This foundation is definitely one of the best I've tried, and I've tried many previously top-rated ones on MUA. I had been using MAC studio fix (had to mix NC 15 and NC 20 to get the right colour) prior to this one, but it was still too pink for my asian skin tone. This foundation in 964 is perfect for my skin colour, the best match I've ever had, which I am extremely happy about.
The coverage, to me, is medium, easily buildable without looking too cakey. Compared to studio fix, it isn't as heavy but it does well to cover my uneven skin tone and acne scars.
It makes my skin feel really soft and smooth, and I can hardly feel it on. I have an extremely oily t-zone, but this foundation does well to keep my oil to a minimum.
The only aspect I think the foundation needs improvement on is the staying power. That said, the foundation is easily removable from my face at the end of the day, as well as from the aveda shammy cloth I use to take off my make up with.

Face Architect is definitely not HG, but it may be the closest I can get as far as balancing performance with my multitude of skin sensitivities.

Color-match: Best color selection ever for me! I am a very yellow-toned NC25 and get almost no sun in the winter. 754 is perfect for my tanner months, but once the weather gets cloudy, 764 melts perfectly into my skin. If you are East Asian and can't find a good match in foundation undertones, try out Shu!

Coverage: Straight from the bottle, this is medium-to-full coverage. Performs really well sheered out with moisturizer or even water though, so you can definitely customize this. One thing this doesn't mix well with is 'cones; it'll go fine over a silicone primer, but mixing them gets really weird, thick consistency.

Finish: Matte, but not powdery. Looks amazing from a distance, but up close, you better hope you exfoliated! This is one of my least favorite things about the foundation - looks cakey when I am dry.

Ingredients/skin-sensitivities: This has a fragrance! It fades pretty quickly on application, but on my super-sensitive days, I skip this foundation because the fragrance is a bit irritating. Water-based formula (I don't read much into this "deep-sea water" hoo-ha), which is good for those who are sensitive to cones and petroleums.

Packaging: The pump is amazing. You will never get those gross little clumps at the tip, even if you leave it on the shelf for months without using. A+

This foundation is Incredible.


I have tried nearly every high-end fluid available with a light-medium coverage suitable for combo/deyhdrated skin - Chanel, GA, Dior, Guerlain, Lancome, NARS, Bobbi Brown, Stila, and YSL....but Shu's Face Architect tops the lot.


I can't fault it - it applies beautifully without fault either with fingertips or brush, it has a glow without being wet or 'un-set', its so easy to blend and layer, it wears perfectly and is easily removed. The colour range is great (i'm NW/C20 and can use 774 or 784 in winter) and its reasonably priced given the quality. Packaging is great.


There's no scent and this is just the perfect foundation. Buy it.

Have been using this for 4 months plus now. Overall, I think this is a great product worth taking a look at. I like how light it feels on the skin, it's easy to blend out and the coverage is buildable to about full without looking cakey (since my skin has hyperpigmented scarring from acne). I have uneven textured skin from acne scarring too, and this is one of the few foundations I've tried so far that doesn't emphasise the uneveness. It hasn't broken me out. The color match is perfect for my skintone too. The negative so far is that it doesn't last that long especially over my T-zone which gets real oily, max 4-5 hours even with a primer and setting powder for me.

I'm returning this. For me to shell out $45 for a foundation, it has to be pretty much my HG which this wasn't. I first tried a sample right after I had a peel done on my face and I loved it. I was matched with 564 which of course my local Nordstorm did not have in stock so I ordered it from another Nordstrom which shipped it to me. By this time a couple weeks had gone by since my peel. I was so disappointed when I got it and wore it for the first day. I tried it a second and a third and couldn't justify keeping such an expensive foundation when I like my Revlon Photoready and Beyond Natural so much better. Like the reviewer below me said, you have to have pretty flake free and polished skin to wear this and I can't be giving myself peels every other day just so I can wear this foundation. It clung to all my dry patches and after a few hours I just looked dirty. I also think it wasn't the greatest color match either...a tad too yellow for me. I think if you have great, balanced skin then this would be perfect. Thank goodness Nordstrom will take it back.

This is a great foundation, I wish i could give it a 4.5.
It provides medium coverage with a nice natural finish. It isn't too matte and it isn't very dewy either. The color is wonderful. It looks like my skin but better. It covers my redness (around nose and cheeks) well. I was matched with 974 and it is perfect. The slight yellowness in it works to reduce my redness.
Overall I would say this is very similar to fresh umbrian clay foundation in coverage and finish. If either of them had a touch more dewiness they would be my HG. Since they don't I will use both and wait until i find the foundation of my dreams.
Warning- If your skin is dry this will not look good. I couldn't use this until I did a mask and a few nights of serum intervention. When i first tried it my skin was in first blast of winter shoock. This foundation was flaking all over my cheeks, not pretty.

I have been looking for a foundation to replace my Bare Minerals that I always come back to. I have tried to steer away from liquid foundation in the past, not liking the way it felt on my skin. However, when I wear this foundation it feels like I'm wearing nothing. I can wear it all day without my face getting oily or looking dry. This truly is a great foundation that lasts all day. It gives you that polished look without full coverage. Make sure to use it right after moisturizing or you will be able to see some dry patches.

I love this foundation thats is all I really have to say about it :( I have very acne prone skin that usually cant take any kind of foundation because I will break out like crazy but for some reason my skin loves this stuff! It doesnt really do anything to control ur oil so I usually have to blot within 3 hrs but it is worth it. This foundation gives such a great finish its incredible and helps cover up some redness. As for my acne scares it some what hides them but unless you are staring at my face you cant tell. Seriously you should give this a try :)
I also baught the 18 goat brush which was highly recomemded for this product and sadly my expectations were not met. IDK maybe Im doing it wrong but I fing the Sk flat top brush works better.

I've put this foundation on a variety of ways and there's just NO WAY to mess it up. I've used only my fingers to dab & smooth it on when I'm in a rush, I've used a sponge applicator to smooth it on, I've stippled it on with the MAC 187, and I've even used the Shu Natural 18 Foundation brush to apply it. However you choose to apply this, it goes on beautifully. It gives medium to medium-full coverage and has a bit of a powdery finish.

What I love is that this foundation never cakes and it lasts through an 8 hour day. I don't recall ever needing to touch-up my face with this foundation. I've seem some forums where people say this foundation has oxidized on them and turned orangey. I tested it out and I didn't have a problem with oxidization but I also disagreed with the original shade the SAs picked out for me. They chose #754 for me but it was a bit off - so I self-corrected afterwards.

The only real complaint I have is I can "feel" the foundation sitting on my skin as it's drying. Even though it dries fairly quickly, every now and then during the day I get that feeling of The Foundation is ON again.

Read the whole review + swatches at: http://beautytakesthecake.blogspot.com/2009/10/shu-uemura-face-architect-smoothing.html continued >>

It's about $40 for slightly less than 1 ounce of product. I am of Chinese descent and I have tanned skin with yellow undertones. I have never found a foundation that completely matches my skin under this. I tried it out at the Sephora store in Paris while I was on vacation and it matches my skin tone perfectly, stayed on for the entire day and didn't come off, at least noticeably. Blended perfected and my skin looked really natural and it didn't settle in the the fine lines I'm starting to get. I asked my boyfriend if he noticed that I was wearing makeup and he said, "What makeup?" He's either a smart cookie or my makeup really did look good.

Pros: you can build the coverage, natural looking, 934 is perfect for me, good texture, don't have to use a lot, covers my acne blemishes/freckles/large pores

cons: expensive, small amount

verdict: Nothing else has worked this well for me, this is HG for now.