Are you the kind of girl who doesn't have fifteen minutes to spend in front of the mirror every morning? Do you love super natural but still polished looks? If yes, then I think you'll love the Shu Uemura Eye Crayon in Misty Brown and Soft Brown (P1,375). It's a neat product that can work as an eyeliner or a cream eyeshadow, and you don't even need any brushes to make it work!

This is a good choice for girls who have no choice but to apply makeup in the car or (god forbid) the company/ school bathroom. :P It's super easy and convenient to use due to its creamy texture. However, it's not so creamy that it slides off and smudges messily. It pretty much stays put once you draw it on, with minimal smearing.

I really love the color combination, too! Misty Brown is a taupey brown that looks nice as a lid color or as a lower lid shader.

I read Jill's post on blogging burnout this morning. It's a topic close to my heart because I have experienced that many, many times in the past - you know, that feeling of weariness and futility of what I do. But each time I snap out of it. I truly love makeup and colors and how it can transform a person. There is always something new to discover, as well, and that keeps me going.

Recently, Shu Uemura gave me some of their latest products to try. I am so freakin' excited, I swear! The brand just recently released their spring collection called Celestial Garden, and I am loving the fresh themed look and relatively innovative products.

First off, they have a new blush called the Creamy Dome Blusher. It reminds me a lot of the popular EOS Lip Balm! If you think about it, the idea is so simple but elegant. Perhaps other brands have come up with a cream dome blush but this is the first time I've seen one locally.

The first thing you'll notice about the Shu Uemura Cleansing Oils is the price tag. They're quite expensive, there's no way to get around it! I used to think that there are equally good alternatives and for a while I've even used some like the ones from Muji and Pure Beauty, which are less than P500 for a big 200ml bottle.

However, when I got sample bottles of the Shu oil, I found out why it was so expensive. It is the best makeup remover + skincare product I've ever tried! And you know I've tried quite a number of them. Thus, I committed to a 450ml bottle of the Shu Uemura High Performance Balancing Cleansing Oil (P4,000).

What I love about it:

• Removes all makeup (except long-wearing, waterproof mascara) in a jiffy. I use less than one pump for my whole face and just massage gently to dissolve the makeup. It gets rid of waterproof eyeliner and liquid foundation, primers, lipstick, and powder makeup. They all wash off.

• It's skincare. Ever since I started using it, my skin looked better.

The great thing about makeup is that there is no one way to do it right. Each makeup artist has her own set of techniques and picks up new ones along the way from different sources. Brands, too. You'll notice that each beauty brand has its own story - mission and vision, if you will - and this is reflected in every product they release and makeup looks they create.

Shu Uemura is famous for its clean, colorful, and whimsical makeup that can go dramatic if the occasion calls for it. The colors are applied on a fresh, dewy face, and while the intensity of the shades vary they never smother the wearer's natural beauty. Shu Uemura is definitely one of the few names who are consistent with their "brand look"!

Amazing right? If you want to learn Shu Uemura's techniques, they're now offering a certificate makeup class at their Rockwell studio. The 9-hour course is divided into 3-hour classes, to be held within a week. Each class will only have six students to guarantee hands-on teaching. Best yet, the whole thing is only P5,000 at Dealgrocer.com (discounted from P10,000)!

Shu Uemura's classy studio in their Rockwell branch

The humid weather in the Philippines is the perfect breeding ground for oily t-zones and blocked pores. The sweat and sebum we generate while wearing makeup is no joke, so we try to wash them off with soap or alcohol-based cleansers because we feel cleaner that way. But did you know that normal makeup removers can strip your face of moisture?

The truth is, soap-based makeup removers are quite drying while cream removers are too heavy ang may clog your pores more (because the skin tends to absorb it). That's why cleansing oils may be the best option for Pinay skin because they're gentle while removing makeup, oil, and dirt mercilessly. It may sound counterintuitive that you're trying to clean your skin using oil when you should be avoiding it, but believe me, it works better that way!

For that purpose, one of the best, if not The Best out there is the Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil. Google it, I'll wait.

Ok satisfied? :D Shu Uemura's CO is an old cult favorite for a reason. I've tried a few cleansing oils before - waaay cheaper ones - and found that they work really well for the price, but there are a few things that makes Shu Uemura worth the dough if you can spare it. Let me count the ways!

