Shu Uemura Stage Performer Smooth-Out Instant Pore Blurring Primer

New from Shu Uemura and new to me is the Shu Uemura Stage Performer Smooth-Out Instant Pore Blurring Primer ($50). The product name is pretty self explanatory - it's meant to instantly minimize and blur pores. While the primer is currently available in the pretty, limited edition Yaz Bukey packaging, is a permanent product. 

The texture is has an uncanny similarity to that of The Body Shop Instablur, as both products contain silicone-based ingredients. Though The Body Shop Instablur is slightly thicker and I found that it pilled up on my face when I tried to blend foundation over top. The Shu doesn't do this. The Body Shop and Shu Uemura both fall under the L'Oreal brand umbrella, so the similarities weren't too surprising after thinking on it for a while. 

An incredibly flattering close up of my nose... 

I don't have huge pores, but I do have quite a bit of oiliness in my bigger pore areas. It's clear that the Stage Performer Smooth-Out Instant Pore Blurring Primer really does blur make the oiliness and the pores disappear upon application. I find that the primer works best alone or underneath liquid foundation. Under a powder, I find that the primer causes my powder foundation to appear slightly patchy. The primer doesn't really hold my oil slick back and I need to blot by noon. However, my pores look minimized all day and the coverage of my foundation lasts 1-2 hours more than it normally would. 

Zoomed out - worn with no foundation

I would totally wear this on a no-foundation day, as it makes my skin look flawless without looking cakey or made up. While the packaging is awesome and the product minimizes pores like magic, I'd only deem it as a nice to have. If you can skip out on the cool packaging, there are some less pricey options. 

What's your fave pore minimizer? 

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THE LOOK: Yazbukey for Shu Uemura - Romantic Betty

With a little help from a beautiful thing called makeup, you can be anyone. Today, I'm playing dress up as Romantic Betty of the Yazbukey for Shu Uemura Summer 2015 Collection. Betty is a popular girl owing to her effortless charm, the bright and positive actress from sunny California loves to dress up old-Hollywood style. Drawing inspiration from face charts created by Uchiide (Shu's international artistic director), I re-created Romantic Betty's look. 

There's certainly something about a casual orange lip with some yellow eyeshadow that screams "not-trying-but-still-done-up." I've also got some awesome hair curl action going on thanks to Blo Dry Bar, which kind of adds to the Hollywood vibes.

EYES // the Balm Meet Matt(e) Eyeshadow in Matt Batali on the inner and outer corners, Shu Uemura Pressed Eyeshadow in M851 Matte Soft Brown* in the crease, Madison Street Beauty Loose Eyeshadow in Mustard on the centre of the lid & the Make Up For Ever Smoky Extravagant Mascara on the lashes. 

FACE // Guerlain Meteorites Baby Glow Sheer Makeup in 02 Medium* all over the face, Hard Candy Glamoflage Concealer* under the eyes & Shu Uemura Tint in Gelato in CR01 Blood Orange*  on the cheeks

LIPS // Yazbukey for Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited Matte Supreme in Sunshine Orange *

Let's be real. I'm too silly to be Romantic Betty. There's no makeup look without a little silliness. Call me Silly Stephanie instead :).

What do you think of this makeup look? 

Press samples featured and denoted with an asterisk (*). 

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Yazbukey for Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited Supreme Matte Lipsticks in Sunshine Orange & Noble Pink // Summer 2015

French jewelry designer meets Japanese beauty brand and what do you get? A fun, sophisti-pop-art inspired collection launching available in Canada as of May 2015. As one of the largest Shu designer collaborations, there's no surprise that there are a few lipsticks involved. The Yazbukey for Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited Supreme Matte Lipsticks in Sunshine Orange and Noble Pink ($36, at select Hudson's Bay, Sephora, Holt Renfrew locations and shuuemura.ca) combine a signature Shu Uemura formula with shades hand-picked by Yaz Bukey. 

Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimted Supreme Matte in Sunshine Orange and Noble Pink

There are 4 limited edition shades in the line, each corresponding to one of four friends who are all falling for the same man... Mr. Shu Shu - Sexy Yaz, Smart Lola, Romantic Betty, and Daring Tina. Shown here are Romantic Betty's Sunshine Orange and Smart Lola's Noble Pink. In addition, there is Yaz Bukey's Sexy Yaz Red and Daring Tina's Daring Violet. 

While I'm not typically a fan of matte lipsticks, the Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited Supreme Mattes are a formula that I can get along with. For one, they're actually matte. There's not even a bit of sheen. That being said, the matte formula is ultra-pigmented and glides on the lips feeling luxurious and smooth with without tugging. It's super matte, so it will definitely pick up on dry areas. Thus, it's important to exfoliate and moisturize before applying the lipstick. Noble Pink is very pale, so it tends to catch onto the fine lines of my lips. I don't have this issue with Sunshine Orange. Staying power is about 4-5 hours for both shades and throughout the 4-5 hours, the lipstick is neither moisturizing nor drying. In general, this is probably my favourite matte lipstick formula. 

Sunshine Orange

Noble Pink

While I don't think that Noble Pink is particularly flattering on my colouring, I'm head over heels for Sunshine Orange, especially with the weather warming up! 

Have you tried the Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited Supreme Mattes? Which colour do you prefer? 

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Yazbukey for Shu Uemura Collection Overview // Summer 2015

No makeup brand does a designer collaboration quite like Shu Uemura. For the Spring/Summer 2015 season, Shu Uemura has teamed up with Paris accessory and jewelry designer Yaz Bukey in a make-up meets pop art collection. 

The best part about the collection - it has a story. In a whimsical fairytale, four friends with contrasting yet complimentary personalities prepare for a night out. In the midst of their chatter, they learn that they all are being courted by the same suitor... the mysterious Mr. Shu Shu. 

Each colour in the collection (Sexy Yaz - pink, Smart Lola - green, Romantic Betty - yellow & Daring Tina - blue) corresponds to a different personality. The purpose of the personalities is that with the makeup products, and become any character of your choosing. 

I had the pleasure of attending an intimate media breakfast with Yaz Bukey and Ludovic England (French Ambassador MUA for Shu Uemura) at Arcadian Court in downtown Toronto, where they talked about the making about the collection. See food photos at http://instagram.com/stephh_lau (shameless plug!).

While I have yet to test out everything in the collection, this is an overview of some of the items I'm currently trying out and will serve as a shopping guide of sorts (so you can pick things up before all the pretty things are gone!). Reviews, swatches, and makeup looks coming in the next couple weeks... 

// Shu Uemura Stage Performer Smooth-Out Instant Pore Blurring Primer (permanent) - $50

// Shu Uemura POREfinist anti-shine fresh cleansing oil - $82

// Shu Uemura False Lashes in Dazzling Flare Tina - $35

// Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited Supreme Matte Lipstick in "Sunshine Orange" - $36

// Shu Uemura UVUB Mousse POREraser in "beige" - $46

NOTE: I already reviewed the UVUB Mouse POREraser in "beige" (see here) and am a big, big fan. At the media breakfast, I also learned an amazing trick from Ludovic. The POREraser can also be used as an eyeshadow primer. Swatched above is the shadow with and without the primer underneath. 

// Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited Supreme Matte Lipstick in "Noble Pink" - $36

Note that this isn't absolutely everything in the collection. There's also more shades of lipstick and underboss, three additional formulations of the cleansing oils, an eye & cheek palette, eyeshadows, four polishes, another pair of false lashes and some basic black and brown gel liners with the limited edition packaging. 

All in all, a beautiful and fun collection from Shu Uemura. 

Is there anything here that's piquing your interest? What would you like to see reviewed? 

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Karl Lagerfeld for Shu Uemura #Shupette Holiday 2014 Collection + Look - Eyeshadow Trios, Face Powder and Glitter

An entire makeup collection marked with cat drawings and paw prints. What's not to adore? Inspired by Karl Lagerfeld's pet cat Choupette, fittingly, Shu Uemura and Karl Lagerfeld have come together to create the Shupette Holiday 2014 Collection. From an all-out eye and lip palette with a faux fur cover to cleansing oils and furry eyelashes, this post captures just a few of the pieces in the collection. You can see press photos of everything else here. 

