lipstick

REVIEW: ColourPop × My Little Pony Pressed Powder Shadow Palette

/ Fiona Seah / 3 Comments

Hello everyone!

So far, this whole decade feels like a throwback to the ’80s and ’90s with the reboot and revival of many of our childhood favourites such as The Smurfs, Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast and Trolls, just to name a few. In case you didn’t know, My Little Pony has, too, made a comeback in recent years and is now even shown on the silver screen! But this year being 2017, working in the showbiz isn’t enough – you have to penetrate into the beauty industry as well to stay relevant because hey, not everyone (especially the millennials whose big part of their childhood revolves around these shows) watches TV these days, right? 😏

Perhaps that’s why Hasbro has been granting their licensing rights for My Little Pony to a handful of makeup companies like PUR Cosmetics, Thailand-based Mille Beauté and most recently, ColourPop which released a 14-piece limited edition My Little Pony collection last month.

An overview of my ColourPop × My Little Pony haul - do watch this space for my review on the highlighters and liquid lipsticks!

An overview of my ColourPop × My Little Pony haul – do watch this space for my review on the highlighters and liquid lipsticks!

As you can see, there’s quite a bit to talk about for this collection, so I will split my review into two parts for easy digestion. The first shall be on the eye shadow palette.

Inspired by the colourful personalities and magical cutie marks of the retro ponies, the My Little Pony Pressed Powder Shadow Palette features a range of nostalgia-evoking shades from “shimmery glitters and wearable mattes, to bright pops of colour and surprising iridescents”.

ColourPop × My Little Pony Pressed Powder Shadow Palette (US$16)

ColourPop × My Little Pony Pressed Powder Shadow Palette (US$16)

The back of the ColourPop × My Little Pony Pressed Powder Shadow Palette

The back of the ColourPop × My Little Pony Pressed Powder Shadow Palette

The My Little Pony palette measures just 10 cm × 13 cm, essentially making it easy to carry around due to its slim and compact size. It is placed into a box adorned with purple-hued pony motifs and “My Little Pony” embossed in purple-foil lettering in the middle, followed by the My Little Pony rainbow and ColourPop logos at the bottom.

The design of the palette itself looks a bit more tacky and juvenile (like it was designed with PowerPoint) with six holographic ponies arcing across (yet another) rainbow plastered on the cover. The lid has a magnetic closure and it does not come with a mirror. The eye shadows – each weighing 0.85 g (0.03 oz) – are set against a purple background with white pony motifs. The names of the shades are printed on the back of the box and palette, which posed some inconvenience for me as I was constructing my review. Maybe someone can enlighten me, but what’s so difficult about having the names printed below the shades? There is sufficient space for that, am I right?

SWATCHES & REVIEW

ColourPop × My Little Pony Pressed Powder Shadow Palette - all shades and their names, for your convenience

ColourPop × My Little Pony Pressed Powder Shadow Palette – all shades and their names, for your convenience

ColourPop × My Little Pony Pressed Powder Shadow Palette - swatches of all the shades applied with finger (2-3 swipes)

ColourPop × My Little Pony Pressed Powder Shadow Palette – swatches of all the shades applied with finger (2-3 swipes)

On first impression, the mattes appeared to be underwhelming and require more swipes than the shimmery ones for a more uniform and pigmented application. For the undiscerning eye, there also seems to be a repetition of shades. For instance, Snuzzle, Firefly and Bluebell as well as Minty and Applejack are pretty similar with the same finish and thus won’t offer much colour contrast on the lid when put together.

Let’s now get down to the individual swatches and review! Being a proud owner of a plethora of eye shadow palettes, it wouldn’t be practical for me to compare the My Little Pony palette to every single similar shade I can think of (and not forgetting that it is also more time consuming than swatching lipsticks). Hence, to be more time-efficient, I am just going to compare this with the shades from two selected palettes in my stash which, in this case, would be the ColourPop Yes, Please! palette (for the warms) and LORAC Mega PRO 3 (for the cooler hues). Comparison swatches will be done using my finger only.

