PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: SHU UEMURA FACE ARCHITECT REMODELING CREAM FOUNDATION IN 734 (DEEP ALMOND)

ON THE INFO SHEET: A smooth and creamy texture imparts a perfectly flawless yet natural complexion.

Flexible Coverage:

This foundation is designed to achieve buildable levels of coverage. When you apply a small amount, it delicately covers the skin and expresses a radiant and natural look while smoothing out skin texture and evening tone. When layering, coverage increases without compromising a natural satin finish.

Pursuing Ultimate Comfort:

The exquisite balance of Depsea water and emollient oils as well as carefully selected powders and pigments result in a creamy texture and a smooth luxuriously soft feel.

Preparing for Skin Aging:

contains Jasmine extracts, recognized for its anti- oxidant properties

DEPSEA WATER- found in the deep seas below 200 meters; clean and pure, yet rich in minerals and nutrients that are important for the skin. Depsea water enhances skin transparency, naturally provides moisture to the skin, thus improving it's quality (from vitro test)

JASMINE- found in Jasmine flowers.

THE VERDICT:

This foundation looks very rich and creamy in the pot. It may look heavy on the skin to some, because the consistency and texture may appear too thick on the pic of the swatch below. 

Here's the foundation when spread and blended evenly on skin. It disappears into a clean foundation that evens out skin tone and hides minor skin discolorations and blemishes.

LEFT PART OF THE FACE W/ SHU UEMURA

- My skin appeared velvety smooth when it was applied and blended evenly. In person, the foundation might appear to thick even if you put a small amount. In my opinion, the reason behind this is for the foundation to create a good effect in terms of coverage in hiding flaws and concealing discolorations. The result, a velvet looking skin that's soft to the touch. This foundation is buildable, so you could apply a sheer amount or a lot depending on the amount of coverage you need.

RIGHT PART OF THE FACE W/O SHU UEMURA:

My skin is naturally smooth and blemish- free, but you could see some bumps, some bumpy whiteheads and blackheads, and some scars and pimples that have healed and dried already.

When I applied the Shu foundation, my skin just became magazine worthy! (except for that bump on my right cheek). I wish you could see how smooth this foundation is on the skin and how lovely it's consistency is, making it easier for blending. At first, it might appear too thick but let it dry for around 2- 3 minutes then set it with a loose or pressed powder for a matte look. This shade goes well for those with the shade in NC42. In fact, it's almost the same shade as NC42 so I used my Studio Fix pact to set this foundation. It doesn't feel hot on the skin or heavy. My face stayed matte (with the help of a face primer) and it didn't cake nor streak during the day! Lastly, it didn't sting my face whenever I sweat so this quality makes this product a winner. I really have no idea what the spatula is for but I think it's kinda' hygienic if you don't dip your fingers in the foundation. This way, it makes your foundation stay bacteria- free! I've read in the info sheet that it's for controlling the amount of coverage but I don't see how it does that so I'd buy the hygiene reason for having this spatula. :)

What are the cons of this product? The liquid is kinda' messy when you start using it so you'll literally stain the plastic cover and the white cap. The worst thing is, the cap starts to change color due to the foundation so if you're planning to sell yours, you might price it a little lower than how much you bought it because the product might appear too used already. It's in a glass pot so it kinda' bulges in your make- up stash. Not to mention, it's heavy too.

Would I buy this again? Maybe not. Shu Uemura is too expensive. But if I find someone putting the same product up for swap, I might consider swapping some items for another one. :) Another thing, I'm no foundation wearer and I don't think this will withstand my theatre performances. But If I wear foundation on a daily basis, I might be saving up for this every now and then!

MY SWAPPED ITEM HAS ARRIVED!

Around 11am, my xend package from sis Crissy arrived. I tore the package open again before taking a pic so sorry for the deformed looking package (I always get excited kasi haha :D)

It's the Shu Uemura Face Architect Remodeling Cream Foundation in 734 (Deep Almond)

She also included The Face Shop's soap sample and a Kiehl's shampoo and conditioner sample as freebie. Thanks Crissy! :D

It really looks new. :) Well, I hope you enjoy my Elianto palette and MAC Blushcreme though they look kinda' dirty. ;p

It has a spatula and an info sheet. :P

I'll review this in a while. :P

I LOVE SHU: THE SHU UEMURA EYELASH CURLER LEGACY

Shu Uemura was catapulted to stardom because of his masterpiece make- up creation in a Hollwood movie. In Japan, his oil facial cleansers have been making a big wave since the 60's and has reached international fame. And his eyelash curlers are considered as the best eyelash curler there is in the market.

Other contenders are Shiseido's eyelash curler and La Cross. But this Shu Uemura is still the product to beat. SU claims that their eyelash curler is well- engineered to fit any eye and face shapes. The bend of the curler is accurately measured so as to provide ouchless curling that leads to damaging of the lids. Their mushroom- like pads are designed to aid in effectively curling the lashes, making it reach it's full potential and the curls last longer.

