Shu Uemura's popular oil-based skin cleanser gets a bright new lease on life from manga comics

One of the fetching, kimono-clad geishas of Moyoco Anno's manga comics will appear in your mirror now that celebrated cosmetics maker Shu Uemura has tapped the artist to create Tokyo Kamon Girls, a new look for its cleansing oil.

Anno's charming portraits were on display at the product's recent launch at CentralWorld, catching the eye of singing duo Four Mod and other guests.

Shu Uemura, the brand named after the founding makeup artist, has as its motto, "Beautiful makeup starts with beautiful skin," emphasising the need for good skincare.

The cleansing oils it sells were developed in the wake of Uemura's stint in Hollywood in the 1950s, a strategic combination of science, art and nature.

Moyoco Anno, famous in Japan, was brought in to revamp the popular cleansing oil's traditional image.

The deep-cleansing oil not only serves as a makeup remover, it brightens and cleans the skin.

You use dry hands to rub the oil in, then run hands under water and wash away the oil. The oil becomes a milky liquid that washes away any oil residue, leaving you with flawless, healthy skin.

The packaging features five different Tokyo Kamon Girl characters, each representing a different skin type. They're all doll-like in appearance, with the focus on the eyes, a sure way to grab the attention of teenagers.-The Nation/ANN