Website:CreerBeaute
Store:P-Bandai
MFC: Link
Release Dates: October 25, 2013; November 20, 2013, December 24, 2013
Purchased from: BiginJap.com
Paid: $56 USD
When: Purchased June 2013, Received December 2013
This post was updated on November 1, 2020.
The Crystal Star Compact is used by Usagi in season 2 (R Arc) of Sailor Moon to help her transform in combination with the Silver Crystal. Traditionally in the Sailor Moon fandom merchandise of this item has sold for high prices. Being that most merchandise of this item consists of RPG toys from the 90’s, finding one in good shape and a box is difficult.
In regards to this particular Crystal Star Compact, ordering it has proven to be JUST as difficult. The compact is a P-Bandai exclusive item, but due to the popularity of the item various websites grabbed orders from P-Bandai, marked up the price, and sold it in their own shop. As demand was high it proved difficult to get on the P-Bandai website during the ordering period, and a lot of people missed out even if they had proxy services to order.
Prices have ranged from a decent 3790 yen on the P-Bandai website before taxes, to outrageous $250 USD price tags on Ebay, and scammers have been making a pretty penny offering “Pre-orders” that don’t exist and take buyers out of their time-period to dispute the stolen money.
As this item is sold out EVERYWHERE I recommend taking extra precaution if you come across a seller online. Do your research before getting scammed.
EDIT: Since this items initial release it has had several releases online, and in-store where P-Bandai cosmetics are sold (In Japan). It should be much easier to get it than when it was initially released.
Advertising
If I remember correctly there was no warning when this compact appeared. The first of three listings appeared on the P-Bandai website, and all hell broke loose. It crashed the site and prompted P-Bandai to make 3 extra release dates, and a pre-order option at the Sailor Moon La Reconquista merchandise table. All of which sold out before most people could even realize they were up.
P-Bandai, during this time, set up a page for the compact which consisted mostly of this image http://myfigurecollection.net/picture/720949 (linked for large size) advertising what it was, the packaging, and a comparison between the bulky 90’s toy, and the sleek, smaller compact we have today.
(Header image from P-Bandai listings)
Packaging
This box is flawless and fits the more adult theme of the Miracle Romance line. The pink has a soft pearl finish, and metallic foil is used for Luna and Serenity. There are lots of beautiful florals, gems, and popular motifs from Sailor Moon across all sides of the box. No side is boring. Even the back and bottom has small details that add to the aesthetic.
Assembly and Fit
There is really no assembly for this piece, but there is a button on the front of the compact for opening it and locking it shut. It holds well, and the hinge on the back of the compact is tight, so the top doesn’t just fly up. There is very little chance that if you use this compact as a regular make-up item that the lid will just pop open often, unless you wear down the hinge enough to loosen it.
The powder is covered by a plastic slip that represents the Silver Crystal and bows on the inside of Sailor Moons anime compact. It fits in nicely between the powder and the puff that sits on top of it. As a collectors item I DO NOT recommend throwing this piece out. It will be important to collectors.
Sculpt and Design
Everything about this compact depends on the lid. If the star is messed up then P-Bandai can go home with their money. Fortunately they seem dead on. I can’t complain about it at all. As a Sailor Moon fan, collector, and reviewer I have zero complaints about how the lid of the compact was designed. As a make-up compact vs a brooch that Sailor Moon would have worn on her dress it is a little bulky, but this compact is filled with make-up, instead of a mirror and stone.
While taking photographs I handled my compact as carefully as possible, and both dusted it with a camera brush, and wiped it down for finger prints with a microfiber cloth. There were no visible flaws in the moulding.
The bottom is actually quite irrelevant. In fact, the plainer the better, because the focus was on the lid and the inside.
I believe the 382 is a batch number of some sort for the make-up? I’ve seen comments from people with the same numbers, so it does not signify that you have ### out of ###. The compact was exclusive, but not seemingly limited by Bandai.
The boarder around the mirror is quite detailed and pretty. It should match the one around the 90’s compact.
Painting
BEWARE of the paint on the lids of these compacts. It is known to scratch and it’s impossible to fix. The mirroring effect is created with a special process in plant. Spray paints will not do the trick.
That said, the paint on mine is flawless. There are no scratches, no imperfections. No transfer at all.
Make-up
Lets be honest. How many of us bought this or want it because of the powder?
The make-up is kind of additional for most collectors, but is also a major selling point of the new compact for Bandai. It’s important to collectors because it proves that P-Bandai wants to cater to the adult fandom.
Edit: I have since purchased a second compact to test and it is just a transparent, shimmery powder. In Japan I have seen some decent reviews for the P-Bandai line, but for North American users I would warn that Asian make-up trends are much lighter than ours. This product is not highly pigmented, but it was manufactured that way on purpose.
Identifying Bootlegs
No bootlegs for this item as of December 18, 2013. If bootlegs have been spotted please send me a PM or comment and I’ll update this section with information on how to spot the bootlegs and help you avoid getting ripped off!
Overall
This is totally of bias opinion, but I LOVE this compact. It is easily the best purchase I’ve made for my Sailor Moon collection, at less than $60. There isn’t currently another Sailor Moon Crystal Star Compact readily available that I could buy for cheaper than this, and at this level of quality.
Overall I think this is an A+ must have item for any Sailor Moon collector. If you collect RPG items you will love it!
This review was originally posted on MFC under my username Paulichu on December 18, 2013.
Sailor Moon Collection 