HOLIDAY | Shu Uemura x Super Mario Bros Collection Swatches with Makeup Look (PICTURE HEAVY)

The Holidays always has some swoonworthy, must-have makeup collections, but this year my heart has been taken by none other than the droolworthy Italian pizza hunk - Super Mario. When my family and I first came to Canada almost 30 years ago, the first major toy purchase we made was the first generation Nintendo Entertainment System. There were only two games in that starter pack (back when they actually GAVE you a game with the system!) and they were Super Mario Bros. and of course Duck Hunt (YEAHHH DUCK HUNT!). Ever since then, there has always been some form of Mario in my life whether he was racing a kart or smashing other villains and now he's in my makeup!   

Shu Uemura Super Mario Collection Review Swatches

Shu Uemura always has THE BEST collaborations and packaging and the Shu Uemura x Super Mario Bros. Collection has got to be my favourite so far! This is an extensive collection with both colour, skin and hair products hence the photo-heavy post. I will do my best to make it interesting I promise! I will try my best not be swayed by Mario!

Shu Uemura Super Mario Collection Review Swatches

Let's start with my favourite part of any collection - all things eyes! The sweetly pink packaged Peach's Eye and Cheek Palette* ($125 CDN) comes with two Princess Peach-inspired looks as well as a decent eyeshadow brush that deposited pigment quite nicely. I found this palette to be on the expensive side, but then again the pricing and amount of product included is pretty much right on par with the rest of the Shu line. This is probably the piece de resistance of the whole collection so if you are both a Nintendo fan and true makeup collector this will be your must-have product!

Shu Uemura Super Mario Collection Review Swatches 

Shu Uemura Super Mario Collection Review Swatches

I love the embossed blushes! I have used each a couple of times and the designs have not disappeared so you will be able to enjoy these Mario bonuses for a solid number of uses! The orange blush was my favourite of the two.

Shu Uemura Super Mario Collection Review Swatches

The eyeshadows swatched and applied smoothly with the shimmery gold being more of a highlight shade than a standalone use eyeshadow. I also found the light pink shadow to be near invisible once I applied it on my eyelids so I prefer it as a highlight shade as well.

Shu Uemura Super Mario Collection Review Swatches

Shu Uemura Super Mario Collection Review Swatches

There are four limited edition shades (shown below) of the Shu Uemura Drawing Pencils* ($28.00 CDN) in this collection and are some of the nicest eyeliner pencils I have ever used that always need not one, but TWO rounds of makeup remover because they just don't move. Not only are they smooth and pigmented, but they last on my inner waterline which is incredible. They may not be the sharpest eyeliners because of their softness, but their longevity has won me over.

Shu Uemura Super Mario Collection Review Swatches

Shu Uemura Super Mario Collection Review Swatches

I was not expecting a product like this to be included in this collection, but Shu has done it well in terms of combining the high-end with the playful. The Dual Stamp Eyeliner* ($39.00 CDN) is both a felt tip black eyeliner as well as a kawaii invincible star stamp! The eyeliner tip is quite firm perhaps even a bit hard when I was using it on my eyes, but very precise. The stamp on the other hand was a ton of fun and had beautifully crisp lines that didn't bleed when I stamped smooth surfaces like the side of my face. Not so much on surfaces like the hand.

Shu Uemura Super Mario Collection Review Swatches

Shu Uemura Super Mario Collection Review Swatches



In every holiday collection, there is a limited edition cult favourite eyelash curler with this year's being the all gold Invincible Star Premium Eyelash Curler* ($25.00 CDN) with the classic star charm hanging off the handle. This is also a great and affordable collector's item.

Shu Uemura Super Mario Collection Review Swatches

In the lip category, we have the Rouge Unlimited Sheer Shine and Supreme Matte ($36.00 CDN each) finishes with Stage Cleared* being a glossy bubblegum pink and RD 187* being a perfect matte red. The packaging is really so cute on these lipsticks and if you can get just one I would. Stage Cleared was a little too pinky for me, but RD 187 is totally my jam.

Note: 1 other Rouge Unlimited Sheer Shine shade available - Saved Peach
          2
 other Rouge Unlimited Supreme Matte shades available - PK 376 and PK 375

Shu Uemura Super Mario Collection Review Swatches

Shu Uemura Super Mario Collection Review Swatches

This is a lip product that I have never tried from Shu and it is the Tint in Balm ($36.00 CDN) with this edition being covered with Fire Flowers and in the shade Underground Adventure* - a vampy purple.

