Shu Uemura UV Under Base Mousse Tsuya Skin Swatches

At Fenwick's in London last month, I chanced upon the last remaining bottle of the Shu Uemura UV Under Base Mousse Tsuya Skin in the limited edition packaging from the Karl Lagerfeld holiday collection. Originally retailing at £29, it was marked down to £16 as part of the post-Christmas clearance sale. The Tsuya Skin version of the UV Under Base Mousse was originally released in September last year and it is part of the permanent range.

The peach-tinted mousse contains anti-aging skincare ingredients, namely rhamnose which helps to support cell regeneration. It provides a softly luminescent glowy finish while helping to conceal pores and fine lines.


Below are comparison swatches with the Beige and Pink versions of the UV Under Base Mousse as well as the Face Architect Sheer Refining Mousse Foundation in Light Beige.


Like the others, the Tsuya version pumps out of the bottle with a firm airy consistency that does not dissipate quickly.

The glowy finish of Tsuya is quite distinct from the soft matte finish of the other three. The Beige version is the most natural on my skintone, melding invisibly into my skin while the Pink version leaves a slight pale cast. The Mousse Foundation is the most yellow-toned and provides the most coverage.



Following a tip by Drivol About Frivol, I used a flat synthetic brush to gently pat on the Tsuya mousse. This helps to achieve a smoother, more flawless finish than using one's fingers. My pores appeared smaller and more refined, and it was easier to apply powder foundation afterwards with my Shiseido Perfect Brush. The pics below were taken after applying foundation. The glowy effect of the Tsuya mousse is rather subtle but it definitely does help the skin to look healthier and less dull.

The only drawback is that it has poorer oil control than the other UV Under Base Mousses. After just an hour, my T-zone was already shiny and needed blotting. While I like the overall effect and finish, I think the Tsuya mousse is more suitable for ladies who have dry, dull skin. I will continue to use it, but perhaps by skipping moisturiser beforehand. The Tsuya Mousse retails at S$65 in Singapore. Shu Uemura Singapore recently reduced their prices - see Makeup Blogette for more details. She has also reviewed the Blossom Dream spring collection, which I'll be skipping as matte pastels just don't thrill me.

On the lips, I'm wearing Fresh Sugar Tinted Lip Treatment in Passion, which is a great balm for parched lips.