Patrick Alcober, Shu Uemura's top makeup artist, explains the magic of milk

• It emulsifies into a nice, milky texture that you can wash off easily with absolutely no residue on your skin. Cheaper cleansing oils may feel like they leave a film on your face, so you use another cleanser to wash it off. Not with Shu Uemura! Skin is left feeling clean, soft, and moisturized after you wash it off.
• It has skin benefits like anti-aging, brightening, moisturizing, purifying, etc. so it's more than just makeup remover - it's technically skincare.

Let me tell you the story of this pleated chiffon dress. I found it in a moldy thrift store somewhere in a dusty corner of Manila. I knew this dress was made for me so I wasted no time taking it home and cleaning it up. The first time I wore it, everyone gave me nice compliments! I was on a high. Then, that same day around a year ago, I got food poisoned while wearing it.

That's probably not a big deal to some, but I rarely ever get sick. That food poisoning incident was the only time I got seriously sick enough to go to a doctor last year. Now, I know it's irrational, but since then I just didn't want to wear this dress. It hung untouched in my closet - until last Friday, that is!

I'm over the stigma now and I'm happy it still fit.

Thrifted chiffon dress/ Topshop blouse/ Forever 21 belt/ Schu clogs/ Ferretti satchel/ Pinkbox accessories

Guess where I was!

The theme revolved around soft florals - green, yellow, pink, and cream were the predominant colors. I really enjoyed this look, if it were up to me I'd wear this head-to-foot every day.

Face: NARS Sheer Glow Foundation, MAC Studio Finish concealer, Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer Kit (for dark circles), Clinique translucent loose powder, Guerlain Meteorites

Cheeks: Estee Lauder Silky Powder Blush in Tender Petal (wearing this a lot lately, looks so natural and pretty on cheeks plus the lasting power is amazing!)

I'm finding it a teensy bit difficult to begin this post, which is why I've been putting it off. I want to be able to sound sophisticated and knowledgeable while writing this review but I can't seem to get it right! You see, all I really want to say is this: Shu Uemura makes some of the best, if not the best, eyeshadows out there. Get one if you can, I'm not kidding!

I own a Shu Uemura travel palette but I never really appreciated the brand's eyeshadows until I got to try their singles from the Color Atelier. The colors are absolutely amazing, and the texture, my gosh! So soft and buttery. You don't even need a primer to make them stay on and look intense. These eyeshadows have no cons for me, although I do know P695 for a refill pan is steep. Still, that's considerably cheaper than other similar high-end brands pricing their singles at P900 up.

Shu Uemura recently released a customizeable palette that you can fill up with eyeshadow singles and/or blushes. It sells separately for P1,095 and also comes in one and two-pan versions. It's a well-designed case but you may also opt for a magnetic palette from a different brand to hold more Shu eyeshadows. Because seriously, are you going to stop with just four? I'm not!

Here are the colors I chose for my customized palette. I wanted to get ones I don't have yet; the rainforest paradise vibe was an unconscious theme! Hehe.

ME Soft Blue 655

IR Soft Gold 370

Do you know want to know the best way to sell something? It's simple. Sell something that's worth buying, something that's good and works beyond expectations and pricing. That's the reason I made an unplanned purchase of the Shu Uemura Hard Formula Brow Pencil in 09 Walnut Brown (P1,400) that afternoon at Shu Uemura in Rockwell.

I'm already super happy with my In2It Waterproof Eyebrow Color which I have been using for, oh I don't know, three years now so I really wasn't looking for a new brow product at that time. But after Patrick Alcober, Shu Uemura's MUA, demonstrated how my brows look like with the Hard Formula on, I was wowed! My brows looked like they came from a Preview magazine shoot! Lol. How can I leave the store without it?

What I love about the product 

• I can never go wrong with this pencil because it delivers soft color that looks extremely natural, no matter how heavy my hand is. The shade, Walnut Brown, lightens my eyebrows a bit (great if I'm going for that look) and matches my hair.

Sometimes, all it takes to have and spread good vibes is to just look the part. I was all about good vibes last Friday when I went to a shoot for Ferretti. I knew it was going to be a fun day, a good one, so I made sure my whole outfit was in tune with it.

