SUQQU Face Color Palette EX-01

SUQQU Face Color Palette in EX-01 is part of SUQQU Fall 2011 collection and it was a limited edition. This palette has 12.4g of products and consists both a face contour pressed powder and blush.

When I heard about this release I have asked my friend Momo-chan to grab one of this gem for me from Hankyu Department Store in Uemeda. However it took quite a while to reach me since my friend got very busy with her volunteering job at her kids' school (PTA committee).

The size of this face palette is a little smaller than the regular eyeshadow quad, but a bit thick than the usual duo blush because it has 2 levels of compartments.

The top compartment is used for housing 2 very top notch quality face and blush brush:

These brushes are made of very high quality horse hair and are very soft to the touch. Somehow I wished these are a bit bigger for easier application, but hey, maybe it's their strategy to lure customers to buy their full size brushes?? (But I cannot justify myself to spend $168 GBP (~US$260) for their full sized face powder brush??)

Second level house 3 strips of face powder to the left and 2 strips of blush powder to the right:

Back of the case, with details of the product, image courtesy of the black panties:

A closer look at Face Powder Palette EX-01:

under diffused sun by the window

under shade

Now, moving on to swatches:

[Face color]

A: A nudy face color color that may show up better with skintone of NC-20 or lighter. It barely show up with my NC-25 skintone, however the powder is very fine and smooth to touch.

B: A matte highlighter color that I think is similar to the base product included in every SUQQU eyeshadow quad. I can see myself using it to highlight my C-curve area but I doubt if it will even show up on me, but regardless of that, the I can use this finely milled textured powder as a base for my blush or even brown bone area.

C: A pearly highlighter with a slight sheen to it. Perfect to highlight the nose bridge area for a 3D effect. When compared to another highlight powder I own (Guerlain Meteorites) this is far superior and looks more natural on me, and the powder is much finer and the lasting power is far superior.

[Cheek color]

D: The narrower blush strip with a cool tone fushica pink kind of blush color with noticeable shimmers, but with a very buttery texture to it.

E: Matte warmer pink color that is very flattering to most skintone of NC-25 or lighter. Non-cakey or powdery at all.

(note: because I am using my own blush brush that is much larger, it is hard to selectively pick up blush color D or E for application. See FOTD in the end for a mixed 

slightly blurred to enhance the shimmers in color B, C and D

under sun

slightly under shade

Finally, ending with a FOTD (heehee, my very first attempt with a full face FOTD!):

Eyes: SUQQU Blend Color Eyeshadow 05 Sakurakaba

Brows: B&C Labo Browlash EX Eyebrow pencil and liquid (grayish brown)

Face: Sofina Primavista Long Keep Base UV, SUQQU Frame Fix Foundation

Cheeks: SUQQU Face Color Palette EX-01

Lips: Coffret D'or Bright Up Rouge Creamy Long Lasting lipstick BE-201

This blog basically concludes my SUQQU collection up until this point in the summer of 2012. Please stay tuned for an updated blog post about my current SUQQU collection as of summer 2012!!

SUQQU Blend Color Eyeshadow EX-06 Usuchaori

SUQQU Blend Color Eyeshadow EX-06 Usachaori (淡茶織)  was actually a limited edition shade from the Xmas 2011 Coffret Set B that I have received back in December from my lovely pal from Japan Kazue^^

EX-06 Usachaori (淡茶織) embraces the meaning of "cashmere, the precious gem in the world of woven textiles," and indeed the ultra smooth and silk texture of this high quality palette is a definite luxurious treat to my eyes!! And the reason I chose this over Kit A EX-05 Usumomokurumi (淡桃包)is because I am a huge neutral brown freak and I see myself reaching neutral browns for my everyday makeup than a cool smoky shade.

Other bloggers have blogged about with excellent in-depth reviews and swatches, please refer to drivel about frivol,  a touch of blusher, and fruitty lashes for more information/swatches!

The coffret set came with a off-white cream colored original pouch (very high quality, not the normal GWP pouches that you will receive, SUQQU eye cream R (0.14g) and an eye make up remover R (50m). I have finished using the eye cream during the winter months, and I think its heavy consistency is perfect for winter months but maybe a problem for the muggy summer months.

Comparsion of the X'mas eyeshadow casing (left) with regular eyeshadow casing (right, note the specks you see on the regular one is indeed dust! But the speckles you see on the X'mas one is real specks of glitter, not dust!)

More pictures of this lovely EX-06 Usuchaori palette:

natural sunlight by the window to the right

natural sunlight by the window to the left

under shade

A: A very light color grayish-beige toned taupe, with very fine gold-toned shimmers. To my NC-25 skin tone, I call it a borderline shimmer/satin sheen that will work on me as highlights at the center of my lids/inner corners of my eyes/lower lashline. Texture of this is extremely smooth, and no fall-outs during application.

B: A pigmented peachy gold color, with noticeable pearly shimmers in it. The actual swatch itself looks very flattering on my NC-25 skintone. This is a very lovely and versatile color that I will see myself reaching out a lot for a nice nude eyes everyday look.

C: A very pigmented and rich medium to dark taupe, and it has very pretty fine pink/bronze shimmers that compliment color "B" very well, and it works on my NC-25 skintone.

D: A matte ivory white primer/base color, typical of SUQQU quad palette.

Texture of this is extremely smooth, and no fall-outs during application. This palette overall is not as pigmented as some of the other collection offered by SUQQU, but I find it very work appropriate with the right balance of pigmentation.

