SHINE, SHIMMER & SPARKLE

Hello!

Each year, Shu Uemura celebrates the spirit of art and beauty with its artist collaborations - for Holiday 2012, Shu Uemura collaborated with legendary fashion designer, Karl Lagerfeld to create a colourful collection with a unique edge, giving rise to the Karl Lagerfeld for Shu Uemura Mon Shu Collection.

The Mon Shu collection is a symbol of Mr Lagerfeld's personal brand of finesse and Shu Uemura's Tokyo flair - a marriage of Euro Chic and Japanese Pop which is an ode to the mutual admiration and friendship of over 2 decades between the brand and Mr Lagerfeld. 

Mon Shu Uemura means "My Darling Shu Uemura" - she is indeed Mr Lagerfeld's little darling given how he personally hand-sketched her using Shu Uemura products and even outfitted her in his iconic white shirt and black tie. The animation below depicts how Mr Lagerfeld created little Mon Shu

And once created, Little Mon Shu escaped from his sketch book to bring beauty and holiday cheer to girls the world over ... I love the electro-swing music used as the background score! 

*******************************************************************************************

Let's take a closer look at the Mon Shu Collection, starting off with the 2 main attractions - the Eye and Cheek Palettes (SGD$98 each)

Each palette comprises 6 pans of product - 2 Silk Smooth Eyeshadows, 3 Pressed Eyeshadows and 1 Glow On Blush. The palettes are in 2 variations - a cool and a warm combination.

The Smoky Velvet Palette has Little Mon Shu Girl against a striking red background and she hints at the shades within - she has on a mossy green eyeshadow. The palette features shades of glitter black, green, icy aqua, silver and sparkle gold beige eyeshadows with a dusty rose pink blush.

The Prestigious Bordeaux Palette on the other hand features a warm, rich colour combination. Little Mon Shu Girl sits againsts a silver background but this time, sports a purple eyeshadow look. This palette features a glitter wine-purple, deep coppery brown, pastel purple, soft cocoa, rich bronze gold sparkle eyeshadows and a deep coral rose blush.

I've played around with the palettes and I will try to post a look soon. What I appreciate in these palettes is that the quality of the eyeshadows is very much similar to the regular singles available in the Shu Uemura Colour Atelier collections - rich, smooth, with good colour payoff. Without doubt, my favourite shades in both the palettes are the 2 sparkle eyeshadows in gold beige and bronze gold - beautiful payoff that glimmers on the eyes. 

*******************************************************************************************

Next up, the Painting Eyeliner in Blackish Satin Purple (SGD$36)

I think Shu Uemura couldn't have picked a better name for this creamy gel eyeliner - it does indeed have a satiny appearance to it. The shade, rather than blackened, has a touch of coppery micro-shimmer in it. The formula glides on very easily and dries down budge-proof.

*******************************************************************************************

A Shu Uemura colour collection wouldn't be complete without the false eyelashes they are renowned for. As is the norm, the collection features 2 different eyelashes - a mini and a premium set.

The Karl for Shu Premium Eyelashes (SGD$125) features a pair of tailor-made eyelashes with small red crystals on black and white jacquard-esque fabric.

The Karl for Shu Mini Eyeslashes (SGD$35) are very wearable and very festive with that little splash of red and the sparkly touch of silver sequins on the lashband

*******************************************************************************************

I love the Shu Uemura eyelash curler - it's a perfect fit for my eyeshape and lasts and lasts for years. This year, Shu Uemura dresses up their iconic eyelash curler with a Mon Shu Girl hanging charm and replaces the traditional black pad, with a more festive looking red pad. The Shu Eyelash Curl and Karl (SGD$28) also comes with a replacement pad in red. 

*******************************************************************************************

The Mon Shu Collection features 4 Rouge Unlimited lipstick (SGD$33 each) in varying hues from statement reds to coy nudes to suit different moods and looks - all 4 lipsticks are ultra glossy and glide smoothly on lips.

Mon Shu Red is one of my favourite shades in this collection - the super bright red is made a touch more wearable given the shiny, juicy look it imparts.

*******************************************************************************************

This is not the first time Shu Uemura has released Nail Colours and in keeping with the theme, the Nail Colours created for the Mon Shu Collection feature a striking red called Shu Shu Red, a glittery black called Karl Black and a neutral beige called Royal Beige (SGD$28 each). Each bottle of polish comes with a little strip of nail stickers featuring the spotted-jacquard design of the Mon Shu theme, the SUKL logo and of course, Little Mon Shu Girl herself.

Here is a closer look at Shu Shu Red ... I love the name! :P

The brush is a little slim but the polish flows easily across the nail so polish application is not difficult. 

The striking red has the slightest touch of orange in it, making it a very bright scarlet shade. The polish has a slight jelly finish to it - very squishy and super shiny and takes 2 thick coats or 3 thinner coats for full opacity. With 2 thinner coats, I could see a little of my nail line. 