Topshop blouse/ Soiree jhodpurs/ Ferretti tan wedges/ Parfois gold leaf necklace and ring 

I really liked my outfit that day but, yes, I should really learn how to pose. Never mind! The color combination and silhouette was what mattered. For makeup, I wanted to road test my Color Atelier palette from Shu Uemura for the first time. I only had 10 minutes to do my face since the call time for the shoot was early, so I just lined my eyes with two shades for that nice cheery pop of color.

Face: NARS Sheer Glow Foundation, MAC Studio Finish concealer, Makeup Forever Full Cover Concealer (for those really pesky blemishes), Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer Kit (for dark circles), Clinique translucent loose powder, Guerlain Meteorites

Last Wednesday, Shu Uemura invited beauty bloggers to check out their latest product: a customizable palette! They also introduced new eyeshadow and Glow On blush colors, collectively called the Color Atelier. All these are designed to accommodate any look you can think of, since the palette can carry a combination of four eyeshadows or two eyeshados + one Glow On. It also comes in singles and doubles.

The palette itself is pretty neat since it's functional and no-fuss (no need for magnets or adhesives), but are you ready for the REALLY good news? The single eyeshadows are only P695! I know, still steep, but compared for other high-end brands here in the Philippines, that price is very, very affordable. They're the kind of things you'd love to collect since the colors and quality are just lovely.

Ok I am gushing too much. I can't help it. I have a couple of well-loved Shu Uemura items (a Glow On blush and a palette) so yes I'm very excited to add a few more. When I went to their Rockwell branch, I was like a kid in a candy store. I checked out all the makeup and agonized about the colors I want to put in my own palette!

There was no question: I wanted four eyeshadows.

I started this day by watching Hello, Dolly! with Barbara Streisand in the lead role. It's lovely! The elaborate gowns, hats, and of course the catchy songs made me fall in love with the film. I often wish I lived in an earlier era, where romance was less calculating and more passionate. As it is I can only settle for old films like this.

Anyway, I just wanted to share what I wore yesterday. I went to two events: Shu Uemura in the afternoon and Smart x HTC in the evening. I was ready to just plop in bed by the time I got home! It was fun though, I got to see some people I haven't seen in ages.

Topshop blouse/ Tiangge skirt/ Charles & Keith oxford heels/ Parfois necklace and ring/ Avon bracelet

I know I said I shouldn't wear loose tops, but I can't help it. They're not flattering in photos but they're practical in the real world. Time for the makeup!

Face: NARS Sheer Glow Foundation, MAC Studio Finish concealer, Makeup Forever Full Cover Concealer (for those really pesky blemishes), Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer Kit (for

I've been looking for reviews of the Shu Uemura Art of Travel Palette, but it appears that they are few and far between. From what I understand, this palette is travel-exclusive, meaning you can only find it in airport malls. I find that sad because this is a great palette that's not only convenient for traveling - it can also do sophisticated day-to-night looks with its high-quality eyeshadows and pretty Glow On blush.

What I love about the product

• Four highly pigmented eyeshadows that I find well-picked in terms of color coordination and versatility. There are lots of ways to combine them for day and night looks.
• The cream base is a huge surprise for me. On the pan, it looks like a boring white cream base, but it actually applies as a gorgeous golden shimmer! It reminds me of Bobbi Brown's glitter eyeshadows. The shimmer is very, very fine, and I prefer applying it on top of eyeshadows to give the eyes that extra "oomph".

• The Glow On adds a pretty glow to my cheeks as promised. I've owned a Glow On previously, and I really love the effect on the cheeks. The blush doesn't have a name, but I guess it is very close to (if not the same thing as) the Shu Uemura Glow On in M Pink 33.

Yesterday I visited Duty Free with my parents. I was super excited about this trip, because as you know, MAC makeup is already available there! I read online that the price difference between the US MAC and the Duty Free is very small. For example, eyeshadows are $14.50 in the US, but they're only $15.50 here. Not bad.

I got three MAC eyeshadows (All That Glitters, Wedge, Amber Lights), a blush for contouring (Harmony), and a nude lippie called Blankety. The eyeshadows were at $15.50 (P685 at current conversion rates), blushes at $21.50 (P950), and lipsticks at $17 (P751).