Sometimes it's hard to review the product itself because I'm so enamored with the packaging. It's almost pointless for me to ramble on about the kitty cat, pastel colours, and paw prints. Just look at it. I'm not even a cat lover and I think that this collection is highly covetable. 

eye-need-shu eyeshadow trios in Parisienne Chic and Tokyo Kawaii ($45 each)

Shu Uemura eyeshadows are always such a joy to work with. The eye-need-shu eyeshadow trios are just like other Shu Palettes in that they're easily depottable and slide out of the casing for storage in a larger palette. Particularly in Parisienne Chic (blue) and Tokyo Kawaii (pink), certain colours are less pigmented than others. The pale yellow-gold and white-blue (lightest) are quite sheer. The pastel pink and blue and the navy blue and burgundy are less sheer. All together, these shadows are still easy to work with and pair nicely together. Despite the lack of neutral shades in these palettes, I find the sheerness makes for the most more natural-looking coloured eyeshadow looks. 

my precious glitter set (trio) ($58) 

The my precious glitters set comes with a gold, pink, and silver glitter.The packaging of the glitters is not the best (I would have preferred an uncovered top instead of the hole, as it's hard to put the product back into the pot if you pour too much). It's important to keep in mind that these are glitters not pigments because they're quite sheer and require some sort of sticky base in order to adhere to the lid. The glitters are quite fine, but I was disappointed to find that they don't have enough sparkle. If anything, they're more like a fine, sheer semi-sparkly glitter and nice to pat over the lid if you want something subtle.

pampearl-me face powder ($50)

The pampearl-me face powder is like nothing I've worked with. It seems to be a sheer face powder + very, very fine shimmer that works beautifully as highlighter. To me, this is the most impressive of the collection that I've tried. Putting on your face is the equivalent to fairy dust, it's light, airy, and adds a subtle glow to the skin. Plus, the included powder puff has little paw prints that are just so fluffy I could die. 

Final exam season is upon us, so I haven't really had the time for crazy eyeshadow looks. Instead, I went for something simple and the Shupette collection as a whole is actually perfect for "cutesy" natural looks with a refined pop of colour. 

I used the Eye-Need-Shu Eyeshadow Trio in Tokyo Kawaii (white-gold in the inner corner, pink on the lid and burgundy in the crease) and patted pink glitter on the centre of the eyelid. I also applied some of the Pampearl-Me Face Powder on the bridge of my nose. 

What do you think of the Shupette collection? Will you be picking anything up this holiday season? 

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Karl Lagerfeld for Shu Uemura Shupette Holiday 2014 Photos

Feast your eyes on the Karl Lagerfeld for Shu Uemura Shupette Holiday 2014 Collection decorated in cats and speckled with paw prints. This is not a review. Simply a way of sharing the rest of the swoon-worthy Shupette by Karl Lagerfeld Holiday 2014 collection with you. I've reviewed the eye-need-shu trios in Parisienne Chic and Tokyo Kawaii, Pampearl-me Face Powder, and My Precious Glitter Set here. 

eye-need-shu liners in gala brown and midnight black ($28), ultime8 sublime beauty cleansing oil ($98), TSUYA skin under base mousse ($46)

rouge bonbon fantasy lip colour trios in Parisienne Chic and Tokyo Kawaii ($45)

 Shupette's flair eyelash curler ($24)

with-love-from-paris brush set ($95)

eye-need-shu fals eyelash ($35) and furry fantasy premium false eyelashes ($100)

Shupette has-it-all eye & lip palette with faux fur cover ($115)

silk cushion cheek colour in orange and salmon pink ($35)

This collection is just chock-full of cuteness. All the products are limited edition available November at Holt Renfrew, select Sephora and Hudson`s Bay location, and shuumeura.ca.