Swatches are with 1base coat of China Glaze Nail Strengthener and Growth Formula, 3 thin coats of Shu Shu Red and 1 coat of Seche Vite Quick Dry Top Coat (pardon the little bits of henna peeking through on my palms).

I liked the red a lot and decided to savour the colour without the nail stickers but you can view the nail art creations by the Shu Uemura team on the Shu Uemura FB HERE

*******************************************************************************************

There are other products outfitted with the Mon Shu Girl motif in this collection

Tsuya Skin UV Under Base Youthful Radiance Mousse (SGD$65) in a peach hue.

*******************************************************************************************
The Cleansing Beauty Oil Premium A/O Advanced (SGD$130) - this cleansing oil is one of Shu Uemura's most popular and is infused with Green Tea extract and Gingko Lead extract.

*******************************************************************************************

The Mon Shu Mini Brush Set (SGD$125) is adorable - it features 4 silver-silver handled brushes - 1 goat hair cheek brush, 2 eyeshadow brushes in nylon and sable and 1 lip/eyeliner brush - all encased in a silver brush case.

*******************************************************************************************

And finally, a hand-crafted makeup box - the Karl for Shu Shu Baby (SGD$500) is a professional makeup box

*******************************************************************************************

The Shu Uemura Mon Shu Girl Collection is already available at all Shu Uemura counters island-wide. If you're keen on watching the Mon Shu collection in action, there will be a live demonstration at the Shu Uemura counter at Metro Paragon, this Friday 23 Nov 2012 during the Metro Ladies Night - the demonstration will take place at 7.30pm.

Also, have you seen Little Mon Shu Girl? The folks at Shu Uemura are giving you a chance to bring Little Mon Shu Girl home - simply make a purchase FROM ANY FRAGRANCE OR COSMETIC BRAND at Metro during the Metro Ladies Night and you will receive an auction coupon. Bidding for Little Mon Shu Girl starts at SGD$20 and rises in multiples of SGD$5.

And like me, if you're wondering why her eyes are red, here's the answer from the folks at Shu Uemura .... her red irises against the whites of her eyes are actually symbolic - they represent the flag of Japan. 

*******************************************************************************************

Thanks for stopping by and have a great week ahead - just 1 more day to TGIF! 

If you haven't RSVPed for the Metro Ladies Night, you can do so HERE - I'm interested to see to whom and for how much Little Mon Shu Girl will go! :)

*******************************************************************************************

Disclaimer: This entry contains information and some images extracted from the press kit provided by the brand. All opinions expressed are my own and are unbiased.

Hello!

Each year, Shu Uemura celebrates the spirit of art and beauty with its artist collaborations - for Holiday 2012, Shu Uemura collaborated with legendary fashion designer, Karl Lagerfeld to create a colourful collection with a unique edge, giving rise to the Karl Lagerfeld for Shu Uemura Mon Shu Collection.

The Mon Shu collection is a symbol of Mr Lagerfeld's personal brand of finesse and Shu Uemura's Tokyo flair - a marriage of Euro Chic and Japanese Pop which is an ode to the mutual admiration and friendship of over 2 decades between the brand and Mr Lagerfeld. 

Mon Shu Uemura means "My Darling Shu Uemura" - she is indeed Mr Lagerfeld's little darling given how he personally hand-sketched her using Shu Uemura products and even outfitted her in his iconic white shirt and black tie. The animation below depicts how Mr Lagerfeld created little Mon Shu

And once created, Little Mon Shu escaped from his sketch book to bring beauty and holiday cheer to girls the world over ... I love the electro-swing music used as the background score! 

*******************************************************************************************

Let's take a closer look at the Mon Shu Collection, starting off with the 2 main attractions - the Eye and Cheek Palettes (SGD$98 each)

Each palette comprises 6 pans of product - 2 Silk Smooth Eyeshadows, 3 Pressed Eyeshadows and 1 Glow On Blush. The palettes are in 2 variations - a cool and a warm combination.

The Smoky Velvet Palette has Little Mon Shu Girl against a striking red background and she hints at the shades within - she has on a mossy green eyeshadow. The palette features shades of glitter black, green, icy aqua, silver and sparkle gold beige eyeshadows with a dusty rose pink blush.

The Prestigious Bordeaux Palette on the other hand features a warm, rich colour combination. Little Mon Shu Girl sits againsts a silver background but this time, sports a purple eyeshadow look. This palette features a glitter wine-purple, deep coppery brown, pastel purple, soft cocoa, rich bronze gold sparkle eyeshadows and a deep coral rose blush.

