Category: cosmetics

shu uemura eye shadow

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Eye ♥ shadow – just read my recent posts on IsaDora Eye Shadow Quartets and Stila Fall in Love Eye Shadow Trios. During my recent layover at Heathrow Airport (before the current terrorist threat), I visited the shu uemura counter, and was captivated by the selection of eye shadows.

These eye shadows have a silky texture and are identified by color family (Pink, Gold, Green, Blue, Purple, Beige, Brown, White, Grey, and Black) and finish (matte, pearl, metallic, or irridescent), rather than by meaningless attributes such as Tempting, Coy, Shy, Audacious (add your own). It’s a practice I’d like to see other makeup brands emulate.

After Shiseido, shu uemura is probably the best known makeup brand to come out of Japan, although it’s now owned by L’Oreal Group. U.S. customers may shop the U.S. site shuuemura-usa.com.

Update on mass-market brands: 2007

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This past spring brought several new launches of mass market brands. The Max Factor (owned by P&G) and Almay (owned by Revlon) cosmetics lines were completed revamped, while L’Oreal launched its HIP line and Revlon launched its Vital Radiance line for women over 50. The Style Page wondered how supermarkets, drugstores, and “big box” retailers (Wal-Mart, KMart, Target) were going to accomodate these new brands.

See The Beauty Newsletter for a critique of Almay’s dated eyeshadow concept.

HIP appears to have been a success – L’Oreal has recently expanded the line with two new products: Pure Pigment Shadow Stick and Shocking Shadow Pigments, in addition to new colors for its eye shadow duos(another indicator is that searches on “L’Oreal HIP” are a major driver of traffic to this blog).

Max Factor, however, has been a disappointment: many of the main drugstore chains (CVS, Walgreen’s, Rite-Aid) do not carry the line, and it is found only at Wal-Mart and KMart. Maybe the problem was the ads that featured Carmen Electra wearing scary makeup.

Revlon’s much-hyped launch of Vital Radiance has been a disappointment. Due to lackluster sales of the brand, Wal-Mart, Target, and CVS plan to cut back drastically on the number of stores carrying the brand, while Revlon believes that consumers need more time to know the brand better.

According to WWD, “Market reports indicate that Wal-Mart will trim the line [Vital Radiance] from 2,500 doors to 500, while Target will cut it from 1,500 to 500.”

My take is that consumers were turned off by the prices of Vital Radiance products, which are higher than those for other mass-market brands. Vital Radiance’s target audience of women over 50 are probably value-conscious and rejected the higher prices.

I am not the only one who thinks this way – see comments on my post Vital Radiance UPDATED 2006-02-22.

Revlon should have priced Vital Radiance lower, or issued discount coupons to entice first-time buyers. Then there’s always the dicey proposition of marketing to older women without making them feel … old. An introduction of skin care products planned for 2007 might change Vital Radiance’s fortunes.

Revlon sees a $40 million loss from Vital Radiance. Things haven’t been so great on the personal front either: Revlon Chairman Ron Perelman’s marriage to actress Ellen Barkin ended in February 2006, after five years of marriage.

Shop Etc. – Shop Talk – Fall Preview: Stila Fall in Love Eye Shadow Trios

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Fall In Love Eye Shadow Trio in Forest Clove

I want the eye shadow trio in Forest Clove (pictured above), which features shades of shimmery gold, olive, deep brown olive. Available from Sephora.com.

I’m obsessed with olive green eyeshadow (see my profile). Other good eyeshadow trios featuring olive shades are MAXeye Shadow in Baja Bronze from Max Factor (the colors – a yellow matte, a tan “British khaki” matte, and a shimmery olive do not display accurately at all) and Vital Radiance Soft Dimension Powder Shadow in Fresh Meadows.

As a single, I like jouer Eye Compact Eye Shadow, Peridot, described as a “shimmering olive”.

NOTE: Sephora.com is discontinuing Jouer, along with Beauty Buffet, Diane von Furstenburg Beauty, Girlactik, Passport, Pinkie Swear, and She She. Shop now to stock up.

While olive green is complemented by golden or yellow shades, I’ve also used Joe Blasco Eye Shadow in Green Genie, available from makeupmania.com.

What’s new in Beauty

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Only two weeks after we completed an update of the Bookstand pages, we have completed an update of the Beauty pages on The Style Page website. Check out the many new links, including new links for nearly 30 cosmetics brands on our Cosmetics page.

Also, check our web pages for the linkrolls, which provide links to interesting articles on beauty. For example, did you know that India was a major supplier of human hair for wigs and hair extensions? Find out more by visiting our Salon page.

Fragrances and More is offering our readers a discount of 10% for orders of $50 or more now through August 31. They offer many boutique brands of fragrance, bath and body, skin care, candles, and more. To take advantage of this offer, enter “stylepage” as the coupon code.

