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Rimmel Japan Chocolat Sweet Eyes Eyeshadows UPDATE 05.23.2024

Home & Lifestyle, May 2024 Leave a comment

Okay so this is way late, but Rimmel Japan’s Chcocolat Sweet Eyes Eyeshadows are discontinued and replaced with the new Wonder’Sweet Eyeshadows. My favorites are the old Chocolat 15 Strawberry and 19 Blueberry. Respectively, the new numbers are now 04 Strawberry Chocolate and 09 Milk Berry Chocolate. I did notice slight color changes right off the bat but haven’t had the pleasure of testing out on my skin. Also of note: I picked up 07 Peach Apricot as well as the Soft Matte 03 Raspberry Latte. Just by looking at the colors of the matte from the packaging there is shimmer, but not as much as the regular eyeshadows. Now on to the pictures below.

The frontal, you can see there is a size difference. The new compact is more square, it is easier to hold but I don’t find it as easy to pack into my on-the-go makeup bag. It’s no biggie though. I still like the new packaging, however, I have mixed feeling about the new packaging’s mirror on the back. I’ll be leaving the mirror sticker protector cuz I’m not planning on using the mirror and I want no scratches on it.

Next is a closeup of new and old of Strawberry and Blueberry/Milk Berry. You can see the slight difference in shades, but ever to slightly

Strawberry 04 New vs 15 Old09 Milk Berry vs 19 Blueberry

Take a look at the Soft Matte 03 Raspberry Latte palette:

Here are also a picture of 07 Peach Apricot:

Now here are the new strawberry, milk berry, and peach together:

I’m not super satisfied with new packaging but I don’t really care too much about it. I just love my strawberry and milk berry/blueberry palettes, that I’m relieved they didn’t discontinue them flat out. I purchased these myself through Amazon JP for 1600 yen each (new Wonder Sweet).

Lunasol Eyeshadow Palettes Review

Makeup, November 2017 Leave a comment

Lunasol is a Japanese department store makeup that’s mother company is Kanebo. The makeup is more subtle and geared towards working ladies. I, for one love Lunasol because of the lipsticks and eye shadows. If I were to describe Lunasol, the brand is geared towards working women and subtle makeup. Their most popular eyeshadow is called beige-beige, sorry readers, I don’t have that one in my arsenal. I’m not too drawn to that palette but would have to test it out in person and love it to actually buy it. The eyeshadows I’m posting about today are all palettes that I saw posted online on the Lunasol website, were swatched online, and loved. Loved enough to take the plunge without testing it and bought it online. And none, by the way do I regret. I love them all!

Wondering where to get your hands on these?  Lunasol is available in Asian countries of Japan, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Korea. If you got those friends in these places or are visiting! You can also purchase online using Ichibankao, BonBon Cosmetics, or eBay. Eyeshadows are listed on the Lunasol website as 5,000 Yen for the quads, which is about $45 US dollars. For the duo its 4,200 Yen, which is about $38 US dollars. Remember, exchange rates fluctuate. And when buying through a secondary source there can be high mark ups.

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Here’s what the palette container looks like. Chic, elegant. Note: Keep the box it comes in, its typically got a how-to-use diagram in the inside.

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Duo vs Quad palette container size

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The back of the containers have the name and color on the back.

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photo from Lunasol website

First up, Modeling Glossy Eyes in 03-Mauve Pink, released in Fall 2012. As of writing this review, this palette is no longer manufactured, however there is still stock floating around. I got my palette on eBay for a good price $39.99. Below is my photo of the colors. (top row: shimmer pink, shimmer light pink, and shimmer cream, bottom row: shimmer mauve, light shimmer dark brown-maroon, and shimmer dark mauve)

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Shimmer all around! What is interesting to note about this palette is the shimmer cream on the top right. It’s a cream-colored cream, not a powder based shadow. The cream is not sticky and doesn’t give a dewy look. It’s very shimmer when applied. The two pink colors on the top left are hardly pigmented. I found them more of a highlighter. The bottom far right, that dark mauve is more shimmery than the other color it shares the compartment with. This palette, I like the cream-cream shadow the most and then the mauve next. It’s a solid palette for casual day to office to night out. If you are going on a long vacation and could only bring one palette, THIS is the one to bring.

