Welcome to another edition of Magazine Monday! This time, my favourite: the Biteki new collections booklet! :D I know with the internet dese days (tsk tsk) and ever-earlier release dates, much of the shine has gone from this kind of preview booklet (many of the collections had landed on counters before this issue made it onto the bookshelves), but for me the excellent true-to-colour and -to-finish quality of Biteki's pictures and swatches are still an invaluable help when buying Japan-exclusive pretties.
![]()
Collections booklet, Left, and main mag, Right: next Monday I'll share some of the looks and tutes from the main mag, which introduces a few eye makeup tweaks and combining shots of colour into office-safe makeup.
The collections booklet is coded with several diamond-shaped 'stickers': blue diamonds indicate the products featured in the official promo/ads, and violet diamonds limited edition status. The purple circles indicate Biteki's own showcasing of this product in the main magazine, and on which page. The black square lists the Japanese release date (month, then day).
Let's crack the booklet!
![]()
SUQQU's three new permanent quads seem to reprise various recent limited edition palettes: 16's blurple-with-neutrals recalls EX-11 Sumiredama; the pink-green-brown combination of 15 repeats EX-08 Hanamari and EX-12 Hisuidama; and 15 is a warm brown-gold quad reminiscent of various holiday palettes e.g. EX-09 Momoawayuki. On the other hand, we have another pinky-red limited-edition Creamy Glow Moist lipstick (EX-03), which Suqqu seems to bring out every collection. When will they make one a permanent part of the range, already?! Can you tell I'm bitter that I'll have to wait until April to play with these IRL? :P
![]()
THREE also focuses on expanding their core collection with a release of mostly permanent items. Four new eyeshadow duos in more muted shades than the original release last spring, and a new 'Velvet Last Lipstick' formula with a reasonable range of shades. Worrying testament to my susceptability to J brands, the two items I'm particularly eyeing are both marked with blue diamonds: the lipstick in 02 and eyeshadow duo in 09.
![]()
Make that susceptibility to all things Japanese pop-cultural. TRIFORCE BLUSHES, YO. RMK has my number and I will definitely be acquiring one of those and repurposing as eyeshadow if it turns out to be too sparkly for my cheeks. Those trio eyeshadows (seven on the right) also look interesting -- I'm still loving 'blush' colours on eyes, and will be eager to check out the minute differences between the two 'sandwiching' shades on either side. Interesting finishing powders, candied shades of nail polish and pop-bright lip crayon&gloss duos (those flower&heart swatches) complete what promises to be a very fun, girly collection.
Bright lips are quite a feature this spring (...for Japanese brands. They're ALWAYS a feature for me :P), and I am very excited to see more vibrant offerings from brands whose faultless formulas usually come in a slew of soft rosy/brown neutrals. Shiseido's Benefique Theoty is a brand I'm hoping to try this year -- their cream lipsticks have garnered rave reviews in Japan and this spring brings ten new, mostly reddish, shades:
![]()
Jill Stuart also has a new 'Lip Blossom' lipstick formula, from which 08 and 09 look obnoxious enough even for me, and its key colour, 02, seems such a 'Korean' milky orange shade -- more evidence for the growing popularity/influence of Korean beauty trends in Japan, perhaps?
![]()
Élégance is one domestic Japanese line that's always had interesting colour options, with a red mascara, red-and-blue-slashed lipsticks, and a pink-and-green lacy blush among its core offerings. Maybe one of their spring cream blushes(!) or bright lipsticks will be my first foray into this luxury brand. I like all three of the greyed-neutrals-with-pops-of-colour quads too.
![]()
Chicca also has new (sheer, glossy) lipsticks in a range of classic spring pinks, though no new shades of Flush Blush (sulk).
![]()
I've taken a break from Sonia Rykiel for the past few seasons, but simultaneous releases of bright liquid lipsticks and sparkly liquid eyeshadows means it's time to get reacquainted! Purchases and reviews most likely forthcoming later this year :P
![]()
Liquid lipsticks in general are all over the place, with new formulas and shades from several brands. Kao's Aube Couture expands the shade range of its 'Essence Premium Rouge' line (IIRC the 'winner' in the battle of the liquid lipsticks last year). Their new eyeshadow palettes, with their clever self-explanatory layout, offer a totally brainless way to the 'inner socket accent' placement I've been so enjoying (e.g. looks 2 and 3 here).