ColourPop × My Little Pony Pressed Powder Shadow Palette - swatches of first 6 shades applied with both finger and my Sigma E55 Eyeshadow Shading Brush

ColourPop × My Little Pony Pressed Powder Shadow Palette – swatches of first 6 shades applied with both finger and my Sigma E55 Eyeshadow Shading Brush

Butterscotch is described as a white with subtle pink violet opalescent sheen. It is a matte pale lilac with barely noticeable fine shimmers, so much so that you would need to scrutinise the product to realise they are there. The eye shadow is pigmented and mostly opaque with a chalky but smooth texture. Blendable, it is has no fallout during application and adheres well to bare skin.

Blossom is described as a metallic peach with pink and gold duochrome finish. It is a mid-tone rosy nude with warm undertones and gold microshimmers which are distributed fairly evenly when applied. Although I did not have to go heavy-handed with it to achieve reasonable opacity, it does provide fuller coverage with added pressure to my lid. The texture of the eye shadow is also slightly dry and on the stiffer side so it can be rather challenging to diffuse the edges.

Starshine is described as a metallic golden tangerine. Totally living up to its name, it is a gorgeous warm yellow with strong metallic gold sheen. It has an insanely opaque colour payoff in a single layer although some fallout can occur during application. It goes on smooth and even with a dense consistency which requires a bit of effort to blend out the edges – but it is all worth it. When worn in the middle of the lid, it helps to make the eyes appear bigger and brighter. This shade is pretty long-wearing as it lasted five hours (the duration I spent outdoors) on my oily lids.

Swatch comparison for the warms against the ColourPop Yes, Please! Pressed Powder Eyeshadow Palette

Swatch comparison for the warms against the ColourPop Yes, Please! Pressed Powder Eyeshadow Palette

Bluebell is described as a satin golden ivory. It is a cool-toned white with pearly sheen from the microshimmers distributed equally across the product. It applies smoothly on the lid while offering sheer to medium coverage. The texture, however, becomes chalkier with every additional layer. Even though it is somewhat easy to diffuse the edges, it loses its intensity as soon as it is blended out. This shade can alternatively be used as a highlight for the brow bone too because of its muted colour payoff.

Applejack is described as a matte dusty red violet. It is a mid-tone plum with pink undertones. This shade has a smooth, almost mousse-like (hence does not cause much kickback in the pan nor fallout during application) and blendable texture but tends to sheer out when applied to bare skin. It has to be used with a soft-bristled brush or the consistency would become uneven and lightly dusty.

Skydancer is described as a metallic bright icy lavender. It is a muted violet with loose purple shimmers. That said, this shade requires a dense brush to apply it with because the texture is stiff from being packed too tightly in the pan (to the extent that the surface of the eye shadow actually smooths out after use instead of leaving a slight dip). I had to dig my brush into the pan to pick up enough product and even so, I would need to exert a lot of pressure on my lid to get a decent colour payoff. Furthermore, it loses its, dare I say, non-existent intensity when blended out. This payoff is honestly so bad, it kinda renders this shade unusable.

ColourPop × My Little Pony Pressed Powder Shadow Palette - swatches of last 6 shades applied with both finger and my Sigma E55 Eyeshadow Shading Brush

ColourPop × My Little Pony Pressed Powder Shadow Palette – swatches of last 6 shades applied with both finger and my Sigma E55 Eyeshadow Shading Brush

Minty is accurately described as a matte cool-toned fuchsia except for the fact that it has inconsiderable amount of shimmer to it (or perhaps, my eyes were playing tricks on me 🤔). The payoff is quite similar to that of Butterscotch but this applies softer with a velvety consistency. It adheres well to the skin but has to be piled on to get an opaque coverage. Furthermore, the edges are fairly easy to diffuse without affecting the intensity of the eye shadow.

Flutterbye is described as a matte true pastel peach. It is a matte coral with warm undertones and has a really soft and silky texture as well as a thicker consistency than the rest of the eye shadows in this palette. This shade gives an opaque colour payoff in a single layer and blends perfectly well on the lid while still retaining its pigmentation. It is also extremely long-wearing even without primer.

