SUQQU Blend Color Eyeshadow #16 Hanashoubu

Last Spring, SUQQU released 3 Blend Color Eyeshadow palettes to their permanent line-up, but they were snapped up on Selfridges right away, and every time they come back in stock they are gone in a heartbeat. So when a dear friend was in Bangkok recently and offered to bring back some SUQQU, I requested for #16 Hanashoubu!

Hanashoubu is unique from other SUQQU palettes that I’ve encountered because it has not just 1 or 2… but a whopping 4 shimmery shades! Before you run in fear, rest assured that SUQQU shimmers are really fine and elegant, think ladylike, never disco.

The swatches from left to right correspond to the shades on palette in clockwise direction starting from bottom left:

• Medium purple with pink and blue shimmers.  Clearly, this is the star of this palette, and it is incredibly pretty worn on its own.  It is also pigmented enough to be used as a liner, which is very on trend at the moment; but its also easily blended out to be layered over one of the other shades in this palette.
• Pale shimmery ivory with a slight frosted finish.  This is an unexpected turn as SUQQU palettes typically feature a matte base, which indicates to me this is not intended to be a base but a highlighter to bring a sparkle to the inner corner, or even the lower lash line.
• Medium satin brown with very sparse and fine (almost invisible) shimmers that give the shade added depth, making it more than just another brown shade.  This is an interesting shade as it is not very pigmented, and actually is rather weak as a liner shade (as is typical of browns in Japanese palettes).  Instead, it makes a very interesting darkening base to layer over the other shades.
• Very pale shimmery pink that applies slightly sheer.  This is the perfect accompaniment to be layered on top of either the purple or the brown to add more sparkles, or just dab over the center of the eye for dimension.

Having worn EX-20 all layered together, I wanted to try something different with Hanashoubu.

In this look: Guerlain Super Aqua-Serum BB Hydra+ on face, set with SUQQU Nuancing Loose Powder. SUQQU Blend Color Eyeshadow 16 Hanashoubu on eyes. Tarte Amazonian Clay blush in Dazzled on cheeks. Giorgio Armani Rouge Ecstasy 302 on lips. Finished with Guerlain Aquarella Meteorites all over.

For the eyes, I started by applying the pale shimmery pink all over the lid as a base, followed by the medium brown all over the upper lid, darkening at the outer corners.  Dabbed a little of the pale ivory on the center and also in the inner corner to brighten the eye.  And lined my lower lash line with purple.  I also applied the brown with a damp brown as a liner along the upper lash line just to complete the look.

Something different from SUQQU, with 2 mid-toned shades both meant to be used either layered together or individually.  And certainly quite a unique brown that I feel happy enough wearing all over my lid on its own, something I hardly ever do.  The 2 pale shimmery shades add a twist to everything and works really well layered under and over.  I really love palettes that offer complexity and yet are straightforward enough to be used whichever way you desire. Hanashoubu is certainly one of those wonderful creations!

xoxo