![]()
Shiseido's Maquillage offers a new formula: Essence Glamorous Rouge NEO, in, sadly, all shimmery options >:C
![]()
...while its big sister brand Shiseido The Makeup expands its Lacquer Rouge range (droplets on the right) and releases a new Lacquer Gloss line (hearts on the left) with even more egregious glitterbombs. I'd love to see one of you compare VI207 with Surratt Amethyste, however! The new cream shadow shades seem to develop the acid-brights colour story of last holiday's Eye Colour Bar, which was a failure on me; perhaps these will play nicer on my skin?![]()
Thankfully, there are three shimmer-free as well as three shimmery shades of Kanebo Coffret D'Or new Elegance Jelly Rouge liquid lipstick, while their Rouge Essence range also sees six new permanent and two new limited edition shades: the 'Excellent Colour' (i.e. especially pigmented) pink and red ones at the top.
![]()
Another brand known for its liquid lipstick line, Kosé's Esprique introduces four new Rouge Stay Magic shades, all with varying degrees of shimmer. And another variation on their hybrid eye&cheek palettes: Blend Creation Eye and Cheek Bitter Line. Why bitter? I dunno, their palettes have looked the same to me for a good few years now :P
![]()
Another cheek thingy that caught my eye: Ipsa's new range of twelve -- count 'em -- highlight-blush-contour--and-finishing-powder compacts. I never did get to check out Visée's version released last autumn but if my new back-to-basics virtuous streak continues, one of these might tempt me to try some daily face sculpting.... Visée's release this time is small, as expected, since the entire line was revamped just a season ago -- its main standout the limited edition bright pink lipstick PK804.![]()
At opposite ends of the market, Ladurée (luxury) and Lavshuca (drugstore) also put face colours at the heart of their collections. Blushes in palettes, miniature boxed petals, cream cheek pots, and floral embossed compacts, o my.
![]()
One of the few eye-focused collections this season comes from Lunasol, with four quads and five eyeshadow duos, all in dusty, washed-out wheaty and pastel shades. Quad 04 looks like a potential warm grey quad to replace the staples I finished last year! ...Let's not examine the leprous blushes too closely, eh?
![]()
Addiction also showcases a similarly sandy neutral colour story, although punctuated by some eccentric lip colours. Which, in principle, cool, but srsly, what is up with the complex-glitter-packed-purple lip colours this season?! My wish was for (even) more EYE colours, universe! Oy...
![]()
A balanced collection (i.e. it's that point in a long blogpost where I run out of organising principles) come from Cosme Decorte AQ MW -- always famed for their powders, this season sees five new tinted shades, but they seem to be releasing bits and bobs in all makeup categories.
![]()
Another generous collection comes from Paul&Joe -- more properly a confection, it being such shamelessly girly whimsical fun. With balls.
![]()
I should end all posts with BALLS. Balls balls balls.
Ahem, not that I'm posting while drunk-shopping. Not me. Any of these pretties catch your eye? Aside from Chanel's Diapason, I'm not really feeling any Western brand release this season. Then again, I'm sinking slowly yet surely into a Korean makeup rabbit hole.... I'm clearly under some enduring exchange-monies-for-makeups curse. Balls.
The collections booklet is coded with several diamond-shaped 'stickers': blue diamonds indicate the products featured in the official promo/ads, and violet diamonds limited edition status. The purple circles indicate Biteki's own showcasing of this product in the main magazine, and on which page. The black square lists the Japanese release date (month, then day).
Let's crack the booklet!
Bright lips are quite a feature this spring (...for Japanese brands. They're ALWAYS a feature for me :P), and I am very excited to see more vibrant offerings from brands whose faultless formulas usually come in a slew of soft rosy/brown neutrals. Shiseido's Benefique Theoty is a brand I'm hoping to try this year -- their cream lipsticks have garnered rave reviews in Japan and this spring brings ten new, mostly reddish, shades:
Jill Stuart also has a new 'Lip Blossom' lipstick formula, from which 08 and 09 look obnoxious enough even for me, and its key colour, 02, seems such a 'Korean' milky orange shade -- more evidence for the growing popularity/influence of Korean beauty trends in Japan, perhaps?
