REVIEW: shu uemura Laque Supreme – BG04, RD05, PK05, CR03 & WN05

August 8, 2018 / Fiona Seah / 2 Comments

Hello everyone!

The matte lip trend has enjoyed a resurgence and much longevity over the past few years. But as the Spice Girls sang in their hit song, “Too much of something is bad enough,” and if you’re already sick of the wrinkly and shrunken lips effect, shu uemura has gotchu. The brand recently (okay, like 8 months ago..) expanded its Laque Supreme line with 11 new shades (adding to their 5 most-coveted existing shades), as well as a packaging makeover! Even before trying the product, the ombré packaging had already struck a chord with me. Look how pretty it is!

shu uemura Laque Supreme

Debuted in 2015, this long-lasting liquid formula delivers an intense shot of pigment and high shine of a gloss – thanks to a new special technology* embedded in it – with a fruity scent whilst keeping lips hydrated and shiny throughout the wear. Since it doesn’t dry down completely, the product is bound to transfer. But to what extent was the question.

Shades available in Singapore: RD01, RD05, WN03, WN04, WN05, CR01, CR02, CR03, PK04, PK05, PK06, PK07, BG02, BG04, BG05 & OR01.

Now boasting a total of 16 captivating shades ranging from iconic lacquer-red to better-than-bare nude that are sure to flatter Asian skin tones, these shades were selected by defining the colours that are most beautiful for shine and that allow the lips to become the focus of the face. That said, perhaps what didn’t really change was the ergonomic-shaped applicator affixed to the cap. Ideally-sized for our delicate Asian pouts, the applicator is absolutely perfect for drawing precise lines especially along the cupid’s bow!

*Shu red-dye complex, a mixture of red dye and red pigment is added to achieve deep color intensity

Below are five of the latest additions to the Laque Supreme line (courtesy of shu uemura Singapore) together with my honest opinion about them, as always!

BG04

shu uemura Laque Supreme in BG04 (US$31 / S$43)

shu uemura Laque Supreme in BG04

BG04 is a medium dusty rose with brown undertones and a glossy finish. Although hydrating and causes zero feathering, it has sticky (as with the every other shades in the Laque Supreme line, but this somehow felt a lot more tackier) and thick consistency which weighed down my lips a bit. Sheer on first pass, it took about two to three layers for it to become reasonably pigmented. If you’re patient enough, it can also be built to a medium coverage by waiting for the previous layers to dry before applying the next coat.

This shade is lovely but pity about the below-par longevity on the pout – it vanished completely (without leaving any stain) with only a light pat of tissue paper on the lips after my dinner. With hindsight, that can be a good thing because you won’t get that awful ring-around-the-mouth look. But whatever it is, don’t ever wear this shade to a buffet because reapplication will be a bitch!

RD05

shu uemura Laque Supreme in RD05 (US$31 / S$43)

shu uemura Laque Supreme in RD05

RD05 is a vivid red with blue undertones and a glossy finish. The applicator picked up a lot of product from the tube and glided on the lips smoothly without tugging to deliver a semi-sheer colour that was buildable to medium-to-full coverage (by employing the same technique mentioned above). This shade appears a lot more pigmented and even in texture than the others, and has the ability to blur out any dried specks of skin or imperfections on the lips while enabling crisp edges. Truly long-lasting, it faded to a stain after a heavy meal.

PK05

shu uemura Laque Supreme in PK05 (US$31 / S$43)

shu uemura Laque Supreme in PK05

PK05 is a cool fuchsia with slight berry undertones and a glossy finish. Despite its sheer payoff, it yields an even consistency and does not leave streaks of distinct pigment on the lips when more than one coat is applied back-to-back. Apart from that, it is also buildable to a medium coverage. It clung onto dry patches and hence, accentuated some of the flaws on my lips but felt moderately hydrating on me. This shade faded to a stain after a heavy meal.

