Lunasol Eyelid Base (N) in 02 Light

Version 1.0 of Lunasol's eyelid base was my very first introduction to eyelid bases. Back then, the idea of a separate primer for the eyelids was a foreign concept. I didn't know eye bases make such difference to the finish of eye makeup until the popular Lunasol Eyelid Base (which held the top three spot in cosme.net's annual ranking for consecutive years), and there was no turning back. Would you know that the first review on the original Lunasol Eyelid Base on Makeupalley in early 2008 (has it been almost 4 years already?) was by me? : ) I've tried a few brands in between (Urban Decay; I Nuovi), but neither came close to Lunasol. I loved it then and still do so today.

The description from the brand website says:

A makeup base for eyelids that removes dullness and enhances the coloration and durability of eye shadow.
A brighter color has been added to the existing basic colors. Choose a color depending on the skin tones and the daily makeup. Contains beauty essence ingredients.

The newly revamped Lunasol Eyelid Base (N) is a tiny 2.5 g package but it packs a punch. It comes in Lunasol's signature bronze packaging. The original version contained 2.2 g of product and was available in only one shade. Now, the website shows two new shades in 01 Neutral and 02 Light. In Rustan's Kanebo counter, they also had a darker shade in 03 Dark. They are still selling the original eyelid base which comes in only one color, called simply Lunasol Eyelid Base. Note that 01 Neutral shade of the new version is not similar to sole shade available to the old version.

Product details on the back carton.

The Japanese' attention to detail: product names printed on many sides of the packaging.

Open up! The packaging has a smooth, mirror-like surface. If I remember correctly, the old version had Lunasol's ribbon detailing with a matte finish. This tiny little pan fits into my palm with a lot of space left.

The mirror installed in the pan is a very nice touch. 02 Light looks like a peachy beige.

A different angle shows the eyelid base in a brighter shade.

Above is a light swatch -- the amount I would use on one eyelid. Here the "lightness" of the shade is more apparent. It is definitely lighter and less neutral than the original version in my memory.

It blends in seamlessly with a natural highlighting effect. My eyelids look brighter and more refreshed. The trick is to use just a dab of product, because it is extremely emollient and pigmented. A little more would result to creasing, which is the opposite of what this product aims to do. With the right amount of product applied, eye shadows stay put for long and apply more vibrant and true to their colors. The best part is I truly feel the nourishing effects of this base. It is a gentle product for the delicate eye area. There is a certain moisture and slip to it which make the eyelids feel protected. This can also be used on its own just to even out skin discolorations around the eye area. I've noticed my eyelids getting darker when stressed out, and while the neutral shade of the original version worked fine with me when life was less hectic, I find shade 02 Light to suit the tired skin tone I have around the eyes now. 

As expected with Lunasol, the same shiny bronze feature extends even to the bottom part of the pan. 

The ingredients list is found above. Fans of Urban Decay Primer Potion, Too Faces Shadow Insurance, Nars Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base probably wouldn't like the creamy consistency of Lunasol Eyelid Base. Similarly, I wouldn't go for the texture of the above three, which I would classify in a similar category. Simply put, Kanebo Lunasol's eyelid bases are by far the best eyeshadow base/primer I've tried.

Lunasol Shining Face Color Palette in Natural Bronze EX 03

This review is probably two years overdue, but I am hoping that it may be of interest to bronzer enthusiasts and Lunasol fans.

 

Lunasol's Shining Face Color in Natural Bronze (EX 03) was a summer 2009 limited release. It comes in Lunasol's signature bronze casing. 

Kanebo does not usually scrimp on Lunasol's design and materials, as can be seen with this palette. The first tier houses a very soft face brush. It lifts up to reveal a mirror of good quality.

The bottom tier keeps the face powder separated from everything else. 