Twilight is described as a satin deep blackened violet with blue and purple fine shimmers. Undoubtedly, this is the darkest shade in this palette but it isn’t as pigmented as it seems – it takes about five layers for it to achieve a reasonably opaque coverage. Apart from the fact that it applies rather unevenly and patchy, it also does not blend very well on the lid. It has a looser texture too so some kickback in the pan and fallout may be experienced during application.

Swatch comparison for the warms against Lorac Mega PRO 3 Palette

Swatch comparison for the warms against Lorac Mega PRO 3 Palette

Firefly is described as a metallic silvery baby blue. It is a cool-toned grey with a metallic sheen from its finely milled and evenly spread shimmers. It has blue undertones which become more apparent as more product is piled on. Soft and buttery in texture, this shade has an excellent pigmentation in a single layer and is easy to use and blend out.

Snuzzle is described as a metallic icy white with opalescent blue duochrome. An absolute beauty that changes colour when seen from different angles, it looks like a plain shimmery white eye shadow in the pan but when applied on the skin, the iridescent blue sheen becomes very noticeable. This fairly blendable shade applies smooth and silky with a mostly opaque colour payoff but has a chalky consistency.

Princess Sparkle is described as a metallic rich smokey turquoise. Although it goes on slightly sheer on the first swipe, it is buildable to a fully opaque coverage with just an additional two or three layers. This shade has very good pigmentation and adheres to the skin very well. On top of that, the formula has an incredibly smooth and silky texture even when applied with a light hand and it also does not budge when I tried to blend out the edges.

Swatch comparison for the cools against Lorac Mega PRO 3 Palette

Swatch comparison for the cools against Lorac Mega PRO 3 Palette

APPLICATION & LOOKS

I’m no beauty guru especially when it comes to eye shadows, so here’s my humble take on the looks you can achieve with the My Little Pony palette. Also, how would this US$16 eye shadow palette fare on my primed lids? Let’s find out!

Apply Butterscotch as the base colour

Apply Butterscotch as the base colour

Butterscotch (using Sigma E60 Large Shader Brush from the Mrs Bunny kit)

Butterscotch (using Sigma E60 Large Shader Brush from the Mrs Bunny kit)

Butterscotch

Butterscotch

Starshine and Blossom for a pop of colour

Starshine and Blossom for a pop of colour

Cut crease with Princess Sparkle (using Sigma E47 Shader Crease Brush), followed by Skydancer on the outer corners for a more seamless transition from the blue to the pink

Cut crease with Princess Sparkle (using Sigma E47 Shader Crease Brush), followed by Skydancer on the outer corners for a more seamless transition from the blue to the pink

More Starshine (using Sephora Multitasker Shadow Brush #63) along the lower lash because, why not?

More Starshine (using Sephora Multitasker Shadow Brush #63) along the lower lash because, why not?

Add a shimmery highlight (Butterscotch) to the inner corners of your eyes for a brighter look

Add a shimmery highlight (Butterscotch) to the inner corners of your eyes for a brighter look

Peek-a-boo!

Peek-a-boo!

Final look (without eyeliner)

Final look (without eyeliner)

The meh choice of shades aside (I actually prefer the shades on the PUR Cosmetics palette), I must say that you are getting a huge bang for your buck out of this palette. For the price of US$16, I certainly did not expect the eye shadows to be this pigmented and blendable. They are pressed rather perfectly which is probably one of the reasons for the minimal to no kickback in the pans after usage. And yet, you could still get decent colour payoff out of most of them.

Needless to say, I am impressed with the quality and won’t mind dedicating space for more eye shadow palettes by ColourPop 😁  In fact, I just placed an order for 4 of their newest palettes 😆 #sorrynotsorry

Paired with my M·A·C lipstick in Gabriel Zamora

Paired with my M·A·C lipstick in Gabriel Zamora

What are your thoughts about the palette? Let me know what you think in the comments below or take a quick poll!

Do stay tuned for the second part of my ColourPop × My Little Pony collection review where I will talk about two of the highlighters and Ultra Matte Lips.

Thanks for reading!

The ColourPop × My Little Pony collection is now available on ColourPop.com. Get the featured Sigma eye shadow brushes at 10% off here with code “FIONASEAH” upon checkout.