CR03

shu uemura Laque Supreme in CR03 (US$31 / S$43)

shu uemura Laque Supreme in CR03

CR03 is a medium coral with red undertones and a glossy finish. Runnier in consistency, this shade yields a sheer coverage which seems promisingly pigmented initially until it is spread out – the colour loses most its intensity and blends into the lips (but without bleeding or settling into the lines). Therefore, those with naturally pigmented lips should stay away from this shade because the colour will most likely not show on yours. Although adding more coats (atop those that have dried a bit) does help to build its opacity to a certain extent, the result ends up appearing messy and streaky. This shade leaves a very subtle stain on my lips after my dinner and was moderately hydrating on me.

WN05

shu uemura Laque Supreme in WN05 (US$31 / S$43)

shu uemura Laque Supreme in WN05

WN05 is a warm burgundy with a glossy finish and is by far, the most disappointing one from this range probably because I had such high hopes for it! The texture is almost like CR03 but worse – clings onto dry areas and delivers a very patchy and uneven application which intensifies once it dries because some parts would appear visibly darker than the rest. The first two passes yield a sheer, just-bitten effect, but is once again buildable to a medium coverage if you don’t layer on too quickly.

Among the five shades here, WN05 leaves the most noticeable stain (and therefore is the most long-lasting), so much so that it took me a couple of washes (or rather, scrubs) for it to be removed entirely.

Longevity test – all shades except CR03 and BG04 withstood the wrath of my Simple makeup wipe

[Under natural lighting] I don’t own many glosses, so I’ll do a finish comparison instead with other brands

In general, the Laque Supreme line is definitely a few notches above regular glosses due to the moisturising effects, more intense pigmentation (mainly the lighter shades) and higher longevity it (mostly the darker shades) offers. Even though the texture is still too tacky for my liking, it adheres well to the lips so when hair gets stuck in it, it doesn’t drag any product over my face. And I believe that is a major bonus for anyone – like me – who shuns lip glosses. I think so long as nothing comes in contact with the lips, these are still pretty much low maintenance.

What are your thoughts about the Laque Supreme line? If you have been avoiding lip glosses, would you be keen to give this a shot? Let me know what you think in the comments below or take a quick poll!

Thanks for reading!

shu uemura Laque Supreme is now available on shuuemura.com.sg, shuuemura-USA.com and in all local shu uemura outlets.

Products were supplied by shu uemura Singapore for my consideration but all opinions expressed are my own.

Follow me on Instagram and Facebook for bite-sized beauty updates!

REVIEW: Lancôme Juicy Shaker in #381 Mangoes Wild & #301 Meli Melon

June 25, 2016June 29, 2016 / Fiona Seah / 8 Comments

Hello everyone!

Liquid and ombre lipsticks, BB and CC creams and blending sponges. These are just some examples of the breakthroughs in the beauty realm we have seen in the last few decades and are now part and parcel of our daily beauty routine. For centuries, new and innovative beauty products keep being developed and this doesn’t seem to be slowing down (oh, our poor wallets). Remember the frenzy surrounding Lancôme’s Juicy Tubes which sparked the lip gloss phenomenon in the early 2000s? Just when you thought the lip gloss craze is dying, we are presented with yet another trendsetter which will certainly reignite your love for gloss because something similar but EVEN BETTER is hitting shores!

lancome-juicy-shaker-4

This time, the creator of the lovely Juicy Tubes has revolutionised the cosmetics world once again with Juicy Shaker, a bi-phase lip oil that combines comfort with the colour impact of perfectly dosed pigments in a multitude of vibrant shades with an adjustable finish.

Paying homage to its predecessors – the Shaker and Juicy Tube, the Juicy Shaker marries an impressive range of flattering and wearable colours with zesty and fruity fragrances. The impeccable pairing of pigments and lipcare oils promises an incredibly soft and lightweight finish and a healthy shine on the lips – qualities of your regular gloss improved by a multitude of notches.

Shake it up!

Most of the time when I review beauty products, I struggle finding their unique (and noteworthy) selling points to balance out their negative aspects (when I bash, I bash with grace) because whether we like it or not, everything is about the same. But I can go on and on about Juicy Shaker because everything about it is so distinctive. Besides the interesting packaging that’s molded after a cocktail shaker (complete with metal balls to mimic the effect of ice cubes hitting both ends of the mixer when you shake up the contents, no less), this product has also attained a couple of firsts. It comes with a sensorial, conical-shape cushion applicator to absorb just the right dose of formula for ultra-simple and intuitive application while to ensure the quintessence of gentleness. I swear my lips had never felt so pampered before.