I've played around with the palettes and I will try to post a look soon. What I appreciate in these palettes is that the quality of the eyeshadows is very much similar to the regular singles available in the Shu Uemura Colour Atelier collections - rich, smooth, with good colour payoff. Without doubt, my favourite shades in both the palettes are the 2 sparkle eyeshadows in gold beige and bronze gold - beautiful payoff that glimmers on the eyes. 

*******************************************************************************************

Next up, the Painting Eyeliner in Blackish Satin Purple (SGD$36)

I think Shu Uemura couldn't have picked a better name for this creamy gel eyeliner - it does indeed have a satiny appearance to it. The shade, rather than blackened, has a touch of coppery micro-shimmer in it. The formula glides on very easily and dries down budge-proof.

*******************************************************************************************

A Shu Uemura colour collection wouldn't be complete without the false eyelashes they are renowned for. As is the norm, the collection features 2 different eyelashes - a mini and a premium set.

The Karl for Shu Premium Eyelashes (SGD$125) features a pair of tailor-made eyelashes with small red crystals on black and white jacquard-esque fabric.

The Karl for Shu Mini Eyeslashes (SGD$35) are very wearable and very festive with that little splash of red and the sparkly touch of silver sequins on the lashband

*******************************************************************************************

I love the Shu Uemura eyelash curler - it's a perfect fit for my eyeshape and lasts and lasts for years. This year, Shu Uemura dresses up their iconic eyelash curler with a Mon Shu Girl hanging charm and replaces the traditional black pad, with a more festive looking red pad. The Shu Eyelash Curl and Karl (SGD$28) also comes with a replacement pad in red. 

*******************************************************************************************

The Mon Shu Collection features 4 Rouge Unlimited lipstick (SGD$33 each) in varying hues from statement reds to coy nudes to suit different moods and looks - all 4 lipsticks are ultra glossy and glide smoothly on lips.

Mon Shu Red is one of my favourite shades in this collection - the super bright red is made a touch more wearable given the shiny, juicy look it imparts.

*******************************************************************************************

This is not the first time Shu Uemura has released Nail Colours and in keeping with the theme, the Nail Colours created for the Mon Shu Collection feature a striking red called Shu Shu Red, a glittery black called Karl Black and a neutral beige called Royal Beige (SGD$28 each). Each bottle of polish comes with a little strip of nail stickers featuring the spotted-jacquard design of the Mon Shu theme, the SUKL logo and of course, Little Mon Shu Girl herself.

Here is a closer look at Shu Shu Red ... I love the name! :P

The brush is a little slim but the polish flows easily across the nail so polish application is not difficult. 

The striking red has the slightest touch of orange in it, making it a very bright scarlet shade. The polish has a slight jelly finish to it - very squishy and super shiny and takes 2 thick coats or 3 thinner coats for full opacity. With 2 thinner coats, I could see a little of my nail line. 

Swatches are with 1base coat of China Glaze Nail Strengthener and Growth Formula, 3 thin coats of Shu Shu Red and 1 coat of Seche Vite Quick Dry Top Coat (pardon the little bits of henna peeking through on my palms).

I liked the red a lot and decided to savour the colour without the nail stickers but you can view the nail art creations by the Shu Uemura team on the Shu Uemura FB HERE

*******************************************************************************************

There are other products outfitted with the Mon Shu Girl motif in this collection

Tsuya Skin UV Under Base Youthful Radiance Mousse (SGD$65) in a peach hue.

*******************************************************************************************
The Cleansing Beauty Oil Premium A/O Advanced (SGD$130) - this cleansing oil is one of Shu Uemura's most popular and is infused with Green Tea extract and Gingko Lead extract.

*******************************************************************************************

The Mon Shu Mini Brush Set (SGD$125) is adorable - it features 4 silver-silver handled brushes - 1 goat hair cheek brush, 2 eyeshadow brushes in nylon and sable and 1 lip/eyeliner brush - all encased in a silver brush case.

*******************************************************************************************

And finally, a hand-crafted makeup box - the Karl for Shu Shu Baby (SGD$500) is a professional makeup box

*******************************************************************************************

The Shu Uemura Mon Shu Girl Collection is already available at all Shu Uemura counters island-wide. If you're keen on watching the Mon Shu collection in action, there will be a live demonstration at the Shu Uemura counter at Metro Paragon, this Friday 23 Nov 2012 during the Metro Ladies Night - the demonstration will take place at 7.30pm.

Also, have you seen Little Mon Shu Girl? The folks at Shu Uemura are giving you a chance to bring Little Mon Shu Girl home - simply make a purchase FROM ANY FRAGRANCE OR COSMETIC BRAND at Metro during the Metro Ladies Night and you will receive an auction coupon. Bidding for Little Mon Shu Girl starts at SGD$20 and rises in multiples of SGD$5.

And like me, if you're wondering why her eyes are red, here's the answer from the folks at Shu Uemura .... her red irises against the whites of her eyes are actually symbolic - they represent the flag of Japan. 

