Marie Antoinette (played by a younger Kirsten Dunst here) wasn’t a model of innocence, but her kind of beauty – delicately flushed cheeks, first-kiss lips, barely made-up eyes – and the likes of forest fairies and princesses are the inspirations for three made-in-Japan brands.
MAIN PHOTO EVERETT COLLECTION
WHAT: Created by Eleanor Kwok, vicechairman of Sa Sa and wife of the beauty chain’s founder and CEO Simon Kwok, it has a wide range of makeup (94 items), and also has skincare (eight items).
WHAT MAKES IT UNIQUE: “Dreamy” makeup with tools that look like they were inspired by The Lord of the Rings, and the colours – neutral, sheer, soft and matte – also look like they could have been used by elves Galadriel and Arwen for that princess/fairy look.
PRICES & WHERE: $10-$80, Sa Sa
Jill Stuart Beauty WHAT: American fashion designer Jill Stuart’s first-in-Japan makeup line, which she started in 2005.
WHAT MAKES IT UNIQUE: “Innocent sexy” blushers – the kind that replicate the flush a woman gets when she meets someone she likes. Signature ingredients of the brand’s products include antioxidant rosemary extract, lavender oil for its anti-inflammatory properties, rosehip oil for its essential fatty acids, and wild rose extract to calm and hydrate skin. And their diamond-meetssilver cases boast detailed carvings.
PRICES & WHERE: $30-$65, Sephora Les Merveilleuses Laduree
WHAT: This is the cosmetics line from the famous French patisserie with the hard-to-pronounce name (say Lay Mer-veh-yous ladurerey). It first opened in Tokyo’s Ginza Mitsukoshi department store in 2012. Inspired by the women of the French ruling class prior to the Revolution – in particular Josephine de Beauharnais, wife of Napoleon Bonaparte – who beautified themselves with crushed rose petals mixed with powder.
WHAT MAKES IT UNIQUE: The 18th-century “I’m a lady” blushers – in variations from petal-light and travelfriendly to cream and pressed. Choose from an astounding 38 shades. All the products are designed to resemble 18thcentury artefacts.
The Miracle Key Glowing Blusher in #02 Spring Field, for the sweetest flush. $55
The Miracle Key Attractive Eyes in #04 Coffee Cream, for a soft smoky eye. $60
The Miracle Key Sheer Lip Gloss, for barely-there colour. $35
Forever Juicy Oil Rouge Tint is a sheer lip tint. $38
Pressed Cheek Color, in a cameo-like compact, comes in 20 shades. $78
Mini Pressed Cheek Color is the portable version of the blusher at far left. In 10 shades, $37 each.