With one swatches on my fingers:

Swatches under the back of my arm:

under light, by the window

under shade

In terms of texture, this palette again meets my expectations with SUQQU, which is smooth and silky, and application is very easy without any fall outs. I truly think this palette is very appropriate for work with a subtle balance of pigmentation and shimmer. 

EOTD with EX-06 Usuchaori:

The color combination of EX-06 Usuchaori is a fool proof neutral brown that will work perfectly for low key office lady look, however, I do understand that some people may find the colors a tad too light on the pigmentation but honestly I do not mind it, because I have other eyeshadows I can go to if I want pigmentation. I do love the naked eye look that this palette offers!

Finally, ending with a FOTD look:

Eyes: SUQQU Blend Color Eyeshadow EX-06 Usuchaori
Brows: B&C Labo Browlash EX Eyebrow pencil and liquid (grayish brown)
Face: base-Sofina Beaute whitening sunscreen SPF50 (moist), foundation-SUQQU Frame Fix Foundation
Cheeks: ADDICTION cheeks in
Lips: Coffret D'or Full Styling Rouge Glow RS-244 and Jill Stuart Jelly Lip Gloss in 29 sweet azaela

I am glad that I made the decision asking my friend in Japan to haul this limited edition coffret set for me. Not only the eyeshadow is totally "my cup of tea" in terms its usability on everyday makeup for the office, I also get to try the skincare range and the most important is the limited edition gold powder spray on the casing!! Lame I know, but I am always a sucker for limited edition packaging! Now my SUQQU collection has another member joining the family! LOL!!

SUQQU Blend Color Eyeshadow 07 Komorebi

Getting 07 Komorebi was totally unexpected because I was such a big brown neutral freak... 

(But actually before I was in this total make up phase which started at about 1.5 years ago, when I was still in my early stages in college, I did love putting on wild colors like greens or yellows or both as my eye makeup staple! *blush* on no knowledge of proper makeup!!)

I have long heard my fellow blogger Sue Lynn raving about Komorebi and a while ago I spotted this little gem going for US$50 on ebay. Knowing SUQQU palettes retail for 7140 yen (~US$90) or 45 GBP (~US$70) I immediately knew this is such a great deal that I should snatch it. I am glad I did!

A closer look at 07 Komorebi:

07 Komorebi, along with 08 Mizuaoi was part of a limited edition set in early 2011 (with a EX prefix) but shortly after that in Fall 2011 they became permanent items in the line up.




What does Komorebi 木漏日 means? When I did a search online, this is what I get:

木漏れ日 (komorebi)

木漏れ日(komorebi) means sunbeams streaming through the leaves of trees, we show this meaning one word (vocabulary ) in Japanese.

Actually this is quite a poetic name for a palette, which is very typical with SUQQU's naming convention. I think the green color is this palette has a lot to do with the leaves and the play of light and shadows are reflected in the palette's shimmers and neutral shades.

Beauty blogger Sue Lynn has a detailed review post with swatches here and Sunny May has her full review, swatches, and EOTD looks here in Chinese. Another Chinese blogger reviewed Komorebi in Chinese here.

Moving on to a closer look of this eyeshadow quad 07 Komorebi:

under sun

under shade

As you can see both color "A" and "B" are gleaming with pretty micro shimmers from the 2 images above. They are just so pretty to just look at them!

A: A shimmery peachy pink shade packed with micro gold and pink shimmer particles which are not chunky and I didn't experience any fall out from these shimmer. I think this color will look much flattering for ladies with paler skintones, but nevertheless I love this kind of peachy pink colors(reminded me of the peachy shades from 05 Sakurakaba and 11 Himesango as well). Texture of this is extremely smooth.

B: A shimmery lime/mint green kind of color, with slightly smaller shimmers than "A".  Hints of gold and green flecks of shimmer.  

C: A very pigmented and rich espresso brown color, which also contains the slightest coppery sheen to it. It works beautifully on my NC-25 skintone.

D: A matte off white primer/base color, typical of SUQQU quad palette.

Texture of this is extremely smooth, and no fall-outs during application. The the level of shimmers is very subtle but I am getting cautious on the green color as I fear piling too much of this shade on my lids will result in a frosty kind of finish... .

Swatches:

you can see the coppery sheen in color "C" in this image

the gold flecks in colors "A" and "B" are more prominent in this image

under sun

under shade

Speaking of its texture, this palette again meets my expectations with SUQQU, which is smooth and silky, and application is very easy without any fall outs. The color selection is this palette reminds me of a fresh spring/summer kind of mood. 

EOTD with 07 Komorebi:

A twist of 07 Komorebi with using green as an undereye liner color:

I found another EOTD with a smoky application of 07 Komorebi:

[Image courtesy of pukeglitter]

Finally, ending with a FOTD:

Eyes: SUQQU Blend Color Eyeshadow 07 Komorebi

Brows: B&C Labo Browlash EX Eyebrow pencil and liquid (grayish brown)

Face: base-Sonia Rykiel Smoothing Gel Base, foundation-SUQQU Frame Fix Foundation

Cheeks: SUQQU Nuancing Cheeks Ex-02 Akanemizu

Lips: Maquillage Essence Glamour Rouge BE 790

Final thoughts. The price I paid for this palette is definitely a steal but I still need more practice on how to make this palette work out for me as I am usually more comfortable using warm neutrals are part of my staple makeup. I am sure if this palette combination will look great on me once I master the right application because I know from the swatches there are great potentials with the pink and green shades. I just need to practice more with this palette, as always, practice makes perfect! Stay tuned!