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Armani Ecstasy Shine Lipstick Review + Swatches

September 5, 2017

Armani Ecstasy Shine lipstick

Armani Beauty just launched a new lipstick formula called Ecstasy Shine ($38 each for .1 oz, made in France). These are high shine lipsticks with a balmy feel with medium to rich coverage. The lighter color shades have a sheerer finish while the deeper or bright ones are one-swipe wonders on my pigmented lips. They have a finish and texture that reminds me of the first generation of sheer lipsticks Armani launched many years ago (I’m thinking around 2001-ish) but without as much slip or sheerness. Given the balm-like texture these still have some slip but they don’t disappear on my lips as quickly as some of the older Armani formulas. They feel ultra nourishing, comforting and smooth on the lips. There’s a glossy sheen and while they aren’t long-lasting like regular lipsticks or nearly as rich or long-lasting as their Lip Magnets I find they do stay put on the lips until you drink or snack. These feel so nice on the lips I don’t mind reapplying.

I have seven shades swatched:

  • 100 is a sheer light pink neutral
  • 101 is a medium pink-brown
  • 200 is a sheer brown with a hint of pink
  • 300 is a bright orange coral
  • 400 is a perfect classic bold red
  • 500 is a gorgeous sheer-medium hot pink
  • 506 is a pigmented fuchsia pink

Armani Ecstasy Shine lipstickArmani Ecstasy Shine lipstick swatches

Another look + lip swatches, foundation worn is Diorskin Forever Perfect Foundation in 21 + 31 mixed (review here).

Armani Ecstasy Shine lipstick review

Armani Ecstasy Shine lipstick swatches

I’m a sheer lipstick and lip gloss lover so these are right up my alley. To me they have more of a summer feel with the color scheme and texture but as one who really doesn’t favor matte lips I’m not complaining. The color lineup is filled with timeless classics. I need to make a trip to the counter to see if I can find a good plum shade. My favorite of course is a neutral 100. I can’t help but feel 506 is a perfect fuchsia and Armani does really good orangey-reds and classic reds. As far as I can tell there’s no detectable scent once on the lips. The lipstick in the tube has a natural kind of scent that smells like an essential oil. Something you might expect in a lip treatment or balm. Once I have it on the lips I can’t smell anything. They have a similar vibe to the YSL Rouge Volupte Shines but the Armani has a little less slip, no fruity scent, and more pigment. I love both formulas but this one from Armani feels more along lines of a classic tinted balm lipstick. Bottom line: glossy, nicely hydrating and a great color range.

You can find these at all Armani counters by now. Available at Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Sephora, Barneys New York Giorgio Armani Beauty and all other counters. Have you tried these yet?

Armani ecstasy shine provided courtesy of Armani for review.

Sisley-Paris

Sisley-Paris September Subscription Box Spotlight

September 4, 2017

Sisley Paris Spotlight September 2017 | The Beauty Look Book

Earlier in the summer I shared a look at the Sisley-Paris Subscription Service featuring 6 month’s worth of boxes. I’ve been exploring more from Sisley over the past few months and have been extremely impressed – it’s truly everything so many of you have raved about! This is the first year I’ve tried the Sisley Subscription Service and it’s hands down the best one I’ve tried for beauty. Finding good skincare that works can be a tricky process as we all have such different skin types and needs. Factors like age, sensitivity and climate also make a huge difference on being able to find what works. Being able to sample skincare before investing in it is essential to me. I love brands that offer a subscription program, travel/trial sets or smaller-sized options. I’m more likely to splurge if I’m able to try something first to see if it will work! The Sisley Subscription Service comes in 6 or 12-month option at an affordable price. Each month you receive 5 samples in the mail – it’s been the perfect way for me to explore the line and the samples they send you are the good ones!

Each month has a different theme. September’s box contains five of Sisley’s Most-Talked About Items. I’ve discovered a few new holy grails. As you can see in the image directly below, the subscription comes with deluxe sized miniatures. There are 5 per month in each box:

Sisley-Paris September Subscription

I have all five in the full sizes to review for you. I was lucky to get an early preview of these so I could put them to the test. I’ve been dying to share thoughts on these and am thrilled I can do so today!