*******************************************************************************************

Thanks for stopping by and have a great week ahead - just 1 more day to TGIF! 

If you haven't RSVPed for the Metro Ladies Night, you can do so HERE - I'm interested to see to whom and for how much Little Mon Shu Girl will go! :)

*******************************************************************************************

Disclaimer: This entry contains information and some images extracted from the press kit provided by the brand. All opinions expressed are my own and are unbiased.

Hello :) Hope you are well ...

This foundation is AMAZING. I rarely start off any review with an open declaration of love like this but this foundation truly deserves all my love and more.

I've always wanted to try Shu Uemura liquid foundations but the limited shade range always left me frustrated - having to mix colours is really not fun and I've been doing that for eons.

As luck would have it, 734 Rich Beige (the deepest shade in the range if I'm not wrong) suits me fine - I don't have to mix any other colour to lighten or deepen it. 

I seem to have "lost" the box and I don't have any press kit on this foundation. However, according to details on HerWorld Plus, the Smooth Fit Fluid Foundation is formulated with spherical powders in a "blend and fit technology" that contribute to surface smoothness for a no-shine visage all day long. The foundation contains 100% mineral pigments.

*********************************************************************

The simple pump-packaging delivers a good sized pump of foundation - about 1 pump or a little teeeeeny more is more than enough to cover the whole face and blended down towards the neck. 

The texture of the foundation is like many others - it is a dense, creamy liquid that blends really easily on skin. As with my other foundations, I like using my Becca foundation brush to blend it onto my skin for a smooth finish.

I find that it initially goes on a little lighter than I expect but the colour soon settles on skin, melding dare-I-say, almost perfectly. It has good coverage - I still need to use a concealer for my undereye area and some darker acne scars but otherwise, the faint spots are mostly covered by the foundation.

It's not just the colour accuracy and the smooth, even application it affords - the Face Architect Smooth Fit Fluid Foundation is a LONG LASTING one. I've been going a lot to the temple these days and temples are not air-conditioned; in fact, fans are few and far between because of the practice of performing aarti (a camphor lamp is lit and offered to the deity and then to the devotees to seek blessings). So you can imagine how hot and humid it can get. And then we have the Diwali fair I've sneaked out to which is also a hot and humid with the enclosed tentage. And the regular heat from our crazy weather.

And all through this heat, this foundation lasts and lasts - it doesn't break down in patches even after mopping up perspiration - it DOES look worn but nothing a little blotting can't fix. I find myself hardly needing a touch up these days and when I do, I use a very sheer powder (Bobbi Brown Pressed Powder in Golden Orange) buffed on with an Ecotools brush. And this works well with my amazing Smashbox Hydrating Primer as well as my RMK Creamy Polished Base.

It's all I've been reaching for recently - this gives me good coverage without looking cakey or heavy and is very long-lasting. My skintone has evened out a little more and this colour is good match - kindly (and very randomly) attested to by a Dior BA, Celine, at Takashimaya the day before!

I'm so glad I tried this foundation - it has been out in the stores for quite a while now but as they always say, better late than never. At SGD$65 per bottle, this is a definite repurchase for me - I'm 3/4 way down my current bottle and am hoping a Metro 20% sale will roll by soon so I can get me another bottle.

***********************************************************************************

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day ahead.

************************************************************************************

Disclaimer: Product featured purchased with my own money. All opinions are unbiased and my own. I am not affiliated to Shu Uemura.

Hello :) Hope you are well ...

This foundation is AMAZING. I rarely start off any review with an open declaration of love like this but this foundation truly deserves all my love and more.

I've always wanted to try Shu Uemura liquid foundations but the limited shade range always left me frustrated - having to mix colours is really not fun and I've been doing that for eons.

As luck would have it, 734 Rich Beige (the deepest shade in the range if I'm not wrong) suits me fine - I don't have to mix any other colour to lighten or deepen it. 

I seem to have "lost" the box and I don't have any press kit on this foundation. However, according to details on HerWorld Plus, the Smooth Fit Fluid Foundation is formulated with spherical powders in a "blend and fit technology" that contribute to surface smoothness for a no-shine visage all day long. The foundation contains 100% mineral pigments.

*********************************************************************

The simple pump-packaging delivers a good sized pump of foundation - about 1 pump or a little teeeeeny more is more than enough to cover the whole face and blended down towards the neck. 

The texture of the foundation is like many others - it is a dense, creamy liquid that blends really easily on skin. As with my other foundations, I like using my Becca foundation brush to blend it onto my skin for a smooth finish.

I find that it initially goes on a little lighter than I expect but the colour soon settles on skin, melding dare-I-say, almost perfectly. It has good coverage - I still need to use a concealer for my undereye area and some darker acne scars but otherwise, the faint spots are mostly covered by the foundation.

