Shiseido Integrate Accent Eyes... I am NOT impressed

I avoid Integrate'e eyeshadows like the plague since I tried their first batch of eyeshadow palettes called "Dramatic Deep Eyes" (there was NO drama and no depth when I used this whatsoever).


Integrate released their 4th series of eyeshadows named "Accent Eyes" and since I spotted a color I really liked I decided to give it a try...might have been that they used a new pigmented formula? After all Shiseido's other brands do great shadows like Majolica Majorca or Maquillage.


Anyway, total fail. The shadows are super duper mega sheer (yes, THAT sheer). I can subtly sculpt my eyes but I just don't like this palette. It makes me really yawn ..it's just meh and blah.
I got color BR730 (Cool Brown) which consists of a pale creamy beige, light taupe brown, darker cool brown and a slightly glittery light beige color (to be patted on top).


The result is shimmery and if you like really subtle shadows you might enjoy the accent eyes. The texture itself isn't bad at all, the shadows feel quite silky to the touch and they don't look chalky. It's just the significant lack of color that bugs me.

You can get the shadows from Adambeauty normally but he doesn't carry color BR730 and the other colors are currently sold out.

I purchased mine from Ichibankao for US$21 (incl. shipping).

Banila Co Fall 2008: Two Eyes Shadow in #28 Versailles

As I had posted in my review of the Banila Co Two Eyes Shadow in #27 De la Couture I wrote that I wanted to get #28 Versailles as well but it was sold out until recently.


Oddly the Versailles duo comes now in the normal dark metallic gray/clear case whereas the #27 duo comes in the special De La Couture box and in a metallic bronze/clear compact.
I think when they restocked Versailles they just integrated it into the regular lineup and the De La Couture packaging was just LE for fall.

Like the other Two Eyes Shadows #28 Versailles is a quite silky and pigmented duo of pretty colors. These are baked shadows which I really adore usually =D


At first the combination of metallic taupe and shimmery golden mustard looks a bit weird and reminds me of Majolica Majorca's fall Majolook Trick On Eyes in BR751 (however MM's taupe is cooler and more silver) but the colors look surprisingly pretty and sophisticated. I wear the taupe on my lids and blended into the crease area, use the mustard color just above on my eye sockets and use a pale ivory highlighter under my brows.

Compared to #27 De La Couture the taupe in #28 is warmer, more pigmented, has brown and plummy undertones and is darker. The lighter shades are totally different. Both duos are very different so it's worth getting both.


The Two Eyes Shadows retail for 8500 Won (about US$5.70 right now) so they're very affordable.

I still can't find a seller who's offering Banila Co on Gmarket for international buyers. I rely on seller skinfood2you on eBay to purchase the items for me.

Lunasol Fall 2008: Full Glamour Lips S #15 & 16

Lunasol really make some of the nicest lipsticks ever. So when they released a new range of lipsticks called Full Glamour Lips S for fall 2008 (which features 16 reds from very light and natural to berry red) I decided to get 2 colors back in August. I will definitely get more but they sell for almost US$40 online so they're quite a luxury in my opinion.
I believe Full Glamour Lips S replaced their older Intellectual Lips Full Glamour range which was divine, too.


The Full Glamour Lips S come in pretty metal tubes in Lunasol's signature color (this bronzey brown metal). Quite simple and pretty.
I noticed that the lipsticks from Kate, Coffret D'or and Lunasol all look similar except for the color.. seems Kanebo is sticking with a theme here...

Anyway, the lipsticks are creamy moisturizing goodness. They feel super smooth and glide on like a dream. My lips feel so soft when wearing these!
The finish is a creamy satin, no glitter in the 2 shades I picked out (though #16 has fine shimmer). Both have good pigment so you get the color you see in the tube.


I got #15 (Cool Red) and #16 (Berry Red) and I am very pleased with my choices.

#15 is a gorgeous natural beige red


#16 is a luscious deep cool red.


These are not fragranced which is always a plus in my opinion.

If you are searching for a moisturizing lipstick in a pretty natural shade you will definitely find a color you like in Lunasol's lipstick lineup. It was very hard for me to choose as nearly all colors looked yummy. I will defintely pick up more of these later!

Shiseido Maquillage Climax Moisture Liquid Foundation SPF12 PA+ & Perfect Remake Compact SPF15 PA+

I haven't gotten any new Japanese foundation and/or powder for some time (the last powder was Sana Covercom, the last foundation was more back). My favorite Japanese foundations are from Maquillage.
I usually liked to use the Climax Moisture Gel for winter (and still love this foundation!) and the Climax Lasting Gel for summer until I discovered BB Creams which replaced my foundation for most days.