Clockwise from top left: an off-white shade, a dark brown, a peachy rose, and a bronze-y light brown. All of them are shimmery and seem to be infused with a golden base. The two shades on the right vertical column are comparatively more pigmented than the off-white and bronze-y brown on the left.

 

The powder applies so sheer that there is almost no color payoff with a single swatch, as illustrated above. I can hardly make out any color except the shimmers. However, the colors can be slowly built up to achieve one's desired effect. I can say this is a versatile palette as the rose color can serve as a blush and the brown on the rightmost upper corner serves as the main bronzer because it offers the most pigment. The sheer bronze with the largest cut serves an all-over diffuser for the bronzer, while the cream shimmery powder on top lightens areas on the face.

I do love the huge plunger for opening the case.

It was quite tricky to use this palette, and I honestly did not enjoy it as much as I intended to. I find that most bronzers do not go well with my medium-fair, yellow-based Chinese skintone (NC 20), and unfortunately this palette isn't exempt. Applied too sheerly, I might as well not have put any on for I can't see the difference; applied a little more heavily and my makeup looks muddy. Otherwise, I am quite sure the light, beautiful shades of this palette will show up better on porcelain gals.

Lunasol Shining Eyes EX03 Shining Brown

I received the Lunasol Shining Eyes in EX03 Shining Brown from my sister a year ago from her Hong Kong trip (thank you 三姐) when I asked her to pick up the Lunasol Nature Color Eyes quad in Nature Brown.

The eyeshadow comes in a handy and lightweight case but packs a punch at 6g. The cap has Lunasol's signature bronze shade and the entire tube feels very nifty. There definitely is a "limited edition" vibe going on.

 As with everything Lunasol, the packaging is sleek, simple, and elegant.

The wand-like applicator has a narrow sponge tip. I find it a useful tool to use for applying the eyeshadow on the lids.

EX03 Shining Brown (EX in Japanese cosmetic labels = limited edition) is not really a brown. It is more of a golden beige shade with very fine sparkles. The texture is soft and a little bit "whipped." It is somewhat a cross between liquid and cream.

Shining eyes has a ton of shimmer present so that it applies glittery. If you aren't fond of too much sparkles, then this product may not be for you. This makes a good eyeshadow base, however. It can "grab" on to other products applied on top. The finish is sheer but the color is still visible. It is long-lasting and non-irritating. For sure, a good makeup remover is necessary. As a highlighter, it may be over the top. Overall, an easily dupeable product but of high quality nevertheless.

Lunasol Blooming Eyes 04 Red Gradation

During the height of my Lunasol mania, I found in my stash three out of five palettes released from the Blooming Eyes/Layer Bloom Eyes collection from many seasons ago. This was a rare occasion for I do not believe in hoarding many colors of the same style. Suffice it to say I was in a foggy state of mind when I also bought Lunasol Blooming Eyes in Red Gradation. 

I dare say I do not entirely regret it. Aside from the usual mention of the top-notch accessories included (two dual-ended brush/sponge tips and a generously-sized mirror), these four rose-toned shadows could be my surprise favorite of the Blooming Eyes lot. Clockwise from the upper left is a pale white pink highlighter, followed by a muted rosy pink with a smidgen of brown, below that a dark eggplant with evident pink bases, and the star color to its left, a pink shade with just a touch of red and gold. 

Here they are in their silky glory. Pink/red eyeshadows are easy to overdo which result in rabbit eyes or worse, a seeming allergic reaction (at least that is what I discovered on my yellow Asian skin tone). The key is to apply in small quantities at a time and stop when the colors appear flattering. 

Swatched above, in darker light. These aren't as chalky as the Purple Gradation, or the Orange Gradation.They are also more pigmented. I believe the subtle golden flecks give an advantageous dimension to the shadows and make them more alluring. Overall, I found this rose palette to be worth a second look.