Sisley Paris Spotlight September 2017 | The Beauty Look Book

Express Flower Gel Mask is a hydrating and toning mask. It gives the skin a refresh in just 3 minutes with lily and iris extracts to give it a serious boost of hydration. This is one of the most soothing masks I’ve ever used and skin is baby soft after use. Out of all the face masks I’ve tried this one gives me the softest skin I’ve ever felt.

Sisley Express Flower Gel Mask

Eye Contour Mask is an eye mask that you leave on for 10 minutes and then wipe off without rinsing. When it comes to eye concerns my biggest one is with puffiness. This one works well to reduce swelling when I’ve had a long day or didn’t sleep well. It has a semi-thick cooling feel once you apply it. After I remove it my eye area is well hydrated and refreshed.

Sisley Eye Contour Mask

Best Sisley Masks

So Intense Mascara is a classic must-have. I just discovered it a few months ago and it has a tiny comb that catches all the lashes right from the base. It has a rich black color that dries quickly. It holds the curl, adds definition and volume and doesn’t smudge on me. I can’t believe I didn’t try it sooner.

Sisley So Intense Mascara

Gentle Buffing Cream is exactly as the name implies. I struggle with face scrubs as I have extremely sensitive skin. This one is very gentle and you apply it to clean dry skin. You let it dry for a few minutes then massage and buff until the particles disappear. A little goes a long way and the jar has a generous amount. Rinse with water and skin is softly exfoliated and is left smooth without that dried out raw feeling.

Sisley Gentle Facial Buffing Cream

Soir D’Orient is one of the deepest spiciest fragrances I’ve tried. It’s a spicy floral that dries down to a rich rose. It has a deep vibe that feels like fall. Top botes are saffron accord, middle notes include Turkish Rose and the base has Somalian Incense. It’s a unisex scent that both my husband and I tried. We both feel it pulls a bit more feminine but could go either way. For this one I recommend letting it sit for a minute to see how it transforms – the dry down is really beautiful. Lasting power is strong and it remains on my skin from morning to early evening.

Sisley Soir D'Orient

I think all of September’s box contents are a hit. My favorites are the Gentle Buffing Cream and Express Flower Gel Mask. You can find the Sisley Subscription Service exclusively online at their U.S. website.

 

As a bonus I’m thrilled that Sisley has offered to do an amazing giveaway to 5 U.S. readers! Five distinct U.S. readers will be selected via the Rafflecopter widget to receive a 6-month Sisley-Paris Beauty Subscription. To enter – you must follow all 3 steps in the widget below for us to collect entries:

  • Open to U.S. residents only
  • Must be 18 years or older
  • Follow steps in widget to 1) follow @beautylookbook on Instagram 2) follow @sisleyparisusa on instagram and 3) sign up for the Sisley-Paris newsletter (all three are linked via the widget below)
  • Note you must complete all 3 tasks!
  • Giveaway will run from  9/4/2017 to 9/9/2017 11:45 PM EST
  • Five U.S. winners will be selected within 24 hours after the giveaway period ends and contacted by me for information
  • Winner information will be passed along to Sisley-Paris USA
  • Selected winners will each receive a 6-month beauty subscription from Sisley-Paris

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Have you tried any Sisley-Paris skincare or makeup? What are your favorite items?

Items provided courtesy of Sisley for me to be their ambassador for September. Giveaway also provided courtesy of Sisley.

Clarins Skincare

Clarins Double Serum #NextGenSerum

September 1, 2017

Clarins Double Serum Next Generation Serum Review

One of my newest skincare discoveries is the Clarins Double Serum Hydric + Lipidic Serum ($89 for 1 fl oz/30 ml). This is a reformulation of one of Clarins’ cult anti-aging classics which they call their Next Generation Serum. I’ve never tried the previous versions but Clarins reached out and asked me to put this one to the test and after regular daily use I can say it’s a winner for me.

The Clarins Double Serum is an age control serum. It’s packed with two anti-aging serums in one and there’s a dial that allows you to control the dosage you dispense. I’ve been using the smaller one as I find it is better suited for my combination skin, warm climate and summer season. The larger dose is what they call a power shot for normal or dry skin, cold dry climates or winter. I’ve tried both dosage options and for me the smaller dose is the best for both day and night. The power shot was too strong and rich for my skin to handle, even at night.

