birthday collection. However, this one has a cream liner. Each are 65$

Winter Sakura:


Adorned Marguerite:


Secret Luscious Rose:


Rouge Unlimited lipsticks (23$) in:

Petal Brown Beige, Petal Orange Beige and Petal Pink Beige.

Gloss Sets (40$ each) in:
Seductive Gerbera:


Delicious Rose:


Mini Drawing Pencil Trio set 35$:


Portable Brush Set, 85$, includes: "Natural 27 Goat brush for the face, Natural 17 Pony & Squirrel brush for cheeks, Natural 10 Sable & Kolinsky brush for eyes, and Natural 6M Sable brush for lips." --taken from shuuemura-usa.com


Lastly, a holiday makeup pouch!: 29$


Hmm shu has disappointed me with this collection!! Nothing that looks wearable to me. What about you guys?

NEW: Shu Uemura Creme Matte Lipstick!



Online only premiere, retailing at 23$. Comes in 10 shades.

What Shu says about these new lipsticks:

"shu uemura continues to break boundaries in color creation with the launch of Rouge Unlimited Creme Matte, a unique formula that combines a matte effect with a creamy finish. The two contradicting textures come together in one lipstick, gliding smoothly onto lips for a comfortable fit without drying or creasing.

* Exclusive hybrid pigments - vivid and pure shades un-replicated by others
* High color fidelity pure color payoff
* Available in 10 shades"

So far I believe the color spectrum is mostly reds, deep reds, pinks and nudes. Limited, but it's the debut!

Also, Shu's making it easy for you! On orders of 45$ and above, free shipping! Just enter SEPT08 at checkout.
Will you be picking one of these up?

Friday, September 19, 2008

Hauls: New pigments!

Here are a some pigments I've gotten today! One package was an amazing RAOK (you know who you are!!) and the other a great swap. Here we go!




MAC Green Brown to show more duochrome :]

LOTD: A few pictures!

Here are some lips I've been doing the past few days--enjoy!

Using Dior 894 Fantastic Fuschia:





Clinique Raspberry Glace Different Lipstick:



Milani #15A Coral Shimmer Lip Gloss:



MAC For A-mei Love Rules Lipglass:

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

EOTD: Cool Browns





What I used:
Shu Uemura fleur de rose palette (purple and silver, and also the beige/brown duo)
Shu Uemura ME850
MAC Magnetic Fields
Majolica Majorca SV821 eyeshadow
Majolica Majorca Lash Expander Neo
UDPP

Shu P Wine 29 blush
MAC Lightly Ripe lipstick (not sure if it went with the eyes!)
This turned out very interesting in my opinion, because the top was warm and goldish and the bottom lashline silvery.

Comparision: Updated Taupes



Since my last Taupe Comparision I've since acquired several new taupes and have had requests to compare them. Enjoy, and I hope this helps!

Monday, September 15, 2008

To Be Released MAC Collections

Here is a condensed form of to be released MAC collections, pulled off specktra.net:

# 09/25 - Suite Array
# 09/25 - Gold Fever
# 09/25 - MAC for Ungaro Collaboration Collection
# 09/25 - CremeSheen
# 10/02 - Dazzle Lash Mascara
# 10/09 - MAC for Manish Arora Collaboration Collection
# 10/16 - Carry All Traincase
# 10/16 - Mineralize Line Expansion and Displayer
# 10/16 - Sheer Minerals
# 10/16 - Red She Said
# 10/23 - Kids Helping Kids
# 10/23 - Passions of Red
# 10/23 - Enchanting Mermillion Fashion Eye Kit
# 11/20 - Metal Urge
# 11/27 - Luxe - MAC's annual couture collection
# 11/30 - Perfect Style
# 12/26 - Dame Edna
# 12/26 - Chill

I know I'm saving for MSFS 10/16, but I'm really interested in what will be included in: Passions of Red, Metal Urge, Luxe, Perfect Style and Dame Edna!

Oh, and Cremesheen will be permanent!

