shu uemura

The shu uemura 2010 Christmas Collection is a collaboration with Japanese artist Aya Takano and she has done a great job of giving the collection the funky, urban feel that I love about shu!  Luckily she picked cute animals for the girls to kiss in the artwork, otherwise I might find it all a bit disturbing...
Reindeer Kiss xxxx Eye and Cheek Palette - $85 - inspired by the colours of a frosty winter land covered in crystalline snow that sparkles in the light.
Bowwow! Magic Queen Eye and Cheek Palette - $85 - a warm-toned palette for a peaceful holiday season.
Blush Tint - Miracle Cherry - $30 - a lightweight gel blush to instantly add a natural glow to your cheeks.
Lip Duo Tint & Gloss - Love Apricot - coral beige tint and apricot gloss with gold and silver glitter or Harmony Pink - girly pink tint and vibrant fuchsia gloss - $45 - enjoy the matte finish of the tint alone, or add gloss to amp up a shine!

Paint Crayon - Sparkly Purple  - dark purple with sparkly gold glitters - $30 - waterproof, long-lasting and creamy mechanical pencil allows you to draw a defined line that can be blended easily right after application.

High Performance Balancing Cleansing Oil Advanced Formula - $37 - shu uemura's signature cleansing oil.  A gentle formula for moisturized, balanced, petal-soft skin.  Cleanses gently and maintains the skin's moisture balance with Advanced HPO system, Asian botanical oils such as Camellia Oil and Ginger Root Oil.  Leaves skin feeling comfortably balanced and petal soft with a fresh and sensuous aroma.

Peace & Harmony Mini Brush Set - $85 - they're cute and pink, what more can I say?!
Magical Windfalls - $36 - easy-to-wear partial lashes in black with some pieces pre-decorated with glittery and shiny magical hear and star symbols for cute accent.
Premium False Eyelashes - $75 - a dreamy pair of cutomizable eyelashes!  With a variety of abracadabra symbol stickers enclosed, create your very own pair of lases for the festive season.

shu uemura Stage Performer - Instant-Glow and Signs Off - inspired by the beauty expertise of top make-up artists - they have integrated the make-up artist's secrets with cutting-edge technology to care for tired, dull skin in a new and dramatic way.

The products are designed to achieve dual benefits, with inner and outer action.  With just one stroke you'll see visible results and achieve high skincare benefits.  Skin appears dramatically more luminous, translucent and smoother and make-up finish is enhanced.

Instant-Glow - 50ml - $60 - renews fatigued, dull and imperfect skin and resets it to an ideal state.  Kin immediately appears more luminous, smooth, supple and remains hydrated for 24 hours.  In 4 weeks, skin feels healthier, revitalized and renewed, with refined skin texture.  Suitable for sensitive skin.  It's used in the morning after cleansing in place of  your serum and/or moisturizer and followed by sunscreen and your usual primer and foundation.

Instant-Glow contains for inner action: Citrus Complex, made from the extracts of Sweet Orange and Bitter Orange which is designed to boost micro-circulation to revitalize the skin for a rosy complexion; Meadowfoam Seed Oil to help smooth skin texture; Ginkgo Extract to help to limit oxidation acting as a skin defender; Depsea water to help improve skin's self-moisturizing ability and enhances skin's translucent look; and HEPES to help to enhance exfoliation to re-texturize the skin's surface with conditioned micro-relief.

Instant-Glow contains for outer action: patented Chroma Adjuster - with corrective encapsulates release pigments upon application in order to unify skin tone and provide radiance, Micro-pearl, and Diakalyte which funtion to diffuse light optically for silky smoothness and to adjust skin tone while respecting its original skin tone.

Signs Off - 4ml - $56 - instant replenishing line-smoother to achieve an ultra even and refined skin surface especially for the fine lines around eyes and lips caused by dryness.  Fades unnecessary shadows by dramatically smoothing lines in a stroke, while helping to re-plump the skin.  To be applied at the end of your skincare routine in the morning and night and for makeup retouches:  just twist the top slowly until the formula comes out, apply with the soft tip applicator on imperfections such as lines and spread the formula with your fingertips to even it out.