Clarins Double Serum Next Generation Serum Review

This is a wrinkle treatment that has 20+ plant extracts including Tumeric to help with wrinkles, fine lines and boost radiance. The description says you’ll see results in 7 days and after using this a multitude of ways I have definitely seen an improvement in skin texture. I did see results after using this daily for 7 days (morning and night) and I did notice brighter smoother skin after that period. I especially noticed improvement when using this at night – I find my skin noticably smoother and fine lines diminished on my forehead when I wake up.

I’ve continued using this for the past month on a regular basis although after the 7 day period I’ve used it on and off with other serums in my routine for day but have used it nightly on a more regular basis. The smaller dose allows the product to last longer for me as a little goes a long way. If you think you’ll use the larger dose and have dry skin I’d recommend option for the larger size.

Clarins Double Serum Next Generation Serum Review

I have very sensitive skin – you might have noticed that I am prone to allergic reactions with a lot of fragranced skincare and even foundations. This one was suitable for my sensitive skin without any irritation. It doesn’t leave any sticky residue even though it has that serum formula. Application is smooth and easy to apply and the best thing about this one is that I’ve found it compatible with all my other moisturizers from other brands so I don’t have to switch around what I use with this one. A quick note on serums though is that I think they are best worn with a regular moisturizer on top – especially if you wear foundation or any kind of base product.

The packaging is phenomenal – it’s well designed, sturdy, has the right size/shape to hold easily in the hand. It also comes with a sturdy cap to protect the pump. The pump will dispense both phases into your hand – you just need to rub them together to combine before applying to your face. I have a huge appreciation for packaging that is functional, sturdy and innovative – I really like the way this serum has been put together.

Clarins Double Serum Next Generation Serum Review

Below you can see the two serums have been dispensed – it’s separated when you first pump it out but it blends easily in the hands before you apply to the face.

Clarins Double Serum Next Generation Serum Packaging

Ingredients: Aqua/Water/Eau, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Glycerin, Isononyl Isononanoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Pentylene Glycol, Ppg-3 Myristyl Ether, Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer, Dipsacus Sylvestris Extract, Butylene Glycol, Parfum/ Fragrance, Phenoxyethanol, Propanediol, Tromethamine, Silybum Marianum Seed Oil, Carbomer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Escin, Cheno -Podium Quinoa Seed Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Squalane, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Extract, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Extract, Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer, Leontopodium Alpinum Extract, Xanthan Gum, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil Unsaponifiables, Caramel, Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract, Salicyloyl Phytosphingosine, Musa Sapientum (Banana) Fruit Extract, Salicornia Herbacea Extract, Actinidia Chinensis (Kiwi) Fruit Extract, Kalanchoe Pinnata Leaf Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Myrothamnus Flabellifolia Leaf/Stem Extract, Disodium Edta, Tocopherol, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Maltodextrin, Orthosiphon Stamineus Extract, Hedychium Coronarium Root Extract, Mangifera Indica (Mango) Leaf Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Jania Rubens Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Citrate, Engelhardtia Chrysolepis Leaf Extract, Ci 14700/Red 4, Callicarpa Japonica Fruit Extract.

Bottom line a solid winner and exactly what I need for my skin now that fine lines have started to surface on my face. You can find the Clarins Double Serum in two sizes in a 1.0 oz ($89) and 1.6 oz ($122), available at Clarins and Dillard’s and all other Clarins counters.

Have you tried this one yet? If not do you have any Clarins skincare favorites? I’m obsessed with their lip oils!

Thanks to Clarins for partnering to sponsor this post.

