Shiseido’s inventive new collection allows you to tackle extreme makeup trends without weighing you down.

@Shiseido has done a massive global overhaul of its makeup line, launching 132 new products into stores worldwide this month – the textures are amazing, I highly recommend you check them out when they land next Wednesday. (There’s a story about my top five picks in the new @fashionquarterly) Today I interviewed Shiseido international makeup artist Teruaki Shinjo, who’s come from Japan for the media launch on Wednesday night. Swipe for a look at a few of the new products – I’ll show a better look when I get some of my own samples. ♥️💄 #shiseido

A post shared by Megan Bedford (@meganbedford) on Aug 20, 2018 at 2:50am PDT

What’s so different about it?

Forget what you heard about the world of beauty. Just when you thought there simply couldn’t be anything ‘new’ to bring to the table, Shiseido’s vibrant new makeup collection has launched 127 items demanding touch and play. Exercising innovative textures and creative licence, the products bring back the joy in putting on makeup. You can create, draw, sculpt, build, blend and define your face however way you feel like it without feeling bogged down under layers and layers of foreign product. That’s right we’re talking making the visible feel invisible.

How we found it:

Glistening skin, seriously slick cat eyes and arms lined with swatches from the 74 lip shades in four finishes (yes, 74 was not a typo!) were the first giveaways of our Shiseido encounter. But what we found most distinct was the must-see-to-believe depth of pigment that ranges from everyday classic hues to high impact high-fashion trends.

Here’s our pick of five hero items for your beauty bag that deliver head-turning results:

VisionAiry Gel Lipstick, $50
The star player, this gem shows how far formulations have come, gliding on weightlessly yet leaving lips lush with dense colour. In our opinion, the buttery-smooth finish with a touch of shine is unmatched. The variety of reds in this 28-shade troupe is exciting enough, but the plums and nudes are sure to see plenty of action too.

Aura Dew, $55
As its name implies, skin looks touched with glimmering morning dew thanks to these three multi-use shades. What appears to be a pot of loose pigment picks up on fingers or a brush like a powder and blends almost like a cream for dense colour with that IRL KiraKira sparkle. It’s perfect to illuminate eyes and skin, or even pressed lightly on the centre of your lips for incredible dimension.

Kajal InkArtist, $45
This punchy, pigment-packed, easy-to-apply liner suits artistic types and novices alike. With a high water content, the application is drag-free, melting across skin with zero effort. The smudging tool is useful for creating smokey eyes, but ensure you work quickly as it’s budge-proof once set. Our favourite part is the way it looks freshly applied even hours after application.

Minimalist WhippedPowder Blush, $50
Blush amateur or authority? Here’s another must-have, regardless. The tiniest amount of soft mousseline whip blends swiftly when applied with fingertips, leaving a pretty velvet-matte flush that could easily be your own or intensified for a power-pop of colour.

Daiya Fude Face Duo Brush, $90
In a collision of tradition and technology, the sculpted shape and lacquer finish of five new brushes give a nod to Japan’s heritage and classic calligraphy while ploughing into the future with forward-thinking multi-use design. Our favourite is the dual-end Daiya with dense bristles to buff on liquids and diffuse powders for an airbrush-like finish. The opposite end’s angled gel dome works like a fingertip, gently massaging product into the skin. Look out for the unique flat-tip brush that can create both lip and eye lines, too.

The new colour collection is available from August 29 at Shiseido counters nationwide.