Wednesday, 9 May 2012

Shu Uemura Ultimate Natural Mascara review

I have used and liked Shu Uemura Basic Mascara in the past, so when I needed a new mascara recently I decided to repurchase it. Unfortunately, it's been discontinued and replaced with the Ultimate Natural Mascara. New is not necessarily improved.

When I was searching fruitlessly for the Basic Mascara, I was helped by a makeup artist in the Shu Uemura boutique who asked what I wanted in a mascara. My answer was 'Something to make my lashes darker but not clumpy.' 'Waterproof?' said he, 'No,' said I, 'I really don't like waterproof mascara.'

You know where this is going. The new Shu Uemura Ultimate Natural Mascara formulation is waterproof, as I found out when I tried to remove this the first time and lost half my lashes in the battle. The makeup artist didn't tell me it wasn't waterproof, but he didn't tell me it was either, after I'd specifically said I don't like waterproof mascaras.

Other than the waterproof thing, it's a nice mascara. It's a good sooty black, it doesn't clump and gives long, feathery lashes. The brush is narrow and neat, and very much my preferred brush size and shape.
Unfortunately, you need a heavy duty eye makeup remover to take it off and it makes my lashes feel crunchy. I persevered for a week, but it's going in the bin. It was a waste of £20 for me, but might be good for anyone looking for a waterproof mascara. Did I mention it's waterproof?

Mascara applied.
Posted by Grace London at 14:52
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44 comments:

  1. I was a devotee of Basic for years and found this disappointing too -- it seemed to fall in between two stools for me, not as natural/effortless to slick on as Basic, but nor did it give enough oomph to justify the care required. Also WILL not layer without clumping, so cue more tutting at the SA here.

    A possible new Japanese replacement is Little Witch Moisturising mascara, supposedly a serum based tubing one that leaves lashes soft and, well, moisturised.

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    1. I don't know why they changed it - Basic had such a good reputation and reviews. Bah Humbug.

      Thanks for the recommendation Kate, will do a google on the Little Witch (love the name!)

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  2. I'm not a big one for returning stuff but given that you were lied to, I'd call the counter manager and arrange to return it. £20 is £20 after all. As long as it doesn't require a long detour to do so that is.

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    1. I've wrestled with this already - I'm annoyed because I did specifically say 'I don't want a waterproof mascara' but the sales assistant didn't technically tell me it wasn't - he just didn't tell me it was. It's whether the £20 is worth the horrible scene I'm imagining when I try to return it. I won't be using that shop again though, which has cost them more than the £20 refund.

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    2. Totally take it back. If you specifically stated you didn't want something waterproof, and you were sold something waterproof (whether they mentioned it or not), then it's been mis-sold.

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  3. What? it's discontinued and the new one is waterproof? Damn! I loved the basic mascara, it was perfect for everyday use. Thanks for the warning, I have a sincere dislike for waterproof mascaras and would have probably bought the replacement mascara only to regret it later.

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    1. Well, at least I've saved you from the same mistake :D

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    2. Yeap, and thanks a lot for that! Also, I am with everybody here. You should take it back. He may not have specifically told you it is waterproof, but you very specifically asked for non-waterproof. If they want to play semantics then so be it. Heck, I've studied linguistics, I can provide them with an analysis of what went wrong in this communication.

      It's because of incidents like this that I don't trust SAs any more and I never buy something I see and like straight away. I come back home and check for whatever info I can find on-line.

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  4. I hate waterproof mascaras, as I used to have false eyelashes applied every three weeks which unfortunately decreased the volume of lashes I have. So I try to stay clear of Waterproof mascaras so I don't spend ages using Eye Remover. My friend mentioned a product from Agenda Beauty called Lashink Conditioning. I was a bit dubious as I haven't heard from them before, but they did an offer where I got a free blusher so I ordered. I have to admit I really like the product. Maybe give it a go

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    1. Yes, that waterproof mascara >heavy duty eye makeup remover combination kills my lashes. Thanks for the recommendation.

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    2. I tried this mascara it was pants. Basic was quite good though and so was length and something or another, the one with a tiny brush. Precise was ok too, just the new ones are rubbish.