Juicy Shaker cushion applicator

The Juicy Shaker is also endowed with four precious oils with complementary properties which instantly offer lips with a smooth and plumped-up look. Peach kernel oil, for instance, provides the softening and nourishing effect while sweet almond oil leaves the lips supple and re-structured. Cranberry oil is an anti-oxidant which protects and promotes the restoration of the skin’s protective barrier with its richness in Omega 3 and 6. Musk rose oil, on the other hand, soothes the lips while helping to regenerate the skin and speed up any healing process (Hear ye, hear ye! People with lip picking habits!).

Now, I know what you’re thinking. “HOLY, THAT’S A LOT OF OIL! Isn’t it going to be super tacky?” Truth be told, that was my initial concern as well. In fact, tackiness is one of my biggest reasons for avoiding gloss because grrrrrr don’t you just hate it when strands of your hair get shrouded in sticky goo whenever you get hit by a sudden gust of wind? Gross. But my worries proved to be completely unfounded because not only does it lend a dazzling shine, there is absolutely no sticky sensation at all. OH JOY! You can try rubbing your lips together and they will literally glide off each other.

Swatches

The texture of Juicy Shaker has definitely shone on my quality indicators for lip products but what about their application? I will be sharing my views based on the two shades I was given as press samples.

#381 in Mangoes Wild

Lancôme Juicy Shaker in #381 Mangoes Wild

Juicy Shaker #381 in Mangoes Wild

Mangoes Wild, a favourite of Lily Collin and also mine, is described as an orange-pink with a sweet and intense scent of mango… and watermelon. I would say it leans more to the pink side with very negligible amount of orange undertones. It is sheer, emollient and it hugs to the lips. Perhaps due to its darker pigmentation, it feels thicker than Meli Melon upon application.

With oil as the main ingredient, however, comes an unsurprising downside: the lip oil would not be able to withstand eating, drinking and even more so, a little lip-locking (but I can guarantee that your partner would be tempted for more because those lips smell alluring and orgasmic *wink*). But the Juicy Shakers are packaged in such a way that they won’t occupy a lot space in your handbag so that you can bring yours along wherever you go and touch up whenever necessary.

#301 in Meli Melon

Lancôme Juicy Shaker in #301 Meli Melon

Juicy Shaker #301 in Meli Melon

Meli Melon is described as a smooth and juicy pink with a perfectly-ripe melon scent. The lustrous texture (more so than Mangoes Wild) creates a natural pout effect to make the lips look fuller. It is sheer but conceals fine lines very well. But because it’s so sheer, I had to apply several times to achieve the light pink above or it would be almost unnoticeable on my lips. Fair skin would probably bring out the soft tone better.

Due to the thinner texture of the Juicy Shaker coupled with the thickness of the applicator, the product tends to bleed slightly especially at the corners of the mouth. Still, despite the minor drawback, these nourishing lip oils contain a truck load of pigment that intensifies with each application.

You can even do an ombre with two or more Juicy Shaker shades! Check out my subtle ombre – Mangoes Wild on the inner lips and Meli Melon on the outer!

Lancôme proves themselves yet again to be ahead of the game by releasing 20 irresistible shades for the conventional and bold, all further characterised by their own scent so pronounced that you can get a whiff of the tropical fragrance the moment you uncap the bottle. God probably designed the nose above the lips for moments like this, where you to be enjoy the pleasure of smelling the delectable scent of food for as long as thirty minutes before it wanes.

