shu uemura x Sadaharu AOKI PAris

shu uemura x sadaharu aoki Paris

One of the most inspired and beautiful makeup collections this year comes from Japanese artistry brand shu uemura who has partnered with renowned pastry chef Sadaharu Aoki with sublime results. This limited edition collector collection is a true feast for the senses, bursting with luscious colour, tempting textures and mouth-watering fragrances. It truly is exquisite.

At first mention, the idea of a makeup brand partnering with a top pastry chef seems a little odd. But it does make sense when you hear the entire story. Mr. Sadaharu is an award-winning Japanese chef Patissier and true visionary. Arriving in Paris from Tokyo in 1991, he first landed a position with celebrated French chefs Jean Millet and Pierre Couderc where he honed his skills in classic French Patisserie.

Keen to bring his Japanese aesthetics and ingredients to his craft, he soon started experimenting with imaginative creations – such as black sesame eclairs and matcha macarons – causing a sensation in France. He began making bespoke patisseries for high-end hotels and restaurants. Fashion brands such as Kenzo, Christian Dior and Chanel hired him to bake for exclusive parties and dinners. Mr Aoki opened his first boutique in 2001. He’s now considered one of Japan’s finest pastry chefs famed for his exceptional, minimalist pastries with a distinctive ‘east meets west’ flavour.

When the shu uemura artistic team sat down with the chef, the goal was to design a selection of eye palettes and lipsticks inspired by the confectionary-perfection and rigorous skill of the master patissier. You’ll notice the makeup is built around two iconic Japanese flavours: a vibrant matcha green and an elegant azuki pink.

Patisserie-inspired eye palettes

The two star products in the collection are a pair of high-pigmented eye palettes in a range of soft shades and textures. The palettes are wrapped in shades of matcha green and azuki pink, glazed with the iconic lines of Mr. Sadaharu Aoiki’s signature cake designs. The bite-sized eye colour hues were hand-picked to blend seamlessly for a variety of looks. There is an exclusive new crushed-stone texture. Choose from matcha genoise or azuki feuilleté.

Dressing lips in a new glitter lacquer shine texture is meant to complement the eyeshadow colours. You’ll find a range of neutral and vibrant colours including cherry cream, mikan ginger, ume mousse, framboise crush and coral gelée.

Here’s what makes this makeup collection extra-special. Each lipstick and eye palette is infused with incredible gourmand fragrances that bring to life the corresponding design. There is a luscious aromatic matcha and a sweet asuki bean scent. It’s subtle and so romantic.

shu uemura is available in Canada at shuuemura.ca