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REVIEW: Urban Decay Naked Skin Glow Cushion Compact Foundation

/ Fiona Seah / 1 Comment

Hello everyone!

In case you haven’t heard, Urban Decay recently expanded their Naked Skin line and dropped a cushion compact in Singapore. I know what you’re thinking. Urban Decay may be (very) late to the cushion compact trend but hey, at least they are making an effort to meet the needs of their Asian consumers!

According to their website, the Naked Skin Glow Cushion Compact Foundations come in 6 shades of their revolutionary formula which provides weightless, buildable coverage with a luminous finish. It keeps the skin hydrated for up to 18 hours and protects with SPF 50+ and PA+++.

At present, this product is only available in Singapore (Whoop! We have been noticed once again! 🙌) and is sold in two parts – case and refill.

Product display at Sephora

Product display at Sephora

All 6 shades swatched (using fingers). The shades 2.5, 3.25 and 3.5 of Naked Skin Glow Cushion correspond with those of Weightless Ultra Definition Liquid Makeup

All 6 shades swatched (using fingers). The shades 2.5, 3.25 and 3.5 of Naked Skin Glow Cushion correspond with those of Weightless Ultra Definition Liquid Makeup

Case (S$19) and refill (S$40) sold separately. For first-timers, you need to get both to complete the set

Case (S$19) and refill (S$40) sold separately. For first-timers, you need to get both to complete the set

Description of each item at the back of the box

Description of each item at the back of the box

Each refill has a shelf life of 12 months but if used religiously everyday, it will definitely run out way before its expiration date.

I. Case

Urban Decay Naked Skin Glow Cushion Compact Case (S$19)

Urban Decay Naked Skin Glow Cushion Compact Case (S$19)

Urban Decay Naked Skin Glow Cushion Compact Case

Urban Decay Naked Skin Glow Cushion Compact Case

The case comes with a mirror and has a hollow at the base for the refill to be slotted into

The case comes with a mirror and has a hollow at the base for the refill to be slotted into

The case has a lid with a holographic lavender appearance and a built-in mirror for touch-ups on the go. The lid opens with a push of the button located along the curved surface of the case.

II. Refill

Urban Decay Naked Skin Glow Cushion Compact Refill (S$40)

Urban Decay Naked Skin Glow Cushion Compact Refill (S$40)

Shade number printed on the box

Shade number printed on the box

Clear instructions how to refill the product

Clear instructions how to refill the product

The refill is stored in sealed plastic packaging to keep it sanitary.

The refill is stored in sealed plastic packaging to keep it sanitary.

The refill

The refill

Sold separately from the case, each refill includes an applicator puff which is entirely in royal purple to align with the corporate colour scheme of Urban Decay. The ribbon is made of thick and sturdy material which gives the impression that it won’t be easily disengaged from the puff.

For the uninitiated, most cushion compact puffs on the Korean beauty market are anti-bacterial and anti-microbial which lower the risk of transferring bacteria from the face to the compact. These Urban Decay applicator puffs, however, are not antibacterial so it is recommended to be washed at least once a week like your beauty blender.

Urban Decay Naked Skin Glow Cushion Compact Refill

Urban Decay Naked Skin Glow Cushion Compact Refill

Within the receptacle lies the foundation-soaked sponge overlaid with a foam-like mesh which, upon further scrutiny, resembles multiple layers of cheesecloth piled onto one another. It has a comparable surface area to that of my Laneige BB cushion, perhaps slightly bigger. As opposed to using just hole sponges (which is very common in Korean cushion compacts), the added netting allows for better measure of control. The downside of it, however, is that it restricts you from flipping the cushion to extend the usage. Do also note that there isn’t any protective seal affixed to the netting (another common feature in Korean cushion compacts) but that should be least of your concerns since the refills all come packed in plastic pouches.