It's not just the colour accuracy and the smooth, even application it affords - the Face Architect Smooth Fit Fluid Foundation is a LONG LASTING one. I've been going a lot to the temple these days and temples are not air-conditioned; in fact, fans are few and far between because of the practice of performing aarti (a camphor lamp is lit and offered to the deity and then to the devotees to seek blessings). So you can imagine how hot and humid it can get. And then we have the Diwali fair I've sneaked out to which is also a hot and humid with the enclosed tentage. And the regular heat from our crazy weather.

And all through this heat, this foundation lasts and lasts - it doesn't break down in patches even after mopping up perspiration - it DOES look worn but nothing a little blotting can't fix. I find myself hardly needing a touch up these days and when I do, I use a very sheer powder (Bobbi Brown Pressed Powder in Golden Orange) buffed on with an Ecotools brush. And this works well with my amazing Smashbox Hydrating Primer as well as my RMK Creamy Polished Base.

It's all I've been reaching for recently - this gives me good coverage without looking cakey or heavy and is very long-lasting. My skintone has evened out a little more and this colour is good match - kindly (and very randomly) attested to by a Dior BA, Celine, at Takashimaya the day before!

I'm so glad I tried this foundation - it has been out in the stores for quite a while now but as they always say, better late than never. At SGD$65 per bottle, this is a definite repurchase for me - I'm 3/4 way down my current bottle and am hoping a Metro 20% sale will roll by soon so I can get me another bottle.

***********************************************************************************

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day ahead.

************************************************************************************

Disclaimer: Product featured purchased with my own money. All opinions are unbiased and my own. I am not affiliated to Shu Uemura.

Hi!

Hope you have been good :)

A little while ago during Shu Uemura ION Orchard's 3rd Anniversary Celebrations, I picked up 2 items from the AW2012 Chocolat Donna Collection (click HERE for collection details)

I really should stop picking up the lashes .. really. But I couldn't resist this pair - it's so cute and fluffy but the real deal was that it's small and I forsee myself being able to handle it with far more deft than a full lash - I could always pop it into the outer corners ...

I have amassed quite a few nice pieces in my lash collection and I really must get to wearing them - they're really too pretty to be just sitting in their acrylic cases. Soon, soon ...

**************************************************************************

With that frou-frou moment over, let's move on to the more practical aspect of my haul - the Limited Edition Glow On Blush in Framboisier.

Framboisier is special - it has a proper name unlike the other Glow On Blushes which are only given number codes. Framboisier is a slightly cool-toned raspberry shade that has some plum tones in it. What saves it from being overly cool on me is the tiny gold micro-sparkles laced throughout the blush. Rather than a purplish-plum tone (which don't seem to sit well on me), Framboisier turns out to be more of a pretty raspberry flush on me.

Along with Framboisier, the displays in the ION Boutique also featured an apricot-orange Glow On Blush - it turns out that this was another Limited Edition Colour, Apricot. I had received earlier as part of the press kit during the Colour Atelier Sparkling Glitters launch and had wondered why I couldn't find the shade listed in the Shu Uemura websites. According to the Shu Uemura USA website, Apricot or P541 is part of the Chocolat Donna Collection - a "spicy accent to your sweetness".

I've since placed both Apricot and Framboisier in one Prima Palette - the palette was snared at an amazing price thanks to dear Elaine who helped me to pick it up in Hong Kong recently.

You see, I've always wanted to have an orange and pink blush duo to carry around with me. When it comes to blushes, I only wear shades from 2 colour families - coral-orange or pinks (I don't wear lavender, nude, brown or plum blushes because they don't quite agree with me). I used to only carry my beloved NARS Torrid with me in my makeup pouch but I can't use Torrid, which is a golden coral, to touch up my blush on days I happen to be wearing a pink shade - on very very long days, I find that after a blot and a swirl of powder to touch up, a dab of blush refreshes the whole look). And I didn't want to add bulk to my already burgeoning makeup pouch and carry 2 blushes. So the slim Prima palette with these 2 blushes is a great way for me to tote my blushes around. 

Here are the swatches of the 2 shades in my palette

I swatched both blushes heavily in these shots - it's not that they are sheer but the blushes are finely milled and have a delicate sheen about them. This makes it a little more challenging to accurately capture on camera but make these good options to tote around for that subtle touch-up. 

Apricot P541 was a real surprise - it looked almost matte in the pan to me and then when I sheered it out, it blossomed into the prettiest golden sheen.

If you love golden corals and oranges, I think you should most definitely take a look at P541 - I have no idea whether it will be a permanently available shade so the recommended course of action would be to sweep down to a Shu Uemura counter swiftly :)

***************************************************************************

Thanks for stopping by and have a great week ahead 

****************************************************************************

Disclaimer: All products featured, except P541 Apricot, were purchased with my own money. I have no affiliations to Shu Uemura. All opinions expressed are unbiased and my own. 