Meryl Streep, in the movie 'The Devil Wears Prada' has mentioned Shu Uemura's eyelash curler. Now that's how famous it is!

This high- end curler is costly. Well, it has proven to be the number one curler so what do we expect? The curler costs around 1k in Shu Uemura outlets. I got mine for 600php only because I had someone who bought me the curler in Japan, home of Shu Uemura.

I told myself before "Jusko, 1k para sa eyelash curler? eh yung ------ 60php lang okay naman!" But what drove me to buy the curler? My friend, who is an aspiring make- up artist had a couple of SU curlers in his stash. He has 2 silvers, 1 black and 1 gold 25th anniversary edition. I tried one and I was really impressed!

I didn't believe that this curler was engineered to provide accurate curling to provide eye accidents but after trying it, it truly is! No matter how i position myself and how careless I put the curler on my eyes and start curling, IT DOESN'T PINCH AT ALL. Which amazed me the most. I have to admit that I often pinch my lids due to curling. There was a time my lids got swollen! So this curler really is perfect for me.

(L-R) LA CROSS COMPARED TO SHU UEMURA

Lastly, the curl lasts long. I didn't believe this before but to my surprise, the curl of my lashes lasted as compared to my old curlers! I also compared the pads of the SU to a normal curler and there's really a big difference. The pads of SU have high quality and the mushroom- like special kind of rubber works well with the steel to provide a lasting curl. The pads of the cheap curlers are just made of plain rubber so it doesn't last long and the curls of your lashes don't either because the rubber is too soft.

THE CURL TEST

MY LASHES (UNCURLED, UNTOUCHED AND HAS NO MASCARA)

LASHES CURLED WITH LA CROSS

- Curl is not impressing

- Pinched my eyelid

- You can see the curl straighten in a matter of seconds

LASHES CURLED WITH SHU UEMURA

- Ouchless curling

- Curl is very visible, lashes have reached full curling potential

- Curl stays relatively long but eventually straightens

Although some say that Shiseido's the best there is and Shu Uemura is just overrated, the only difference is 200 bucks. I haven't tried Shiseido yet so I can't make any comparison but Shu Uemura's reign in the world of cosmetics is proof that you really can't go wrong with this curler. I have two so I can really attest how good this product is.

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: SHU UEMURA HIGH- PERFORMANCE BALANCING CLEANSING OIL

For my make- up remover, I always rely on good ol' Pond's Cold Cream to remove mascara excess on my eye area and to deeply clean any smudges around my eyes. After taking a bath, there are still extra mascara smudges left to clean so I leave it to Pond's CC to do the job.

And to remove waterproof mascara, baby oil is my best bet.

I've never really thought of buying expensive oil cleansers. Besides, oil feels hot on skin and though some brands promise that they're non- greasy, i assume that there's still some grease to these oils because naturally, they're oil.

A graphic designer friend designed a poster for one of Shu Uemura's product launches. Lucky guy, he received a gift pack from Shu including a Shu paperbag and 50ml samples of the UV base, Oil cleanser, moisturizer, face cream, facial cleanser and sample eyeshadow pots. And lucky me, he chose me as one of his beneficiaries. So I decided to choose SHU UEMURA SKIN PURIFIER HIGH PERFORMANCE BALANCING CLEANSING OIL.

THE VERDICT: One of the reasons why I like this product is how it effectively removes waterproof stuff in an instant. A little amount is very effective so I'm pretty sure this oil will last me long. It has a funny scent though because it reminds of ACEITE DE MAZANILLA (the oil your folks put on your tummy when it aches when you were younger :)) But nevertheless, this skin oil cleanser really does the job. It's kinda' greasy, but unlike the consumer baby oils. This dries in an instant, leaving your face soft, without a trace of grease.

Would I buy the big bottle? Hmm...No. But I'd love to have this as a gift. This is one of the products that you could look for an alternative at a cheaper cost. This oil may be worth your money but I think this is waay too expensive.I only use oil before bedtime and wash it off my face during the morning. It's not like I have to go to school wearing the skin oil cleanser on my face. So I'm better off with my Johnson's baby oil and Ponds cold cream to remove my make-up. In fact, I could have 20 Johnson's baby oils with the money that i'll be using to purchase Shu Uemura's! Now that's gonna last me a lifetime. But if you have money to spare, try this. If you're on a budget, Johnson's and Ponds will do the trick. But if you have the money and would rather spend wisely, go for Johnson's and Ponds. :)

MEET KARL: MY MAKE- UP KIT

EVERYONE, MEET KARL. MY TRUSTY MAKE- UP STASH FROM MARKWINS. BOUGHT THIS FROM BEAUTY BAR AT A CLEANING SALE FOR 1500PHP. SO I DECIDED TO ADOPT ONE OF THE 15 PCS. IT HAS A KEY TO LOCK IN YOUR BABIES AND IT'S SUPER STURDY. THE CASE IS MADE OF ALUMINUM METAL.

SO WHAT'S INSIDE KARL?

