Japan's Lunasol jumps on chocolate cosmetics bandwagon

According to the company, the colour cosmetics range is inspired by the world of 'fine quality chocolate', balancing sweetness with bitterness through colours, textures and aromas.

It is the latest launch to have been influenced by the ‘sweet treats’ beauty trend, where confectionery aromas are bringing a sensory element to colour cosmetics.

The four colours eyeshadow compact resembles a small chocolate box; 'Lunasol Selection De Chocolat Eyes', and is inspired by dark, raisin and white chocolate while the two-eyeshadow palette comes in three colours- resembling pistachios, raspberries or oranges.

'Sweet treats' influence in cosmetics..​

Research firm, Gama recently reported that through creative innovation, producers of colour cosmetics may stand to benefit from placing more emphasis on 'scent and indulgence' within a range of make-up categories, as consumers hone in on multi-sensory benefits and begin to demand more from their beauty purchases than pure aesthetic value.

Various food based scents have been introduced in recent years and chocolate is one that has gained significant momentum with a number of cosmetics seeking to capitalize on the ‘sweet treats’ theme.

Etude's 'House Give Me Chocolate Eyeshadow' has also recently been launched in South Korea. Sold as a duo, the darker brown shade resembles a block of chocolate divided into ‘squares’, while the second shade has the appearance of a wrapper, partly torn open as though to reveal the ‘bar’ inside.

According to Gama's analysts, the range has been released alongside a chocolate-scented nail polish and resembles an actual bar of chocolate, available in three ‘flavours’: Cherry Truffle, Cacao Fudge and Salted Caramel and is marketed with a list of 10 ‘reasons’ as to why the consumer might deserve a chocolate ‘gift’.

Sweet inspiration​

Other beauty products inspired by this chocolate concept includes the 2013 launch of 'Too Faced Chocolate Bar Eyeshadow Collection', a product which featured “the smell of sweet chocolate”​ and a formulation “pigmented with pure, antioxidant-rich cocoa powder​”, which also featured a ‘chocolate bar’ graphic on the packaging.

Meanwhile, precursors to 'Etude House Give Me Chocolate' nail polish includes Revlon's Parfumerie Scented Nail Enamel, also launched in 2013 which boasted “intoxicating colours, irresistible scents​” in varieties such as Chocolate Truffle.