 

Becca Lips

Becca Lush Lip Colour Balm Review + Swatches

August 22, 2017

Becca Lush Colour Balm Review Swatches | The Beauty Look Book

Becca launched eight tinted lip balms called the Lush Lip Colour Balm ($22 each). These are creamy tinted balms with a lipstick feel. They have a vanilla scent similar to that of MAC lipsticks which is soft and creamy. Pigment is medium but buildable if you layer and they feel hydrating without feeling heavy or like they’ll slip off the lips. The texture is smooth and they’re comforting on the lips and I like them even in the hot humid weather. My lips have been on a the dry side a bit with the chlorine and salt water from swimming combined with heat – these helped hydrate them significantly after a day’s wear. Lasting power isn’t the best as it is an emollient balm. They’re not going to stay put like a longwear lipstick or liquid/matte lipstick – but they don’t disappear on me quickly and it’s something I don’t mind re-applying.

Color options have a good range from light to deep and they’re all fairly conservative wearable shades. I did have some streaking with the deeper colors as they had a bit of contrast with my natural lip tone and when I swatched these I did have some peeling going on my lips – but it’s something I can fix with more blending.

Becca Lush Colour Balm Review Swatches | The Beauty Look Book

Becca Lush Colour Balm Swatches | The Beauty Look Book

Colors include:

  • Cafe Au Lait is a pale peachy beige which looks a bit streaky with one swipe, but add a few more and it smooths out to an impressive level of smoothness, often times I cannot wear such pale colors because they are super streaky, I was really surprised by this one
  • Ginger Vanille is a soft pink coral, it pulls a bit more coral on most people I’ve seen it on, since I have a lot of olive and yellow, especially when I’m in the sun a lot, it looks a bit more pink on my lips
  • Almond Fraise is a pretty soft pink rose cream, on me it pulls a little bit cool
  • Chai Creme is the perfect creamy soft brown pink shade on my lips
  • Milk Chocolate is a mauve brown cream, this one felt sheerer than the others
  • Toasted Hazelnut is a deeper brown
  • Cherry Ganache is a burgundy red, this one had a little bit of streaking with my dry patches
  • Black Violet was a bit streaky on me as well, but without any dry lips it looks smoother, it’s a purple cream

Lip swatches below on bare lips. The bases I’m wearing include NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tint in St Moritz, MILK Makeup Flex Concealer in Medium set with Armani Luminous Silk Powder in #4.

Becca Lush Colour Balm Review Swatches | The Beauty Look Book

Becca Lush Colour Balm Review Swatches | The Beauty Look Book

Bottom line love and I think the price is reasonable for the amount. Nicely hydrating with good color payoff for a balm. Smooth finish and a delicious scent. For a balm they are on the lightweight side but not weightless – I can definitely feel product on my lips, but since it’s a balm I don’t mind. My favorite is Ginger Vanille but it’s really hard to pick one favorite. If you need more color/pigment then I’d recommend opting for the Hourglass Confession Ultra Slim Lipsticks (even though they are a lot more expensive, review on all shades soon). By comparison the YSL Volupte Tint in Balms have a more glossy finish and emollient feel. As a sheer lip lover I like both – I think for neutrals the Becca has more options while YSL has more brights.

You can find the Becca Lush Lip Colour Balms at Ulta Beauty and Becca Cosmetics.

Balms provided courtesy of Becca for review.

Chanel

Chanel Fall-Winter 2017 Makeup Collection

August 21, 2017

Chanel Fall-Winter 2017 Makeup Collection

Chanel is among the first to launch their Fall-Winter 2017 Beauty Collection this year with a California Travel Diary inspired set of colors. So many of you have requested a review and from the items I ordered I’ve found some hits and misses. I’ll say up front the Les 4 Ombres in City Lights is a the highlight for me and one of the prettiest neutral-cool palettes I’ve tried. Based on the color payoff and texture I’ll be looking at Road Movie once it hits counters but for now it appears everything is only available online at Chanel.

Up first is the Palette Essentielle in Beige Clair 150 which has a concealer, highlighter and cream color. All the items in this palette are creams and the one I ordered has a concealer that is definitely too light for me to conceal but it does work as an eye base to even out the lids. I ordered sight unseen so I can’t report on the pigment of the other two, but Beige Clair has a pigmented concealer with a matte finish, a soft medium-sheer light peachy pink cream and a pale white highlighter with sheer but buildable finish. On the face pigment is medium but on the soft side – you can build it for a super natural dewy finish. It’s not too dewy though and I was able to wear all three without it getting greasy looking by late afternoon. For me it’s neither a hit or miss. Quality, pigment and texture are very good. They give me a natural polished glow but based on the color I ordered it’s almost too natural for my skintone.

