Shu Uemura Lash Curler, The Mercedes Of Them All

I have yet to meet a professional makeup artist who does not have at least one Shu Uemura lash curler in their bag of tricks.  This handy little tool has become iconic in the world of beauty.  Although you may own a lash curler which bears a striking resemblance to the Shu Uemura brand, chances are the results pale in comparison.

The Shu Uemura lash curler is made with great precision, and attention to detail.  The Japanese have extremely high standards in the products they produce.  These standards are just as applicable to big ticket items such as a vehicle for example, down to a simple eye lash curler.

With many eyelash curlers, it is common to see a crease, in lieu of a smooth curl on the lashes.  Not the case with Shu, the days of creased lashes end the moment you begin using it.  The Shu Uemura eye lash curler will make a great addition to your makeup accoutrements.

shuuemura-usa.com $20

Cleansing Oil: The Quest Toward Healthy Looking Skin

Every culture has something great to offer, and among my favourites is Asian.  Asian men and women have been using oil as part of their skin care regimen for several decades because of its remarkable benefits.  Cleansing oils serve as an excellent asset for every skin type, however, attempting to convince an oily skin of this is no small feat.  Oily skins, keep reading, your reformation is on the way!

So here’s the deal, our skin naturally produces oil to help it to remain moisturized and supple.  Unfortunately, because of misinformation, we strive to strip the skin of any traces of oil, which causes the largest organ in our body to work in overdrive to replenish the loss of oil.  This in turn causes the skin to over-compensate for the lack of moisture, thus producing more oil.

The reason skin issues begin to surface as a result, is because this over abundance of oil being produced, will eventually harden on the skin, trapping impurities underneath the skin’s surface.  When this happens breakouts are soon to follow.  For those with an oily skin a vicious cycle begins with them believing the culprit is their oily skin, when in fact, it has more to do with diet and fragrance or other harmful ingredients contained in their skin care.  Fragrance is the number one offender, so read the labels, even so-called “unscented” products may contain fragrance.

Aside from a healthy diet and plenty of water, a good cleansing oil should be a staple.  Oil breaks down oil, therefore, when you cleanse on a consistent basis with an oil cleanser first, you are essentially breaking down the oils causing debris to be embedded underneath the skin, and allowing the pores to be unobstructed.  Hence, allowing the skin to breath and clear of any breakouts and blemishes.  Following up with a natural, sulfate free cleanser is preferential for most people who use oil cleanser as the first step in their skin care regimen.

Two of my absolute favourite cleansing oils are: DHC ($20-$25) and Shu Uemura (starting at $30 and up). Shu Uemuracleansing oils are available in many different formulas. Both items are available online at the respective sites or on Amazon.