Hi!

Hope you have been good :)

A little while ago during Shu Uemura ION Orchard's 3rd Anniversary Celebrations, I picked up 2 items from the AW2012 Chocolat Donna Collection (click HERE for collection details)

I really should stop picking up the lashes .. really. But I couldn't resist this pair - it's so cute and fluffy but the real deal was that it's small and I forsee myself being able to handle it with far more deft than a full lash - I could always pop it into the outer corners ...

I have amassed quite a few nice pieces in my lash collection and I really must get to wearing them - they're really too pretty to be just sitting in their acrylic cases. Soon, soon ...

**************************************************************************

With that frou-frou moment over, let's move on to the more practical aspect of my haul - the Limited Edition Glow On Blush in Framboisier.

Framboisier is special - it has a proper name unlike the other Glow On Blushes which are only given number codes. Framboisier is a slightly cool-toned raspberry shade that has some plum tones in it. What saves it from being overly cool on me is the tiny gold micro-sparkles laced throughout the blush. Rather than a purplish-plum tone (which don't seem to sit well on me), Framboisier turns out to be more of a pretty raspberry flush on me.

Along with Framboisier, the displays in the ION Boutique also featured an apricot-orange Glow On Blush - it turns out that this was another Limited Edition Colour, Apricot. I had received earlier as part of the press kit during the Colour Atelier Sparkling Glitters launch and had wondered why I couldn't find the shade listed in the Shu Uemura websites. According to the Shu Uemura USA website, Apricot or P541 is part of the Chocolat Donna Collection - a "spicy accent to your sweetness".

I've since placed both Apricot and Framboisier in one Prima Palette - the palette was snared at an amazing price thanks to dear Elaine who helped me to pick it up in Hong Kong recently.

You see, I've always wanted to have an orange and pink blush duo to carry around with me. When it comes to blushes, I only wear shades from 2 colour families - coral-orange or pinks (I don't wear lavender, nude, brown or plum blushes because they don't quite agree with me). I used to only carry my beloved NARS Torrid with me in my makeup pouch but I can't use Torrid, which is a golden coral, to touch up my blush on days I happen to be wearing a pink shade - on very very long days, I find that after a blot and a swirl of powder to touch up, a dab of blush refreshes the whole look). And I didn't want to add bulk to my already burgeoning makeup pouch and carry 2 blushes. So the slim Prima palette with these 2 blushes is a great way for me to tote my blushes around. 

Here are the swatches of the 2 shades in my palette

I swatched both blushes heavily in these shots - it's not that they are sheer but the blushes are finely milled and have a delicate sheen about them. This makes it a little more challenging to accurately capture on camera but make these good options to tote around for that subtle touch-up. 

Apricot P541 was a real surprise - it looked almost matte in the pan to me and then when I sheered it out, it blossomed into the prettiest golden sheen.

If you love golden corals and oranges, I think you should most definitely take a look at P541 - I have no idea whether it will be a permanently available shade so the recommended course of action would be to sweep down to a Shu Uemura counter swiftly :)

***************************************************************************

Thanks for stopping by and have a great week ahead 

****************************************************************************

Disclaimer: All products featured, except P541 Apricot, were purchased with my own money. I have no affiliations to Shu Uemura. All opinions expressed are unbiased and my own. 

Hello :)

This is the Bellabox, themed "Around The World", I received this month.

In my box, the 2 items I was rather pleased to see were the SK-II sample set and the Shu Uemura Art of Hair samples.

The last rounds I purchased SK-II, I only bought the Facial Treatment Essence so it's been a while since I've tried other products in the range. And as for the Shu Uemura Art of Hair - the sample sachets I received were for coloured hair, which suits me fine seeing how I recently coloured my hair. I've not seen any Shu Uemura Art of Hair products in any of the salons that I've recently gone to (and neither has it turned up at Ocean where I like to get my Kerastase or L'Oreal Professional hair products) so this is a good way for me to sample it. 

*************************************************

Chantana put things in perspective by painstakingly calculating the prices of the samples (by weight) in her box and showed how much her box actually cost in her entry HERE - according to her calculations, the monetary value of the SK-II sample set alone was SGD$38.35. And the total value of the box turned out to be SGD$60.67 - I was rather surprised since looking at the contents, I didn't think it'd be THAT much.

I do to a large extent agree with several comments I've seen online that the July Bellabox looks a little smaller in comparison to the June Bellabox filled with deluxe samples from well-established brands. In some cases, not all subscribers received the much-desired SK-II samples given different product combinations, turning out to be a bit of a disappointment.

