WHAT: The latest version of Japanese brand Shu Uemura's classic UV Underbase Mousse, a primer/sunscreen. What's new? A new combination of sebum-absorbing powders supposedly absorbs shine for longer, conceals pores, helps keep foundation immaculate all day, and makes skin appear flawless, without compromising the ultra-light texture and high SPF. Micro-pearl powder adds luminosity too.
Shu Uemura UVUB POREraser SPF35 PA+++, $60, is available at all Shu Uemura counters in two shades; pink for fair skin and beige for medium tones.
REVIEW: The previous version of Shu Uemura's UVUB Mousse, which came out a couple of years ago, was good. How good? Put it like this: When I was a beauty editor and had to wade through bags of products to reach my desk, and said desk was groaning under the weight of free primers to try (I know, your heart bleeds for me), I would actually go to a shop and buy this stuff.
What was the draw? It functioned perfectly as both primer and daily sunscreen. It was as light as air, thanks to the mousse texture, and left skin feeling soft, but not overloaded. And it kept my makeup intact nearly all day long. So when I heard they were changing the formulation, obviously, I was worried. What if they alter it so it stops doing the things I like and starts doing a whole load of other things?
It's good news: The benefits of the previous version remain, but with all the right improvements. The texture seems even lighter than before, it dries almost instantly (after a few seconds of playtime so you can blend) and the finish is absolutely flawless - POREraser by name and nature. It's so good that if you don't need much coverage, you can skip foundation altogether. When you do add foundation, it's a winning combo. Liquids and powders are easy to smooth on and blend, and they last through a full working day, with no need for touch-ups.
Not impressed yet? In the interest of thoroughness, I went for a swim with full makeup to see how the Shu Uemura UVUB POREraser SPF35 PA+++ stood up to an hour-long session of laps. How did it fare? It wasn't perfect - I mean, I wouldn't have headed from the pool to my wedding - but my makeup was more-or-less intact.
It's not without faults: Portion control is a little sketchy (as was that of the previous version). You need around half a pump to cover your whole face and sometimes it's hard to get such a precise amount, so there is some wastage. If you're looking for something hydrating or line-blurring, this may not be for you. But if, like most of us, you want a primer that provides good sun-protection and will make your foundation smudge- and streak-proof, wherever your day takes you, POREraser is a winner.
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