Review of Jouer Les Essentials d’été Summer 2006 Limited Edition Value Set

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Since my June 23 posting on Jouer Les Essentials d’été Summer 2006 Limited Edition Value Set, I’ve purchased the set.

Essential Matte Touch does the job of preventing breakthrough shine on my nose. I wear it under the i.d. Bare Escentuals mineral powder foundation.

The Essential Lip Enhancer is another matter. The user is directed to apply it 3 times a day for 29 days to see a difference. It is different from other lip plumpers like DuWop Lip Venom Lite Spicy Lip Gloss, Half Strength, Clear, which includes essential oil of cinammon to create a burning sensation for the lips to appear bigger. Jouer’s Essential Lip Enhancer creates a vague sense of numbness upon application and dries to a finish that reminded me of Revlon’s anti-feathering treatment sticks. The jury is still out on this one.

Jouer Les Essentials d’été Summer 2006 Limited Edition Value Set

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I posted a positive review of Jouer Cosmetics in December 2004. I particularly like Jouer’s unique customizable palettes which allows you to connect individual containers together side-by-side and back-to-back. These cosmetics are designed to be applied with the fingertips – no fuss makeup application for the warmer months.

I’m looking forward to trying its Les Essentials d’été Summer 2006 Limited Edition Value Set, which features Essential Lip Enhancer (admittedly, I am skeptical of lip plumpers) and Essential Matte Touch (I get unwanted breakthrough shine on my nose, so I’d like to see if this is effective). Purchased separately, the Essential Lip Enhancer costs $14 and the Essential Matte Touch costs $24. The set costs $28.00 – a savings of $10.

Jilbean: The Great Eyeliner Hunt

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SpillToJill has announced Jilbean: The Great Eyeliner Hunt. Here are favorites of The Style Page:

I prefer using eyeshadow with an eyeliner brush to using pencils. Pencils are too much a hassle to keep sharp. I like charcoal brown, almost black eyeshadow for a smoky eye. I’ve already stated my fondness for Sonia Kashuk’s eyeshadow in Night, available at Target stores. My new favorite is ModelCo ColourBox Eye Shadow Ibiza 13 (pictured), available from Sephora.com.

As far as a pencil is concerned, I like Jordana Kohl Kajal Eyeliner in Bittersweet. At less than $2, this is a best buy. Find Jordana at Walgreen’s or prowl dollar stores.

What’s in my makeup travel kit

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I’m off for two days of meetings. In my makeup bag:

Cosmetics that have caught my eye

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From Elke von Freudenberg’s The Beauty Newsletter, Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Lip Balms in Tarred (black) and Feathered (white). No, these products are not supposed to color your lips black and white for a Goth look, but are supposed to serve as transformers: Tarred is supposed to darken and deepen your natural lip color or lip stick, while Feathered is supposed to lighten your natural lip color or lip stick.


Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Lip Balms in Tarred and Feathered

Paula Begoun, the consumer reporter whose web site now describes her as “the creator and innovative force behind Paula’s Choice skin care and cosmetics,” has now added gel eyeliners to her ever-expanding collections of skin care and cosmetics products. I’ve liked most everything I’ve purchased from Paula, as her products are effective and well-priced – I have many of her eye shadows and especially recommend her 2% Beta Hydroxy Acid Lotion for treating acne. My least favorite product is her Close Comfort Shave Gel.

I want Paula’s Constant Color Gel Eyeliner in Earthen (described as a medium soft brown) and Nightfall (described as an “almost-black brown with a subtle hint of plum”). I won’t need Espresso, as I am content using Sonia Kashuk’s eye shadow in Night (a deep charcoal brown) as an eyeliner: it is perfect for the smoky eye!
Constant Color Gel Eyeliner from Paula's Choice
Constant Color Gel Eyeliner from Paula’s Choice

Please share your comments if you’ve tried any of these products. I’d like to know what you think. You can see other wished-for items on the Beauty page of our web site!

Tom Ford Estée Lauder Collection :: Azurée :: now online

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The much-hyped Tom Ford Estée Lauder collection Azurée is now online. As with his previous Youth Dew collection, Tom Ford researched the archives of Estée Lauder and reinterpreted another classic. There are three different color palettes: Azurée (peach and coral), Cap Bronzée (sand, amber, and bronze), and St. Tropée (mauve, violet, and plum). Ford describes the Azurée collection as “a collection for the woman whose fantasy takes her away to sexy, remote beaches” – Whew!

Tom Ford Estée Lauder Collection Azurée
Tom Ford Estée Lauder Collection Azurée

While it was hard to come by the makeup for the Youth Dew collection – it wasn’t available from esteelauder.com or gloss.com and was available at only select stores – you may purchase items from the Azurée collection from esteelauder.com.

Beauty Addict has a review of the Azurée collection in her May 30, 2006 post That Long Weekend Glow. I swear, I didn’t copy that quote by Tom Ford from her article – she and I picked that quote independently!