What do you think of this collection? Do you think Shupette is creepy or cute? 

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Shu Uemura #BraveBeauty Lasting Gel Pencil Eye Liners [Violet Purple and Green] // Vision of Beauty Volume 1

Fearless gazes start with these must have shades. Very soft and smooth gel pencil with a waterproof, tear proof gel formula doesn't smudge for 12 hours. requires no brush or sharpener. 

Originally in available in matte black and matte brown, two new, limited edition colours of the Shu Uemura Lasting Gel Pencil Eye Liners ($36 each) in Violet Purple and Green were launched as a part of the Vision of Beauty Volume 1 - Brave Beauty Collection. 

Firstly...Packaging, packaging, packaging, limited edition packaging. Self-explanatory. My one gripe with the packaging (despite its beauty) is that these eyeliners are not retractable. You've been forewarned, so don't over-twist. 

The Shu Uemura Lasting Gel Pencil Eye Liners are a slightly harder than something like the Shu Uemura Drawing Pencils and for a good reason...You know an eyeliner is long-lasting when... you apply eyeliner one day, you get lazy in the night, and unexpectedly, the next morning you wake up with near-perfect eyeliner. Story of my life (shame on me but it happens pretty often). These gel pencils last 12 hours and then some, no smudging, no transferring. 

Despite being coloured, these liners are surprisingly wearable. Working these pencils into the lash line for any eye look can help you inject some colour into your everyday makeup routine. 

Overall, the Shu Uemura Lasting Gel Eye Liners are a nice to have product in my books. The Violet Purple and Green might not be for everyone but if you love a subtle hint of colour and the gorgeous limited edition Shu packaging then these are a must-have. If not, the regular Shu range features the Shu Uemura Lasting Gel Pencil Eye Liners, available in your staple black and brown shades. 

What do you think of the Shu Uemura Limited Edition Lasting Gel Pencil Eye Liners? 

Press sample featured. I originally reviewed this product on BlushPretty.com. This is part of my eyeliner monday series - where I review a different eyeliner every...Monday. :) See more eyeliner reviews here. 

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Shu Uemura #BraveBeauty Look [Peacock-inspired Makeup]

"Be brave in pursuit of beauty." While I take joy in finding the perfect set of neutral eyeshadows, by far my favourite thing about makeup is experimenting with colour. I'm no makeup artist but colour pushes me to explore beyond the bounds of my comfort zone. The Shu Uemura Vision of Beauty Collection Volume 1 - Brave Beauty is the epitome of power and bravery through colour which does nothing but fulfill the colour-crazed beauty fiend in my heart. 

Shout-out to the wonderful boyfriend who bought me some peacock feathers to play with. It made for easy inspiration. The colours of the feather paired perfectly with the greens of the Shu Uemura Brave Beauty Eye Palette and its fragility seemed so reminiscent of the Shu Uemura Brave Beauty False Eyelashes. 

Shu Uemura Brave Beauty Eye Palette in Green, Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited Lipstick in Maroon, Shu Uemura Drawing Pencil in ME green 51 and M black 01, Shu Uemura Face Studs

To create the look, I first applied a piece of clear tape from the outer corner of the eye to the tail of the brow to create a sharp edge, then applied NYX Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencil in Milk to prime the centre of the lid. Featuring the Shu Uemura Brave Beauty Eye Palette in Green, I patted the pale silver-green (GR4) on top of NYX Milk, used the matte aqua (GR1) to the inner and outer corners, blended the iridescent yellowy-green (GR5) above both and used GR4 as a browbone highlight. I mirrored the dark green/silver green sandwich on my lower lashline and then applied the Brave Beauty False Eyelashes. I lined along the lash band with the Shu Uemura Drawing Pencil in M Black 01 and along the lower waterline with the Shu Uemura Drawing Pencil in ME Green 51. Last but not least, I added some bad-ass Shu Uemura face studs atop my cheekbone and used the Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited Lipstick in Maroon to complete the look. 

While this ain't your everyday makeup routine, this could make for an awesome Halloween costume paired with a green and blue dress and a few peacock feathers in the hair. 