 

Kanebo-Lunasol-Spring-2013-Makeup-2

photo from Lunasol website

Next up, I’m looking at my spring 2013 Vivid Clear Eyes Eyeshadow in 01-Blue Green Collection. Its a quad-ish palette. As of writing this review, this palette is no longer available, but you might be able to find stock somewhere. Below is my photo of the colors. (top row: shimmer white, shimmer light blue, and shimmer turquoise, bottom row: shimmer pale yellow, and shimmer dark green-blue)

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If you’re not into shimmer eye shadows then, look else where. I do like the shimmer turq as a liner and the other three light shimmers are good for highlighting the inner corner of your eyes. I do want to also mention that, there is a layer of top shimmer on each one that is heavier. Did that make any sense? Let me try to describe it better. There is a thin top layer that has heavier shimmer pieces. The first swipe of the color reveals, under the layer, the normal shimmer of the palette. It looks extra shimmery for an unused palette. This palette makes a great summer palette. The turquois blue, mmm-mmh nice.

 

 

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photo from Lunasol website

Next up, Velvetful Eyes in 01-Deep Bordeaux Velvet, released in Fall 2013. This is another quad that I got a good deal on $39.99 on eBay. It is one palette that I had been put on my wish list and sat there waiting, waiting for a sign to get it. The swatches other folks posted on it were very nice and and I really wanted to purchase it but the photos that we regular mortals took of the palette didn’t give the eyeshadow justice. The Lunasol website shows it one way and the reviewers show other ways. So I was afraid to get it. And yes, I see now that photographing this palette is a challenge. (Below: left is without flash, right is with flash)

the purple is hard to capture
with flash

Let me say, I do adore this palette. Its another great versatile eyeshadow set. In person, let me try describing the colors for you. The top left is a very pale lavender pink, which correlates with the flash version of the photograph. The top right is a lavender-ish mauve, which falls somewhere between the Lunasol official photo and no flash photo. Not as cold as the Lunasol photo but not as warm as my non-flash photo (pinker than my flash photo version). The bottom left is blend between lilac and plum. If you look at the Lunasol photo, the color is the lighter parts of the “folded fabric”. Its a tad pinker than my non-flash photo. Lastly, the bottom right is a plum. All my photos and even Lunasol’s don’t show the color correctly. Its darker than the non-flash but lighter than the flash photo and with a red tone. Purples just don’t ever photograph well. In warm light the color looks more like the picture above, the left.

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photo from Lunasol website

Next up, Feathery Nuance Eyes in 01-Mauve Pink, released in Fall 2016. This is a very, very usable pair. It hasn’t got pizzazz or a lot of color but it does bring an understated elegance to the makeup on your face. Think the “no makeup, makeup look”. This one has got it. The box has 4000 yen on the box and there is no “how-to-use” printed in the box. But really, it’s just a duo so there isn’t a need for a “how-to-use”. I might be makeup application impaired but the colors are so neutral that how can you go wrong?

IMG_0634Two colors plan and simple, the left is a matte taupe-beige. The right is a shimmery beige. Its got warmth to it but when applying on my cool tone skin it works perfectly fine. It does look warm. Not what I was expecting, from the Lunasol website version of the palette. The Lunasol picture shows something more pink-ish.

Still I really like this pair and feel like I’d might just buy another one because I like it so much. And don’t want this combo to be discontinued. *giddy*

 

 

Cassis, from Lunasol website
Green Tea, from Lunasol website

Lastly, Macaron Glow Eyes in 01-Cassis and 02-Green Tea, released in Spring 2018. These are fun colors. The Cassis can create a “doll eyes” look and the Green Tea can give a mature look. These are not shimmer free but…Big BUT! the only shimmery colors are the top right colors light cream and ivory. The rest are matte! Can you believe that?! I’m so use to shimmer all over. The matte well-pigmented colors are a welcome change.  Let’s jump right into describing the colors of each palette.