Shu Uemura Free Shipping and New LE Cleansing Oil



A new, Limited Edition advanced cleansing oil adorned with Shu Uemura's calligraphy.
High Performance Balancing Cleansing Oil (Advanced formula). 62$ for 450ml / 15.2 oz.

ALSO--Free Shipping code for orders over 45$, just enter SEPT08.

Friday, September 12, 2008

MAC Hello Kitty Collection CONFIRMED!

"Rose Romance is a spring collection consisting of pink tones (clearly) in eyeshadows, blushes, and lips. I (stupidly) did not get pics or names of the products, but I did see them backstage this season. I also saw colours from the Hello Kitty collection, two of the Hair Mineralize skinfinishes, Blonde and Redhead, didn't see brunette, and I got to play with the penultimate liner."

--originaly from twitter thread on specktra.net posted by Macneil59, quoted by Erine.

Honestly, in my opinion, the end of it is just to see whether I do or don't like the colors--the packaging is just an added bonus! I will definetly be excited, however, the year after that I want to see what company MAC collaborates with!

Review: Jill Stuart Brilliance Eyes Glazed Garnet 06




Here is the review I promised you!

Colors: ALL of Jill Stuart's eye makeup is shimmery! This quad happens to include a light baby pink, a slightly plummy taupe, a dark silvery green and a beautiful dark plum-black (perfect for smokey eyes!). I love this quad for fall!



Packaging: It comes in a pink box and in the mirrorlike finish packaging adorned with a fake jewel. The back is essentially clear with a sticker stating Jill Stuart, 06 glazed garnet, and a few lines in Japanese. It comes with a double ended black sponge applicator.

Lasting Ability: This stuff lasts all day, over my trusty UDPP however! It's like shu uemura shadows in that they just don't come off!

Texture: It's soft and silky, but doesn't fly everywhere. Your brush can easily pick it up. By the way, like all Jill Stuart stuff, this is scented with Rose, so if you're sniff sensitive I would advise you to steer clear!

Pigmentation: The swatches above were taken with two light taps--that's how good these are! Don't overdose on the darker shades--you'll regret it!

Retails 1450 NTD in Taiwan, about 45.50 USD and 4,864.20 Japanese Yen. However, this retails for 61USD on ichibankao.com.

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

FOTD: Some Red Lips!

After I got home from school, I started fooling around with MAC port red (LE from May's Naughty Nauticals) and a Dior liquid lipstick in 854 (so pretty!)

MAC Port Red: (washed out..)


MAC Port Red (more color accurate):




Constructive Criticism welcome, and thank you for looking!

NEW: Jill Stuart Coming to the USA!!

That's right Japanese makeup fans! Jill Stuart is now going to be offering roughly 30 out of their 150 item cosmetic lineup!!! Set to be launched in March in Jill Stuart shops, I can definetly tell you this will be a HIT.

"Ronald Curtis, chief executive of Jill Stuart International LLC and the designer’s husband, says a U.S. launch has been in the works for years. He isn’t worried about the timing because he says that, while sales of beauty products overall are falling, newness sells. The sour economy also can make it easier to negotiate space at the beauty counter in department and cosmetics stores, he notes, adding: “When times are good, you never get a shop.”

"The U.S. launch will include 20 or 30 of the roughly 140 products available in Asia, including eye products, blush compacts, lip glosses and nail products, all priced from $15 to $50. The products come in shiny containers adorned with fake jewels and other decorative touches."

(taken from below link)

For Store Locations: http://www.jillstuart.com/stores

The original:

http://blogs.wsj.com/runway/2008/09/05/coming-to-america-jill-stuart-cosmetics/

All I can say is: FINALLY!!!

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Teaser: Jill Stuart Brilliance Eyes 06 Glazed Garnet





Expect a review on this lovely palette soon! What I *can* tell you now though is that its smokey eyed fall goodness! Retails 1450 NTD in Taiwan, about 45.50 USD and 4,864.20 Japanese Yen. However, this retails for 61USD on ichibankao.com. Is it worth the splurge? Well let's see about that....