Anyway, when I noticed that Maquillage had released a new moisturizing liquid foundation (Climax Moisture Liquid SPF12 PA+) for winter I just had to order it.
And finally MQ released their first compact powder that's actually skin-colored (Perfect Remake Compact SPF15 PA+) so I added this to my order, too.

-Climax Moisture Liquid SPF12 PA+ 30ml:


This comes in pretty heavy glass bottle with MQ's new signature metallic silver pink colored cap. I don't like that this has no pump or other sort of hygienic dispenser. It's just a bottle with a hole to shake your foundation out. Even VOV managed to put a pump dispenser on their cheap (and great) Castledew Watershot Foundation!
That's about the only thing I don't like about the foundation though!

The formula itself is liquid with medium coverage and a very slightly dewy finish (the sort of healthy-glow-dewiness). The result I get is a nearly flawless finish that looks like skin, not makeup. The color I always get from MQ is OC-00 which is a very good match for me usually (but not in their powder or compact foundations...their OC-00 runs about 1-2 shades darker!). OC-00 is a rather neutral shade whereas BO-00 is more yellow.


The foundation is definitely moisturizing but not in a greasy or heavy way. My skin just feels comfortable and not dry or taut like with more oil-controlling foundations.
If you're very dry I recommend to check out the Maquillage Climax Moisture Gel instead.

I apply this either with my MAC 187 brush (a new acquisition since we have a MAC counter here now!) or with my fingers (which is still my favorite way to apply liquid foundations!)
I paid US$38 on Adambeauty. Adam doesn't list all colors so you might like to check Ichibankao for the full line-up of colors.
This is the first liquid foundation from MQ that doesn't come with a sponge.

-Perfect Remake Compact SPF15 PA+:


A pressed powder was something MQ was missing for some time. They have their white pressed powder and their Precious Design Powder which are also really nice but I wanted a pressed powder that's actually giving a little coverage so it had to be skin-colored.
The Perfect Remake Compact comes in a cute round jewel-shaped silver pink compact with 2 compartments, 1 for the puff, one for the refill (you purchase the case and refill separately - costs US$36.50 incl. case on Adambeauty).


There are 3 colors to choose from: #1 (Bright Color), #2 (Natural Color) and #3 (Healthy Color).

Naturally I chose #1 hoping it would be light enough for me. The powder is very good, finely milled with medium coverage and a slightly glowy finish (no shimmer or glitter detectable though). It feels silky and applies like a dream (I use a big fluffy brush) without leaving a mask-like or powdery finish.


The only little flaw the powder has are the obvious yellow tones. I don't apply much powder so it blends in pretty well into my skin but
but if I overdo it I'll end up looking a bit yellow.
All in all I really like this and Maquillage convinced me once again that they do fantastic base makeup.


It seems both products work together very nicely. Even the lady at my favorite Running Sushi restaurant complimented me on my "flawless beautiful skin" =D

Etude House Fall 2008: Cute & Sexy Eyes 05 & 06

I finally got my new Etude House Cute & Sexy Eyes eyeshadow quads and I have good and not so good (but not terribly bad) news for you. The good: They're really pigmented (YAY!)... the not so good: their texture is a bit crumbly like the other 4 quads =X


The new Cute & Sexy Eyes come in pretty blackened garnet plastic cases with a clear flip-top cover.
There are 4 powder shadows in each palette, 3 of them being dark smoky colors and 1 highlighter.


The colors are really nicely pigmented and show up very well. The texture is as crumbly as the original Cute & Sexy Eyes quads which might bug you a bit.
However, the colors are gorgeous and since I do my eye makeup before my face and as I tend to more pat my eyeshadows on with a brush the few crumbles falling under my eyes don't bother me much.

The quads retail for 9000 Won (US$6-7) which isn't pricey for my taste. That's about what a Canmake eyeshadow palette costs but in my experience Canmake eyeshadows are way worse than the Etude House quads.

The 2 new colors are:
#5 Coffee Khaki:


Shimmery ivory, shimmery olive green, metallic taupe and matte black with scattered silver glitters.

#6 Smokey:


Shimmery silvery white with micro glitters, velvet periwinkle with microglitters, shimmery dark silver gray, blackened plum


Overall I have to say that Etude House definitely improved the level of pigment in the new quads and they did a great job with the color combinations as both are really pretty and right up my alley (I just love smokey quads, so sultry for fall!)
I would say these are well worth snatching up if you like dark and smokey colors =)

Banila Co Fall 2008: De La Couture Palette Shadow

When I first noticed that Banila Co released a shadow palette for fall containing 6 pretty neutrals in a super pretty case I was super excited. So I sent an email to my usual Korean seller to ask her to buy it for me. To my greatest disappointment she emailed me back 2 days later telling me the palette was sold out =( The palette was gone within just 3 days after being listed on the site!
(I got the Two Eyes Shadow in #27 De La Couture instead so please read here)


Anyway, almost a month later I noticed the palette showed in stock on the website (which I checked daily as I am a sucker hehe) so I made sure to be quick in snatching it up. I was lucky that the CPer was able to order it for me as just a few days later it showed "out of stock" again (she told me that the palette is VERY popular in Korea right now and they're behind in the production) =)

The De La Couture Palette Shadow was very worth the excitement and hunting down as it is a really pretty and versatile shadow palette (if you like browns/neutrals).