Élégance is one domestic Japanese line that's always had interesting colour options, with a red mascara, red-and-blue-slashed lipsticks, and a pink-and-green lacy blush among its core offerings. Maybe one of their spring cream blushes(!) or bright lipsticks will be my first foray into this luxury brand. I like all three of the greyed-neutrals-with-pops-of-colour quads too.
Chicca also has new (sheer, glossy) lipsticks in a range of classic spring pinks, though no new shades of Flush Blush (sulk).
I've taken a break from Sonia Rykiel for the past few seasons, but simultaneous releases of bright liquid lipsticks and sparkly liquid eyeshadows means it's time to get reacquainted! Purchases and reviews most likely forthcoming later this year :P
Liquid lipsticks in general are all over the place, with new formulas and shades from several brands. Kao's Aube Couture expands the shade range of its 'Essence Premium Rouge' line (IIRC the 'winner' in the battle of the liquid lipsticks last year). Their new eyeshadow palettes, with their clever self-explanatory layout, offer a totally brainless way to the 'inner socket accent' placement I've been so enjoying (e.g. looks 2 and 3 here).
Shiseido's Maquillage offers a new formula: Essence Glamorous Rouge NEO, in, sadly, all shimmery options >:C
...while its big sister brand Shiseido The Makeup expands its Lacquer Rouge range (droplets on the right) and releases a new Lacquer Gloss line (hearts on the left) with even more egregious glitterbombs. I'd love to see one of you compare VI207 with Surratt Amethyste, however! The new cream shadow shades seem to develop the acid-brights colour story of last holiday's Eye Colour Bar, which was a failure on me; perhaps these will play nicer on my skin?
Thankfully, there are three shimmer-free as well as three shimmery shades of Kanebo Coffret D'Or new Elegance Jelly Rouge liquid lipstick, while their Rouge Essence range also sees six new permanent and two new limited edition shades: the 'Excellent Colour' (i.e. especially pigmented) pink and red ones at the top.
Another brand known for its liquid lipstick line, Kosé's Esprique introduces four new Rouge Stay Magic shades, all with varying degrees of shimmer. And another variation on their hybrid eye&cheek palettes: Blend Creation Eye and Cheek Bitter Line. Why bitter? I dunno, their palettes have looked the same to me for a good few years now :P
Another cheek thingy that caught my eye: Ipsa's new range of twelve -- count 'em -- highlight-blush-contour--and-finishing-powder compacts. I never did get to check out Visée's version released last autumn but if my new back-to-basics virtuous streak continues, one of these might tempt me to try some daily face sculpting.... Visée's release this time is small, as expected, since the entire line was revamped just a season ago -- its main standout the limited edition bright pink lipstick PK804.
At opposite ends of the market, Ladurée (luxury) and Lavshuca (drugstore) also put face colours at the heart of their collections. Blushes in palettes, miniature boxed petals, cream cheek pots, and floral embossed compacts, o my.
One of the few eye-focused collections this season comes from Lunasol, with four quads and five eyeshadow duos, all in dusty, washed-out wheaty and pastel shades. Quad 04 looks like a potential warm grey quad to replace the staples I finished last year! ...Let's not examine the leprous blushes too closely, eh?
Addiction also showcases a similarly sandy neutral colour story, although punctuated by some eccentric lip colours. Which, in principle, cool, but srsly, what is up with the complex-glitter-packed-purple lip colours this season?! My wish was for (even) more EYE colours, universe! Oy...
A balanced collection (i.e. it's that point in a long blogpost where I run out of organising principles) come from Cosme Decorte AQ MW -- always famed for their powders, this season sees five new tinted shades, but they seem to be releasing bits and bobs in all makeup categories.
Another generous collection comes from Paul&Joe -- more properly a confection, it being such shamelessly girly whimsical fun. With balls.
I should end all posts with BALLS. Balls balls balls.
Ahem, not that I'm posting while drunk-shopping. Not me. Any of these pretties catch your eye? Aside from Chanel's Diapason, I'm not really feeling any Western brand release this season. Then again, I'm sinking slowly yet surely into a Korean makeup rabbit hole.... I'm clearly under some enduring exchange-monies-for-makeups curse. Balls.