Launched in 1872, Japanese beauty brand Shiseido is the oldest cosmetics company in the world. But that doesn’t mean they’re stuck in the past. Their labs stay on top of the latest tech to continually push the boundaries of beauty.
Minimalist WhippedPowder Blush. $29.
Case in point — their Minimalist Whipped Powder Blush. This is not your grandma’s cream blush. This is air-whipped magic. Dot it gently onto the apples of your cheeks and it instantly transform into a weightless, breathable powder that glides easily into place. But unlike many powders this blends so well into the skin that it looks exactly like a natural flush on your cheeks. Like you’ve been for a nice walk outside in some crisp air. I have fairly pale skin with a slightly pink undertone and I tested out ‘Eiko’ and instantly fell in love with the natural healthy look it gave me. This just might be the best blush I’ve ever tried. And I’ve tried a lot of them. The price point isn’t what I’d call inexpensive, but at $29 it’s a justifiable splurge. Get it for yourself and your BFF — that way you can both keep that rosy holiday glow all year.
The Archliner.
Let’s face it, creating the perfect cat eye can be a serious struggle. But Shiseido’s taken all the guesswork out of it with their new Archliner Ink. The genius part of this liquid liner is that the super fine tip is perfectly angled to make it incredibly easy to line your entire eye, and get that perfect angle at the edges every single time. Not only was this liquid liner easy to put on, it stayed put for hours and is waterproof, smudge-proof and tear-proof. I love this liner and can say without a doubt that any beauty buff on your gift list will be thrilled to get this in their stocking. $22
micro liner.
Another Shiseido God-send is their MicroLiner Ink. Not to be dramatic but this liner kind of feels heaven sent. I’ve always loved the look of white eyeliner in the corners of the eye, a la Marilyn Monroe. Unfortunately, my eyes always get watery when I put the whites in the corners of my eye and before long the white liner or powder has either dissolved away or migrated down my face. But when I tried this look with Shiseido’s MicroLiner Ink (in white) it stayed perfectly in place. And there’s a reason it did — science. Something called thermo-sensory technology allows this pencil to transform from a solid to a liquid upon contact with skin. Then it creates a flexible, water-resistant film that lasts, and lasts. Up to 24 hours. That’s right you can party all night — hello New Year’s Eve — and your eyeliner will stay beautifully in place. One more thing to celebrate this season. $22
Editor’s note: That’s the author, Allison, in story pic, showing off her Shiseido new makeup look.