Chanel Palette Essentielle Beige Clair

Chanel Palette Essentielle Beige Clair

Up next is the Retractable Dual-Tip Concealer Brush ($38, made in China). I was surprised to find this was made in China according to the box label but it performs exceptionally well. It works to pick up concealer from a pot or the tip of an applicator and the fluffy side works to blend. I personally feel this is best suited for cream shadow and powder like the Tom Ford Cream Powder Duos. For concealer application I like to apply with the sponge tip applicators and either blend with my finger, a beautyblender or the Marc Jacobs The Conceal Brush. The original Chanel Concealer Brush #10 is actually one of the best ones I’ve tried but they didn’t bring this out with the redesign. You can still find the original one at a few select places like Neiman Marcus but I don’t know how long they will be available.

The brush performs well and I really like the dual-ended retractable ends. Still given the number of brushes I own I do feel like I already have ones that do the same trick so I can’t call this a must- have. The convenience factor and packaging style is really well made though.

Chanel Dual Ended Concealer Blending Brush

The eyeshadows in the Les 4 Ombres City Lights and Ombre Premiere Cream in Memory are both gorgeous. The Les 4 Ombres in City Lights looks more on the warm side in the stock photo, in person it looks more neutral, swatched on my olive skin it pulls more cool-toned. Your mileage will definitely vary depending on your skin undertone. If you have pink or fair skin this will definitely not look as cool-toned as it does on me. It has four easy to wear neutral shimmers with excellent pigment and lovely shimmer.

Ombre Premiere in Memory is a stunning bronze shimmer. I can’t wait to wear this all season long. As with the other Ombre Premiere formulas I reviewed lasting power is quite impressive and pretty much budge-proof once you apply and let it set. It has a semi-matte finish but still has a shimmery look to it.

Both aren’t really the most unique colors. They have a very similar vibe to previous launches from Chanel and other brands. As I’m in the middle of moving and travel for the next 2 months I have most of my things in temporary storage and don’t have easy access to pull things for comparison.

Chanel Les 4 Ombres City Lights and Ombre Premiere Cream in Memory

Chanel Les 4 Ombres City Lights and Ombre Premiere Cream in Memory swatches

For the lips I picked out the neutrals. I had very high hopes for the Rouge Coco in Daylight which is a sheer soft peachy nude and Rouge Allure Ink in Lost – both are just not the best formula-wise. I can make them both work with some blending and layering but they are on the streaky side and with all the other formulas on the market that are pretty much opaque, smooth and flawless I found these to be a disappointment. I will say that this may be due to the fact I have naturally pigmented lips – if you have lighter tones in your natural lip color there may be less contrast and therefore less streaking. I feel like there’s a really good dupe with the Hourglass GIRL Lip Stylos in Believer or Idealist (swatched here) although since I don’t have them to compare at the moment I can’t say which color. I’ve even though I feel the Hourglass Confession Ultra Slim Lipsticks are overpriced I feel the formula is truly excellent and if price isn’t a concern (or price per oz that is), these are definitely superior in formula, pigment and color pay off.

For these Chanel lips, I can make them look smooth with blending but anything that touches the lips after – even if it’s my own lips touching each other makes the color budge and streak. If you have a different experience please share in the comments.

Chanel Rouge Coco Daylight and Rouge Allure Ink Lost

Chanel Rouge Coco Daylight and Rouge Allure Ink Lost

Chanel Rouge Coco Daylight and Rouge Allure Ink Lost

Last but not least are two gorgeous Le Vernis nail polishes. I’ve been in a bit of a nail polish funk for months. Long time readers know I used to be a die hard Chanel and Dior nail polish collector of every single color. These days I feel like I rotate between three colors: Chanel Coralium (swatch here), OPI Be There in a Prosecco (swatched here), and Chanel Organdi (swatch here). The new Le Vernis shades for fall are Chanel Horizon Line which is a soft grey mint color and New Dawn which is a muted dusty lilac. Both are really pretty and have smooth opaque coverage.

