It's been a long time since the last column and of course, there's a lot to catch up on. First off, the holiday season colours... which is a good time for me to say happy holidays on the behalf of everyone at BitterSweet Magazine. But getting back to the subject at hand, colour trends: while glowing skin was never really 'out', it's definitely taken a backstage role lately - but not for christmas. Shimmery, glowing skin is back in a big way, from Body Shop to Maybelline.
Ruby lips also seem to dominate the holiday collections, that or gold everything a la Maybelline.
Spring 2001 preview:
We haven't got all the spring colours yet, so we'll be filling this in as we go along. Shiseido has already released PN's collection for Asia, and it's the most colourful one yet. Last year was the start of the trend towards more colour after 2 or 3 seasons of nude-toned shimmers, but this year they hit it big with bright, crazy and fun colours on both eyes and lips, and they haven't gone light on blush or fingernails either. It's vibrant all the way. Personally I think there has to be some toning down in translating this look off magazine covers to real life. Pick your arsenal, or even 2, and stick with it.
Of course, there are new products every season and this year is no different. The nailpolishes now come in a new bottle and they've added new shades to existing products but really the product we are all looking at is the new Mascara Perfect. It comes with 2 ends, one with fibre-enfused mascara for really adding some volume, and the other with the option shimmery irridescent coat of crazy colour. Watch our space for some reviews on that coming soon.
Shiseido doesn't stop there, with the success of the new The Skincare range they have now launched The Makeup. It comes already with a wide collection of everything from stick foundation to nail polishes. Nothing as exciting though as PN...
Last issue:
To sum it up in one sentence: fall is all about red. Bold daring reds on lips and fingertips, with dark green and black sometimes featured on the eyes. But really, who's going pull off red lipstick and dark eyes without looking overdone, tacky, or a shot back to the 80s? It'll work for nighttime and clubbing, but for day time, we would suggest picking one of the two.
Revlon's collection is called Chili -with a red hot collectin of fiery bright reds to deep reds depending on your flavour: mild or spicy. Lucy Liu sports the collection as their newest model alongside Halle Berry and Cindy Crawford. L'Oreal's Ripe is a collection of matching lipcolours and nailpolishes in deep ripen berry colours, but fails to excite the beauty crowd. The past collections were much bigger with more interesting products. We loved Maybelline's Wild collection though. We oohed and ahhed over the smoky green eyes and bold red lips. And they've also put together a soft pink look too for those who hate the new trend colors. There's nothing from Cover Girl yet, we're disappointed to say. Usually the line puts together beautiful photo shoots. Revlon and Maybelline's new fall looks are available for viewing on their websites.
MAC's fall release will be huge, with 5 lipsticks, 2 new coloured lipglasses, 2 nailpolishes, a handful of new Paints (the hit of this summer), blushes, and liquid liner as part of its Lady Danger collection and other later dated release. At the same time, they will also be launching a full set of skincare products. Stila is getting positive feedback on its new lipsticks (Sophie is a nice red), and yet more new shimmery eyeshadows.
On the Canadian front, Lise Watier's fall collection is now available - you can browse their fall/winter 2000 collection 'Intense' on their website. It's about sharp, bold colours and contrast. The main colours featured are dark greys, coppers, and frushia. There are also a few new products, including a water-resistance over coat for eyeshadow and liner, plus a brand new skincare line. Quo's fall line, Viva La Diva can now be found at Shoppers Drug Mart. It includes a stackable trio of a lip, cheek, and eye colour. The new Diva lipgloss is of course, a sheer red. Faces fall collection is basically purple and red while Marselle's Velours breaks way from the predominant trend with smooth suede and earthy velvets.
As usual, Asia sets its own colour trends. You can take your pick of what you like. Shiseido's Pieds Nus Fall 2000 collection looks set to be another big hit. It's another push for new products like the Iridescent Powder Eyes loose powder eyeshadow. Luminous Veil - a water gloss product they describe as "lame on the lips", and Lip Perfect - a new long lasting formula that's not about matte. Instead all of the 13 new shades have a heathly portion of golden shimmer mixed in. If you still prefer the glossy look, there are also 5 new colours for Rouge Energy Work lipstick, as well as 6 new Dew Drop Nails colours.
In terms of new products, there are a few things out but no main trend. Revlon has a new thickening mascara. And the Maybelline and L'Oreal twins both launched a soft natural feel mascara called Full'n'Soft and Featherlash respectively. As well, Maybelline is introducing a new long-wearing line with a new foundation and lipstick formula. And that's all we got for you this month. Stay tune.
|
No sooner is the Spring collection out companies are already planning their Summer collection. Lancome's line, called Torride, is a collection of berry, plums, and browns - a lot like the usual fall fare. It's a bit of a compromise and consolation for people who didn't like the bright coral Spring colors. The trend for summer however, seems to be bronze. Estee Lauder's summer collection Sirocco and Revlon's new Bamboo Blast (with Halle Berry and newcomer Lucy Liu sporting the colors), and L'Oreal's collection all features mainly bronze.. Much more appropriate for summer. All except Maybelline's light and shimmery Whitewashed collection, if you missed those pretty and light spring pastel shades you can still wear them in trend. |
While Lancome reigned supreme this spring, in particular their Juicy Tubes lipgloss, MAC's new Bombshell collection seems set to take center stage for summer. Their most popular product? Mac paints, a new intense colored cream in artists' paints type packaging.