      Anyway I think most Japanese mascaras by default are waterproof. 98% probably and they are so hard to remove although I have my routine down now because it's all I can wear.

      Although tubing mascaras are great - they come off so easily shame I haven't found one that holds curl too.

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    3. I don't know if Suqqu claim to be waterproof or not, but I've never had problems removing their mascara with my normal cleanser. This one really required a nuclear option to get it off completely - not even a balm cleanser would fully shift it.

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    4. pbi: is the suqqu one good?

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    5. Hi Stephanie - the Suqqu one is excellent. I should go back to it. It does contain some fibres in it (which I know some people prefer to avoid) but I never had any problems with those shedding or irritating my contacts (fibre mascaras can sometimes do this.) The Suqqu eyelash base is very good too.

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    6. I really enjoyed it when Tomoko @ selfridges put it on me, but I wasn't sure how easy it'd be to use by myself. I suck at applying mascara. It _was_ very easy to remove tho. and yes! I hate it when my lashes come off when I remove mascara -- my lashes are sparse enough; it's so alarming :(

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    7. I find the brush shape is the most important thing for me - with a wide/christmas tree brush I invariably end up daubing mascara on my eyelid. I like a neat, narrow brush.

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  5. I really liked the Basic one, although it's been ages since I used it so I didn't realise it had been discontinued. I thought that was a popular one by them?
    I agree with GreatSheElephant and Get Lippie. Maybe ring the counter beforehand and see what they say?

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    1. Basic was an excellent mascara - I have no idea why they discontinued it. I should be brave and ring, at least!

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  6. I'm glad you wrote about this, I purchased this mascara a few months ago. I do actually like it, all except when it comes to the removal of it. Like you said, it needs something nuclear to get it off completely! I go through I don't know how many cotton pads - not good. And still I sometimes wake up with smudgy undereye residue. Frustrating stuff!

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    1. It's a complete bugger to remove. I can't be doing with a separate eye make up remover on a regular basis, I'm afraid - I have my evening routine down to a 5-10 minute thing.

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    2. I too use an impossible to shift waterproof mascara, but NOTHING gets it off with greater ease than my recent discovery of Almond Oil. Sorry if this is old news but its a revelation to me and gets the gunk off within seconds. Cheap as chips too.

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    3. I'll have to give that a try Kate - I ended up using a sample of eye makeup remover I had.

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  7. Coming from a makeup artist, the lack of service you received is a shame. You should exchange the mascara, obviously someone wasn't paying attention, and that is how to address the situation. So sad when I see these kind of things. Esp when I think of all the women who aren't as savvy, being matched for foundations incorrectly to being prescribed faulty eyelash formulas.

    Also the lashes look terrible! For shame, Shu Uemera ... FOR SHAME

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    1. Basic was such a good mascara too - *sniff*

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  8. I hate it when stuff like that happens. I was in a Mac store for the first time a few weeks ago, and not only was the SA incredibly rude, when I got home and googled the palette I bought, it turned out she'd over charged me by £13. This was after I'd thrown the bag and receipt away on the train home >.<

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    http://lipstickedlouise.blogspot.com/

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  9. You should try the By Terry Growth Booster Mascara if you like a natural look. It's really lovely, though I'm not sure about the eyelash growth boosting qualities. I usually apply it at the root of the lashes first and then use what's left on the wand for the tips. Really superb!

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    1. Thanks Eva, will have a look at that one.

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  10. WOW, you're a moaning mini. The one thing I've come to love is how bloggers, like yourself, hide behind your written words & feel empowered by this. I used to work in a shop a while back & had to deal with trash talkers like you all the time, all I wanted to do was really tell you where to stick it & possibly physically throw you out the store but alas my parents raised me to be a decent human being. I read a bit of

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    1. But of course, spewing anonymous bile on the internet is extremely brave of you. I don't think basic honesty is an unreasonable requirement in a commercial transaction.

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    2. I guess you'd rather Grace just let SAs like this mis-sell items. Maybe if you experienced that yourself more often you'd be more sympathetic!