Chanel Le Vernis New Dawn (mauve) and Horizon Line (green) | The Beauty Look Book Chanel Le Vernis New Dawn (mauve) and Horizon Line (green) | The Beauty Look Book

A quick look with the collection wearing:

Chanel Fall Beauty Look

Chanel Fall-Winter 2017 Makeup Collection

I think the standouts are the eye shadows, both the City Lights quad and Memory cream shadow. The nail polishes are nice subdued shades that have a soft feel without that pastel vibe you usually get with spring launches so I think they’ll be really pretty once the fall season arrives. You can find the entire Fall-Winter 2017 Collection available online at Chanel.com now.

 

Lips NARS

NARSissist Velvet Lip Glide Set (Ulta Exclusive)

August 18, 2017

NARSissist Velvet Glide Lip Set Ulta | The Beauty Look Book

There’s a super cute NARSissist Velvet Lip Glide Set ($45) which is an Ulta Exclusive. It has six new shades which are really perfect for summer but wearable year round. I found this at my local store – they don’t have the full line of NARS but did carry a small selection including this set. The velvet lip glides are minis (same size as the Sephora Give Me Some Nude Lips Set) and I’m beyond thrilled all the colors are new. It comes in a pretty pink box:

NARSissist Velvet Glide Lip Set Ulta | The Beauty Look Book

Colors include cream colors. All the colors are consistently medium to full coverage with a smooth streak-free finish. Pigment is really good and they have a natural sheen even though they have a velvety finish. I don’t detect any scent in these and they feel comfortable on the lips. Lasting power is medium – they have a similar lasting power to a regular lipstick. I love that the formula feels weightless and doesn’t dry out my sensitive lips.

  • Rapture a medium soft coral peach
  • Night Together soft neutral medium pink brown with a hint of plum
  • Californication cool-toned mauve
  • Immoral bright pink
  • Staying Alive vibrant plum
  • Burning Love is a bright red coral

NARSissist Velvet Glide Lip Set Ulta | The Beauty Look Book

NARSissist Velvet Glide Lip Set swatches | The Beauty Look Book

NARSissist Velvet Glide Lip Set Ulta Lip Swatches | The Beauty Look Book

Full size vs minis and some comparison swatches:

NARSissist Velvet Glide Lip Set vs full size | The Beauty Look Book

Shown below:

NARSissist Velvet Glide comparison swatches | The Beauty Look Book

I think the set is a great buy. Colors are very wearable but not boring. Even the brighter ones are easy to wear especially for summer. If you haven’t tried the NARS Velvet Lip Glide formula this is a nice way to try more than one shade without having to buy the full sizes.

NARS x Ulta Velvet Lip Glide Set | The Beauty Look Book

You can find the NARSissist Velvet Lip Glide Set exclusively at Ulta Beauty. Have you tried this one yet? What did you think?

 

Shu Uemura Skincare

Shu Uemura Cleansing Oils

August 10, 2017

Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil Review | The Beauty Look Book

I’ve rediscovered cleansing oils from Shu Uemura and they’ve become a regular part of my daily skincare routine this summer. With the heat, sunshine and humidity I have multiple layers products on my face in order to prep, moisturize, protect the skin and also and make my base last. I’ve switched up my skincare routine over the past few months since moving to Florida because I found the water dried out my skin. At the same time the increasing humidity levels cause me to sweat while I’m outside. I’ve finally re-balanced my skin and will share my full skincare routine soon – but today I have a review on all six cleansing oils from Shu Uemura. This year marks their 50th Anniversary.

Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil Review | The Beauty Look Book

I’m fairly certain that every one of my readers are already familiar with cleansing oils. In case you are not these are cleansers in oil format where you apply to a dry face then massage into the skin. You can use them on bare skin or as a makeup remover. Simply add warm water to emulsify afterwards and rinse. It’s a skincare product that allows you to remove makeup and cleanse the skin effectively in a single step. With these I only need 2 pumps to cover the entire face although they recommend 3 to 4.