Lunasol Watery Makeup Base and Water Gel Foundation in OC 02

Lunasol is renowned for its Water Cream Foundation, a foundation comprised of 60% water. On spring 2011, the brand released a new makeup base and a gel-based foundation with 65% water content. It seems gels are the prevailing base makeup theme for spring and summer 2011, for Bourjois has also released an essence gel version of their Healthy Mix Foundation. Since the last Lunasol foundation I tried was Skin Fusing Powder Foundation from three years ago, I opted to give this base set a go. Initially, it was the gel factor which caught my interest, but the foundation turned out to be far from what I expected.

The Watery Makeup Base with an SPF of 27 PA++, true to its claim, leaves the skin brighter and more translucent. It does not smooth out uneven surfaces and pores though as stated in the product description. The first time I opened the tube, my eyes stung. I suspect it could be the witch hazel present in the product. However, it didn't happen again in the succeeding times I used it. To be fair, the makeup base didn't irritate my skin or cause any redness. The Lunasol Water Gel Foundation is water-based and has an SPF of 25 PA++. Usually, I ignore sunscreen factors in makeup because I always put on a separate sun protection product. The finish of the gel foundation is beautiful -- smooth and even. There is really nothing to complain about in terms of the finished look it provides. But I have a few qualms about it which I will state in the next few paragraphs.

I must admit that I always fall for Lunasol's style of packaging. The tubes look elegant and practical at the same time. The makeup base needs to be shaken before use and it is really watery because the product comes out very liquid-y. The foundation is surprisingly thick though, so much so that it has to be squeezed out of the tube. An effort to push the contents out of the bottle is necessary. I was expecting a light gel substance to come out of the container, but it is like cream foundation instead. It is easy to control the amount of product dispensed with this kind of texture in a tube container, however.

To the left, the makeup base proves to be way more watery; the gel on the right has an almost cream-like texture.

Blended out, the makeup base is a peachy skin tone color. The foundation looks quite yellow here, but it blends out pretty well on my NC20 skin. 

The overall thoughts I have on these products mainly take into account my skin type, which is oily, sensitive, pore-ous on the cheeks and nose, while also suffering from rosacea. In short, i am dealing with fussy skin. It takes in light, simple formulas but rejects heavy ones. I would know right away if a product suits me because it has no heavy feeling and "sits" well on the skin. At the end of the day, a product that works for me would mean that it didn't settle into and clog my pores, or gave me pimples. 

My skin can tolerate Watery Makeup Base a little better, because it is a lighter texture. However, I find that it still settled into my pores and left them slightly clogged. Water Gel Foundation, unfortunately, is too heavy for my skin to take. It is almost the same texture as cream foundation, which I was never able to tolerate. While it did not break me out (a very good thing), it started to slide off my face by midday and ended up in a cakey mess. By the time I removed all of my makeup, I found that it clogged my pores. I would not berate the quality of the ingredients for they did not cause me redness or acne. It is just not the right formula/consistency for my oily skin type. Typically most oily skin have visible pores, and the bigger the pores, the higher the chances of products settling in and thereby clogging them. 

These are excellent base makeup, providing medium to full coverage. The foundation really smooths out the the skin and makes it look naturally supple. I can imagine how wonderfully these would work for those with normal to dry skin types. In the meantime, these would probably work better for me during winter trips when my skin would be needing more moisture. Unfortunately, not in our hot, humid Manila weather.

Lunasol Noble Shade Liner + L'Oreal Paris Super Liner

My favorite liners are liquid types simply because they do not smudge. 

A case of attachment

My history with eyeliners is filled with failures and disappointment. Here is a rough list that smudged on me: MAC Fluidline, MAC Pencil Eyeliners, Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner, RMK Pencil Eyeliner, Kanebo Kate Gel Liner, Lunasol Pencil Eyeliner, Neal's Yard Eye Liner, In2It Waterproof Gel Eyeliner; basically all non-liquid formulas. And if they did not smudge, the color payoff was poor like Lunasol Intellectual Liquid Eyeliner, Koji Line Queen, and K-Palette Real Lasting 24 Hour Eyeliner.