Friday, September 5, 2008

Haul: Recently Acquired Eye Makeup!


Depicted are:

Laura Mercier Eye Color in Rose (recieved in swap..going back up it is! Not my color!) To be DC'ED!

Laura Mercier Black Ebony Eye Liner (recieved in swap--love!)

Besame Alluring Eye Shadow in Plum Dandy--also recieved in swap, beautiful!! Especially when paired with MAC Magnetic Fields.

What recent items have you been loving lately?

Obsession: Burgundy and Wine Eyeshadow!





Products included in swatches:
Lancome Five Star (2nd pic)
Kanebo Lavshuca WN1 Eyeshadow
Shu Uemura Old Formula ME 885
MAC Pigment Heritage Rouge (overrich)
Old Wet N' Wild Limited Edition Trio Starry Night, last color

Burgundy shadow is definetly a fall trend this year! Love the color, so dark and rich. What are your favorite burgundy shadows?

PSA: Bourjois Paris Ombre Stretch Shadows Now Available!




Touted as a feather-light eyeshadow that deposits extreme pigment, the USA was the last to recieve it as Europe and Asia have had it for months. It promises to 'blend out' with a gradiant effect when blended out, as depicted by the picture. Much like watercolor painting I guess. The special ingredient are nylon microspheres that contribute to it's satiny finish. Comes in 8 different colors.

Ooh I may just have to get my hands on the black one soon! Looks amazing! Right now, I believe the deal is at ULTA stores nationwide for 8.95.

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

MAC Online Freebie!

Free ZOOMLASH sample in Black with your next over 50$ order at MAC with the code 'Zoomlash'.

Offer begins on September 3rd, 2008 at 6:00 AM ET while supplies last. Only one per customer. This offer is valid on orders shipped to US and Canadian addresses only. Offer cannot be combined with other offers. Offer applies to authorized purchases. Only authorized orders will be processed and shipped. Offer is not applicable to pending purchases or purchases made prior to September 3rd, 2008. Applicable purchase amount does not include shipping, handling, sales tax, or gift-wrap charges. We reserve the right to cancel any order due to unauthorized, altered, or ineligible use of offer and to modify or cancel this promotion due to system error or unforeseen problems.

Hurry and go get your free sample! Of course it won't be hard to choose what to spend that 50$ on :] May I recommend Lightly Ripe lipstick(Cult of Cherry), Heritage Rouge, Antique Green (or Mauvement!) pigments (Overrich)?

Shopping for Cosmetics in Taiwan

Recently, several people have asked me what brands are available, what products I like, and where in Taiwan. Since Taiwan is so close to Japan (3 hour flight away), most of their fashion and makeup trends come from there. And, brands are usually 5-10% off the original retail price in Japan. Collections come out usually the same day in Taiwan as Japan.

DRUGSTORE:

Watson's sells Bourjouis(Products that haven't made it to the States yet too!), mini Bourjois as well as Canmake, Majolica Majorca, Lavshuca, Integrate, Fasio, Maybelline and Revlon. Also carries Imju Fiberwig mascara and liner.
Cosmed sells the same as above excluding Bourjouis and Canmake and Fiberwig. These drugstores are available all over the country.

A + 1 (Ace Top 1) is a lesser known drugstore, that I only know for sure 3 locations in Kaohsiung. Each of these drugstores (more like supermarket) sell everything the cheapest it can be (I recommend the one behind SOGO / Shing Kong Mitsukoshi). They also sell the highly sought after SONY CP balms and Markabull gel liner. Another reason I recommend buying here is that they give you an INSANE about of GWPS, everything from makeup, hair treatments to hair pins/jewelry. They sell EVERYTHING, have a blast browsing there! There's both Shiseido and Kanebo drugstore lines, harder to find lines like Mandom, L'egere, Shills...Ahh, I love it. Quick list of brands:
Revlon [can find asia exclusives]
L'Oreal
Fasio
Tiffa
Majolica Majorca
SANA
KATE
Lavshuca
Maybelline [can find asia exclusives]
Aqualabel
Media

DEPARTMENT STORE:

Brands available:
Taipei: DO check out the SOGO Zhongxiao Branch (Zhongxiao-Fuxing Station). It has just about all the brands I will talk about there; plus 1 of 2 JILL STUART counters (And the first NARS counter I saw!) Jill Stuart unfortunately has a limited selection however.

