Japan Trip Beauty Buys: The Drugstore Edit

Finally I'm putting up a vacation shopping post and, *deep breath*, I must admit I'm having a mid-life makeup crisis of sorts because I keep watching makeup decluttering videos on YouTube and then this sort of thing happens... 

 

Coming out of the restrictions of my self-imposed beauty diet I started off slowly... then REALLY got going as you'll see - to tell you the truth I shocked myself! As a result I've decided to do four instalments otherwise this would be a ridiculously long, overwhelming post so here's the first instalment devoted entirely to Japanese drugstore shopping...

 

KATE (Kanebo)

 

KATE (marketed as urban, sharp and cool on their website) had been recommended for their eye products so that was my initial focus. All those shimmery beauties made it impossible for this little magpie to decide on just one palette so I chose two, plus a few other things - over the course of a few shopping sessions just so you know that it wasn't one ginormous binge! Just a few teensy little ones, eh?

 

Onto the specifics:

• KATE Rouge HG Lipstick (PK-21 & RD-15) - These are like sleeker packaged Revlon lip butters with a medium to high shine, decent pigmentation and that buttery feel on the lips.
• KATE Volume Gel Mascara (BK-1) - I couldn't find Kiss Me mascara which was recommended by an Instagram follower so I thought I'd try this volumising mascara instead. 
• KATE Brown Shade Eyes quad (BR-3 Sepia) - These quads were newly released and are a range of - why of course - brown shade quads in various finishes such as pearl, matte and sepia.  I've already worn this and the rose gold shades are flattering for everyday wear with just enough shimmer to add dimension to the lids.
• KATE Goldish Eyes quad (PU-1) - Shimmery purple and gold for layering over the other neutral shades? Yes, I'm looking forward to playing with this!

 

Visée (Kosé)

 

Visée was another recommendation from a Japanese IG follower as a great drugstore brand to check out:

• Visée Lip & Cheek Cream (OR-3 & PK-2) - These were released only a month before I visited Japan so they were another new find to get a little excited about! I'm now well and truly into cream cheek products so honestly I had a difficult time paring my selection down to these two bright spring-appropriate choices.  They're brighter than what I'd normally choose but I think I was under the influence of all the pretty rouged cheeks I was surrounded by in Japan - Japanese girls know how to rock blush in the prettiest way! I had blush envy over there - SERIOUSLY.
• Visée Creamy Lipstick (RD 400) - Another lipstick that slips on like butter.  Since I've returned I've read some reviews saying these are actually drying on the lips but I haven't had that problem.  I found mine super creamy, very pigmented and long lasting on the lips.  The initial creamy sheen does eventually dry down to a semi-matte look but it didn't dry out my lips at all.

 

Coffret D'Or (Kanebo)

 

 

 I found these Coffret D'Or products in a mega drugstore beneath my hotel in Osaka and I'm hopeless at resisting ultra-girly packaging and cute floral blush designs! I can't say much more about the brand as their website is only in Japanese:

• Coffret D'Or Smile Up Cheeks Cheek and Face Color (01) - I haven't tried this yet but the beautiful rose embossed palette (which comes with its own little brush) is a combined blush/highlighter with a pearly sheen so it will be for those days I want just a little glow without obviously wearing blush.  Let's be honest - I bought this just because it's pretty!
• Coffret D'Or Fall 2014 Makeup Collection (EX-4) - I was going to buy the Smile Up Cheeks blush only, when I spotted some boxed Coffret D'Or sets at the cash register (oh the temptation when I'm on holiday in another country!!!) for a reasonable price that I can't remember now but anyway... The boxed set comprised an eye shadow quad (Smile Eyes 06 Grey Brown) which I've unfortunately gouged a chunk out of while prising it open, another blush (Color Blush - RS), and a sheer gloss (Liquid Rouge EX-100).    

 

Canmake

 

I've tried Canmake products before so I didn't go overboard this time: 

• Canmake Glow Fleur Cheeks (02) -  Canmake sell such pretty blushes! This might just be a knock-off of Anna Sui, but what the heck, I bought this pretty peachy pink to add to what is now a considerably large blush collection.
• Canmake Colorful nails (10) - This is the only drugstore nail polish I bought in Japan.

 

Maquillage (Shiseido)

 

Shiseido's diffusion line Maquillage is one I've known about for a long time:

• Maquillage Concealer Liquid (Natural) - There's no particular story about this concealer pen.  I actually had to buy it because the concealer I'd packed for my vacation ran out! I've been using it daily to brighten my under eye circles and it does the job without any creasing so I'll definitely use this one up!
•  Maquillage Essence Glamorous Rouge Neo (RD 342) - I've seen a bit of buzz around regarding these lip products so I bought one to try for myself.  RD 342 is not red - actually it's very difficult to find bright lip products in Japan - but more of an everyday peach/nude.

 

Other bits and pieces...

 

And now the random one-off buys:

• Majolica Majorca Majolook quad (BR799) - These get rave reviews so I've been very restrained just buying one but I opted for the quad I'd get the most use out of. After reading the reviews I really need to get playing with this one!
• Chu Lip balm - I bought this because it's cute; it reminds me of EOS balms; and it has Tokyo in the name! Enough said.
• Za Perfect Concealer (02) - This is actually a repurchase because this concealer covers like nothing else I've tried.  A little goes a very, very long way... 

 

For me Japan drugstore shopping was probably the most exciting of all the beauty shopping I did overseas because there are so many brands I don't see at home or I don't know much about! Also I love how it seems almost every high end Japanese cosmetics brand has a drugstore diffusion brand - if only more high end cosmetic houses would sit up and take notice that you don't need to hide your drugstore connections...

If you're interested in any individual reviews or swatches on any of these products please let me know.

 

 



From my travels: Shiseido MAQuillAGE

When I was in Singapore in April last year I spotted some gorgeous eyeshadow palettes at the Takashimaya department store.  I had to buy them as the Maquillage line is not available in Australian department stores, and I'm always on the lookout for different and interesting brands - they're my idea of souvenirs!

These are the Eyes Creator (3D) palettes in GY867 (grey) on the left and BR365 (brown).  They feature a cream base shade (bottom left-hand corner of each palette), three complimentary eyeshadow shades, and a cream eyeliner (bottom right-hand corner).  The palettes include a double-ended applicator and a mini blending and eyeliner brush.  The palette is also refillable as the individual colour pans can be popped out and replaced.

Here are the individual palettes with swatches shown in daylight and lamplight:

GY867

As you can see I've used the grey palette a few times.  The grey shade itself shows up as a steel-blue against my skin and looks quite dramatic on my eyes.  I've worn these shadows in steamy hot weather and they held up very well with minimal creasing. 

BR365

I've not actually used the brown palette until now and after swatching it I cannot understand why.  The browns are shimmery but subtle shades and I'm sure they'd be office-appropriate.  I'll have to wear these shades this week so I can give you a complete review. 

*EDIT* I  road-tested this palette today and while the colours were subtle, I was amused to find I had tiny sparkles on my cheeks by the middle of the day.  This would look gorgeous at a softly-lit romantic dinner but I don't think I'll wear it to tomorrow's office meeting :)

So what have I found out about Maquillage?  This particular Shiseido line retails in China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan & Thailand.  According to their website here Maquillage believes "...in perfecting the inner beauty of every woman by helping them create the "ideal face"..."

This product is available online at strawberrynet.com for Australian and overseas readers.

That's all for now.

Vita :)