Lavshuca Star Glow Rouge RD-2 and PK-2

I picked up a couple more colors from Lavshuca´s Star Glow Rouge series back in January and February as Adambeauty finally started to list them.

First I got PK-2 and later RD-2 as both looked like gorgeous colors. I reviewed 2 of the colors in this post so check it out for more details!
 

The texture is really nice and creamy albeit (depending on the color) slightly scratchy due to the amount of fine shimmer particles. This is something that doesn´t personally bother me (unless it´s huge glitter) but I thought it should be mentioned.


PK-2 is a pearly, almost frosty light orangey pink and feels a little more dry than the other colors. Not my personal fave!

 

  

Rating 3.5/5

RD-2 on the other hand is absolutely gorgeous! A natural, pearly and highly glistening creamy natural pink red which adds such nice dimension to my lips. My favorite out of all colors I got

Rating 5/5

The price on Adambeauty is very reasonable (US$13.50) which is even some $ below the retail price (depending on the exchange rate).

Xmas 2010: Lavshuca Star Decoration Eyes in PK-1

Lavshuca´s new palettes are really good, maybe you remember me saying that I´d get the one in PK-1 whenever Adambeauty will list it...and yep, I purchased it recently (for US$20 which is pretty much the same as the Japanese retail price of 1680 Yen) :P
Here are my reviews for BR-2 and here for PU-1 and GN-1. 

I won´t go into detail regarding texture etc. Like the other palettes PK-1 has a super smooth and silky and nicely pigmented texture with great blendabilty, lasting-power and a pearly-metallic finish.


PK-1 is a quad of taupe-brown, white, medium pink and a glittery yellow top-coat shade. The color combo isn´t unique but the quality is quite outstanding for a drugstore brand so it´s worth purchasing this palette if you are in search of such eyeshadow colors.


Overall this palette is just like the others from this range, great quality and a good price for such lovely product.

Rating 5/5

Xmas 2010: Lunasol Nail Finish in EX27 Sheer Gold Red

Sorry for my lack of updates but I was ill the previous week... it turned winter here the previous days which often means I am getting a cold hehe =P

I think this is only my 2nd nail polish from Lunasol, the other one being the glittery one from the Party Coffret 2008. 
I don´t buy nail colors these days as I have quite all the colors I like and I just have too many anywa... but I couldn´t resist this pretty color from the Xmas collection that seemed to be a color I don´t have yet. 

Like all products from Lunasol the packaging is simple and sleek, the glass bottle contains 10ml and retails for 1575 Yen (= approx. 19). Not cheap for nail polish but still quite ok compared to other high-end brands.
I got mine in the color EX27 Sheer Gold Red on Adambeauty for US$16 incl. shipping which is quite a good deal, after all it´s below retail price =)

The Nail Finish nail polishes have a smooth fast-drying texture with a nicely lustrous and glossy finish. Lasting power is fine, about 3 days before first tip-wear starts to show.
EX27 is a gorgeous deep plummy red with golden iridescence. Even though the name says "sheer" it´s definitely not sheer, 2 layers are easily enough to give a fully opaque finish. Overall the result looks like rich red velvet with a golden sheen. Really gorgeous and a very festive color!
 
Rating 4.5/5

Xmas 2010: Shiseido Integrate Crayon Eyes & True Shiny Gloss

While Integrate used to release those (for me) useless glitter cream/gloss palettes in the previous years for Xmas they decided to add a few new products to the current lineup.
There is one limited shade of their new Rainbow Grade Eyes but the warm yellow golds didn´t appeal to me. I picked up 2 of the new Crayon Eyes and 2 of the True Shiny Gloss lipglosses as my share of this year´s holiday collection from Integrate.

If you want to see all new products incl. color variations please check this post on Rouge Deluxe!

The older eye crayons from Integrate in pencil form were really popular when the brand was launched several years ago. I have some of these and quite like them for their pretty colors, nice pearly finish and good lasting power.
The new Crayon Eyes comes in automatic pencil refills and a holder which can take either 1 or 2 colors.

I got the holder and 2 refills to test this product out. I chose a deep and a lighter color but somehow the colors I got are mismatched so I won´t use them together =X

The overall design of the holder (and of the lipglosses I will review below) is a continuation of the Fall 2010 packaging which I personally like a lot.

Anyway, the texture of these crayons is creamy but not greasy and they glide on and spread easily. Both of the colors I got are pearly but with a little shimmer but they are not glittery.

Lasting power is good, the colors do fade and crease a little but for being creamy products they last quite well on me.

I actually like these better as a base than on their own, especially the lighter color.

BE315 looks more golden/yellow than on the swatch where it seemed to be a perfectly neutral pearly slightly pinkish cream shade. This makes a good base for neutral eyeshadow colors like browns but is a bit too yellow to be used as a highlighter (for me at least).

VI611 is a pretty plum shade with good color pay-off. 


Overall a solid product but not really impressive. There are 9 shades available.

Rating 3/5

The True Shiny Gloss lipglosses come in pretty tubes and are available in an array of 7 very neutral/light and natural shades (full-sized 7g each). There is no crazy bright or deep shade. I´d not have minded a deep cranberry but ok, I like the neutrals anyway =P

These new lipglossses have a creamy smooth texture with a soft glossy and slightly shimmery finish. They are quite pigmented for glosses so the colors show up well. Actually the formula reminds me more of a liquid lipstick or lip cream.


