Serious skincare brand Shiseido has an entirely new makeup collection. Weightless with new-generation technology and cutting-edge shimmer editor Trudi Brewer reviews the range.
Makeup today needs to blend seamlessly into my skin and meet the demands of my busy lifestyle. The latest colour collection looks visible yet feels invisible to wear. Here are a few of the highlights from this range.
Powders and Dews
Shiseido Minimalist WhippedPowder Blush, in Sonoya 01 $50.
To apply: Dab the polyurethane blender end of the Face Duo brush into the blush. Add a few dots along the cheek bone, in a line, toward the ear, and then buff the colour into the skin. The result, a seamless pop of youthful-looking colour that lasts hours.
Shiseido Minimalist WhippedPowder Blush, $50 and Daiya Fude Face Duo Brush, $90.
From ‘Air Fusion Technology’ found in the ‘Minimalist WhippedPowder Blush’ to a new kind of sparkle, called Aura Dew this collection is Shiseido unique. The work of global director of artistry James Boehmer along with some smart science-y types, and the help of traditional Japanese calligraphy artists, this dream team have created four different textures that women across the globe will covet. Powders, inks, dews (shimmer highlighters) and gels. Boehmer who spent 17 years at Nars (a makeup brand Shiseido own) was instrumental in creating this fashion-forward collection. Add some seriously cool technology and 122 new products is the result. The standouts: Hard to choose from such a big collection, however, the magpie in me was instantly drawn to the Aura Dews. Twinkling powders made from multidimensional, crystalline pearl dust. Spun to create a cushiony texture it can be applied with the fingers to the cheekbones or above the Cupid’s bow, the eyelids, and mixed with body cream to give an-all-over shimmer. There are three shades of sparkle that work where most glittery makeup falls short. It doesn't move or travel from where it's pressed onto the skin thanks to next-generation silicone polymers, film formers, and volatiles. Another star, The Minimalist WhippedPowder Blush (pictured above). A mousse-like consistency made from micro-bubbles of air and brilliant pigments. Once dabbed on the skin you buff it in to get a barely-there powder-like finish, or it can be layered on with the fingers to achieve a pop of bold, creamy colour.
Shiseido Aura Dew in Solar and Lunar, $55. Shiseido Minimalist WhippedPowder Blush in 03 Momoko and 05 Ayao, and $50.
Inks and Gels
For the lips, eyes and brows pigment-saturated inks and featherlight gels complete this colour offering. The oil-infused LacquerInk LipShine hugs the lips and offers long-wearing, bold colour. There are 12 shades from a subtle Electro Peach to a dazzling Lilac Strobe. For summer the ColorGel LipBalm is ideal, it melts onto the lips, providing a sheer tint of pretty colour whipped into a weightless, nourishing balm. And perhaps the most unique lippy, Visionary Gel, made from 15 per cent water it offers long-lasting, semi-satin colour and comes in a range of 28 shades.
The same ink technology for the lips is on offer for the lids, the colour line up in the Kajal InkArtist, is radiant. It's a matte, water, smudge and crease-proof formula that doubles as your shadow, liner and brow product. With ten shades, from Azuki Red to a rich turquoise blue, named Sumi Sky. There is also Kabuki White, which doubles as a lid primer to highlight the eyes.
Shiseido LacquerInk LipShine in 311 Vinyl Nude, $55. Shiseido Visionary GelLipstick in 218 Volcanic, $50. Shiseido Kajal InkArtist in 07 Sumi Sky and 10 Kabuki White $45.
Brushes
Finally, no makeup look is perfected without the work of an ingenious brush. While most of these products were designed to be applied using your fingers, there are five brushes each inspired by the art of Japanese calligraphy, Fude or Hake. Each brush moulds perfectly into the hand, they are multi-purpose and offer a precision application when layering on the different textures.
As with the art of calligraphy, each brush offers structure, material, sharpness, resilience and roundness. The Daiya Fude Face Duo (pictured above) is the star in the collection. It's dual-ended with diamond-shaped bristles at one end and a polyurethane blender at other that mimics the feel of your fingertips. Designed for stippling cream and liquid makeup onto the skin, it’s especially useful for applying cream blush. The Yane Hake Precision Eye Brush doubles as a chiselled lip liner and defining eyeliner brush, which is ideal for travel.
With all this innovation set to light up your face, is there a new foundation I hear you ask? There will be. Shiseido has a firm, foundation following here in New Zealand (including the top-selling Synchro Skin Glow Luminizing Fluid Foundation, which is our all-time favourite liquid makeup), and there will be more to come. This new makeup range would not be complete without the launch of skin enhancing foundations, powders, concealers and primers that are set to hit counters mid-2019 - watch this space.
Shiseido brushes MARU FUDE, Face Brush, $80. YANE HAKE Precision Eye Brush, $41. DAIYA FUDE Face Duo, $90. HASU FUDE, Foundation Brush, $65. NANAME FUDE, Eye Brush, $48.