It comes in the most adorable box with a colorful lace design which the case picks up but in black print.
The case is very heavy, sturdy and durable so the shadows are housed safely (it's very similar to some of MAC's LE palettes)

The eyeshadows are pigmented and silky and blend effortlessly. There are 6 pretty neutrals in the palette: 2 highlighters (cream and champagne), 2 light colors (rose and peachy brown) and 2 dark liners/definining colors (black with golden/greenish sparkles and neutral brown). All shadows have a pearly shimmer finish except for the black one which has a matte base with fine glitters (they don't really show up that much though so it's very wearable for work).


I love how I can do a super simple neutral eye or a smokey sultry look =D

The retail price of the palette is 22000 Won (about US$15-16). I paid a bit more but enjoy the palette so much it was very worth it to me.

There was also a special offer from Banila Co's website of a Kiss Collector lipstick sampler as GWP... really pretty colors (I believe I do have 2 of them already lol)

Banila Co Fall 2008: Two Eyes Shadow in #27 De La Couture

Banila Co's fall look is right up my alley: Smokey taupe/brown eyes and light nude pink lips.
Their collection theme is "De la Couture" with pretty lace prints on their fall items.


I was totally thrilled to see a 6 pan eyeshadow palette but unfortunately it was out of stock about 2 days after its release and took about a month to be back in stock. I have ordered it meanwhile but haven't received it yet (oh and it's OOS again now)
However, I got one of the 2 fall eyeshadow duos, #27 De La Couture about a week ago and have to say that it's a really pretty duo.

The Two Eyes Shadows are some of the nicest baked Korean eyeshadow duos, they're very similar to Cathy Cat's Glitz Ball Shadows so they offer a silky pigmented texture with a pretty shimmery metallic finish.


I have collected a bunch of the Two Eyes Shadows and the new #27 De la Couture duo is one of the prettiest of them (I really would like to write a general review on the Two Eyes Shadows soon...)

The case of the shadows is quite simple, a round pot with a screw-on cover. The size is rather large so one eyeshadow duo should last you quite a while.
It's a baked-type shadow duo and there are also singles available if you prefer (however they are a bit harder and they are marbled so you can get more colors out of 1 shade).

Anyway, #27 contains a pretty silver taupe and a silvery beige and the colors work together so nicely. The colors are in fact similar to Lavshuca's Dual Eyes BR-2 but Banila Co's darker shade is more silver than Lavshuca's dark brown.


The Two Eyes Shadows retail for 8500 Won so they're a great deal for little money.
I got mine from eBay seller rumistyle for about US$12.50 or so (the only Gmarket seller shipping Banila Co worldwide I know of doesn't stock this yet).
I also wanted to get #28 Versailles which contains a warmer taupe and a yellow cream shade but it's also OOS now =(

VOV Castledew Fall 2008: Diacut Cheeks

I am really loving my Castledew Diacut Eyes...they're some of the best eyeshadow palettes I purchased so far. Of course I was thrilled when I spotted VOV's newest addition to the Castledew range: the Diacut Cheeks.


The Diacut Cheeks palette is a baked-type blusher palette consisting of 9 colors. It comes in the same pretty dark silver compact like the eye and lip palettes. Currently there is only one color available (C901). I hope they might add a pressed-type blusher to the lineup (as they have a baked and a pressed eyeshadow palette, too).


The blush palette has good (about sheer-medium) pigment and offers a pretty shimmery (almost metallic but not glittery) finish. The color varies depending how you swirl your brush across the compact. If you swirl more to the left side the finish will be pinker whereas it ends up being more peachy if you go right. Or if you swirl upwards it will be lighter...you can mix and match as you wish =)

The individual colors can definitely be used as eyeshadows if you like wearing pinks and oranges on your eyes.

The colors in the palette are:
From left to right.
Top row: Pure Pink, Pink Platinum, Orange Dia
Middle: Love Pink, Rose Pink Dia, Planet Orange
Bottom: Love Holic, Rose Holic, Peach Holic


The Diacut Cheeks is very inexpensive at about US$8-9 for your palette and it's worth every cent in my opinion.
VOV put out another winner in my opinion and I highly recommend the blush palette!