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  11. You should absolutely take it back. It has been mis-sold under the Trading Standards Act.

    And Anonymous,

    Reading your comments tell me three things:
    1. You're not a blogger
    2. You don't like or read blogs regularly if you think Grace - one of the fairest bloggers out there - is a moaning mini - and erm HI - her picture is there for all to see - no hiding to be had on this blog
    3. You are the kind of person that gives shop floor people a bad name

    Oh my bad - 4: You quite possibly work for Shu - maybe in a PR fashion?

    Grow a spine and put your name to your claim you big 'decent human being' you.

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    1. sadly, while I agree that the shop should take it back asap, I don't think the Act would apply. (I'm guessing you're talking about the Sale of Goods Act 1979). There's an implied term that the goods should match the description but short of the SA describing the item as non-WP I doubt there's much of a case.

      the law can be an annoying thing. but if I were the shop, to hell with the law; goodwill is more important.

      hope they take it back, Grace!! (and I really hope it isn't space.nk you got it from :S)

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    2. I really, really hope 4 isn't true, particularly as the Shu PR has actually emailed me to apologise for this (although we've had to agree to disagree about the formula!)

      That's the problem with anon commenters, and this one had an IP address blocker on so they didn't come up in my statcounter either.

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    3. ..and I agree with Stephanie on the legal point :) - and it wasn't SpaceNK.

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    4. phew hehe.

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    5. Not to be anal and long serving in the customer services field (but I am) :) - the Sale of Goods Act - which comes under the Trading Standards Act - states that the goods must be 'of satisfactory quality, as described and fit for their purpose'. If you clearly stated what you wanted - and most importantly - didn't want - then the onus is on the store to prove otherwise.
      They are not 'fit for purpose'.
      And yes, I'm disgusted that I know that from memory. I have worked for some horrible, horrible people. :)

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  12. Hi, I was a long, long, long time user of Basic, and went into complete meltdown last year when I heard it was discontinued. I also had the same misgivings as you with the new one being waterproof. However, after I gad got used to the new texture and altogether 'differentness' of Ultimate Natural compared to Basic, I actually really like it now, and love it for being what it says on the tin - natural. It applies well, doesn't clump or flake, and is nice and soft. I don't have problems taking it off! I actually have worse problems with the Suqqu non fibre one (can't remember its name); I use the Saaf cleanser to remove my make up and it's not a problem at all, and gentle on my lashes with no rubbing... I like it so much I stocked up and got it in brown too... I think you def need oil to dissolve it. Could you poss have got a duff/open/used one? Weird that we had such different experiences.

    Erm, hello bizarro anonymous - how on *earth* do you justify your comment that Grace hides behind her words, and what did you think you'd achieve by making that comment? I agree with Mrs Hirons. Come back and have another go if you think you're hard enough.

    Thanks for another well written observational post, Grace.

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    1. Hi Jo - I used the Oskia cleanser with it and then a NARS eye makeup - maybe I need to try an oilier balm cleanser. I have some Saaf, so I might do another experiment and see how I get on! Thanks. x

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  13. I'm glad you posted about this, I caught a fraction of it on Twitter the other day. I'm with the take it back brigade or a letter. I too have a big issue taking waterproof off, it can leave my eyes feeling gritty for days because of the work needed to dislodge it from my very fair lashes. I've stuck with Blinc if I want something waterproof - the tubes slide off with no irritation. What I ask is the point of having a makeup artist/ sales assistant on a counter if they don't listen to a basic request like NOT waterproof. x

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    1. Thanks, H. It's fine (and great) for those specifically looking for something that doesn't budge, but I'd rather less hassle in the removing for myself.

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  14. I'm not a fan of waterproof ones either, very annoying for you to be misadvised. Do you recall what eye shadow you are wearing in the photo as its so very pretty?
    Well not sure what to make of that anon comment, the only time I've heard about moaning mini's is on the Sooty show!
    x

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    1. Hi Replica - it's the Shu eyeshadow in G White Gold over a taupe shadow. I really like the eyeshadow :)

      Maybe anon was a Sooty fan :D

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