Dangerous Liasons: Shu Uemura is Proving Addictive + News on an Exclusive Event

George Harrison was my favourite Beatle. He was a dark horse, and he had excellent facial hair. He also took the words right out of my mouth when he sang his famous makeup-inspired ditty*, which has been stuck in my head all week long: “I got my mind set on Shu/ I got my mind set on Shu/ I got my mind set on Shu/ I got my mind set on Shu/ But it’s gonna take money/ A whole lot of spending money / It's gonna take plenty of money/ To do it right child”.

Like George, I too am a Shu Uemura addict. It’s something of a recent addiction, but no less powerful for all that. It started off quite innocently: I was browsing for a birthday present and idly checked out their lash bar in Brown Thomas. Before you know it the friendliest, most enthusiastic counter assistant in the world had me perched up on a high stool for a gander at their lash curlers. Impressed was not the word. Well it was, but it was more like very impressed, so I came away with two (one each for me and my sister).

My Markus Lupfer palette; buy the empty palette and then fill with one blush and two shadows, two blushers, or four shadows in any combination you like!

I’ve since acquired a few more bits, like the gorgeous domed blusher from their new collection, and, for my birthday, a limited edition palette by German designer Markus Lupfer. It’s a beauty, complete with two eyeshadows and a glow blush, and packaged in an inky blue leopard print pattern. Lupfer’s collection is on counter at Brown Thomas now.

And I’ll be adding a few more bits on March 13th, when Shu Uemura’s Global Creative Director, Kakuyasu Uchiide, comes to Dublin to deliver a series of ‘backstage beauty’ master classes. It's an amazing opportunity: Kakuyasu trained directly under Mr Shu Uemura and took the reins when the great man passed away in 2007. He’ll be sharing his backstage secrets and his philosophy of makeup, which he describes with the word shin-zen-bi, Japanese for “truth, ethics, and beauty.”

Appointments are €30 but redeemable against purchase; book yours on counter or by calling 01 605 6666. But you’ll need to hurry: at the time of writing, places are nearly booked out. Did you snag one, and will I see you there?

*don’t quote me on this