By general request I took swatches of the blusher (I also added swatches to the Diacut Eyes post).
The first pic shows all colors individually swatched, the 2nd shows 2 possible color combinations you can achieve by swirling your brush either on the pink or on the peachy side.

Etude House Cute & Sexy Eyes: 2 new colors added

When I first saw the Etude House fall collection I was a bit disappointed that there were no new eyeshadow quads.

I just stumbled across these 2 beauties of smokey goodness on Gmarket. The Cute & Sexy Eyes are quite sheer but I am really praying they might have packed a bit more pigment in the 2 fall quads.

Quads #1 and 3 have been discontinued as it seems.

Here are the new palettes in #5 and 6. I ordered both and hope they'll make it to me soon.

Beaute de Kose Fall 2008: Metallic Luster Eyes in 001 Silver Sparklet

One of my few recent Japanese makeup acquisitions contained one of the Limited Edition fall palettes from Beaute de Kose - Metallic Luster Eyes in 001.


Admittedly I haven't been extremely impressed with BdK's eyeshadow quality but the quad in 001 looked so pretty I had been lemming it from its release date on (but refused to pay jacked-up online prices).

Anyways, when I found it pop up on facial-shop for US$44.50 shipped (that's a bit below retail even) I decided it's the chance to snatch it up (still so pricey for eyeshadow, isn't it?)

The Metallic Luster Eyes comes in a black metallic case with silver glitters throughout. It's quite pretty and elegant but a bit simple in my opinion.


The palette consists of 4 colors. One is a glittery cream shadow in sheer white, one is a muted cool pink with little pigment (I wonder if it's a cream as it feels strange to the touch, somewhere between a powder and cream) and 2 pigmented powder shadows in silvery white and dark plum (which turns more charcoal gray on me).

Honestly, the 3 light colors all look alike on me. The 2 powder shades have great pigment and are very blendable but the other half (the left side) of the quad is rather useless. I detest those greasy glittery cream base shades many Japanese brands love to throw in their eyeshadow palettes and the pretty but super unpigmented light pink is totally useless, too.


The look I created was quite pretty but for US$45 I expect 4 usable shades, not 2! Due to the cream shadows I experienced some creasing, too =(
This quad gets a nay from me for purchase.

Kose Esprique Precious Fall 2008

I'm a bit late reviewing some items from the Esprique Precious fall collection but I was waiting for adambeauty to stock it as I wasn't in the mood for paying overly jacked-up prices for the stuff.


Anyways, adam started stocking the Esprique Precious fall items maybe around 2 weeks ago and facial-shop had the new eye palette for US$5 less than adam so I ended up ordering the Dress On Shiny Eyes in C-3 from Facial-Shop for US$29.99 and 2 of the new lipsticks called Dress On Moist Rouge in PK810 and BE812 for US$27.50/each from adam.

-Dress on Shiny Eyes:


I really liked Esprique's first 2 batches of eyeshadow palettes Light On Eyes and Full Sparkle Eyes so I was sure the newest Dress on Shiny Eyes would be quite nice, too.
Esprique did a complete revamp of the packaging for their new fall collection and I have to say everything looks pretty and feminine but I liked the silver/pink style, too.
The new palettes and lipsticks remind me very much of T'estimo's older style from 3 years or so ago.


Anyway, the Dress on Shiny Eyes contains 1 cream color and 3 powders, one of them being a liner shade. I wish they'd have left the glittery cream shade out. It's pure glitter in a greasy base so it's totally useless for me. The 3 powders however are extremely nice, silky and very pigmented. They blend like a dream and stay on very well.


The colors in C-3 are clear cream with silver glitters, silvery metallic white with a blue tinge (it shows up slightly grayed on my eyes), cool metallic taupe brown and a very dark intense navy blue (powder) liner. I first thought the colors look awkward together but when applied the eye look is very nice and all colors work together beautifully.

-Dress On Moist Rouge:


The lipstick comes in a pretty white and silver tube very similar to T'estimo's Serumdrape Rouge series from 2006.
The texture is smooth, moist and creamy with sheer-medium color pay-off. There is no fragrance added like most Japanese brands prefer.


The lipsticks are pretty nice and the colors they come in are very wearable and on the muted side.


I picked:
PK810: This is a beautiful light pink with peachy tones

BE812: This is a bit more complex. It's a mix of light pink and beige with green (!) iridescence. The green is very subtle though so the lipstick is super pretty.



All in all the collection is very pretty and it's worth picking up a few items. There are 3 more eyeshadow palettes (a green, reddish brown and plummy wine)
On Rouge Deluxe you can see the complete line-up =D