Filed In: Shu Uemura

New & Exclusive: Shu Uemura Onitsuka Tiger Collection 2020

 

 

What happens when two Japanese powerhouses collaborate? You get the shu uemura onitsuka tiger collection and while at first glance it might seem an odd pairing, both happen to be pioneers in their respective fields, holding status as heritage Japanese brands. Major cool-factor aside, I’m also really vibing on the entire aesthetic of this collection.

 

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Shu Uemura x La Maison du Chocolat, Holiday 2018

In time for the holidays, Shu Uemura has recently launched the La Maison du Chocolat Collection, done in collaboration with renown French chocolatier of the same name. With items drawing their inspiration — in name, colours, and in many cases even in scent — from decadent confections, everything is seriously, deliciously gorgeous. Beauty + chocolate = my kind of match.

 

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Shu Uemura x Super Mario Bros. 2017 Holiday Collection

 

It’s pretty much impossible to not look at this collection and smile, am I right? For Holiday 2017, two Japanese icons, Shu Uemura & Super Mario Bros. have teamed up to create this limited edition grouping of what has got to be the “funnest” beauty collection out there. Cartoon kitsch aside, there are some parallels here worth noting, namely: using colour to pursue one’s goals (Go, Mario, GO!) and even more importantly, that beauty should never take itself too seriously. Let the chase begin!

 

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shu uemura x Murakami Cosmikawaii & Cosmicool Palettes

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I dare you to find a beauty collection that’s happier-looking than this latest shu uemura x Tadashi Murakami collaboration for Holiday 2016. The brand has partnered once again with the iconic pop artist to release a grouping of products that’s knocking it into the stratosphere with the most whimsical packaging EVER to go along with an impressive array of products — such as the Cosmic Blossom Eye & Cheek Palettes in Cosmikawaii and Cosmicool (both limited edition) featured in today’s post.

Each palette bears four eyeshadows in a mix of shimmer, pearlized, and matte finishes (the four larger pans at the top), 3 eyeshadows in glitter finishes (top two at right, bottom left), and one blush. Apart from all the shades being generously sized so that you can easily pick up the hue you want without fear of cross-contamination, the palette also includes 2 small applicators: one has a fluffy brush on one end and a more compact brush on the other, while the second is a dual-sponge tipped applicator.

I’ve had some misses with shu uemura eyeshadows in the past, but the shades of both Cosmikawaii and Cosmicool are all quite pigmented and provide good colour payoff along with a very smooth application and effortless blendability. The glittery hues are not really meant to be worn opaque; think of them more as “accents” to be used either strategically (under the brows, inner eye corner) or even layered over other eyeshadows to provide a touch of sparkle — plus they can easily double as highlighters, albeit on the more visible side but since we’re in holiday mode, that works too. The blushes may look rather intense in the pan, but in reality they fall much lighter upon the skin and can be easily diffused for a softer look or even amped up for a stronger effect.

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Flower Ball (3D), 2002 Acrylic on canvas mounted on board ∼ Takashi Murakami

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Cosmikawaii Cosmic Blossom Eye & Cheek Palette (CAN $85.00) | The warmer leaning of the two, here is the shade breakdown:

  • cosmic red – cranberry shimmer
  • orange – orange shimmer
  • mauve purple – lavender pearl
  • midnight purple – eggplant matte
  • yellow gold – pale gold with glitter
  • powder blue – icy blue with silvery glitter
  • rose pink – baby pink with silvery glitter
  • coral with gold glitters – tangerine based coral with ultra fine gold glitter

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Cosmicool Cosmic Blossom Eye & Cheek Palette (CAN $85.00) | The obviously cooler-leaning of the two palettes, although I find the shades can easily be worn by warmer complexions as well — it’s all about mixing and layering. The shade breakdown:

  • cosmic blue – more like dirty light purple with a light iridescence
  • purple gray – lavender with shimmer
  • gray – browned grey with iridescence
  • midnight navy – blackened navy matte
  • lavender with iridescent glitters – icy lavender with silver glitter
  • deep gold – yellow gold with glitter
  • silver – starlight silver with glitter
  • pink with silver glitters – true rose with ultrafine silvery glitter

