Hi! This will be a post on how I apply my new cream foundation - the Shu Uemura Nobura foundation.

In the latest collection, Shu Uemura released a new version of the Nobura foundation, which comes in a stick form, which I guess is easier to apply, you just 'draw' the stick all over your face, and then use a brush/ sponge/ fingers to blend everything. But I like the pan form, and besides it is slightly cheaper, and I think more product too.  But I could be wrong.

Here is what the product claims to do, according to the Shu Uemura site:

"Nobara Cream Foundation, formulated to give the instant high coverage of a concealer with the smooth glide of a foundation....Three types of oils, gliding, light and emollient, combine to enhance the foundation’s spreadibility, creaminess and comfort felt when applied to the skin."

The first time I applied the foundation, I used my MAC 109 brush, knowing that it would shed like crazy, and indeed, after that one time of using it, I found a few black hairs IN the product, which I spent another 10 min painstakingly (the following day) trying to pick out the hairs without 'scratching' the foundation surface.  Yes, I am OCD like that. But shedding problem aside, the 109 brush applies this product beautifully.

So, I decided to try another brush the next time.  As you know, I bought the Essence of Beauty brushes, and til now, I have not even used any of them.  I remembered that the set comes with a MAC190 dupe brush... and this is how it looks like.

I am actually amazed at how soft this brush is.  The paddle shape is large enough to spread the foundation, and it is very tapered at the ends, which makes it really soft, and doesn't cause streaks which is what I am worried about, mainly.  The best thing, it doesn't shed all over the cream foundation.  And since the product is so creamy, I can use the other end of the brush to apply the foundation like a concealer.  A very effective dual-ended brush.  The whole set cost me $19.90, but I say for this brush alone, the price tag is worth it.  :)

The coverage isn't as thick as I thought it would be, in a good way.  The finish is quite satin, and soft looking.  In Wayne Goss' video review of this product, he says it photographs very well, and he gave it a 7 out of 10 for amount of coverage if applied on its own, without diluting it with water.   I agree on the coverage.  I supposed I can really layer on the foundation, and make it really thick and opaque, but since I will set the foundation with powder anyway, I see no point in having a thick foundation.

And as you know, I am a firm believer in getting a product which is very pigmented, rather than something light and watered down, which you end up wasting time and money trying to layer and pile on the product to achieve the desired effect.  So I would rather pay for something pigmented, and you just use a little product to achieve the true colors.  This logic applies to things like foundation, blushers and eyeshadows.  :)

So, how much do I like this cream foundation?  Well, I have only used it twice so far, and I think i am quite happy with it. - though I am not going to say right out it is my HG yet---still loyal to my MUFE routine!  While I still love my other foundations, I like having a variety to choose from, depending on my mood and what look I want for the day.  I have used Shu Uemura's powder foundation before, but somehow the product doesn't sit on my face very well, and looks cakey on my skin, which is surprising, as all their powder products are supposed to be very finely milled, and should blend into the skin perfectly.  I think in this aspect, the cream foundation beats the powder ones hands down, IMO.

Now, for a couple of pictures in which I am wearing the cream foundation.  I think I like how it turns out in the pictures.  Very natural, and looks flawless, though we all know I have all that bumps and stuff on my face, esp the forehead, but the rest of the face is turning out  nicely.

That's all, and thanks for reading yet another rambling post!