cassis
green tea

The Cassis: top left is a smooth matte coral more pink than orange. The top right is a shimmery light-light peach cream. The bottom left is a matte warm brown. The bottom right is a matte terracotta. The Green Tea: top left is a matte olive green, which looks greener and brighter in the Lunasol official pictures. The top right is shimmery ivory. The bottom left is a matte sierra brown, cooler tone. The bottom right is a matte grey clay.  I do see myself grabbing for the Cassis this summer and the Green Tea this Autumn. Both of these are keepers but I find myself using these sparingly. I don’t regret purchasing these puppies but I know I won’t be buying these 2 again. More like a collection purchase.

 

I’ve also photographed the palettes together, that way the color can be compared at the same time. It’s hard when they are on their own, when judging colors.

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Left: Macaron Cassis. Middle: Velvetful Bordeaux. Right: Vivid Blue-Green.

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Left: Modeling Glossy Mauve. Center: Feathery Nuance Mauve. Right: Macaron Green Tea.

Shiseido Silky Quad Eyeshadows Review

Uncategorized Leave a comment

IMG_0490These are discontinued. Shiseido. Need I say more, they are a department store brand, however can also be found in some brick and mortar stores. Currently the prices of available stock range from $20-50 US dollars. I find these are a splurge and not exactly a palette that I have to have…well, except for one of the palettes.

Silky Quad Eyeshadows. Q1 is Dusk to Dawn. Q2 is Earth and Sky. Q3 Flora and Fauna. All these are smooth upon application and quite pigmented. These all also have some shimmer. IMG_0489 So let’s cover Q1 Dusk to Dawn. The whole palette is a cool tone. The dark grey can make a good smokey eye with the like grey too. The pink is a sweet cotton candy and purple is a cold lavender color.

IMG_0488Q2 Earth and Sky has a cool brown on the top left, bright baby blue on the top right, bottom left is a light beige, and bottom is a warm copper, like a fresh new penny.

Q3 Flora and Fauna is my favorite of the 3 palettes. The top is an olive with larger pieces of shimmer, top right is a coral, bottom left is light canary yellow, and bottom right is a light green. The greens and yellow are a neutral. The coral is a warm but pink-ish and seems to work for both warm and cool tones. This a very spring-summer palette.

 

CanMake Eyeshadows Makeup Review

May 2019 Leave a comment

Today I’m posting on my Canmake eyeshadow palettes, long overdue if you ask me. So Canmake is another drugstore brands from Japan, “cute, fun, girly” describes the feeling I get from the brand. You can find the products here in SoCal in Japanese supermarkets like Mitsuwa or Asian beauty stores like Takashima. The prices range from 500-780 yen for the eyeshadow goodies, which equates roughly to $4.50-7.50 US dollars. Expect to pay a little more for it you are purchasing in the States. For those without brick and mortar stores nearby, you can purchase via Takashima online (but its all in Chinese), Amazon Japan, or know folks in the Asian countries or even are making a visit there soon. Its also available on regular Amazon and eBay but I caution on the price, compare prices before purchasing. I’ve included the Canmake catalog link which has all products and pricing, its in Japanese: Canmake Japanese Catalog

 

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Perfect Stylist Eyes. There 18 different palettes, though some have been discontinued. The case backs have the “how-to-use”, that I find useful because I’m so impaired when it comes to application. What I have here are #07- Gateau Framboise and #14-Antique Ruby. The shades are less pigmented in color. Let’s go over the colors. The top left is the base, which as you guessed is shimmery. The bottom right is the liner, which is not as shimmery, more matte, and pigmented. The center diamond is the highligher or as its called on the case “topping jewel”. Its got lots of shimmer, LOTS of shimmer. Wait did I mention lots of shimmer, lol >.< And its got also larger bits of glitter/mica. The other two colors (top right and bottom left) are the colors that 2 different looks. For #07 the top right is a beige with shimmer, for a more natural casual look. For #07 the bottom left is a bright red coral with shimmer, for a more colorful look. I find the red coral to be a cute upper eyeliner for summer months. For #14 base and liner is less shimmery and more matte. I find the base and liner of this one to be a everyday color, pink beige and purple brown. Anywhoo, #14 top right is a shimmer red with a cool base. #14 bottom left is a shimmer red with a warm base.

