Shiseido Spring 2010 Sneak Preview

I was given a sneak preview of the Shiseido Spring 2010 collection at the Shiseido beauty workshop I attended yesterday. Already available in the States, this collection will launch locally in late February.

A slew of beautiful items, The Shiseido The Makeup range (SMK, for short) was given a shot of rejuvenation last year by Dick Page, the brand’s artistic director. Almost everything from the formula to the packaging has been changed.

Medium to pastel shades dominate the collection of five Luminizing Satin Eye Colors (we saw this range in the Rich Rocks collection too). Don’t underestimate the violet; it may look a little weak in the photos but trust me, it is an amazing mix of coloured shimmer on the eye. I used it for an eotd (photos to come) and I LOVE IT.

Shiseido Luminizing Satin Eye Colors in BL223 Sky, GR22 Fondant, VI720 Ghost, PK319 Peach, YE121 Bone

Isn’t it awesome that they’ve started giving names to their products? Numbers can be so difficult to keep track of!

The Luminizing Satin Face Colors come in a nice range of skin-flattering colours. I particularly like PK304 Carnation and WT905 High Beam White – they pair beautifully for a soft and pretty flush. BE206 Soft Beam Gold is a nice shade too; it imparts a little warmth to give dimension to the face.

Shiseido Luminizing Satin Face Colors in RD401 Orchid, RD103 Petal, PK304 Carnation, WT905 High Beam White, BE206 Soft Beam Gold, RS302 Tea Rose

The Luminizing Lip Glosses were so pretty to look at! They come in varied finishes – some are sheer, while some are super shimmery and moderately pigmented. I particularly like VI107 Cool which pairs perfectly with Perfect Rouge Glowing Matte Lipstick in RD722 Whisper for a sophisticated taupe lip.

Shiseido Luminizing Lip Glosses in PK303 Bellini, BE201 Café Crème, BR108 Warm, BR302 Brown Sugar, RD404 Maraschino, PK406 Pop Life,VI107 Cool, YE505 Sunlight

The stars of the spring collection, however, are the lipsticks. The Perfect Rouge Glowing Matte Lipsticks are amazing mattes with just the tiniest bit of sheen. I love that they impart the modern chic matte look yet are so easy to wear – they aren’t drying at all, despite their finish.

The Perfect Rouge Tender Sheer Lipsticks are softly pigmented and impart a moist-looking lip. They remind me of Lipstick Queen Chinatown Glossy Pencils.

Among the eight lippies, I especially like Glowing Matte in RD722 Whisper (a refined taupe with cool pink and brown tones) and Tender Sheer in RS638 Natural Wine (a soft, dewy berry).

Perfect Rouge Glowing Matte Lipsticks in RD325 Coral Glow, BR323 Wink, PK224 Sugar Babe, RD722 Whisper; Perfect Rouge Tender Sheer Lipsticks in RS326 Pout, PK327 Tender, RS628 Natural Wine, RD629 Natural Red

Besides the spring collection, I also saw the Smoothing Lip Pencils that come with an attached lip brush on one end. What an excellent idea for lipstick application control.

The brand’s packaging has changed – we are seeing cases that look sleeker, shinier and more modern, thanks to Dick Page’s western sensibilities. The striking red boxes are memorable too…and oh-so-festive (Chinese New Year, anyone? ;)).

I thought Perfect Rouge Tender Sheer in Maraschino was so pretty, it deserved a photo of its own.

One last look!

Here are the prices of the collection:

• Luminizing Satin Eye Color S$43
• Luminizing Satin Face Color S$56
• Perfect Rouge (Glowing Matte & Tender Sheer) S$43
• Luminizing Lip Gloss S$39
• Sheer Mattifying Compact Refill S$55
• Sheer Mattifying Compact Case S$23 (S$78, for both the refill and the case)