theNotice: a beauty blog

The product: OB for shu uemura UV Under Base

   ↳ Brightening Mousse SPF 30 PA ++ in Pink Purple

   ↳ POREraser Mousse SPF 35 PA +++ in Beige

I’ve been trying to put together a review of the YSL Tie and Dye topcoats all week, but — no dice. (I think I took way too many photos; seriously.) In the meantime, here’s a review for something that really blew me away this month!

(how cute are these?!)

The POREraser UV Under Base Mousse in Beige

To start off with: shu’s Beige Under Base (SPF 35 PA +++) is made to even out skin tone and texture, reduce redness, and minimize the appearance of pores.

It’s kind of like — you know how makeup primers tend to be a clear layer of silicones, while paint primers are there for adhesion and tint? The POREraser is more like the latter, not only filling pores but creating a more even tone, too. I’d say its pore-filling prowess is less than a heavy “filler” (think Benefit The POREfessional), but it’s worth it for the lighter feel and silicone content.

Try this if: You’re looking for something to even skin tone without “flattening” the face. Use before your foundation —  or instead of, if you’re around a NW20-30!

shu uemura UV under base – POREraser/beige (L) and brightening/pink purple (R)

The UV Under Base Brightening Mousse in Pink Purple

Here’s the one that really steals the show for me. Like the POREraser Under Base, the Brightening Mousse was created to be a weightless way to even out skin tone and texture — but with a brightening benefit, too, both in immediate effect and long-term reduction of imperfections.

With SPF 30 PA ++, this primer is phenomenal at brightening up a fair to medium skintone (perhaps a deep skintone, too, if used sparingly), and works particularly well with yellow undertones. You definitely need to spread this one out (the shu website recommends applying a walnut-sized amount with their pentagon sponge) and make sure to cover all exposed skin, but it is absolutely, definitely worth it.

Try this if: You already have a sheer-to-medium foundation that you love, but want something to help “pick up” your complexion without relying on shimmer or sheen.

shu uemura UV under base swatches – beige (L) and pink purple (R)

The verdict?

shu uemura’s POREraser Under Base is great, but the Brightening Mousse – wow. From the spot-on Pink Purple shade (which really does have pink-purple undertones) to the wonderfully unique mousse format, it absolutely blew me away. 

I don’t feel like these are absolute must-haves (perhaps because I personally don’t wear an all-over base), but at $46 CAD, the shu bases are a very novel, wonderfully packaged product.

Availability: At Holt Renfrew & select Sephora boutiques (Canada); shuuemura.co.uk (United Kingdom). The bases are permanent, but the packaging featured here is limited edition!

See the brightening mousse: featured in this OB for shu uemura teaser post & used as a base for this blue eyeliner look.

Ingredients & more »

Just a quick preview of a few products that will be up on theNotice (hopefully) soon! I haven’t photographed & tested the three cleansing oils that I have yet, but I’m loving the two UV mousses – they’re not ‘cone-free, but the results are fantastic. Good enough to tempt me into wearing them around despite my silicone intolerance, eep!

Availability: online at shuuemura.ca ($10 off any purchase over $50 with ARTOFSHU), shuuemura-usa.com (free shipping on all orders over $50), and in-stores at Holt Renfrew & select Sephora boutiques.

Here’s what’s in the collection…

ob for shu uemura

the cleansing oils

• fresh pore clarifying gentle cleansing oil (pink packaging), $79 CAD
• high performance balancing cleansing oil advanced formula (yellow), $79 CAD
• cleansing beauty oil premium A/O advanced formula (green), $89 CAD
• whitefficient clear brightening gentle cleansing oil (blue), $89 CAD

the UV under base mousses

• POREraser – pink (pink), $46 CAD
• POREraser – beige (yellow), $46 CAD
• BB mousse – BB beige (green), $46 CAD
• brightening mousse whitefficient – pink purple (blue), $46 CAD

coming up

rouge unlimited lipstick

• ob princess coral, $36 CAD
• ob dream orange, $36 CAD
• ob sakura pink, $36 CAD

pressed eyeshadow refill – all matte (M), $19 CAD/ea

• light blue 630
• light green 434
• light purple 716
• salmon beige 132

• yellow beige 814
• medium brown 852
• medium brown 864
• dark brown 896

cases & lashes

• ob compact case (fits one Face Architect powder refill), $19 CAD
• ob duo custom case (fits two eyeshadows), $11 CAD
• sakura flower mini false eyelashes, $32 CAD
• ocean beads mini false eyelashes, $32 CAD

The product: karl lagerfeld for shu uemura Rouge Unlimited Lipstick in Luxe Burgundy, Mon Shu Red, and Celebrity Beige

While working on a shu uemura Blossom Dream post (Spring 2013), I was hit by a rather startling realization: in all of the holiday bustle, I completely forgot to post about shu’s Holiday Rouge Unlimited Lipsticks.

Seeing as they were my absolute favourite part of the collection, you can see why that might have been a bit of an issue for me.

