MuseTV Presents: Spotlight on Jill Stuart Cosmetics

Work is swamped this week and I've been staying late! But I didn't forget about you lovely ladies so here, as promised, the kick off of the first day of Japanese Cosmetics Week!

I'm quite a girly girl in all aspects which means if it's pretty I am all over it!

As women, we are lucky enough to have an array of brands to choose from. Brands that run from practical and conventional, to cute and girlish, to plain and simple, and finally some brands can boast elegance and style.

Jill Stuart is one brand that can most definately lay claim to elegance, style, and so much more. The sheer gorgeous packaging on a Jill Stuart product guarantees it's bringing you the pretty as well as a high quality make-up item!

I'm a great lover of many brands but I can't honestly say I've run into any brands that are more beautiful and feminine than this line of cosmetics. I love being able to have a gorgeous product to use AND display on my vanity! You're not only getting a beautiful make-up item to wear on your face but also an item that is presented in such a way that it's outwardly beautiful to behold as well as use!

I can honestly admit if the product happened to be of a shabby quality, which it is not, I would still want the items for the cute compacts and jars they come in. Possibly a waste of money but I must say the packaging most definately sells the product in this case. Their is no question that the product is a good one but I imagine a good portion of the sales are generated by fancy, lovely presentation!

MuseTV Presents: A Spotlight On Jill Stuart Cosmetics





Jill Stuart Blushes




Jill Stuart has an array of loose powder blush to choose from, at the moment the general catalog contains 9 colors that are, to me, flattering on most skin types!

The blushes overall are good quality items. The texture is like nothing I'm run across stateside. It's a very chalky, thin powder. It goes on quite flawlessly if you get the correct color. If you happen to choose an unflattering shade chances are the flawless finish to the blush will actually look chalky and flaky. I have five of the nine colors and have only run across one that didn't particularly work well for me which was orange plush but it's a small problem that can easily be redeemed by applying a blusher over orange plush during application.

These blushes come as I said loose and in a fancy plastic jar with their own brush. The jar itself can easily be mistaken for glass if you display it on your vanity but of course, upon picking it up, it's only plastic. Don't let the plastic put you off, it takes nothing away from the lovely packaging!



Glowing Red, Cherry Frost and Aurora Rose


Pink Passion and Orange Plush


Each brush that comes with the blushes is quite good quality with no shedding problems. They are soft, solid brushes that work well with this style of powder blush! Application is as easy as applying your BareMineral foundation, swirl, dap, brush on! I've heard mixed reviews about application problems with the blush, I've experienced no such problems!



Each jar of loose powder blush runs about $26 USD. Once your blush is gone you can purchase a replacement bag of the blush but I'm sadly unsure what the cost is for that!

Overall I love the blush and highly recommend it with glowing cheeks ;)


Jill Stuart Loose Powder


The Jill Stuart Loose Powder comes in a similar jar as the blushes but a bit on the larger side. The powder comes in four different formulas which are shine, sparkle, natural and glow. I've only tried one of the four and that would be sparkle. The powder comes with a cute powder puff applicator and I personally use this as a finishing powder after I've completely my look. It creates a sheer sparkle effect much like Bare Escentuals gossamer face powders. If you're not a lover of sparkle and shimmer this is perfectly fine to use because it's very sheer minus the disco ball effect! The powder runs about $38 USD. It's a perfectly great powder and gets my high rating!

Loose Powder Blush in Sparkle






Jill Stuart Eye Shadow Palettes












At the moment Jill Stuart has released seven eyeshadow palettes which contain four shimmering shadows in each compact. The textures of the shadows are on par with T'estimo palettes.

The texture is silky smooth and application is a breeze as the powder smooths on easily. Color intensity depends on many layers of the shadow you apply. One layer will give you a nice, gentle wash of color while two to three layers will give you a more dramatic, intense eye look. The colors are sparkley and full of shimmer.

I think, like other brands, the compacts sometimes come across with a strange combination of colors that give the appearance they won't work together very well. Finding looks to come up with using some of these may prove difficult but with a little imagination you can create a fantastic eye look!

The compacts are extremely beautiful but unconventional to use outside of your home. If you're looking for a compact to throw in your bag for touch-ups I strongly suggest looking elsewhere. The palettes are easy to scratch up if you stow them away in a purse or a make-up bag. The price per a palette is around $43 USD.

I adore these and can't give them a big enough thumbs up!

Jill Stuart Pressed Powder






Jill Stuart has a line of pressed powders for every skin type. These are not foundation powders but just a pressed finishing powder or a powder you can use for quick touch ups. This formula, like the loose powder, comes in natural, shine, and sparkle. I only own one of the three and that would be...you guessed it..sparkle.

The sparkle powder doesn't have much in the way of sparkle however I find it works fantastic when touching up under your eyes or powdering an oily forehead or a shiny nose!

It comes in, of course, an elegant compact with sponge applicator. Cost wise this carries a high price tag of $45 USD but is well worth it!

The powder isn't an absolute must have but it is a nice conversation piece. You can probably skip it if you're low on cash but if you happen to have the extra money I strongly suggest nabbing one or two!

Jill Stuart Pressed Powder Blush










Finally, last but not least I give you the Jill Stuart Pressed Powder Blushes! There was much excitement and fanfare when these were introduced and many people were eager to get their hands on them. You can see why they were so eagerly anticipated. The compact is a gorgeous silver affair with a detachable silver jeweled brush!

Our first views of these had many people worried about the practicality of having a brush that hung from a compact. How would we apply a blush with a brush hanging from the side? How would we store it? So many questions and a bit of disappointment for all! However, after further pictures were released in magazines and on blogs, much to our relief, we learned the brush was in fact detachable. The brush clips right off of the compact making for easy application and simple storage! The brush's first reviews were poor ones. It was reviewed as being stiff and hard in texture but to my relief, upon getting my compacts, I found the brush was not so bad and quite soft without any shedding of any kind much like the loose powder brush but a little stiffer!

I can't review the blush as it's just been too pretty to touch as of yet but I can tell you that I've heard various review in poor favor of this! It was awaited patiently and eagerly and when it finally got to shops and was purchased a majority of the purchasers were disappointed and cried out their dismay at the fact that the blushes were so sheer with very minimal pigment! I've come across more bad reviews than I have good but again, I can't speak for myself as I'm still in the phase of stroking it lovely and telling it how gorgeous it is and quickly putting it back in my beauty vault! Blushes run about $38 USD.

I'd recommend nabbing one just for the packaging alone if you have some extra cash! If not wait for the Muse to use hers and of course she'll give you her honest opinion of it!

Jill Stuart carries a full range of cosmetics which includes glosses, lipsticks, single eyeshadows, face care, and more...

Check out the website by clicking here.

I know of two online shops that carry the line but the prices are not what you'll be paying retail sadly.

Those shops are:

Bobodave

and

Ichibankao

Prices increases go from anywhere from $5-$25 on top of retail cost.

You can find certain items on E-bay but again prices are jacked up!

Most all my Jill Stuart was purchased by friends and shipped to me via airmail so if you happen to have a friend living in Japan that makes life easier and cheaper!

Well...

That's it :)

I hope you enjoyed exploring Jill Stuart cosmetics! Check back tomorrow for a new Japanese Brand Spotlight!

Stay Tuned tomorrow for an FOTD using Jill Stuart Cosmetics!