TRAVEL: My Epic Asia Exclusives Beauty HAUL!

Judging by the list below, I lost all inhibition but left no room for regrets! It was my first time abroad so I was a little overwhelmed by the incredibly vast selection in Singapore, where makeup counters are aplenty and luxury seems to be the standard for beauty. I had saved up for months, so I was in shopping heaven with the multiple department stores [Takashimaya, Tang's, Isetan, etc.] and took full advantage of the situation. I must also thank my lovely friend Leanne for guiding me though the maze of malls and for treating me to such delicious food! 

Products Reviewed:

SK-II Skin Rebooster [Hydrating Gel Mask]
SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion [Large 215 mL Bottle]
SK-II Advanced Eye Treatment Film [Eye Treatment]
SK-II Compact for Emulsion Red Stempower Cream Foundation
Guerlain Meteorites My Palette with Radiant Pressed Powder, Blush, Highlighter [Duty-Free Only]
YSL Travel Selection Extremely YSL For Eyes Make-up Palette [Duty-Free Only]
Shu Uemura False Lashes in Farfallina, Dazzling Black Diamante, and S217
Shu Uemura The Lightbulb UV Compact Foundation Case & Refill in 774
Shu Uemura Tsuya Skin UV Under Base Mousse SPF 30 Primer in Peach
Shu Uemura Mika for Shu POREraser UV Under Base Mousse SPF 35 Primer in Beige
Shu Uemura Eyeshadow Quad Case and Refills in ME 906, ME 825, ME 270, ME 280
Shu Uemura G (Glitter) Eyeshadows in White Gold 311 and White Rainbow
Shu Uemura Custom Case Duo in White
Tom Ford Lip Color Lipstick in 22 Forbidden Pink
Dior Gel Nail Polish in 268 Ruban
Dior Summer 2014 DiorShow Mono Transat in 541 Pavillon
Dior  Nude Tan Transat Edition Golden Shimmer Powder
Chanel Le Blanc Whitening Makeup Base SPF 35 in 20 Mimosa
Chanel Le Vernis Nail Polish in 555 Blue Boy
Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Multi-Color SPF 15 in N 02
Chanel Vitalumiere Compact Douceur Powder Foundations in 10 and 20
Guerlain Maxi Lash Waterproof Mascara in Black [now available at Sephora]
Helena Rubenstein Lash Queen WP Mascaras in Sexy Blacks, Fatal Blacks, Feline Blacks
RMK Ingenious Cream & Powder Eyes Duo in 03 Purple
RMK Ingenious Powder Eyes in ME-02 Metallic Gold
RMK Irresistible Lips Lipstick in 01 Peach
RMK Gloss Lips N H-05 Holographic Orange
Koyudo F001 Flower Kabuki with Pink and Blue Bristles
Koyudo H Series Macaron Kabuki Brush in Pink
Koyudo White Kinoko/Mushroom Kabuki Brush
Hakuhodo Short Handled Exclusive B Set - J214 Eye Brush
Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in 05 Ole Flamingo
K-Palette Real Lasting Tear Tank in 01 Glamorous Pink
Majolica Majorca Lash King Waterproof Mascara

Makeup Worn:
Koh Gen Do Moisture Foundation in 113
EM Michelle Phan Love Me for Me Powder in 04 Bare
Cle de Peau Concealer in Beige
Cle de Peau Eyebrow Pencil in 204 and Holder

Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill Silk Eyeshadow in 9 

Shu Uemura Eyeshadow in ME 856

By Terry Ligne Blackstar Eyeliner in Black 

Guerlain Maxi Lash Waterproof Mascara in Black

Dior My Lady Glowing Blush in 002 Pink 

Tom Ford Bronzing Powder in Terra 

Dior Addict Fluid Stick in Frisson 

Tom Ford Lip Lacquer in Pink Lust [LE]
Velour Lashes in Oops, Naughty Me
     *Use promo code RAEVELOUR to receive 15% OFF

Nails:

Dior Gel in Wonderland 

Shirt:

Zara [current]

There were also several products I did not have time to include, mostly because they are not exclusives and are more easily accessible here in the United States. Pictured above is the new YSL Souffle D'Eclat Loose Powder in 3 ($60 USD) and the Summer 2014 Guerlain Sun Celebration Terracotta Bronzer and Blush Palette ($76 USD). 

The Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited Supreme Matte Lipstick in PK 376 became a bestseller due to a Korean actress who wore the color in a popular Korean drama, and it sold out completely. I, however, was lucky enough to spot it at the Narita Airport's Duty-Free cosmetics store in Japan! It was unfortunately obscured by all the other products on my desk, so I was not able to include it in the video.. my apologies!