Signs Off contains for inner action: Calcium Micro-Spheres, known as a dermal filler, is rich in calcium, a key ingredient for barrier formation; Soy Extract which helps boost the synthesis of collagen and elastin for firming effect; Depsea water to ehlp improve skin's self-moisturizing ability and enhance skin translucency.

Signs Off contains for outer action: Silica which creates a soft focus effect on lines and imperfections by diffusing light.

Available at Holt Renfrew.

Of course I don't expect you to take their word for it, win them and try them out yourself! 

Want in?  It's super easy!  This contest is open to everyone, everywhere. All you have to do is join Beauty Crazed as a follower if you aren't one already.  You can either do it through Google or through Networked Blogs on Facebook - you can find both signups on the right hand side of the Beauty Crazed site.  Once you belong to our crazy family just leave a reply to this post letting us know you want in and share one of your secrets - could be a beauty secret, embarrassing personal secret - whatever you like!   If you give the contest link a tweet and/or post it on your blog, there's an extra entry in it for you! Including an e-mail address would be extra helpful and you can write it like this - info(at)beautycrazed(dot)ca - so the bots can't find you but we can.  If you prefer not to leave your info on a public post, please leave a post saying you want to enter and then e-mail us your info - info@beautycrazed.ca, please put "shu uemura Contest" in the subject line.  Winner to be decided by random drawing and you have until October 8th to enter. 

The Sakura Collection by Japan's most popular photographer Mika Ninagawa was created to celebrate the joy of Mika's favourite flower - the sakura.  The packaging is adorned with this delicate symbol of Japanese springtime captured by Mika's lens. You can see more of her work at http://ninamika.com

Once again, shu uemura merges art and makeup to create something beautiful!


UV Under Base Mousse Sakura Collection - $48 - Limited Edition - like a sheer veil, the new under base mousse offers higher UV protection, and excels in covering flaws while fitting to skin with spectacular comfort - in Beige - with ultra-light tones catches the light to create a subtle effect for a natural, healthy-looking complexion or BB Beige - fo natually light skin, this poduct lightens a dull complexion without an unnatural whitish effect.

Rouge Unlimited - $31 - in 6 sakura-tinted shades to embellish your lips.  A new-generation sakura hybrid pigments has been developed to express the purity of the cherry blossom. The special edition package is tinted with a layer of delicate sakura-inspired pink tones.

Rouge Unlimited Supreme Shine - $36 - rich dewy shine in 2 breathtaking sakura colours.  The ultimate fusion of pure, high fidelity colour supported by shu's signature hybrid pigment technology.


Powder Foundation Case - $20 - Limited Edition - adorned with Mika's sweet and playful spring floral delights - Case comes empty - powder foundation refills are $39

Available at Holt Renfew.

shu uemura pure:nu 2-in-1 gentle cleansing oil-in-gel - 100ml - $28 - a revolutionary eco-inspired facial cleanser designed to purify skin without stripping valuable moisture.  Incorporating breakthrough 2-in-1 oil cleansing technology with 50% moisturizing agents in a gentle get rich 97% biodegradable oil-in-gel, pure:nu gently removes made-up and impurities for skin that is clarified, soft and supple.  Newly blended phyto-ingredients, including Bamboo Leaf Extract, combine with new wet-hand technology that allows usage with dry and wet hands for visibly renewed and refreshed skin that is smooth and radiant.

The first cleansing oil that I ever tried was a shu one, and I have been in love with their cleansers ever since!  I really appreciate the wet or dry face option with this one, being able to put it on a dry face makes it a super convenient cleanser to use with my Clarisonic - it eliminates the "water dripping into your eyes so you can't see what you're doing" problem!  And just like their original cleansing oil, this oil-in-gel cleanser does an excellent job of removing makeup and cleansing all in one step and despite some gels I have used, I don't have the "too clean" tight feeling after using that I get when a gel has stripped away every bit of moisture that was in my skin, including the natural oils I wanted to keep! This is good stuff, I'm a fan!

Available at Holt Renfrew and www.shuuemura.com



Thann Facial Cleansing Milk - 150ml - $47 - soothes and softens skin while removing makeup and impurities without casing irritation. Contains: Nano Shiso extract which soothes and softens sensitive skin; rice bran oil and organic jojoba seed oil which are rich in Vitamin E and fatty acid, protecting the skin from free radical damage, and slowing down the aging process; and Moringa seed extract which is highly efficient in maintaining moisture, as well as minimizing roughness and wrinkles.