****************************************************

In my previous entry and overview of Bellabox HERE, I mentioned that the vouchers and pamphlets that come along with the Bellaboxes that are said to amp the value of the box. This month, there was a coupon for redemption of SK-II sheet mask and cream sample with stipulated purchases and a Kim Robinson voucher (to be used to offset stipulated hair services)

I pointed out in that previous overview that I personally didn't find any use for the vouchers so far although I do understand that some subscribers might enjoy the discounts; if you have use for them, they DO amp up the value of the box. However, the vouchers often involves spending a minimum amount or making some kind of purchase first (someone mentioned that a SK-II voucher was to be redeemed on a 2nd purchase).

Taking into consideration all of the above, plus the recent jump in the Bellabox subscription rate owing to bigger brand partners and couriered boxes, I shall just be forthright and say that I would personally prefer if the apparent value from all the vouchers was put towards beefed-up products in the Bellaboxes instead. I know I don't speak for everyone but I think I would have greater use out of deluxe-sized products rather than a bunch of vouchers. I'm not sure how feasible this is but it's a suggestion I hope Bellabox would consider.  

After the bumper box in June, it appears that the July box fell a little short of expectations, especially since there was a price increase from SGD$15 to SGD$19.95. It's unfortunate that receipients are a little upset over some of these issues but I'm sure Bellabox has seen all the reactions and they've acknowledged the feedback received judging from their Twitter responses. 

Here's hoping that henceforth, every month, Bellabox subscribers will look forward to and be happy opening their bumper Bellaboxes and feel excited that they've got an exciting slew of good-sized sample products to try. 

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Thanks for stopping by and have a great day ahead

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Disclaimer: Products sent to me for consideration. I am not affiliated to Bellabox. All opinions are my own and have not been influenced by anyone.

Hi!

Just when Spring whizzed by and Summer popped up everywhere, the Fall and Autumn Winter Collections are waiting in the wings, ready to descend upon us. 

Shu Uemura's Autumn-Winter Collection goes all sugary-sweet on us - the chocolate-themed collection hopes to replicate the same emotions that chocolate lovers associate with chocolate - "passion, love and delight".

The Chocolat-Donna look is inspired by the sense of reward and satisfaction one might get from eating chocolates - the feeling of happiness, contentment and that sugar-high. Here is what Shu Uemura International Artistic Director Uuchide-San says about the Chocolat-Donna Collection:

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The star of the collection are the 3 Limited Edition Eyeshadow Palettes (SGD$110 each) - filled with 6 pre-set shades, each inspired by a box of luxurious chocolates. The shades are inspired by flavours often paired with chocolate - ginger, mocha, vanilla, pistachio, mint and raspberry.

Here are Shu Uemura's recommendations for complete looks using the eyeshadow palettes

I love how the palettes look - the gold accents on the eyeshadows as well as the accents on the Prima Palette (the casing) really look appealing. I do wish that the eyeshadows were sold separately though - I'd like to make my own box of chocolates :)

In the collection is also a Limited Edition pair of brown feather eyelashes, accented with gold and silver - now, THIS I would like ... 

And to complete the looks, chocolate-inspired shades for lips and cheeks .... 

10 shades of Rouge Unlimited Supreme Matte (SGD$39 each)

And a Limited Edition raspberry shade of Glow On Blush (SGD$33)

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The recent Shu Uemura collections have been an absolute delight - I have accumulated yet another palette of 4 eyeshadows and have not even featured them here and already, there are new shades coming out! If you like pairing pretty pastels with matte browns - which Shu Uemura points out is on-trend right now - then do be sure to check out the Chocolat-Donna Collection when it rolls out in Aug 2012.

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Disclaimer: Images featured have been extracted from press information furnished by the PR company / brand. All opinions are my own and have not been influenced by anyone.

Hi!

Just when Spring whizzed by and Summer popped up everywhere, the Fall and Autumn Winter Collections are waiting in the wings, ready to descend upon us. 

Shu Uemura's Autumn-Winter Collection goes all sugary-sweet on us - the chocolate-themed collection hopes to replicate the same emotions that chocolate lovers associate with chocolate - "passion, love and delight".

The Chocolat-Donna look is inspired by the sense of reward and satisfaction one might get from eating chocolates - the feeling of happiness, contentment and that sugar-high. Here is what Shu Uemura International Artistic Director Uuchide-San says about the Chocolat-Donna Collection:

****************************************************

The star of the collection are the 3 Limited Edition Eyeshadow Palettes (SGD$110 each) - filled with 6 pre-set shades, each inspired by a box of luxurious chocolates. The shades are inspired by flavours often paired with chocolate - ginger, mocha, vanilla, pistachio, mint and raspberry.

