Shu Uemura 6♡PRINCESS by Takashi Murakami Collection (Holiday 2013)

I had millions of baby lemmings when I saw the promo images for the 6Princess Collection by Takashi Murakami for Shu Uemura. Millions of them. I blessed the timing, as Shu was running a Friends and Family event at the same time, so I cackled with glee as I placed my order. Unfortunately, there was a snafu - my card was never charged, the order was never shipped, and by the time I thought to contact customer service, the goods I had ordered (or not) were gone. I wept bitterly into my cheerios for a week, and then - blessings from the blogging angels! A package landed on my doorstep.

A package containing these wondrous, gilded boxes of love.

The concept behind this collection comes out of a collaboration between  with 6♡PRINCESS, Takashi Murakami’s animation work, and Shu Uemura, with the theme being the “dual beauty” of the pink and black princess. "Every woman has pink side and black side in her, nice and naughty, innocent and sexy."

Takashi Murakami is an internationally renowned artist from Japan, who has worked with both traditional fine arts materials as well as in cinema and film. He is also the founder of the post-modern movement called SUPERFLAT, which draws from anime and Otaku sub-culture.

I love how the Shu Uemura collections have such deep and varied artistic roots, both in terms of Shu Uemura's own training, and the influence of the various collaborators. It just makes the products and even the packaging that much more special. Not your run-of-the-mill plastic black casing here.

As you can see...

Princess Fun-tasy Mini Brush Set and Black Jewel On Wing False Eyelashes

And onto the actual products...

Princess Fun-tasy Mini Brush Set

The Shu's Princess Fun-tasy Mini Brush Set is ridiculously cute! The pouch is a nice size, and unzips to reveal slotted holders for the brushes (which actually fit easily in two out of the four slots, so you can add other brushes - or tweezers or the like - for your travel needs) and a bigger slotted pouch for a palette, powder compact, kleenex or wipes.

The brushes included are very nice for travel-sized brushes. There is a blush brush, a concealer brush, a lip or detailer brush, and an eyeshadow brush. All of them are good quality - certainly better than any travel set of this size that I've tried before. Then again, I would expect nothing less at this price point. The blush brush is silky and just fluffy enough for powder touch-ups, though perhaps too compact for applying blush. It works well as a contour or highlight brush, even outside of travel purposes. The eyeshadow brush has bristles that are soft to the touch, but quite firmly packed. It's a good lay-down brush, less optimal for blending. It smudges out a line very well, though it's not quite as soft as I would generally prefer for that purpose. Both the concealer and lip brushes work without a problem, and I actually prefer the lip brush for pin-point concealing.

The Black Jewel on Wing False Eyelashes (Premium Edition).

YEEESSSSSS.

I really can't even articulate how gorgeous these are. Utterly, deeply impractical, and probably never going to emerge from the box. Because they're 100$. (YES. I fell over too.) These are lashes that I will stare at, and pet, and sigh over for years, every time I need a reminder about the fantasy and whimsy that is integral to makeup and beauty.

(And I need to know the woman who will wear these, sans souci. Because I hyperventilate at the thought.)

Black Jewel on Wing False Eyelashes (Premium Edition)

GAH. I CAN'T EVEN.

Lasting Sift Gel Pencil and Lip and Cheek Fun-tasy

This collection also features  one of the classic Shu Lasting Soft Gel Pencils in Miraculous Purple, as well as a new product, the Lip and Cheek Fun-tasy, which is a lip and cheek tint. The shade shown here is Heroine Rose.

If you're not familiar with the Soft-Gel Pencils, they have a click-turn mechanism that brings the slim pencil up in increments, so it always has a relatively small point. The tight-fitting compartment also keeps the silicone in the product from drying, so the pencil always has a smooth application. It does dry fat, so if you want to smudge it out, I suggest working quickly. Once this sets, it SETS. I had a hard time getting the swatch off my arm with micellar water, and I do have to remove it with cleansing oil (the Shu one is best, not surprisingly!). I find the wear time on these excellent on my eyelid and in my lash line, but disappears from my waterline within a couple of hours.

Miraculous Purple is more of a plum shade on me, with a subtle shimmer throughout. It's a softer alternative to black or brown, and would look stunning with green eyes or hazel eyes. This particular shade appears to be sold out on-line, though it may still be available in stores. Otherwise, there is the Black Star version still available.

The Lip and Cheek Fun-tasy is a really awesome product (and I've coveting them since Lisa Eldridge mentioned them in one of her gift guide videos). With a dual function, it excels primarily as a blush. Creamy and rich feeling - not silicone-heavy- when you squeeze it from the tube, it applies and blends out like a dream. It does set relatively quickly, despite the creamy tactile feel. It looks completely textureless on the skin, and doesn't set to either a powder or dewy finish, just ever so slightly glowy.

Heroine Rose is the exact shade of my natural flush, so it's that much more natural looking on me. This is one of the few cream blushes that I like applying with my fingers as much as I do with a brush. Somehow it looks and feels more natural to do to that way.

Lasting Sift Gel Pencil in Miraculous Purple
Lip and Cheek Fun-tasy in Heroine Rose

Applied as a lipstick, the finish is quite matte, and a bit drying by itself. I love the colour on me (the always flattering MLBB dusky rose/mauve shade), so I just wear it as a stain, with a dab of clear balm overtop.

Considering its versatility as both a blush and a lip product, and the perfect shade for my colouring, I feel like this one will be a staple in my travel bag going forward.

 Lip and Cheek Fun-tasy in Heroine Rose

I'm sad I wasn't able to post my thoughts about this collection sooner, because it is really, really beautiful and down to its last bits online. (Though I suppose that means a lot of people loved it as much as I do, which is a good thing!)

Availability: Some items might still be available at select Shu Uemura counters at Holt Renfrew and certain Sephora locations. Also at www.shuuemura.ca. Prices are as follows: brush set is 69$ CAD, lashes are 100$, tint is 30$ CAD, pencil is 35$ CAD.

If you're one of the savvy ones that caught this one early, do share what you picked up!

(These products were provided by the brand/PR to be considered for review. This post is not sponsored or compensated. All opinions are my own.)