I am more accustomed to using a cleansing milk but I do find that they often don't do a great job of removing all of the makeup.  With the addition of oils though it is so much more effective! The texture of this milk is super light, smells fresh, rinses away cleanly without striping my skin and I really love that it comes in a pump!

Available online at www.thann.ca in select stores and spas across Canada and at Thann concept stores in Ottawa.

How do you feel about cleansers with oil in them - love them, hate them or haven't tried them?

You should make a point of finding your way to Holt Renfrew soon to check out the spring/summer collection from shu uemura, it is sooooooo pretty!  It is meant to take you to the mystique beauty of a tropical rainforest, all I know is that it has taken me to my happy place!
Morphorium Blue Eye & Cheek Palette - $85 - Limited Edition - with vivid blue, rich purple and acid green shadows, a light brown cream eyeshadow to use as a base or shading colour and the prettiest pink blush, this palette makes me squee!
Sunset Gold Eye & Cheek Palette - $85 - Limited Edition - with deep brown, gold and white shadows, a pink beige cream eyeshadow to use as a base or shading colour and a peach blush.  Although I really love the blue palette, this one would probably be more practical for everyday use. Practical makeup?  I know, crazy talk!
Shine Mystique Eye Color - $36 - Khaki Silver - Limited Edition - I don't know why the picture is showing so teal green, the actual colour is much more olive green.  It's described as an olive, khaki and silver reflection.  The first and new "Metamorphose pearls" in loose powder type eye colour create an outstanding "colour-traveling" effect for ultra-luminous reflection with extraordinary shine.
Painting Liner - $29 - ME Purple - luscious purple with a soft shimmer, ME Brown - rich brown-purple with a delicate shine - a long-wearing eyeliner with intensive colour and creamy texture which is waterproof and smudge proof.

Rouge Unlimited - $31 - PK 335 - soft pink with a moist finish, PK 348 - warm apricot with a moist finish

If you have seen the collection online already you will notice that Canada doesn't seem to have gotten everything that is available - we got shorted a couple of lipsticks, the nail polish and the funky looking green and purple lashes.  I don't know if those items will be on counter here or if you will have to order them if you are really jonesing for them!  So don't leave us hanging, has anyone laid eyes on it yet and/or are you planning on?

Oil seems to be a dirty word in some beauty circles but when the right type is used in the right place and at the right time, it can be the most wonderful thing ever!

Moroccanoil Light Oil Treatment for fine and light-colored hair - 100ml - $37.50  - It's alcohol free and absorbs very quickly while it adds shine and long term conditioning benefits without a sticky residue.  Apply a small amount through damp hair and style as usual.  I have been wanting to try Moroccanoil for ages but knew that the original formula would be too heavy for my fine hair - was I ever happy to hear that they had been listening and created a light version to combat this very issue!

It's sold in salons and you can check out the website to find the location closest to you - www.moroccanoil.com


shu uemura cleansing beauty oil premium A/O advanced formula - 150ml - $40 - suitable for all skin types including sensitive skin - if you have ever had trouble with your usual cleanser at getting all of your foundation, lipstick or eye makeup off, you will want to try this! The natural oils contained were specially selected to solubilize stubborn waxes and oils in waterproof mascara, foundation and lip colour as well as oxidized sebum, which accelerated the aging process.  As well, it contains green tea - an anti-oxidant and ginko leaf - to stimulate micro-circulation - extracts.  The only tricky part for me was learning how to use it correctly.  I am used to wetting my face and then rubbing in a cleanser but with this you smooth over a dry face and then wet your face to emulsify the oil.  Available at select Holt Renfrew stores.
Body Blitz Argan Oil Face Serum - 30ml - $65 - From Canada's first authentic water spa for women comes a line of products to give you the Blitz experience at home. All of the Body Blitz products are made with 100% essential oils and are free of parabens, artificial colours and detergents to reflect the company's on-going commitment to a healthy body and a healthy environment you would expect the product to feel less luxe and more granola - not so!  The serum is my favourite of the line and is made from 75% organic argan oil, organic olive oil, organic aloe vera, rose damask and organic lavender, not only does it feel good, it smells good too!