The slightly curved fuzzy spatula applicator applies the perfect amount, actually it´s one of the best applicators I have encountered till now.

Lasting power is quite decent, about 2 hours and the gloss won´t gunk up or accumulate on the outer corner of my lips.

The overall texture reminds me VERY much of the Perfect Gloss from Maquillage. The formula must be almost identical which means I love the new True Shiny Glosses!
 
Of course these are unscented but they do carry a slight plastic note, just like the ones from Maquillage. It´s not bothersome but might be detectable for more sensitive noses like mine =P

RD113: A light milky nude pinky peach shade
 
RS731: A beautiful mauve pink, very much a MLBB color

These glosses are fantastic and a great cheaper alternative to the Perfect Gloss lipcolors from Integrate´s bigger sister brand Maquillage.
Rating: 5/5

Xmas 2010: Kosé Esprique Precious Twinkle Story Collection coffret review

I received the Xmas coffret from Esprique Precious last week so I had time to play with the goodies and formed my opinion. Overall: I don´t like it that much.

On to the individual reviews... 
The Twinkle Story Collection coffret is the 2nd Xmas kit I decided to pick up this year (first and absolute favorite being Lunasol). I am not counting the Paul &Joe coffrets now as they came out so early that they didn´t feel like Christmas releases to me and to me P&J somehow isn´t a proper Japanese brand as it´s available in so many other countries (yea, call me weird, I know it´s made in Japan!).

Overall I didn´t really pick up so much Xmas stuff this year, very little actually compared to the past years... but I very much like what Kanebo offers us (Lavshuca and Lunasol! Though I also picked up some goodies from Kate that were very lame) and I also purchased some goodies from Shiseido (the perfume from Majolica Majorca and a few products from Integrate). From Kosé I got this coffret and a blush from Esprique Precious though I believe the new Gradation Layer Cheeks palettes aren´t actually an Xmas release.


The Twinkle Story Collection contains:
-Multi-Prism Palette, 6.8g
-Multi-Prism Palette case
-Pencil Eyeliner in BK001, 1.2g
-Aurora Crystal Lip Gloss SP002, 4.4g 
-Nail Color N in SP010, 5ml

As you see the palette is considered full-sized but the other items are smaller sizes.
Everything comes packed in a pretty dark box with a big booklet attached to the back (it includes pics and application tips). I am not posting pics of the application tips as I you can find the English version on Rouge Deluxe here!

The Multi-Prism Palette case is very pretty, it´s black with silver and holographic stars, much like the milky way.

The palette itself comes in form of 2 refills, one is the pan with the highlighter/eye base cream and the other with the 4 powder colors. There are also 2 applicators for the face and eyes as the Multi-Prism Palette is to be used on eyes and face.

This palette has a silky texture but is very sheer and shimmery. To me actually it´s a bit too shimmery to use it as a blush as my cheeks just look way too glittery with this one.
For the eyes the colors aren´t nearly as pigmented as I like them so the darkest plum color turns into a dirty pink on my eyes. I wished the purple would show up more true to the pan as this shade isn´t a color I particularly like on my eyes.
The silver shade is very sheer and glittery, a bit more pigment and metallic goodness wouldn´t have hurt either.

I didn´t try the 2 pinks on my eyes, just on my cheeks for which they are too 
shimmery as mentioned above.
The shimmery cream base makes a nice primer and highlighter and the shimmer it contains is more refined than the one in the powder shades.

I actually was quite pleased with how my overall EOTD turned out but still not oustanding at all.

The Pencil Eyeliner is quite pleasant to use, after rubbing the tip a bit against the back of my hand it´s soft enough to use it on my lower lids and on the inner rims where it lasts quite well. The color is a black shade with fine silver shimmer but the shimmer isn´t really visible after application.

 

The Aurora Crystal Gloss is an excellent sticky and thick gloss with a mirror finish. It contains some fine flecks of glitter. What bugs me as usual is that this is a clear gloss. Meh, why do the Japanese brands think it´s cool to include a clear gloss with each coffret? Why not some universally flattering peach, pink or beige...or a daring red....but clear is BORING! Well, it´s handy to apply on top of lipstick for a more glossy finish and the quality of this product is very good anyway so for those who need a clear shimmery gloss this is perfect.




The Nail Color N is quite pretty, it´s a clear-ish base with very fine flecks of white and blue shimmer. When worn in 2-3 layers it´s a really pretty nail color as the shimmer is so fine and dense that the nail polish turns almost opaque which is a color that reminds me of glistening snow in sunlight. 
The formula is quite fast-drying the the polish lasts very well, I removed mine after wearing it for 4 days and there was just a little tip-wear.


Overall I am disappointed with the palette and certainly the palette is the main attraction of the coffret. The gloss and eyeliner are alright though not oustanding, the nail color is very pretty but doesn´t justify getting the coffret. 
The coffret is very suitable for younger ladies who like shimmer and soft pinks.


It gets a nay from me and a rating of 3/5.

My friend Iris from Rouge Deluxe has written this excellent review and has posted the application tips in English here!