Note: 1 other shade available - Fire Flower

Shu Uemura Super Mario Collection Review Swatches

Shu Uemura Super Mario Collection Review Swatches

I think it's a bit funny to have a click mechanism for a balm, but each click is quite minute on movement so there is a bit more control than you would think.

Shu Uemura Super Mario Collection Review Swatches

RD 187 is actually fairly pigmented when applied on the lips (as you will see in the makeup look below), but does need a few swipes to build up the colour. Underground Adventure is stickier balm, making it last longer than one with a super smooth formula, but takes a bit of work to apply to the lips evenly. Vampy shades like this one always seem to come with their challenges!

Shu Uemura Super Mario Collection Review Swatches

CUSHIONS! The Fresh Cushion Blush* ($45.00 CDN) is cooling when applied to the skin and though it may look wet and uninviting, is blendable and buildable in colour. I can happily tap this to my cheeks and know that I won't look like a clown. I received the shade Brave Amber which I thought would be too bronzy, but I have been using it as blush very easily!

Note: 1 other shade available - Dreamy Mauve

Shu Uemura Super Mario Collection Review Swatches

Shu Uemura Super Mario Collection Review Swatches

Shu Uemura Super Mario Collection Review Swatches

We cannot forget about face prep! I have learned that priming the skin is vital to foundation that stays in place all day and I love that the Stage Performer Block: Booster Protective Moisture Primer* ($48.00 CDN) does this PLUS contains SPF 50 PA+++ and has the texture of a creamy moisturizer instead of slippery like primers high in silicones. I just realized that there is another shade of this primer (Fresh Pink) while I have Natural Beige*.

I have tried not using a setting spray before/after makeup and to be honest, I haven't noticed a massive difference if I don't use one as long as I am using a primer, BUT I just love the way they feel on my skin. They wake me up in the morning and make me feel better throughout the day. The Skin Perfector (Sakura) Makeup Refresher Mist* (50mL/$34.00 CDN) is a fine mist that smells just like cherry blossoms and is a nice little treat. It's nothing really novel so I don't know if I would spend my money on this particular product over a lipstick. This also comes in the scent Yuzu.

Shu Uemura Super Mario Collection Review Swatches

I squealed when I saw this Peach's Favourite Premium Brush Set* ($89.00 CDN)! The brushes are soft and are the perfect travel sizes. I hate when face brushes are "too travel" and you end up having to apply products like blush in sections. The case is of course the cutest part of the whole thing complete with an Invincible Star zipper pull. I mean, come on. This is just so cute I want to die.

Shu Uemura Super Mario Collection Review Swatches

Finally, we get to the Shu Art of Hair products all of which I have reviewed on their own from last year's Shu Murakami holiday collection with the exception of the Master Wax* ($42.00 CDN), which is a workable control cream which gives hair a high shine finish. This is a product that I am really not sure if I would use. The Cleansing Oil Shampoo and Conditioner* ($56.00 CDN each) and Essence Absolue* ($69.00 CDN) are all still items I currently love and use and are part of the regular Shu collection.

Note: Ultime8 Sublime Cleansing Oil is also available in the 150mL and 450mL bottles.


Shu Uemura Super Mario Collection Review Swatches

Kudos to you for making it this far or at least looking at the pretty pictures, but we can't let this good makeup go to waste so let's have some fun!



Face:
Shu Uemura Block Booster Protective Moisture Primer*
Shu Uemura Petal Skin Fluid Foundation in #564*
IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores*

Eyes:
Apply primer all over the lid and under eyes.
Using Peach's Eye and Cheek Palette*, take the dark brown eyeshadow and apply to the inner and outer third of the lid. We're going to make a sandwich!
Apply the orange shade in the middle and intensify by patting on colour. Blend with a fluffy brush up into crease.
Line lower lash line with the same brown shadow.
Line lower water line with Shu Uemura Drawing Pencil in Matte Black*.
Line upper lash line with Shu Uemura Dual Stamp Me Liner*.

Apply mascara to top and bottom lashes. I'm using MAKE UP FOR EVER Smoky Extravagant*.

Apply false lashes. I am using Ardell Demi Wispies*.

Cheeks:
Orange Blush from the Shu Uemura Peach's Eye and Cheek Palette*
Shu Uemura Fresh Cushion Blush in Brave Amber*

Lips:
Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited Matte in RD 187*

Shu Uemura Super Mario Collection Review Swatches

Much of this collection has sold out online, but the Shu x Super Mario Bros. Collection is still available at Hudson's Bay and Sephora.

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