If you’re always on the hunt for better deals on Carousell or eBay, here’s a tip: you will be able to tell at a glance if the Urban Decay Naked Skin Glow Cushion Compact has been used before since the clear mesh instantly gets stained with the product once pressure is applied upon it. Determining “newness” would be near-impossible for cushion compacts that utilise only hole sponge as they are usually of the same colour as the product 😉

Urban Decay Naked Skin Glow Cushion Compact Refill

Urban Decay Naked Skin Glow Cushion Compact Refill

Urban Decay Naked Skin Glow Cushion Compact Refill

Urban Decay Naked Skin Glow Cushion Compact Refill

Ingredients-wise, the Naked Skin Glow Cushion Compact Foundation contains skin-nourishing ingredients such as rose centifolia flower extract, which has toning and firming properties, as well as Gentian root extract for its skin-soothing and antioxidant benefits. There is also peppermint extract to help condition the skin.

Most importantly, the product is made in Japan, where quality is never compromised.

Technically speaking, the case may not seem like an absolute necessity if you’re one of those who constantly look for ways to cut back on makeup spending. But for hygiene’s sake, it is always advisable to house the product in an airtight case to reduce the chances of turning it into a breeding ground for microbes. Further, it also prevents your formula from drying out and helps to keep your applicator puff in place.

After all, unless you damage the case (which is quite unlikely given the quality of it), it should be a one-off purchase so you won’t need to replace the entire thing when your product runs out, even if you have gotten a shade tanner or fairer.

III. Application

Urban Decay Naked Skin Glow Cushion Compact Foundation

Urban Decay Naked Skin Glow Cushion Compact Foundation

Urban Decay Naked Skin Glow Cushion Compact Foundation

Urban Decay Naked Skin Glow Cushion Compact Foundation

To use the cushion compact, slip your index, middle and ring fingers under the ribbon of the applicator puff (not demonstrated in the picture above) before gently pressing one small part of it down into the cushion to pick up the foundation. Swipe the puff across the skin to spread the product and dab to blend. For hard-to-reach areas like inner eye corners and around the nose, fold the puff in half (or simply use the corners) and carefully dab the foundation on. Thereafter, apply concealer and loose powder (for a more matte finish).

Notice how the excess gets sucked back in?

Notice how the excess gets sucked back in?

Be warned, though, that the netting will sink in over time so do refrain from applying too much unnecessary pressure to it

Be warned, though, that the netting will sink in over time so do refrain from applying too much unnecessary pressure to it

Using the puff would lend a more airbrush-like coverage as compared to using fingers

Using the puff would lend a more airbrush-like coverage as compared to using fingers

As always, testers are available at Sephora (and Urban Decay) for consumers to match the right tone before purchasing. I contemplated between shades 2.75 and 3.25 – neither of which was a perfect match to my skin tone (I swatched all of the shades onto my jawline and realised that 3.5 was too dark even though it looked like it disappeared into my wrist in the swatch earlier) – but finally decided on the lighter one considering that the finished look would turn out darker after all the contouring.

First swipe (without blending)

First swipe (without blending)

Side-by-side comparison: with and without foundation

Side-by-side comparison: with and without foundation

Before and after application on the same area

Before and after application on the same area

ABSOLUTELY NO FILTER: Before and after application on the face without any eye makeup (lol my face looks like it has gained some pounds after)

ABSOLUTELY NO FILTER: Before and after application on the face without any eye makeup (lol my face looks like it has gained some pounds after)

Hydrating and lightweight, the Urban Decay Naked Skin Glow Cushion Compact Foundation has an airier and a less creamy texture than the typical liquid foundation (and less watery than the Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Ultra Definition Liquid Makeup) which prevents it from creasing on the delicate skin around the eyes. Comparable to tinted moisturisers, it is buildable to a certain point from a sheer to medium coverage to give a very natural application and a dewy veil. It took an average of two swipes at each area to achieve the “after” fresh and supple look above.

While it does not conceal major blemishes entirely, it is able to neutralise and cover most of the redness and large pores on my skin for a more even and – dare I say – flawless finish. Unlike many Korean cushion foundations I’ve tried (in particular by Etude House and Laneige), this doesn’t leave a cakey or tacky (especially tacky) texture and I could actually skip the setting powder altogether (but I did not due to my oily skin type). On top of that, it is fragrance-free (no harsh chemical smell emitting from the product either) which makes it suitable for sensitive skin.