The other products, like the Shu Uemura Premium a/i Cleansing Oil — can be ordered online — and the Clarins Water Comfort One-Step Cleansing Water ($35 USD) is available at department stores. Last but not least, the Lancome Absolu Essence/Serum Foundation in 130 Ivoire is another Asia exclusive that I had to cut out due to time constraints. I have heard hit and miss reviews of this product, but it is one of the few full coverage serum foundations available! I will keep you updated if any of you are interested xo

___________________________________________________________________________

Shu Uemura Lightbulb Fluid Foundation and Sponge Set Review, Photos, and Tutorial

The Shu Uemura Lightbulb Fluid foundation has officially launched in the United States, so I am very excited to share this review and tutorial today! My lovely friend Leanne sent me my very first bottle of Lightbulb all the way from Singapore, where it launched first. All of my favorite Asian beauty bloggers were raving about it, so I was curious to see if it lived up to the hype and could actually provide perfect coverage with 12 hours of moisturized comfort. 

The Lightbulb Fluid has a "multi-glow oil complex" and is, hence, not oil-free. The secret to the fresh reflective dewiness is a blend of non-allergenic, non-comedogenic mineral pigments and liquefied pearls suspended in a macadamia oil-infused base. Lightbulb is best on normal to slightly dry skin. If you have combination skin and do not mind a more luminous complexion, then give it a shot. Oily skin will have to prep with primer, powder down with a mattifying compact, and blot throughout the day to keep shine at bay. On my normal skin, however, the Lightbulb provides a natural glow with easily buildable coverage and wears for a solid 8 hours on my normal skin before my T-Zone requires a blot! I only need two pumps for truly full coverage. It photographs beautifully and has a slightly airbrushed look. Dry skin most likely will want to skip powder to maintain the integrity of the beautiful luminosity.

Shop the Lightbulb foundation HERE and use the promo code LIGHTRAE to score 15% OFF + free shipping on all Shu Uemura orders!

I do find that it tends to settle into larger pores at the end of the day, so even if you do not have oily skin, try using a primer for the smoothest base possible. Also, I usually prefer to use my fingers for a more natural application with a dense foundation formula like Lightbulb's, but I recommend sticking to the included sponge. This hand-finished lightbulb shaped sponge was designed specifically for tapping and creating a glowing finish with the fluid foundation, but I do wish it was black or even red. White sponges are nearly impossible to keep pristine even with lots of TLC. Despite that issue, I do find that the smaller, pointed end of the sponge can effectively control (aka minimize) the radiance factor. If you are interested in Lightbulb but are wary of excess oiliness, just apply the foundation with the pointy Side B. Check out the tutorial below!

Now, Leanne first sent me (as a gift) Shade 554 Medium Sand, which has the ideal golden undertone for me. It matches my forehead perfectly and will work well with my summer tan, but 554 is currently one to two shades too dark for the rest of my face. Clearly, I need extra sunscreen on my forehead and perhaps a hat to rectify this problem!

Shu Uemura's team matched me to Shade 574 Light Sand, which suits my winter coloring better. I found that 574 oxidizes a full shade up after 30 minutes, so there is no need to be intimidated by how light it looks in the glass bottle. This shade has slightly more of a peach undertone as opposed to 554's golden undertone, so it is fabulous at brightening up and revitalizing my eye and cheek area! 

TIP: Give the Lightbulb foundation a full 30 minutes to oxidize to its true color. 574 looks a bit ghastly on me at first, but it warms up beautifully and evenly.

MAKEUP WORN [in video]:

Shu Uemura Lightbulb Foundation in 574 

Shu Uemura Face Powder Matte in 7YR Medium Light 

Laura Mercier Face Brush Angled Kabuki 

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Custard 

Cle de Peau Eyebrow Pencil Cartridge in 202 and Holder 

Shu Uemura Silk Cushion Blusher in Rose Quartz 

Shu Uemura M Soft Brown 851 + P Light Beige 812 Eyeshadows [mixed & blended over lids]

Shu Uemura Lasting Gel Pencil Eye Liner in M Brown 02 

Shu Uemura Stretch Xtreme Precise Finish Waterproof Mascara 

EM Cosmetics Lip Gallery Lipstick in Cuddle Up Pink 

Shu Uemura Gloss Unlimited in PK 50 C 

Ardell 120 Demi Wispies False Eyelashes

Shirt:
H&M [old]

Nails:
Dior Blossom

Earrings:
House of Harlow White Sunburst Studs

SHOP THE POST

___________________________________________________________________________