As for new products, there are plenty. Last time it was the stick foundation bandwagon. Now, it's light reflecting, or so-called luminous foundation. It's not about glitter, or shimmer, it's about sheen. Instead of the slightly-moist dewy skin we want glowing healthy skin. It started with the popular Prescriptives Magic, now Lancome has Photogenic, L'Oreal Translucide, and MAC Hyper Real. Some brands have been on this long before, like Stila's Illuminating foundation and Versace's Extra Glow loose powder. We are sure more will be popping up soon, so watch this space for news.
As if the Estee Lauder line isn't big enough already, it's launching a new lipstick in May called Go Pout for pumping up your lips.
Unless you lived in a cosmetic cave, you would have heard about Calvin Klein's cosmetic venture. His sheer line of colors seem to be a hit. At the very least, much more popular than Tommy Hilfiger's line, which passed without much of a fuss. Anna Sui on the otherhand seem to be on the retreat. Also word has it Borghese is retiring from the scene.
Same time next month,
Liz
Oil of Olay and Almay have finally jumped on to the foundation stick bandwagon. Both offers light gel (water-based) formulars suitable for oily skin as oppose to the creamier versions offered earlier on by Maybelline, L'Oreal, The Body Shop, and Bobbi Brown (just to name a few). Oil of Olay version is oil-free, offers sheer tone-evening coverage, and has a cooling feeling when applied. Unfortunetly there's no SPF protection (well you can't win it all) and the price is a whopping US$14. At this rate there'll be a day when I can't afford drugstore cosmetics as well. When BS asked over email for more information, their customer service didn't even know the product existed! Somebody needs to get informed.
As for the in colors of spring make-up? Chances are there will be a major trend with some sideline colours. Last fall, Revlon went out with pink and grey in Thunder and Lightning, Maybelline agreed with grey in their Industrial Revolution collection. Estee Lauder Winter Beach was a cool palette of dusty rose, pinks and plums. Lancome totally did their own thing, the fantastic colours were grey, yellow, and frushia - an unlikely combo. So we still think there'll be diversion, but we are willing to bet our La Mer warm sunny colours will set skin glowing for Spring 2000. L'Oreal collection is devoted to the sun. It consists of sunrise (pink and golden oranges), mid-afternoon sun (yellows), and sunset (dusty blue and purple colours). The colours are to be sheer and more subtle than last spring's Elements collection. Lancome makes it simple and bright with their Pollen colours: red, orange, and yellow. Clarins Shades of Happiness is following the yellow with lipstick and glaze, eyeshadow, and nailpolish each in the new shades of mid-pale yellow, red (eyeshadow will be a dark brown), and pink. Revlon is also all colorful with Color Zing and MAC wants to go back to black. But MAC is not alone because Chanel's black and red eyeshadow is all about that color. We're passing on that one personally. Finally Dior's Universalle monocromatic granite hues range from copper to greys.
Spring isn't just a time for new shades, it's a time for new products, even a whole new line. That's the case for Bobbi Brown as she plans to launch a Spring-only line called ColorOptions with much more funky colors than her current known-for-neutrals line. But we at Bitter Sweet have to wonder since the last seasonal special, the Millenium (lip) palette, became a regular in her line after high demand. Besides the ColorOption, there'll be plenty new products are buzzing at BB, including: cream eyeshadow sticks, gel eyepencils (I'd just buy the Cover Girl version), lip laquer, shimmer loose eyeshadows, and glittery lipsticks. Very un-Bobbi Brown like. Personally, I'm very sad to see an all-neutral line go trendy. There are enough trendy cosmetic lines out there already. It used to be when I went to Bobbi Brown, I know I would come out with totally wearable shades I could wear for every occasion, not something I chuck to the bottom of my (vast, deep, and very full) cosmetic drawer to be forgotten about. SAs will not try to sell me hot trendy colors just because they were trendy or shades I don't own already (obviously for a good reason. I never had bright red or frushia eyeshadow and trends won't change the fact they simply don't look good on me).
A little further away, in autumn 2000 Espirt will have an worldwide launch of a new baths and beauty line made for them by Lancaster, including bath salts, lotions/gels, mist sprays and scented candles. Expect the products to keep with the casual young image of Esprit. More on that as we get the news. We're definitely interested.
Finally, the hot new product of this month: Prescriptives Magic - containing light-reflecting particles that promises subtle yet glowing, healthy-looking skin. It's flying off the shelves so quick there's waiting lists for items. We even heard it will be spin-off on to its own line seperated from Prescriptives. For those of you still waiting for your Magic, we bet Estee Lauder will spread the "unique formula" to all the other companies they own (including Bobbi Brown, Clinique, Aveda, Origins, Jane, Stila, and MAC) sooner or later.
Until next time,
Liz