For a bit of background on my skin type, I have normal skin that is on the sensitive side. I tend to double cleanse with cleansing oils or cleansing waters because I like to have my skin squeaky clean. With the Shu Uemura oils they have enough power to do a single cleanse to remove all of my face makeup. With eye makeup or lipstick I still prefer to remove that separately first with a cotton pad and bi-phase makeup remover. It’s just easier and less messy for me. Also with waterproof mascaras and long-wear shadows most cleansing oils simply don’t take it off 100%.

There are currently 7 Shu Uemura cleansing oils – I have 6 of them that I put to the test. Each one has a different formula designed to be suited to certain skin types or preferences. I found they all performed similar in terms of how well they emulsified with water and also how they removed face makeup. Some are better suited for oily skin vs. normal/dry skin and there is a noticeable difference in texture between them. Most of these come in various size options – I have the 150 ml options shown in this post.

Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil Review | The Beauty Look Book

Thoughts on each one shown above from left to right. Up first is the one I’d consider the classic which is the High Performance Balancing Cleansing Oil Advanced Formula. It’s actually “an evolved” formula of the classic with ingredients designed for waterproof make-up. This one is designed for sensitive skin and it has the most emollient medium-weight smooth feel out of the ones I tested. It leaves the skin completely clean and soft. In terms of mascara removal it didn’t take off 100% of my mascara but it was a very good first pass to remove most of it. For the face it will remove sunscreen, foundation, powder and concealer nicely without stripping the skin.

Shu Uemura High Performance Balancing Advanced Cleansing Oil

POREfinist is designed for acne-prone/oily skin but is the lightest weight option in terms of texture. This has a floral petal scent and is designed to remove excess oil and dirt from pores. For my skin it felt the strongest in terms of cleansing power. It was a bit too strong for daily use for me, but if you have oily skin this is probably the best option. This was the second best in terms of waterproof mascara removal.

Shu Uemura POREfinist Cleansing Oil

Anti/Oxi+ is designed for those with aging concerns. It has moringa and green tea extracts to remove pollutants and balance the skin. This one has a fairly strong scent which my nose was a bit sensitive to. In terms of cleansing this removed all traces of makeup, mascara included without stripping the skin. The scent is a relaxing spa-like scent which is nice – but I preferred the unscented/fresh options. It does leave the skin looking completely refreshed with a smooth feel and the scent did not irritate my skin.

Shu Uemura Anti-Oxi+ Cleansing Oil

Blanc:Chroma is my favorite. It’s a lightweight oil with a brightening effect. On me it was the most gentle and it’s designed for combination skin. I have yet to see noticeable results for brightening with this one – I suspect it’s one that will take months and months of regular use to see visible results. I like this one for the way it makes my skin feel clean and soft.

Shu Uemura Blanc Chroma Cleansing Oil

Nutri:nectar is the newest cleansing oil from Shu Uemura and the most unique. It has a thick almost gel-like texture so it won’t slide into the eyes as easily as fluid options. It is designed for delicate skin and for me was definitely one of the most gentle feeling. It has calming Acai, magnolia to replenish and mushroom to improve resilience.

Shu Uemura NutriNectar Cleansing Oil

Ultime8 Sublime is the option best suited for normal/dry skin. On me this was the richest feeling option without any film. It removes all traces of face makeup and leaves the skin feeling plump and soft.

Shu Uemura Ultime8 Sublime Cleansing Oil

Ingredients on each of the boxes, left to right is blanc:chroma, high performance balancing cleansing oil advanced formula, nutri:nectar:

Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil Ingredients

Left to right: anti/oxi+, POREfinist, ultime8 sublime

Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil Ingredients

Out of all of the cleansing oils I found that Blanc:chroma worked best for me. It has a lightweight texture and soft scent that I really liked. Anti/Oxi+ was the best for makeup removal including waterproof mascara and liner. The new nutri:nectar was the most gentle. If you have any favorites from the line let me know in the comments!

You can find all the cleansing oils online at Shu Uemura. They are also offering Beauty Look Book readers a special promo 15% off + free shipping on orders with code BLBXSHU. Valid online at both Shu Uemura US and Shu Uemura Canada.

Do you have any Shu Uemura favorites? Let me know what you recommend in the comments!

Cleansing oils provided courtesy of Shu Uemura.