Do you like playing with colour? 

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Shu Uemura #BraveBeauty Satin Radiant Stick [Pink & Light Pink] // Vision of Beauty Collection Fall 2014

Yet another beauty from the Shu Uemura #BraveBeauty Collection, the Shu Uemura Satin Radiant Sticks ($55) are a product to gawk at. In terms of aesthetics, one look at the vibrant packaging, and the rest is pretty self-explanatory.

The Satin Radiant Sticks are available in 4 shades: 

• light pink - for a fresh, youthful looking natural flush
• bronze gold - add sun kissed radiance any time of the year
• pink - a natural looking rose flush that enhances complexion
• orange coral - effortlessly paint on for a natural yet alluring look

Shu Uemura Satin Radiant Stick in Pink and Light Pink 

Both the Satin Radiant Sticks in Pink and Light Pink are a lightweight cream product. They dry down to a powder finish but the sticks are packed with fine shimmer that add "radiance" to the skin. "Pink" adds a natural flush while "Light Pink" appears to be more of a champagne-gold than a light pink. Both products adhere to the skin for around 5 hours - average for blushes. 

I had a hard time getting the highlight to appear in my photos (I'm wearing it on the brow bone, cupid's bow, and the cheekbones), but in person, the Shu Uemura Radiant Stick in Light Pink adds a gorgeous sheen to the skin. On the other hand, the Shu Uemura Radiant Stick in Pink reminds me a lot of the a slightly warmer version of the GOSH Giant Blush in Pink Parfait, except the Radiant stick is eons more glowy. Worn together, Pink and Light Pink make for the perfect bright-faced pairing. 

Yes, the Shu Uemura Satin Radiant Sticks deliver on the "radiance" side of things. I'm not going to worry about my skin looking dull because I'll have these pretty products to perk up my skin. 

Do you have a favourite stick blush? 

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Shu Uemura #BraveBeauty Rouge Unlimited Lipsticks [Maroon, Beige, Orange] // Vision of Beauty Collection Fall 2014

Another feature in the Shu Uemura Brave Beauty Collection for Fall 2014, the Rouge Unlimited Lipsticks ($36 each). SPOILER ALERT: They're sheer and moisturizing - perfect for the cooler weather to come. When these landed in my mailbox, the first thing I could think of was WOWZA. That packaging. I would never mind whipping out these pretty little plastic bullets on any and every occasion to touch up my lipstick. The fuchsia-orange swirl design is a little non-traditional but still along the lines of the sleek Shu look. 

In the Brave Beauty collection there are six limited edition shades of the Rouge Unlimited lipsticks. Shown above are Maroon, Beige, and Orange. Also in the line are Fuchsia, Rose and Red. Three things to note (1) they're extremely moisturizing and light-weight on the lips. Somehow, this product simply melts over the lips in thin, smooth layers, (2) two layers of the lipstick yields fairly high pigmentation (3) the Rouge Unlimited Lipsticks are longwearing compared to other sheer/hydrating lipsticks. The wear-time is about 3-4 hours after application and the Maroon shade leaves a light stain on the lips. 

Maroon rebellious rouge for a more sultry femininity - I'm don't quite feel rebellious in this particular shade of lipstick but it's the perfect everyday sheer red that I can't put down. This one's a must if you're into sheer reds.

Beige barely there shade to accentuate your natural magnetism - I find this nude to be quite flattering on my tan yellow skin. Beige has a touch of peachy-orange to make it more wearable. 

Orange adventurous orange for your reckless side - Where the heck was this lipstick this past summer? This borderline pastel orange-yellow is almost comical but the sheerness of the product makes it easy to wear. I can imagine this particular shade to look a bit strange on certain skin tones so be sure to try it out in-store before considering the purchase of this orange. 

Overall, I can't get over the hydration factor of the Rouge Unlimited Lipsticks. If you're into sheer and moisturizing lip products, these are definitely something that should be on your beauty radar!

What do you think of the Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited Lipsticks?  

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