MAC:

Mac amplified creme lipstick in profusion

Mac satin lipstick in malt and twig

Mac matte lipstick in diva and marrakesh

Mac studio fix foundation in nc40 and nc42

Mac mineralize skinfinish natural in deep dark

Mac studio tech foundation in nc45

Mac Matte blush in Raizin and desert rose

Mac sculpt and shape powder in warm light/definitive

Mac lustreglass in beaux

Mac eyeshadow in glamour check!

Mac pigments (3 pots)

DIOR:

Dior addict lipstick in rose scenario

THE FACE SHOP:

The face shop super shine lipgloss

The face shop greatist liquid eyeliner (black)

The face shop color care lipstick in 301

MAKE UP FOR EVER:

MFE Lacquered lipstick in 203

KRYOLAN PROFESSIONAL:

Kryolan supracolor palette 6's (w shade)

Kryolan translucent powder in tl4

MAYBELLINE:

Maybelline great lash mascara black

Volum express (black and brown)

THE BODY SHOP:

The body shop brilliance powder

SHU UEMURA:

Shu Uemura eyelash curler

ELIANTO:

Elianto eyeshadow palette of 20

Elianto foundation brush

SUESH:

Suesh 16-pc. professional brush set

LANCOME:

Juicy gloss pot

KIEHL'S:

Kiehl's tinted lipbalm

EVER BILENA:

Pencil eyeliner (black and brown)

SALLY HANSEN:

Air brush stocking

MISCELLANEOUS:

Constance carrol lip volume treatment

Wet 'n wild lipgloss in candy apple

Bobbi brown eye pencil sharpener

False eyelashes from singapore

PAC loose eyeshadow in gold

SOON TO BE BABIES:

Mac matte lipstick in cyber

Mac satin lipstick in honeymoon

Mac matte lipstick in russian red

Mac pro lipstick in show orchid

Mac eyeshadow in carbon and chrome yellow

Nars blush in orgasm

Kryolan tv paint stick

Kryolan eyeshadow base

2 more mac lipglasses or lustreglasses

:)

WHAT'S IN YOUR EVERYDAY MAKE- UP KIT?

If there's one invention in this world that i'm really thankful of, it's MAKE- UP.

I love the different colors and how it instantly adds drama to your face.

I'm also a theatre actress so make- up is a vital part in my life. MAC is my ultimate favorite.

For my everyday make- up kit, here are the contents (my trusty make- up bag is from l'occitane):

MAC LUSTREGLASS IN BEAUX- NICE NUDE COLOR WITH HINT OF GOLDEN SHINE; I BRING THIS IF I WANT ADDITIONAL DRAMA TO MY FACE THROUGH MY LIPS

MAC STUDIO FIX POWDER PLUS FOUNDATION IN NC42- YEP, I'M A MORENA. AND I LOVE HOW THIS INSTANTLY GLAMS UP MY FACE BY TAKING AWAY SHINE. IT STAYS PUT FOR HOURS ALSO!

MAC STUDIO FINISH CONCEALER IN NC30- I LOVE HOW THIS COVERS UP MY BLACK UNDEREYES. LASTS THE WHOLE DAY!

MAC BLUSH IN DESERT ROSE- I LIKE PINK CHEEKS. SWEET AND GIRLY. I COUNT ON MY MAC BLUSH IN DESERT ROSE FOR THAT EFFECT. IT STAYS PUT, SWEAR.

KIEHL'S TINTED LIPBALM- THE BEST LIPBALM IN THE PLANET! IT ALSO DOUBLES AS A GLOSS AND I LOVE THE TINGE OF RED HUE ON MY LIPS MAKING IT LOOK LUSCIOUS LIKE JUICY RED APPLES. :)

SUESH BIG POWDER BRUSH AND BLUSH BRUSH- THESE ARE FROM MY 16-PC. PROFESSIONAL SET. WHICH REMINDS ME, I HAVE TO BUY A TRAVEL BRUSH SET.

THE FACE SHOP FRESHIAN LIP AND CHEEK TINT- WHEN I DON'T FEEL LIKE WEARING GLOSS, I DAB SOME OF THIS ON MY LIPS TO KEEP ME LOOKING FRESH UNDER STRESSFUL CONDITIONS. :)

EYEBROW RAZOR- I KEEP ON LOSING MY RAZORS IN MY ROOM SO I JUST BOUGHT ONE AND MADE IT AS A MAINSTAY IN MY MAKE- UP KIT.

TOOTHBRUSH AND TOOTHPASTE- DO I NEED TO EXPLAIN FURTHER? :)

EVER BILENA BLACK EYELINER- A CULT FAVE OF MINE. IT STAYS PUT, GIVES YOU VALUE FOR MONEY, LASTS THE WHOLE DAY, AND THE BEST PART, IT'S CHEAAAAAPPP :)

MAKE- UP ENTHUSIASTS, MANIACS, ADDICTS, AFICIONADOS, SELLERS, BUYERS, COLLECTORS, WHAT DO YOU HAVE IN YOUR EVERYDAY MAKE- UP KIT? :)