Art in a bottle

Thanks to the wonders of makeup, makeup artists can transform a celebrity’s blank-canvas face into a beautiful masterpiece – to go with a star’s designer clothes, sexy shoes and shimmering jewels for walks on the red carpet. Fact is, makeup can enhance one’s features, and it can even bring out a totally different-looking person.

But the biggest no-no in every beauty rulebook is not removing makeup when one gets home. Yes, dear, too much chemicals are bad for the face, especially the hardcore waterproof and all-day-wear stuff.

Sad thing is, the basic cleansing regimen of washing the face with soap and water is not enough. There will still be traces of stubborn makeup left. With this celebrity and non-celebrity need in mind, Shu Uemura (Hollywood makeup artist of the ’50s) developed an oil cleanser that purifies the skin from deep within. This is enough to put women at ease.

A misconception: oil is bad for the skin because it will clog the pores and create more damage. But the famous Shu cleansing oil revolutionized skincare. This one-step makeup remover made from high-quality vegetable oils (carrot, corn, tomato and avocado) and depsea water removes all traces of makeup, sebum, perspiration, dust and dirt. It leaves the skin clean and comfortable.

Actually, after a long day when I look tired and worn down, this oil really lifts off all the makeup, rinses off surprisingly well, and leaves my face feeling clean and hydrated. Oh, and my face becomes as soft as a petal. Stars like Gwyneth Paltrow, Sharon Osbourne, Debra Messing, and Cate Blanchett use this celebrity beauty product.

Last year, Shu Uemura commissioned artist Ai Yamaguchi (protégé of Takashi Murakami, designer of Louis Vuitton bags) to create the first series of Shu by Ai Limited Edition Cleansing Oils. Since the launch was so successful, Shu decided to work with Ai again to adorn bottles with her artwork for his most emblematic product.

"For this year, Shu Uemura and Ai Yamaguchi drew inspiration from the beauty of nature in all its colors in the changing season," says Shu Uemura business unit manager Tina Tinio. "Using the concept of ‘flower language’ or Hana Kotaba, Ai’s collection pays tribute to the cycles of life – with the story depicting the maturity of a fairy."

The concept: A pretty fairy emerges from a flower in springtime. The product: the transparent Fresh High-Performance Cleansing Oil has a smooth and light texture with an awakening scent, perfect for combination to oily skin. This oil contains cherry extracts that refine the skin, leaving it fresh after washing. The artwork is based on a blooming peach where a fairy wakes up from deep sleep. How cute!

Summer is a time of discovery and the flow of energy. The Shu Premium-Performance Cleansing Oil is good for aging skin. It contains green tea extracts that prevent skin oxidation. Here, the artwork on the bottle shows a girl who finally meets the world. How exciting!

Maturity grows during autumn. For this season, the High-Performance Cleansing Oil with orange and tomato is good for normal to dry skin. It leaves a pampered effect and a comfortable feel after washing. The flower language of this artwork shows falling leaves with a girl being reminded of the past seasons. How inspiring!

Winter is when calmness arrives. The Classic Oil – the original Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil – suits all skin conditions. It balances the skin after washing, leaving it moisturized at the same time. The bottle shows the girl finally sleeping, dazed with calmness. How peaceful!

Ai Yamaguchi’s artwork does not end with just the bottles. If you want to collect more of her cute, Japanese pop artsy creations, there is a collector’s gift box and paper bag. The pack includes the four oils in a modern black box (inspired by traditional Japanese boxes) decorated with Yamaguchi’s artwork of the four seasons.

Aside from the oil set, I just love Yamaguchi’s black compact with her cherry blossom design. The great thing about this compact is that aside from the mirror having a lovely girl design, it can hold your favorite Shu products like eye shadow and blush or pressed powder. So, you can take her art wherever you may roam.

And as a celebration of the fusion of art, nature and beauty, Shu Uemura and Motorola will be holding the Shu by Ai-PEBL Launch Party on Nov. 9 at the Loft, Rockwell. The highlight of the event will be an auction for Yamaguchi’s limited-edition Hake Brush set (kabuki makeup brushes mounted on panels depicting the seasons) and her lithographs which are just super cool.

"Adhering to Mr. Shu Uemura’s philosophy of ‘Beauty without boundaries’ and that ‘Children are the artists of the future,’ a portion of the sales will benefit the L’Arche Foundation, a charity for special children," explains Tinio.

Shu Uemura once said makeup begins and ends with cleansing. So, if you want beautiful, more radiant and luminous skin, make cleansing oil the start of your beauty rituals.

Tinio concludes, "The High-Performance Cleansing Oils are not simply beauty products – they are a part of a greater vision: beautifying the world around us."

Hey, and you get to appreciate J-Pop artsy stuff, as well.

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The Shu by Ai limited-edition Cleansing Oils are available at Shu Uemura counters in Rustan’s Makati and Rustan’s Shangri-La Plaza Mall.