SUQQU Designing Color Eyes 02 Hikaritouka is all kinds of Mauve-y Love!

Some eyeshadow palettes are designed for pros in mind, or those seeking to create a bold “Instagrammable” look.  These are usually not quite wearable on a daily basis… and few manage to tread the thin line successfully.  SUQQU’s Designing Color Eyes 02 Hikaritouka appears at first glance to be rather exotic with its pop of orange, but I soon discovered it is much more versatile than it seems!

SUQQU Designing Color Eyes 02 Hikaritouka is part of the permanent collection that was launched earlier this year [read more here].  From what I can tell, Hikaritouka 光橙花  refers to the Japanese quince, which is a delicate little flower that grows on a shrub.  And indeed, inspite of the cheery pop of orange in the palette, Hikaritouka is a beautiful eyeshadow quad that nicely balances the everyday woman’s need for elegance and the occasional bit of fun.

The way Hikaritouka has been composed is very similar to Benimiyabi [reviewed here], with 2 lighter taupe-ish shades, 1 mid-tone color, and 1 darker shade.  However, where Benimiyabi pulls much cooler with a red-bronze combination; Hikaritouka goes warmer with an orange-plum pairing.

Also important to note, Hikaritouka offers a soft matte darkening shade, unlike the other recently released Designing Color Eyes that are all satin.

In counter-clockwise order starting from the top right of the palette, the shades are:

1. Pale taupe with a satin sheen finish
2. Light champagne with a satin finish
3. Medium peachy-orange with a satin base and soft micro-shimmers
4. Dark plum with a soft matte finish

With such disparate colors, I was a little surprised that when you layer 2 or more shades together, they create an entire universe of mauve tones!

Mauves are generally universal favorites, which makes Hikaritouka such an unexpected find.

For this eye look above, I started with pale taupe all over the lid as a base, then blended the dark plum on the outer corner.  I added just a pat of the orange in the center, blending it into the plum and taupe combination, and finished with a dash of champagne on the inner corner.

Here is the full look:

It is worthwhile to note that the shades in Hikaritouka are much softer than any of the other SUQQU palettes I have encountered so far, and they do have a tendency to blend into oblivion.  In order to get the orange to show, I had to use a much more generous hand than usual, and pat it on firmly.

Though it shows up nicely on camera, the effect is quite soft and unobtrusive in real life.  I find the slightly cool undertone made the orange shade more wearable, yet still maintaining a bit of subtle fun. SUQQU Designing Color Eyes 02 Hikaritouka is just the kind of eyeshadow palette that everyday women need and can enjoy!

_{This post featured a product that was generously provided for my consideration.  Regardless, all opinions expressed here are my own honest, unbiased views.}