IMG_0479 img_0480.jpgimg_0481-e1558038325733.jpg  Secret Color Eyes. This eyeshadow is still listed on the catalog but I’m having a harder time actually finding it. I think this one is being discontinued. #01- Romantic Doll, the left is the color that is used under the bottom lashes or as a liner for the upper lid. Use a couple strokes to get the color on the eyes, not very pigmented. The center is a highlighter, very shimmery. The right is a matte beige, that’s for contouring. I’ve included a picture of the “how-to-use” from Canmake.Canmake Secret

 

 

 

 

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Perfect Brown Eyes. This one is my favorite, I use it all the time. It’s a palette for everyday use. Unfortunately, the Perfect Brown Eyes are discontinued and unavailable. Thank heavens I bought a second palette for backup. #06-Antique Khaki, bottom left is a highlighter and bottom right is a sort-of base. It can be used as a single eyeshadow. Its a mauve that I find just works perfectly as a neutral for my skin tone. The top colors are used for lining or creating a pseudo light version of a smokey eye. Top left is a khaki olive and the top right is a wine brown, both have a little shimmer, but not much. This whole palette has less shimmer, even the highlighter.

Overall I like the Canmake items, the prices are right and there are lots of fun colors to play with. There is lots of shimmer in their eyeshadows, got to love shimmer if you want these puppies. But even if you don’t like shimmer, there are still some items to be had. The colors aren’t generally very pigmented but I did find the shadows to be smooth. I did notice after all day wear there was a little clumping between my eye crease, which I think is pretty normal (I didn’t use eyeshadow primer/base before applying shadows).

KATE (Kanebo) Eyeshadows Review

May 2019, Uncategorized Leave a comment

Today I’m posting up my KATE eyeshadows. KATE is a branch of Kanebo. It is an Asian brand of makeup and as you can see Japanese. KATE is a drugstore priced makeup brand. Its edgier and comes in smaller black containers, which fit nicely into on the go makeup bags. Eyeshadow prices are around 1,100-1,300 yen, which roughly translates to $10-12 US dollars. These goodies can be bought online on Amazon Japan or if you know someone who lives or works in Asian countries. KATE can be found in China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand.

img_0472.jpg Kate eyeshadow backsKate eyeshadow

The pictures above are on my ivory counter top with the warm ceiling lights turned on.

Left: Goldish Eyes in GD-1. Center: Monochrome Shine in GN-1. Right: Dark Rose Shadow in RD-1.

Both the Goldish Eyes and Monochrome Shine are no longer available, but you might be able to find it on eBay or Amazon. Turn over rate for these eyeshadows are quick, they are seasonal, generally, and don’t ever stay for long. In with the new and out with the old is how the KATE line seems to work. So if you find a shadow palette you love buy a few.

Goldish Eyes are all sparkles. The “gold” on the top is more of a bright yellow pale, and the “gold” on the bottom is a bright copper gold. Bottom brown is a base, which also has shine too, its a brown sienna. Top right is the highlighter, its ivory. I think is a good round palette to have, if you like shimmer…lots of shimmer.

Monochrome Shine is also a sparkly palette. The “GN” stands for green. This makeup has a hint of green, and “hint” is a generous description. This quad can give you a nice dark smokey eye or a light smokey eye.

Above is the KATE Dark Rose Shadow which is currently available. The red is really pigmented, one application and there was a rich amount of color. There are several ways to apply this palette and KATE website gives 4 different looks: natural, basic, Meisa’s, or Ayami’s. Frankly I love all four different looks! Check out the website here: KATE dark rose

Overall, I do love KATE eyeshadows with the shimmer and color. I’m down with using these palettes for generally nights out or when I’m feeling super “edgy” myself. Prices are decent and it is just harder to get but Amazon Japan is there for you when you need it!