Shu Uemura x Tsumori Chisato

The Tsumori Chisato collection has been launched at the Shu Uemura counter in Takashimaya so I dropped by today to check it out. The large cosmetics case costs an incredible S$140. It is very cushy and has an inner pocket, if I recall correctly. It's adorable but is it worth S$140? Well, that's really up to the individual to decide. Tsumori Chisato is an expensive brand in general in Japan and this case sold out in a flash in Japan so it is a true collectible.

I didn't get to ask about the prices of the other products but in general, I thought the makeup items looked nice but not truly outstanding or holy-grail quality. It's still largely the whimsical packaging that is the main attraction.

A reader asked for my opinion on whether the main reason behind limited edition items not selling out as quickly in Singapore, as compared to Japan and Taiwan, is mainly due to the higher price points in Singapore. I think aside from the fact that Shu Uemura is more expensive here, another factor could be that Singapore has a much smaller population of female consumers who are into makeup, compared to Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong. In Japan, almost every woman wears makeup and it's considered rude not to wear some to make oneself presentable. Japanese consumers are also much more willing to spend on pricey, limited edition makeup items. In my office, I would say at most half of women wear makeup regularly. In contrast, Singaporean women spend much more willingly on clothes and shoes.

If cosmetics prices were lower in Singapore, women may spend more. But the unfortunate trend seems to be for prices to increase every year instead. MAC has been getting more expensive with a Mineralize blush now costing S$44. Dior also raised its eyeshadow palette prices this year with some going for S$91 now. Maybe it is because even at these prices, the regular customers still keep buying. Bobbi Brown's limited edition palettes always sell out.

As consumers, we can only be more selective about what we buy. Personally, I always try to buy only at stores where I can get a rebate or points or during sales. But if it's something I really want, I usually just bite the bullet and hand over my credit card, then cut back on some other expenditure (like buy less magazines). 'Cos life's short and unpredictable so we should enjoy it while we can, as long as we have the means :-)