Not to worry if you aren't in Toronto and can't go to the spa to buy your products - Canada and US spa-ers can now buy the Body Blitz products online! Check it out at www.bodyblitzspa.com - if you are in the area and want to swing by you can find them at 471 Adelaide Street West - 416-364-0400 - and while you are at it, book yourself a treatment!

Argan Magic Nourishing Bath Oil - 236ml - $25 - naturally fragranced with orange blossoms and white rose petals which would make you think it would smell floral but there is also pomegranate, which gives it a wonderful fruity smell.  If you love to soak in a tub as much as I do you will love the way it soaks into every little bit of dry skin and makes it silky smooth!  If you want bubbles you can add a bit of bubble bath with it, I didn't find it changed how well it worked at all!  Available from The Shopping Channel - www.theshoppingchannel.com
Neutrogena Body Oil - 250ml - $12.99 - if you're more of a shower girl, your thirsty skin will appreciate this light sesame seed oil.  I find it works best if I apply it while my skin is still a little wet and I also love applying it before I go to bed to wake up to super soft skin!

What about you guys - are there any oils that you use that you can't live without?!

Can you believe that Christmas is exactly one month away - crazy!  We may not have finished all of our shopping for our other families but our blog family is super important so your present is picked and packed, all you need to do now is win it!  It was quite a task deciding what to get you so we just picked all of our favourite products from the last year - we hope they are or will become your favourites too!  With over $500 worth of makeup - it's going to be a happy holiday for one lucky person!  Here's what we got you:

In February we fell in love with a new lipstick from Chanel so you get a Chanel Rouge Coco in 05 Mademoiselle!

In September the YSL Rock & Baroque collection captured our hearts so you get the Touche Eclat & Manicure Couture - duo vernis couleur - No 4 Duo-Y-Cone!

Just last month shu uemura presented an Abracadabra Fantasy  - you get the lip duo tint & gloss in love apricot!

March gave us Lancome Juicy Tubes 100% Nautral Origin so you get two in Sheerfully Sweet & Blushing Beauty!

September gave us Benefit - Girl Meets Pearl and we want you to meet her too!

In October Pür Minerals brought up two wonderful sets - Earthly Treasures and Heavenly Delights and you get them both!

June was when Lise Watier Feline Waterproof Mascara HD & Feline Eyeliner HD  take them, they're yours!

In November we were introduced to Bourjois Sweet Kiss Lipstick so you get one in 44 Praline Distingue & an Effet 3D Lipgloss in 15 Rose Arctic!

August brought us the OPI Swiss Collection Nail Lacquer so you get Color So Hot It Berns & From A To Z-urich!

In November we gave you an alternative to lipstick with Vasanti Tinted Lipbalm and we want you to try Columbia!

September introduced us to the Mary Kay Metro Chic Collection -  we want you to have aVinyl Lip Shine in Attitude & Be Radiant Baked Powder in Dusk!

September gave us and we want you to have the mark. on the dot Eye Color Compact & lip to be square Lip Tint in sheer rose!

August brought us Avon Anew Youth Awakening Eyeshadow & Primer Kit so you get two in shimmering dusk & spring green!

In June we met LuMESH Lipgloss so you get Magaly!

We don't even need to ask if it's worth winning so here's how it works:

This contest is open to everyone everywhere and it's very easy to enter, just leave a comment letting us know that you follow (if you aren't a follower you can sign up through Google or Facebook - signups are in the right sidebar)

1 entry for following and leaving a comment answering the question - what prize product would you be the most excited to win? Please also leave your e-mail so we can find you if you win!

And for extra entries you can do one or all of the following:
1 entry for tweeting the contest
3 entries if you post this contest as a post or on the sidebar of your blog
10 entries if you take out a full page ad in any major publication stating "Beauty Crazed is awesome and Lisamarie is obviously far nicer than Christelle!"

If you prefer not to leave your info on a public post, please leave a post saying you want to enter and then e-mail your info to info@beautycrazed.ca, please put "Happy Holiday Contest" in the subject line.  Winner to be decided by random drawing and you have until December 31st to enter.