Trying Out a New Brand // Shu Uemura

Trying out a new brand for the first time is such an exciting moment, especially for someone who spends so much time in the beauty world. Previous to these products I had tried the Shu Uemura Skin Purifying Cleansing Oil (pink bottle) and enjoyed the small sample bottle, but apart from that I had only gazed in awe at the luxurious lashes at the David Jones counter on Bourke St Melbourne, and not actually tried my hand at any of the colour products available. I know of so many bloggers who are big Shu fans, and I was elated when a package full of this makeup (and a cleansing oil) landed on my desk.

I used all of the makeup in a single look in order to showcase them all, and it just so happened that all of the shades worked well together. The Glow On blush refill in Soft Orange (M 542) is quite a pastel shade, and when compared to something like Cream Soda from MAC is really is orange. Though I applied the cheek shade heavily in order to take these photos, I think a lighter flush would work well on my pale skin tone and be a nice change to my usually orange (which tends to be Stila Gerbera more often than not!) I still prefer some of the other blush shades from the brand though, so though I like the formula this colour isn't 100% in my book.

The Drawing Pencil in Pearly Gold was surprisingly my favourite product from this package, and I love the way that the pale gold looks as an inner corner highlight. I have used this pencil quite a lot for that task, and though it isn’t a shade I would normally pick out I think it has made me rethink my choices when I head to a makeup counter. Often I reach for the typical ‘exciting’ products (blush, anyone?) but pencils like this can slot so well into an everyday routine to perk it up a bit!

 

Working with the warm toned theme, Shu Uemura kindly sent me a Rouge Unlimited lipstick in Bright Orange, and I think the sleek modern packaging really stands out amongst my black MAC and gold YSL lipstick tubes. I love the way this glides on without accentuating any dryness on my lips, and I think I really needed a shade like this to stand as a true orange in my collection, as opposed to the bountiful coral oranges I tend to collect like Pokemon! I also love the way this photographs, though I think a bit of mascara would have balanced it out a little bit. I was trying to branch out and see how I fared without a bit of definition on the lashes, but I am definitely in camp three-coats-at-least on this one.

So now it is your turn- when was the last time you tried a new brand out for yourself?

 

*Products were provided for consideration. Opinions are my own. Honesty, always.

Palette Power

A mix of a few shades of eyeshadow can do wonders, and the ease of palettes is a definite drawcard for me. This is perhaps why my drawers are overflowing with sets of shadows from all different colour families, and why I tend to use shadows in palette form more than free standing shades. I grabbed a few of my favourite palettes to perve on, and thought I would share them with you and see what your favourite palette was!

 

Naturally I had to sneak the Urban Decay Naked palette into a post like this, the wearable shades and top notch quality are much lauded and it remains my #1 palette above the rest. Particular shade favourites are Sin, Darkhorse, Toasted + Virgin to create an amazing neutral eye look.  The Laura Mercier Signature Colour Essentials palette combine 4 of their top shades with a blush, and I love that in theory you could bring this with a base and mascara and be able to create a whole look in one shot.

 

 

Clarins remains one of my favourite makeup brands, as I am constantly impressed with both their packaging and product design in general. The Odyssey palette is my favourite from the two pictured here, though I do have a deep love for the purple within the Enchanted* palette. The Odyssey palette is quite sheer in nature (bar the gold leaf shade) and I find it easy to throw on and not have to think too much about. The Enchanted palette is really only reached for because of the purple shade, which I wear on my lower lash line all the time and absolutely adore.

 

My custom Inglot palette is filled with a mixture of matte and shimmery shades, and though that second to last pan seems quite orange it actually applies as a deep champagne shade on the lids and when swatched. I will admit that I don’t reach for this as often as I would if it were packaged in the old style, when the lid flipped out with a mirror and the pans were round. Though I like the look of the frosted glass top of these, my heart is just loyal to the old school ways!
 
I think I need to watch some Michelle Phan videos to work out how best to use the Lancome Midnight Rose palette*, as I haven’t used it too much and would love to work out how to make the most of all of the unique shades. The same goes for the Illamasqua Complement palette which I bought upon its release, but haven’t been able to create anything other than the look that the Illamasqua make-up artist talked me through. I love the purple shades from this palette and use them as stand-alone shades quite a bit, but getting all 4 to work harmoniously is a new way is next on my to-do list!

Which of these palettes would you snap up first? I’d love to know whether or not you are a fellow palette lover like myself! If you would like to see any of these in a makeup look be sure to let me know in the comments and I will happily oblige!

 

 

 

*Provided for consideration. Honesty, always.

Clarins Odyssey Eye Quartet Mineral Palette

 

I am a major fan of Clarins collections, and as soon as the Odyssey collection hit counters I snatched up the Eyeshadow Palette with gusto. The neutral shades are something I know I will wear, and the gold leaf style shade within it was perfect for the festive season, and terribly pretty on the eye. I love the solid compact that the Clarins palettes are housed in, and the pattern atop the lid is just the icing on a very pretty cake.

 

 

The shadows are mineral based and smooth to apply, though the gold shade is very unique to my collection. It feels as though it lies between a cream and pressed gold leaf style of shadow, but I experience minimal fallout each time I use it on the eye. The other three shades are on the sheer side, which makes this palette a wearable choice for those in corporate workplaces or who prefer a light eye look. I tend to go for intense and pigmented shadows, but these still satisfy my shadow needs and I use them quite frequently.

 

 

 

The sponge tip applicators are something I don’t use, but for the eye look below I did use them to pack on the golden shade to the inner portion of my lid. I have only worn the gold packed on, but have seen other reviews of this palette where the gold has been blended out to produce a metallic golden sheen to the eye, which is something I’m interested in trying.

 

 

photo taken in direct sunlight

 

photo taken in direct sunlight

 

I decided to try out the suggested eye look that accompanies this palette, to show you how it would look. Since then, I’ve tried out more neutral looks forgoing the gold shade, but this is definitely the most striking for photographs.

 

The Clarins Odyssey Eye Quartet retails around the $50 AUD mark and though I haven’t seen it at the smaller Clarins counters, it is still out at the Melbourne Myer on Bourke Street.

What do you think of the Clarins Odyssey Eyeshadow palette? Do you gravitate towards neutral palettes like this?

 

 

*I personally purchased this palette. Honesty, always.