NO FILTER AGAIN: Finished look - applied concealer, blush, bronzer, lipstick and some eye makeup. I don't look as pale as before, eh?

NO FILTER AGAIN: Finished look – applied concealer, blush, bronzer, lipstick and some eye makeup. I don’t look as pale as before, eh?

Of course, this review wouldn’t be complete without a longevity test. Can it withstand the humid weather in Singapore?

After 6 hours of wear. Yup, same ol' glasses problem..

After 6 hours of wear. Yup, same ol’ glasses problem..

After 6 hours of wear (close-up)

After 6 hours of wear (close-up)

Six hours later, I didn’t really notice much of a change in the appearance apart from the fact that my skin looked undoubtedly oilier (which can temporarily be rid of with the Palladio Rice Paper I carry along with me wherever I go but for the purpose of this review, I did not blot my skin throughout the day ☺). Upon closer look, however, the foundation did seem to have disintegrated a bit and some of my pores looked clogged and this would have been amplified if I had not stayed indoors (air-conditioned) most of the time (it was too hot and humid out there). That said, no foundation has remained spotless on my skin for more than an hour so far 😢 #oilyskinwoes

All in all, the application and quality certainly did not disappoint. Moreover, it is convenient and travel-friendly as you don’t have to make space in your luggage for your foundation, moisturiser and whatnot. This does most, if not all, of the job!

But.. is it a worthy buy? Here’s the thing, cushion compacts use up extremely quickly and this will be no exception. No doubt, this a great product. But paying S$59 for something that can probably last for only 4 months, tops, is a bit of a stretch. The same amount of money can fetch you a fairly decent bottle of liquid foundation that can take up to a year to empty, or two cushion compacts from a Korean beauty brand. With the abundant supply of cushion compacts in the Korean beauty market (practically every Korean brand carries their own cushion compact line), you are bound to find something similar to this (and likely with more benefits) at a more economical price.

Having said that, since this is an Urban Decay product we’re talking about, setting a low price-point for it would be out of the question. Perhaps, they can do more to set themselves apart from the Korean brands and offer what they don’t, which is to cater to deeper skin tones and expand their shade range, to make this line seem more worthy of the price tag. Contrary to public perceptions, a sizeable portion of the population in Singapore is dark-skinned so I can’t fathom why this wasn’t done at the get-go 🤔

What are your thoughts about this new product? Let me know your views in the comments below or take a quick poll!

Thanks for reading!

Urban Decay Naked Skin Glow Cushion Compact Foundation is now available at all local Urban Decay and Sephora outlets. It is a Singapore-exclusive product (for now) but may be slated for release in the U.S. in 2018.

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REVIEW: shu uemura Rouge Unlimited Lipsticks – Yellow, CR330, RD160, BG965 & WN288

/ Fiona Seah / Leave a comment

Fans of shu uemura should be no stranger to their Rouge Unlimited range which is known to carry some of their signature lipsticks.

Well, guess what? They have blessed us with 33 more new shades (38 outside Singapore) in various textures, including 4 mixer shades (Purple, Glitter, Yellow and Pearl), for you to experiment with. On top of that, the range also boasts a new formula that offers an intense, true colour with versatile coverage in ultra-light texture.

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipsticks

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipsticks

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipsticks - 5 of the 38 shades

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipsticks – 5 of the 38 shades

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipsticks - 5 of the 38 shades - swatches

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipsticks – 5 of the 38 shades – swatches

The lipsticks are encapsulated in (very reflective) silver retractable tubes with thick transparent dome-shaped caps which, according to the designer Kumiko Inui, have been “simplified” and “sharpened” to help enhance the shade visibility (honestly, that’s a fantabulous idea right there as it potentially saves me the trouble of having to remove the cap of every lipstick before finally getting to the shade I want). The crystal-like bottom is also designed as such to enrich a sense of luxury. Sleek and elegant, the packaging basically screams “high-end”.