Kaohsiung: The Dreammall is definetly the place to go! With a new PLAZA (Explained below,) K-palette and Gransenbon store in the basement (slightly near Baskin Robbins ice cream) and the Hankyu department store (That is hardly frequented due to more popular and closer ones--you can find past limited editions from a year ago! Complete gem for MAC!) Also, Hanshin department store also sells Stila, Ettusais, Chic Choc, The Body Shop, L'occitane, Ardell false lashes, LUSH, Burt's Bees, Lola.

BRANDS MOST DEPARTMENT STORES CARRY:
Anna Sui, Ipsa, Kanebo (which carries Coffret D'or, Allie and Lunasol, albeit only the current LE palettes from Lunasol sadly), Shiseido counter (that carries Anessa and Maquillage), Beaute De Kose/Esprique Precious, Albion, Sofina, Laneige, Guerlain, Paul & Joe, MUFE, MAC, Bobbi Brown, RMK, Lancome, Clinique, Dior, Chanel, La Mer, Shu Uemura, Cle De Peau Beaute. Popular brand Etude/Etude house is usually carried on the 2nd floor of Department stores--it's not as major a brand. It's actually only carried in Taipei and Taichung now I think.

FAVORITE DEPARTMENT STORE IN KAOHSIUNG (Apart from Hankyu):
Hanshin Arena department store! Opened mid July 2008, it's HUGE and Brand New.Lines included on the 1st floor: NARS, Shu Uemura, Kiehls, MAC, Estee Lauder, Lancome, Giorgio Armani, Dior, La Mer, Cle de Peate, the Shiseido counters, MUFE, Dior, Clinique, (NO RMK), Kanebo counter, Paul & Joe, Dr. Brandt, L'occitane, Chic Choc, Guerlain, Origins, Kiehls, Albion, Laneige, Ipsa, Sofina, Beaute de Kose/Esprique Precious, and also, opened 10/2/08, JILL STUART!! Jill Stuart is also available in the regular Hanshin department store. VOV Candy shop, that carries Castledew, is available in Shing Kong San Rue and Hanshin, on lower level flores.

SPECIALTY STORE:

PLAZA: Also in Taipei, definetly check out PLAZA at Breeze Center (Zhongxiao-Fuxing Station). Plaza actually is a store from Japan, and there are currently only 2 Plaza stores in Taiwan. This store stocks Canmake, Gransenbon, K-palette [epicly amazing 1 Day Tattoo eyeliner], Sony brand items, Bourjouis, OPI/limited Essie, Love Clover and mini bourjouis. Definetly worth checking out!! The only 2nd Plaza is open in Kaohsiung, located in Dreammall floor 1.

SASA: This store (yes, the same sasa.com) is much liked but personally, I find it boring. There isn't much selection in makeup, more brushes, high end perfumes and skincare. Needless to say, I came out pretty quick.

NOTES:
Most department stores are open until 9:30pm (or 10pm for some in Kaohsiung).

Only unopened items can be returned.

Taiwan does NOT carry Kose Visee.