It was absolute delight to have discovered these two eyeliners. Lunasol Noble Shade Liner in 02 Khaki Brown comes in an elegant glass container and bronzed cap. This type of packaging is hard to beat in my book as I fall for anything transparent, heavy, and shiny all at the same time. L'Oreal Paris Super Liner in Black Crystals comes with a "shake before use" instruction. I quite like the sound of beads clicking against the container.

A dripping rich elixir of bronze-brown with a hint of green defines Noble Shade Liner in Khaki Brown. Take a look at the stark color achieved with two coats. Absolutely captivating. This is high-quality liner in many respects. The depth, complexity, and final effect of this shade is not easy to find in or replicate with other brands. The lasting power is very good but not as strong as L'Oreal Super Liner. The brush tip is fine and soft. The liquid dries in no time.

To the right, Super Liner is shown in one coat. The pigmentation is a real feat. It lasts the whole day, even longer than the Noble Shade Liner. The felt tip makes the task of applying eyeliner quite elementary. Every time I use this, it feels like drawing my face using a Pentel pen (household name here for soft/felt-tip marker pens). Imagine how a pen dries as it applies; this is the same with the Super Liner. This shade in Black Crystals is supposed to provide a glittery effect but it doesn't manifest so much. It is hard to say this with most of my makeup, but these two I consider as great buys and have absolutely no regrets acquiring. 

Lunasol Nature Color Eyes 03 Nature Brown

Lunasol's Nature Color Eyes was first released on spring 2010. Lunasol fiend that I am, I couldn't help but get at least one palette. 03 Nature Brown is my favorite Lunasol palette so far.

Nature Color Eyes' texture is softer (but not really buttery) compared to Blooming Eyes. The wave patterns and "LUNASOL" imprint on the bottom row make the palette feel more special. 

These shadows are shimmery except for the liner color. The yellow on the lower left row has a golden base to it but still retains its distinctive yellow character. Its complementary color, a bronze shimmer on the upper right row applies with a somewhat grayish undertone. The highlight on the upper left is almost nonexistent. I typically ignore liner colors in Lunasol palettes. I find they are not only hard but also smudge badly onto the lower lash line. One of the better alternatives is Lunasol's Noble Shade Liner. 

Overall, this is a great neutral palette if you are into the soft, natural look. Nature Eyes 03 is not a bold palette. To be honest, I do not at all think Lunasol palettes are worth their cost anymore since two of the four colors always do not work for me. Of course, this is while judging the product purely on function. But if you are a sucker for packaging and labels (like me), Lunasol always delivers on those points.

Lunasol Blooming Eyes 03 Purple Gradation

Lunasol belongs to Kanebo's more sought-after brands and also happens to be one of my instant favorites. It all started with Lunasol's powder foundation and eye makeup base. Their eyeshadows also attract a lot of attention, although I personally think they make better bases, eyeliners, and mascaras. 

Blooming Eyes or Layer Bloom Eyes in 03 Purple Gradation:

I believe only the two main colors are worthwhile in all Lunasol quads. In this case: the light lilac on the first row, and the darker lilac on the second row. Both apply so sheer. They are not buttery soft. Actually they are quite hard. Frankly, I expected something better from a Japanese department store brand. Below are swatches, layered at least three times to achieve the colors. 

However, if you don't mind slowly layering eye shadows, this palette is good because of its uniquely sedate but interesting outcome. The shades are more lilac than purple. Here is a great review done by PJ on A Touch of Blusher. I think these lilac shades especially flatter Asians yellow undertones. The dark liner is wanting in staying power. The glitter shades are better layered over the lilacs for shimmery effect as opposed to highlighting the brow bone because it can hardly be seen there.

Worth looking into if you are a violet-family shadow fan.

I also reviewed Blooming Eyes in 05 Orange Gradation on Makeupalley.