All 38 new shu uemura Rouge Unlimited shades

WINE · WN225 · WN237 (NA) · WN248 · WN256 · WN288 · WN299
RED · RD154 · RD160 · RD164 · RD166 · RD170
PINK · PK325 (NA) · PK340 · PK355 · PK359 · PK363 · PK365 · PK368 · PK369
ORANGE · OR520 (NA) · OR540 · OR551 · OR560 · OR564
CORAL · CR321 · CR324 · CR330 · CR332
BEIGE · BG900 (NA) · BG923 (NA) · BG928 · BG931 · BG935 · BG965
MIXER · Purple · Yellow · Glitter · Pearl

NA – Not Available in Singapore

You can pretty much tell from the list above that shu uemura stands for no nonsense when it comes to naming their lipsticks. They don’t give their lipsticks gimmicky names (probably save for a selected few, but they’re not really marketed so you won’t know until you look them up online) like most beauty brands out there to attract consumers. This gives me the impression that shu uemura means business with their quality. Aesthetics seem to take a back seat to functionality, which is not really a commonplace in today’s competitive business environment.

Let’s now find out how the five shades apply!

#1 Yellow

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in Yellow (S$38)

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in Yellow (S$38)

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in Yellow

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in Yellow

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in Yellow

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in Yellow

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in Yellow

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in Yellow

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in Yellow

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in Yellow

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in Yellow

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in Yellow

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in Yellow

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in Yellow

Yellow is a vibrant warm-toned yellow with a glossy finish. As a mixer shade, its purpose is to warm up and brighten tones to create tomato reds, tangerines and corals. Therefore, it needs to be used alongside another Rouge Unlimited lipstick to realise its full potential.

When worn on its own, it appears very oily and tacky with an apparent streaky texture on the lips which requires a few coats of it to be reasonably opaque. Yellow works better on a smooth canvas. Hence, the lips need to be exfoliated before application or the product would cling onto the dry areas. Apart from that, the colour seems to only show when the lipstick is applied directly onto the lips. There was hardly any pigment transferred to my lips when I used a lip brush to create my ombré lip looks, even with multiple passes. That said, this lipstick feels lightweight and hydrating and is extremely easy to remove.

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in Yellow - swatch comparison: Yellow is quite comparable to M·A·C's Gold XIXI, but has less shimmers

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in Yellow – swatch comparison: Yellow is quite comparable to M·A·C’s Gold XIXI, but has less shimmers

#2 CR330

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in CR330 (S$38)

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in CR330 (S$38)

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in CR330

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in CR330

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in CR330

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in CR330

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in CR330

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in CR330

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in CR330

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in CR330

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in CR330

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in CR330

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in CR330

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in CR330

CR330 (or Coral Minim) is described as a medium grapefruit pink with a glossy finish. A pink-toned coral that is not too subtle nor garish, it complements pretty well with cool skin tone like mine and exudes a girly demeanour.

It applies smoothly and hydrating with no tug and brightens up the complexion of the wearer with its lustrous shine. Marked by a thin, jelly-like consistency, this shade runs slightly streaky and sheer if applied with only one or two coats but the colour intensity and opacity build up with increasing layers. The product, however, settles into lip lines.

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in CR330 - swatch comparison

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in CR330 – swatch comparison

#3 RD160

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in RD160 (S$38)

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in RD160 (S$38)

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in RD160

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in RD160

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in RD160

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in RD160

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in RD160

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in RD160

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in RD160

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in RD160

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in RD160

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in RD160

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in RD160

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in RD160

RD160 (Shu Shu Baby) is described as a medium true classic red with warm undertone. When applied, it appears to be a medium-dark red with slight orange undertones and a glossy finish. Lightweight and hydrating, it combines the eye-catching shine and wet look of a gloss, with the comfort and high-impact pigmentation of a lipstick.

Buttery soft and creamy in texture, it glides on like a dream with full, even coverage. One swipe is all it takes to instantly transform a girl next door to a glamourous bombshell. Suitable for fair skin tones, this lipstick adds a pop of colour to the lips and is source to a nice little confidence booster. It does not leave a tacky sensation (just the usual mild greasiness from the cushion oil) nor does it emphasise dryness or lip lines. Most of all, it is fairly long-wearing, leaving a stain after about five hours of wear.