Here are Shu Uemura's recommendations for complete looks using the eyeshadow palettes

I love how the palettes look - the gold accents on the eyeshadows as well as the accents on the Prima Palette (the casing) really look appealing. I do wish that the eyeshadows were sold separately though - I'd like to make my own box of chocolates :)

In the collection is also a Limited Edition pair of brown feather eyelashes, accented with gold and silver - now, THIS I would like ... 

And to complete the looks, chocolate-inspired shades for lips and cheeks .... 

10 shades of Rouge Unlimited Supreme Matte (SGD$39 each)

And a Limited Edition raspberry shade of Glow On Blush (SGD$33)

************************************************************************

The recent Shu Uemura collections have been an absolute delight - I have accumulated yet another palette of 4 eyeshadows and have not even featured them here and already, there are new shades coming out! If you like pairing pretty pastels with matte browns - which Shu Uemura points out is on-trend right now - then do be sure to check out the Chocolat-Donna Collection when it rolls out in Aug 2012.

*************************************************************************

Disclaimer: Images featured have been extracted from press information furnished by the PR company / brand. All opinions are my own and have not been influenced by anyone.

Hello!

Ahhhh ... Just when we thought that Shu Uemura has possibly one of the largest range of eyeshadow shades available, they've gone and added a couple more - this time, lovely lovely sparkling, glimmering, gleaming glitters in the new SPARKLING GLITTERS Collection

10 shades of colourful Sparkling Glitters and 3 shades of Silk Smooth Eyeshadows (silky silky glitter eyeshadows) have joined the veritable rainbow arsenal that is the Shu Uemura Colour Atelier - I was so so so right to have declared at the initial launch of Colour Atelier that "resistance is futile".

Click HERE, HERE and HERE for swatches and details of the earlier Shu Uemura Colour Atelier Collections

With this many colours and textures to play with, it IS hard to leave the counter without having an eye on an eyeshadow .. or an eyeshadow in your shopping bag. It's even harder when the eyeshadows retail at an affordable SGD$22 a piece.

Take a look at swatches of most of the shades (I missed out G115, G909 and G Pink 135, sorry), you'll know what I mean:

(Swatches are of light-medium intensity, no base and dry)

I must say this - both the new Sparkling Glitters and the Silk Smooth Eyeshadows are very very smooth - I hardly feel any grit or particles when I swatched them. Especially in the case of the Silk Smooth Eyeshadows which have been created with a new "chiffon-soft" feature that allows the glide of long-lasting sparkles which do not flake. All the new glitters catch the light in the most gorgeous way. 

Shu Uemura's Colour Atelier allows you to really get into the heart of the colours and customise your own palette. Here are some of their recommendations, if you are looking for inspiration

As you can see in these palette suggestions, there are also new Creamy Eyeshadows in this collection - opaque cream shades in 2 shade variations - highlights (lighter pastel shades) and definers (deeper shades) - these felt creamy to the touch but from swatches, they felt a little too emollient and creamy. And really, I was super distracted by the glitter eyeshadows.

And and and ... Shu Uemura has also created a beautiful new palette to house these new eyeshadows - I really like the soft aquamarine print emblazoned across the palette.

Specific to this collection are 2 statement looks created by Shu Uemura:

The Sparkling Dramatic Gaze featuring a gorgeous palette of aquamarine, violet and gold

The Shimmering Natural Glance featuring a palette of warm and rich golds, corals and browns

I really like both looks! I fall for anything aquamarine and the rose golds have their way of luring me.

Here are some shots of Shu Uemura Elite Makeup Artist Maz, recreating the Sparkling Dramatic Gaze look:

Apart from the Sparkling Glitter eyeshadow additions, Shu Uemura also has a smattering of other products in the collection - mascara, pencil eyeliner in copper brown and olive, liquid glitter eyeliner in gold and silver and eyebrow mascara in 5 shades 

Also in the range - the 24k Gold Eyelash Curler (SGD$32) which is Limited Edition - which I really don't mind picking up :)

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Tempted enough by the new range of eyeshadows and other products? Well I sure was and pounced on the eyeshadows at the first opportunity I got.

I couldn't resist these 2 - G Purple 745 is such a pretty grape-violet and G Orange 251, rather than being a straight-up orange has the loveliest rose-gold edge to it.

Here is how my Sparkling Palette looks like now - not exactly according to Shu Uemura's recommendations but I LOOOOVE it!

L-R: G 909; G641, G745, G251

I repeat - "Resistance Is Futile" ...

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If you like a little shine, shimmer and sparkle (how perfect!) in your eyeshadow, you must must check these out - they are out on the Shu Uemura counters now.

Beautiful shade selections and lovely sparkles - incorporating them in my routine this week onwards!

Thanks for stopping by and have a great week ahead!

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Disclaimer: G909, G641 and Sparkling Palette were provided to me for consideration; G745 and G251 were purchased with my own money. I am not affiliated to Shu Uemura. All opinions expressed are my own and have not been influenced by anyone.