All 20 shades with their complementing fragrance
(S$36 each)

Mango Wild (381) – mango-scented orange-pink*
Berry in Love (283) – blackberry-scented pinkish-purple*
Cherry Symphony (151) – cherry-scented bright red*
Apri-cute (102) – apricot-scented orange*
Lemon Explosion (300) – energy drink-scented rose (limited edition)*
Mint to Be (400) – mint-scented blue
Walk the Lime (166) – lime-scented orange
It’s My Jam (172) – strawberry jam-scented intense red
Piece of Cake (201) – almond-scented tea brown
Good Kara-Mel (271) – caramel-scented praline brown
Berry Tale (372) – blackcurrant-scented berry pink
Great-Fruit (154) – grapefruit-scented orange
Wonder Melon (352) – watermelon-scented fuchsia
Show Me the Honey (112) – honey-scented syrupy golden
Vanilla Pop (252) – vanilla-scented rosewood red
Bohemian Raspberry (341) – raspberry-scented bluish-pink
Boom-Meringue (313) – lemon meringue-scented orange-pink
Spice It Up (240) – gingerbread-scented cinnamon brown
Meli-Melon (301) – melon-scented pink
Freedom of Peach (142) – peach-scented orange

*star shades

[COMPLIMENTARY MAKEOVER]

Want to have a look and feel of Juicy Shaker before committing to a purchase? Sign up for a complimentary Juicy Shakeover (makeover) here!

Don’t you just love the pun-intended names of the shades?

[CONTEST]
Pucker up for a showdown

Ready to #bantheboring? Take part in a beauty pageant just for lips with Lancôme!
Create your Shake Tape wearing a Juicy Shaker shade and hash tagging #juicyshakersg #lancomesg #bantheboring. You could be one of the six winners to walk away with three shades of the Juicy Shaker! The contest will end on 29 June.

For a chance to win THREE shades of Juicy Shaker, follow these steps:

1. Do the Shake Tape at dv.sg/shaketape-fiona
2. Upload to Facebook and Instagram (optional)
3. Use the 4th pose of your Shake Tape as the thumbnail
4. Hashtag your video with #juicyshakersg #lancomesg #bantheboring

The Shake Tape with the most likes each week, wins!

Thanks for reading!

The Juicy Shaker IS available at all Singapore Lancôme counters for S$36 each.

Disclaimer: ALL Products featured are press samples but opinions, as always, are my own.

REVIEW: BEIGE Cosmetics Ampoule Glotint in How Coral

May 25, 2016May 29, 2016 / Fiona Seah / Leave a comment

Hello everyone!

Korean beauty products have been all the rage since the early 2000s when the Hallyu wave took the world by storm with a succession of outstanding television series and idol groups. Despite noting that an increasing number of Korean beauty stores have been popping up at every corner of shopping malls in Singapore in recent years, I had never really jumped on the bandwagon and actively used any Korean makeup because the non-conformist in me forbade it. But lately they have grown so popular that it is becoming impossible to dodge their influence. You know what they say, if you can’t beat them, join them, right? So here I am, conforming to trends (albeit a very delayed one) and bringing you my first review on Korean makeup, starting from a lip product by BEIGE Cosmetics!

BEIGE Ampoule Glotint in #133 How Coral

It is completely understandable if you haven’t heard of BEIGE Cosmetics, because I, too, did not until BNTnews sent me this press sample. Unlike huge brands like Laneige and Missha, BEIGE does not have any retail presence outside of South Korea (but they do have an Instagram handle catered to Singapore customers) and from what I know, they mostly operate out of their online store. It is a relatively new label owned by lifestyle brand CHUU which also runs a fashion line. Even so, BEIGE already has an impressive selection of products ranging from eye shadow palettes to foundation sticks. Check out their catalogue here!

BEIGE Ampoule Glotint in #133 How Coral

Stored and delivered in a clear slider seal bag, the Ampoule Glotint combines the best of both worlds to give the lustre of lip gloss and the sheer stain of lip tint. It comes with a special triangular applicator to allow for a more precise and effortless application each time.

BEIGE Ampoule Glotint in #133 How Coral

I don’t have any swatch comparisons to show as I hardly buy lip glosses or tints, but as you can see from the pictures above, the Glotint delivers an intense splash of oriental orange-red with fairly strong coverage – what you would not expect from your typical lip glosses. When applied only on the inner side of the lips, the lipstick bleeds (a little) nicely towards the outer edge to give a more natural looking colour. It applies thick and has a slight citrus smell which I could even detect with my mouth (wait, am I a snake or something).

The Glotint leaves a long-lasting watery sheen that doesn’t appear oily. It locks in moisture to nourish lips that are prone to drying and cracking, so the lips feel nothing but comfort throughout the wear. It a lot less sticky than gloss (still has the sticky sensation but not as much) and hence low adhesive power. Thus, the colour does not last through eating or drinking as it comes off very easily.