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in RD160 - swatch comparison

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in RD160 – swatch comparison

#4 BG965 

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in BG965 (S$38)

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in BG965 (S$38)

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in BG965

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in BG965

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in BG965

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in BG965

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in BG965

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in BG965

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in BG965

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in BG965

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in BG965

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in BG965

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in BG965

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in BG965

BG965 is described as a muted rose but I would consider it to be more of a raspberry mauve, a shade which is absolutely flattering on medium skin tone. Creamy and smooth as butter, the application gives a uniform consistency and a more satin finish with a hint of shimmer. It applies with some tug (since the bullet itself has a slightly drier texture) and does not emphasise dryness or lip lines. This also has great spreadability, that is, the product distributes evenly with just a little purse of the lips.

It lends an emollient and moisturising effect as it wraps the lips with a comfortable and balmy veil of colour that feels like second skin. It has a buildable colour intensity which enables the shade becomes more pigmented and opaque with more coats. But in all honesty, the colour is perfectly gorgeous on its own so you don’t really need to go too heavy on it. Needless to say, this is easily my favourite in this review!

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in BG965 - swatch comparison: Maniac by Urban Decay is darker.

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in BG965 – swatch comparison: Maniac by Urban Decay is darker.

#5 WN288

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in WN288 (S$38)

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in WN288 (S$38)

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in WN288

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in WN288

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in WN288

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in WN288

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in WN288

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in WN288

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in WN288

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in WN288

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in WN288

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in WN288

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in WN288

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in WN288

Inject some sultriness into your autumn look with WN288 (Ride’n Berry)! The darkest shade in this review, it applies as a warm burgundy with a luscious sheen. It is such a pretty colour that I cannot imagine it not working on any skin tone. You can literally ditch the smokey eye and still look high-fashion whilst wearing this lipstick alone.

Apart from a thicker and drier consistency, this also has more of a matte texture to it than the rest. Due to this reason, it causes some tug during application (but no drag). Although buildable to a more opaque and deeper hue, certain areas tend to become patchier than the other as more coats are added. That said, it feels equally hydrating and lightweight on the whole. It also lasts longer and melts into the lips to a just-bitten stain after a few hours of wear.

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in WN288 - swatch comparison: Diva Antic by M·A·C is darker and more matte.

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick in WN288 – swatch comparison: Diva Antic by M·A·C is darker and more matte.

In addition, I had fun mixing the aforementioned shades on my lips to create some simple ombré lip looks without the use of any lip brush (although using the shu uemura 6M or 6F lip brush is highly recommended by their makeup artist for a more seamless result). I blended the colours just by pursing my lips and this goes to show how blendable the texture of the lipsticks is and how fuss-free the application can be.

Read on to see how my attempts turned out!

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick mix (Yellow + RD160)

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick mix (Yellow + RD160)

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick mix (BG965 + WN288)

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick mix (BG965 + WN288)

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick mix (Yellow + CR330)

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited lipstick mix (Yellow + CR330)

All in all, based on these few shades, I think it is quite safe to say that the shu uemura Rouge Unlimited (Central) lipstick series is a worthy investment despite the heftier price tag (M·A·C lipsticks typically never go beyond US$25) which mostly accounts for the R&D that went into the making of these lipsticks (and you know, the Japanese don’t fool around when it comes to their desire for perfection).

Although, admittedly, not every shade gives an “ultra-smooth” application, all of them fulfill the promise of delivering a non-sticky, hydrating and highly-blendable texture as well as a buildable colour. In fact, the finish kinda reminds me of M·A·C Huggable formula. And for the record, these lipsticks don’t carry a strong scent, though I can’t quite put my finger on the smell (it’s not something I had come across before) but it’s definitely pleasant and sweet-smelling. Now, they have got me really curious about their Supreme Mattes too, which already sound like a finish that’s right up my alley 😆 Should I?!?

What are your thoughts about the new shu uemura Rouge Unlimited shades? Let me know your views in the comments below or take a quick poll!

Thanks for reading!

shu uemura Rouge Unlimited is now available at all shu uemura outlets and on TANGS.com for S$38. It is also available on Shu Uemura USA for US$30.
Products featured in this review were editorially selected. All opinions, as always, are genuine and uninfluenced.

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