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Even if it weren’t for the outer packaging that makes me want to almost frame these lovelies, and forgetting for a second that my comfort zone is with neutrals, there’s just something about both Cosmikawaii and Cosmicool that just works. Lately, I’ve been experimenting with more colour (baby steps, though) and I really appreciate that both palettes have this fun yet sophisticated vibrancy that’s totally in line with the Japanese aesthetic, but not so intense that the average woman couldn’t pull off as well. But I do confess that those smiley flower faces so totally have my number …

Available at The Bay, Sephora & online

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PR samples/As always, all opinions are my own

Becca · Rose Quartz Shimmering Skin Perfector

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The latest from Becca, a brand that has become known for using ‘light to amplify the features you love’ comes their latest, Rose Quartz Shimmering Skin Perfector, a limited edition pale pink highlighter that launched without any buzz or fanfare, yet instantly sold out on day 1 on Sephora’s website (but has since been restocked & will become available in store next month). I usually don’t fall for hype and buy sight unseen, but my beauty radar was telling me to go for it, and I’ve learned to listen to that instinct. So happy I did, as this shade is like nothing I already own.

One of Pantone’s two colours of the year for 2016, rose quartz is a mineral and has been called the ‘Stone of Love’, having been also used as a love talisman as early as 600 B.C. Also synonymous with beauty, this stone is purported to have a nurturing and calming effect on those around it. Regardless of whether you believe or not, I love the positive message just the same.

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Becca · Rose Quartz Shimmering Skin Perfector

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Rose Quartz Shimmering Skin Perfector, limited edition (CAN $46.00) | Housed in a flying-saucer shaped compact (right?), it differentiates from Becca’s usual casing by its metallic rose-gold colour that’s just so pretty. The surface of the pattern is in raised geometric shapes that I’m sure will eventually wear down with continued use — not that I’ll ever get to that point (I think), and which shouldn’t affect how the product applies in any way.

The formula is apparently enriched with ‘ultrafine luminescent pearls that absorb, reflect & refract light’, and can adjust to your skin’s natural undertone. The texture is fine-milled and can be applied as a lighter dusting for just a touch of radiance (a fan brush works best for this), or layered for a more editorial-like brilliance. Longevity (over foundation), seems to be excellent and remains visible until removed.

This pale pink hue is quite unique in that it bears neutral undertones, thus making it workable on all skin tones across the spectrum. As someone with a light-medium complexion that has a golden undertone, I tend to avoid pink anything — but I was totally surprised by how Rose Quartz seems to adapt to my skin, and just seems to look better & better with the wearing.

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Becca · Rose Quartz Shimmering Skin Perfector

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Becca · Rose Quartz Shimmering Skin Perfector

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Becca · Rose Quartz Shimmering Skin Perfector swatches

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Apart from the cult-fave Champagne Pop shade shown above, I actually own another Becca coppery highlighter with the same pattern as Rose Quartz, but it seems to have gone MIA and I couldn’t find it to compare. As the swatches show, these two are nothing alike although surprisingly, the pink hue of Rose Quartz appears more wearable than the more golden colour colour of Champagne Pop.  I totally did not expect that, and it further backs up the ‘neutral undertone’ part of the claim.

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Becca · Rose Quartz  & Champagne Pop Shimmering Skin Perfector swatches

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Pulling out a few more pink-toned highlighters to compare (although something tells me that I probably have more lurking about, but I was just too lazy to hunt them all down), it’s clear that none are a match for Rose Quartz, leaning either too pink or too shimmery.

Note that all have been swatched with a heavy hand in the photo below, in order to show their differences and/or similarities. Press samples are marked by *

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Becca · Rose Quartz Shimmering Skin Perfector & comparison swatches

 

Even though I trust my gut when it comes to beauty products, I still had hesitations about Rose Quartz … until it arrived and I swatched it. After that, it was all “hello beautiful & welcome to the family”. Somehow Becca managed the impossible: getting a colour usually reserved for the fair-complexioned, and making it universally wearable. Bottom line: totally worth picking up, especially if you happen to have a bit of a fetish re: highlighters (guilty).

Available at Sephora

 

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Purchased Item/All opinions my own

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