What do you think about this lip gloss and tint hybrid? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

Thanks for reading 🙂

	Jim Gray on REVIEW: MAC x Mariah Carey Lip…
	victor on HISTORY: Closed and Merged Sch…
	victor on HISTORY: Closed and Merged Sch…
	Jenson ng on [BOOK REVIEW] My School Unifor…
	Joni M Jefferson on Cupcakes @ 51 FiveOne Deg…
	Andrea on REVIEW: Daeng Gi Meo Ri Vitali…
	Clarence Price on Revisiting Taiwan, the Land of…
	SH Kwek on HISTORY: Closed and Merged Sch…
	Shein Return Label on Dealing with Scammers on …
	ipad-user on Review on Carousell

fionaseah.com

lifestyle from an Asian perspective

lipgloss

REVIEW: shu uemura Laque Supreme – BG04, RD05, PK05, CR03 & WN05

Shades available in Singapore: RD01, RD05, WN03, WN04, WN05, CR01, CR02, CR03, PK04, PK05, PK06, PK07, BG02, BG04, BG05 & OR01.

*Shu red-dye complex, a mixture of red dye and red pigment is added to achieve deep color intensity

BG04

RD05

PK05

CR03

WN05

shu uemura Laque Supreme is now available on shuuemura.com.sg, shuuemura-USA.com and in all local shu uemura outlets.

Products were supplied by shu uemura Singapore for my consideration but all opinions expressed are my own.

REVIEW: Lancôme Juicy Shaker in #381 Mangoes Wild & #301 Meli Melon

#381 in Mangoes Wild

#301 in Meli Melon

All 20 shades with their complementing fragrance
(S$36 each)

[COMPLIMENTARY MAKEOVER]

Want to have a look and feel of Juicy Shaker before committing to a purchase? Sign up for a complimentary Juicy Shakeover (makeover) here!

[CONTEST]
Pucker up for a showdown

For a chance to win THREE shades of Juicy Shaker, follow these steps:

The Juicy Shaker IS available at all Singapore Lancôme counters for S$36 each.

Disclaimer: ALL Products featured are press samples but opinions, as always, are my own.

REVIEW: BEIGE Cosmetics Ampoule Glotint in How Coral

Beige Ampoule Glotint is AVAILABLE on chuu for 17,900 won / US$22.

DISCLAIMER: PRODUCT FEATURED IS A PRESS SAMPLE BUT OPINIONS, AS ALWAYS, ARE MY OWN.

Shades available in Singapore: RD01, RD05, WN03, WN04, WN05, CR01, CR02, CR03, PK04, PK05, PK06, PK07, BG02, BG04, BG05 & OR01.

*Shu red-dye complex, a mixture of red dye and red pigment is added to achieve deep color intensity

BG04

RD05

PK05

CR03

WN05

shu uemura Laque Supreme is now available on shuuemura.com.sg, shuuemura-USA.com and in all local shu uemura outlets.

Products were supplied by shu uemura Singapore for my consideration but all opinions expressed are my own.

Share this:

Like this:

#381 in Mangoes Wild

#301 in Meli Melon

All 20 shades with their complementing fragrance (S$36 each)

[COMPLIMENTARY MAKEOVER]

Want to have a look and feel of Juicy Shaker before committing to a purchase? Sign up for a complimentary Juicy Shakeover (makeover) here!

[CONTEST] Pucker up for a showdown

For a chance to win THREE shades of Juicy Shaker, follow these steps:

The Juicy Shaker IS available at all Singapore Lancôme counters for S$36 each.

Disclaimer: ALL Products featured are press samples but opinions, as always, are my own.

Share this:

Like this:

Beige Ampoule Glotint is AVAILABLE on chuu for 17,900 won / US$22.

DISCLAIMER: PRODUCT FEATURED IS A PRESS SAMPLE BUT OPINIONS, AS ALWAYS, ARE MY OWN.

Share this:

Like this:

All 20 shades with their complementing fragrance
(S$36 each)

[CONTEST]
Pucker up for a showdown