Karl Lagerfeld for shu uemura Rouge Unlimited Lipsticks in Luxe Burgundy, Mon Shu Red, and Celebrity Beige

The formula: You always hear about shu’s lipsticks: at first, it was the packaging (anyone else remember those clear twist-up bullets?), then it was the shades (there are some ridiculously gorgeous ones), but in reality, it’s all about the formula.

Comfortable and smooth, the Rouge Unlimited formula wears well on my dry lips, and applies without a hitch even over dry patches. It’s less pigmented than I was expecting–not quite opaque–and wears with a natural shine. Because of the formula (glossy and moisturizing,) the wear is a little on the shorter end of the spectrum, but it’s very comfortable within that timeframe.

And (here’s the part that really sells me) the formula is completely scent- and taste-free. I love a scent-free lip!

Karl x Shu Luxe Burgundy, Mon Shu Red, and Celebrity Beige (L-R)

The shades: All three of these shades have microshimmer in them, adding to the glossy effect. It’s most evident in Celebrity Beige (I think it’d be stellar as a creme finish) and least in Mon Shu Red, but it is present in all of them.

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited Lipstick swatches in Luxe Burgundy, Mon Shu Red, and Celebrity Beige

Celebrity Beige

The most natural of this collection, Celebrity Beige is a surprisingly wearable nude. Despite its peachy undertones, I find it fits well with my cool-toned complexion, and it translates just as easily on warmer skintones — Christine (Temptalia) has it reviewed and worn here.

Luxe Burgundy

I love a vampy lip, and Luxe Burgundy is an absolutely gorgeous varient thereof. A medium-opacity wine with plenty of brown undertones to keep the colour looking muted (but still bold), it has a little more shimmer than I’d like (still much less noticeable than that in Celebrity Beige), and leaves a bit of a stain as it wears away.

Like many semi-opaque dark shades, it can apply a little patchily, but I don’t find I have too many problems once I give a few minutes to “settle in.” Be sure not to slide your lips together overly much and you should be good!

Mon Shu Red

The most attention-grabbing of the Karl for Shu lipsticks, Mon Shu Red has the least noticeable shimmer… and the most noticeable pigment. It’s a bright strawberry-red, a little slippery and hard to catch on film. Against my skin, it’s almost fluorescent, and I can see it as a standout summer shade.

The same rules apply to Mon Shu Red as to Luxe Burgundy for wear.

The verdict?

At $30 USD/$31 CAD, I probably should not love these as much as I do. After all, they’re not fully opaque, and the wear isn’t perfect… but it is very good (if a little short and slippery), and the shades are absolutely stunning.

If you’re on the market for a great scent-free lipstick–which can be so hard to find,–be sure to check these out. The Karl Lagerfeld for shu uemura Holiday 2012 collection is still available on the shu uemura website, and even once these shades are gone, I still think the formula is worth a look!

Keep reading! »

The product: shu uemura ultime8 sublime beauty cleansing oil (unmask edition packaging)

The collection

To celebrate a classic (and one that’s been on shelves for 46 years, at that!), shu uemura have released their top-selling cleansing oil in limited edition “unmask” packaging – a far cry from the minimalist bottles in the permanent range.

From left to right, we have the ultim8 cleansing oil (reviewed here), the fresh pore clarifying gentle cleansing oil (for pore concerns), the high performance balancing cleansing oil (for all skin types), the cleansing beauty oil premium A/O (for ageing skin), and finally, the whitefficient clear gentle cleansing oil (for brightening).

ultim8 cleansing oil

Created to target global skin concerns, the ultim8 cleansing oil is something of the crème de la crème of cleansing oils. Its eight oils are infused with botanical ingredients to fight any of the skin concerns you may have, and shu uemura describe it as a “cashmere-like cocooning oil.”

I’ve tried two of shu’s cleansing oils so far  (the other was their A/O formula), and this one has been my favourite. Lighter than the A/O while still feeling comforting and a little weighty, I much prefer the scent of this one — and, of course, its cleansing powers don’t disappoint.

As a blogger, one of the things I struggle with the most is getting super-pigmented swatches off of my forearms on swatch days. It doesn’t sound like much of a feat, but trust me: with very pale, dry skin, my arms pick up colour like crazy.

Cleansing oils aren’t my favourite way to remove makeup from my arms (you need a sink, and I’ve yet to find one that’s truly cost-effective), but when I have a lot of products to go through in very little time, the shu oils have been my go-to. Without even needing a cleansing cloth to scrub with, they remove product more quickly and gently than anything else I own — including bi-phase makeup removers and micellar waters!

Keep reading! »

Somewhere in the cross-cultural translation between “holiday kitsch” and “makeup,” the reds and greens of the Holiday season ended up being translated into… well, plums and peaches, in the case of the Karl Lagerfeld for shu uemura Prestigious Bordeaux palette. 

Between moody-but-colourful smokey eyes and a bright, plush lip, though, the Prestigious Bordeaux palette still manages to carry off the Holiday vibe. Paired with defined brows, heavy lashes, and a seriously sculpted cheek, I think this look would still fit in well at a quiet winter soirée or after-hours office party — it easily creates a festive look, but one that’s a little less glaringly Christmas.

Read the full tutorial here on She Said Beauty, & don’t miss this Prestigious Bordeaux review on theNotice!

Keep reading! »