PRODUCTS / BRANDS I RECOMMEND:
Bourjois: Sleep effect foundation, eyeshadows, blush and eau de gloss
Mini bourjois: Eyeshadows and pigments
Canmake: Cheek Gradation 04, nail polish and gel liner
Majolica Majorca: Eyeshadows (singles and palettes), blushes, nail polish, Lash Expander mascara
Lavshuca: New liquid foundation (tube), eyeshadows, lipsticks
Integrate: Lipglosses, lipsticks and thick eyeliner pencils.
Fasio: Only the mascaras and lipsticks are good from this line in my opinion
Kate: Eyeshadow palettes, gel liners, super sharp liquid liner, loose shadows and lippies. Also, the mascara (gel, which I haven't tried) is super popular.
Gransenbon: Eyeshadows and especially blushes! Their powders are great too.
Love Clover: Blushes and powders in my opinion.
K-palette: Select eyeshadow palettes (don't worry, there are testers!) and the 1 day tattoo liquid liner
Sony brand: Lip balms, lip silicone, mascara and Markabull gel liner
Japanese brand falsies found at plaza are immensely popular
Anna Sui: Her mascara primer, lippies, eyeshadows, loose powder and blushes are all very popular. I like her shadows myself (haven't tried much else from her). Her products are scented strongly with rose though!
Ipsa: Eyeshadows and lipsticks/glosses are very popular from here, and my aunt loves their nail polish
Kanebo Coffret D'or: Of course, the eyeshadow palettes and lippies! Not much else has been tried and tested by the world yet however.
Kanebo Lunasol: Definetly lipsticks, glosses and eyeshadow palettes! Also liquid liners however. Their water liquid/cream foundations are great too!
Shiseido Anessa: Perfect UV sunscreen
Shiseido Maquillage: Gel liners, single eyeshadows, Face design powder/blush
Ettusais: Single eyeshadows and nail polishes
Chic Choc: Brushes really
Beaute De Kose/Esprique Precious: Gel/cream liners, nail polishes, highlighting powder (Guerlain meteorites knockoff), lipsticks
Albion: Face water color is the only definite must have I can think of
Sofina: Raycious powder foundation (to be discontinued!! Sob!)
Sofina Aube: Eyeshadow paletes and lipsticks, most else is very disappointing.
Laneige: They do NOT carry snow crystal here! So...basically...nothing.
Paul & Joe: For sheerer eyeshadows, look here! Also lipsticks and face color powders MUFE: Make up for ever, the full line and with sets!!
RMK: Lipsticks, blushes and eyeshadows are all great! Things to skip are the shadow sticks / gloss sticks! Also recommend the liquid and cream foundations.
Lancome: Definetly get the infamous Erika F here!! Number 144 Ombre Absolute :]
Dior: There are always going to be asia exclusives sometime, like the Summer Star quint!!
Chanel: JCs like Candy are not available in the states :]
Shu Uemura: Everything!! LOL.
Cle De Peau Beaute: Concealer, lippies and eyeshadow quads are all popular, as well as their base makeup.
Etude/Etude House is rumored to be amazing.

Do let me know if there are brands I have missed and I will gladly include them! I hope you found this helpful!

Review: MAC Lightly Ripe Lipstick

This is a review for one of the lipsticks in MAC's August 22nd Cult of Cherry collection, Lightly Ripe. Of course, like 99% of what MAC brings out, this is LE.

Formula: This is in MAC's lustre formula, sheer but with two swipes you can get the full color. It's not the most moisterizing formula, still quite drying. I recommend exfoliating your lips first, since otherwise it'll feel very gritty on lips with the dead skin cells balling up.

Color: MAC Describes this as 'sheer midtone pink' which I suppose is good. However, it's definetly a warm pink, which I really like. It gives me healthy regular looking lips for the times when I wake up and my lips are pale.

Comparisions: In my opinion, this is the warmer version of MAC Party Mate, also LE from Mac's May Naughty Nauticals colection. While they're very mlbb, Party Mate is cooler and has silver sparkles, while Lightly ripe is rosier, berrier and has faint golden shimmer.



Packaging: This comes in MAC's regular gunmetal bullet packaging, which clicks on securely with a snap. It's not the most ingenious or fancy but it's nice and simple.

Price: 14.00 (or 15.50 now with tax) is not bad at all considering more and more lipsticks are 18-20s and even 34$ (YSL...).

Scent: This is scented lightly with Vanilla, like most MAC lip products. I can't smell it unless I'm turning my lips up to sniff though :P.

Lasting Ability: This easily lasts a few hours on me, however, due to the sheer nature it will need to be reapplied after eating.

How it looks on me:

(Natural cool light)

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