Gazing into the Summer Sunset with SUQQU Eye Color Palette EX-01 Benikakesora

Once in awhile, an angel appears in my life, and convinces me that there are selfless, sweet people out there in the world. With all the trolls residing on social media these days, I am amazed whenever I meet somebody who is willing to extend a genuine hand of friendship… and that is how this SUQQU Eye Color Palette EX-01 Benikakesora came into my possession.

SUQQU Eye Color Palette EX-01 Benikakesora is 1 of 2 limited edition eyeshadow trio palettes for Summer 2015. Following in the success of last Fall 2014’s Eye Color Palette trios (3 of them, all permanent – swatches here), SUQQU has turned to this slimmer and slightly more affordable format for this season. And as is traditional with its Spring-Summer special releases, Benikakesora comes in a crisp white casing.

I was see-sawing between Benikakesora and its other limited edition sister EX-02 Yosaizora, and for a moment I wanted both, but then sanity prevailed, and I decided on this because it seemed the most unique for my current state of over-abundance.

The swatches from left to right are:

• Top of palette – shimmery white with a semi-sheer base. Unlike the typical whites in SUQQU eyeshadow palettes, this particular shade is too shimmery to be used as a brow-bone highlight, but at the same time it layers beautifully with the other shades to add complexity, and works well for lining the inner third of my lower lash line for a brightening effect. This is a true transformative shade, which you can pat over any of the other 2 to give more dimension and luminosity, and is quite unique.

• Middle of palette – Medium coppery-peach, that also managed to be somehow rather pink as evident in the comparison swatches below.

• Bottom of palette – Deep plum with a satin finish and a generous sprinkling of light pink micro-shimmers. This one is a little bit drier in texture than the peach shade above (but still excellent!) and starts out rather soft on the eyes, but buildable to its true color. It is lovely layered both with the shimmery white and the coppery-peach. This is probably the most dupeable of my stash… true purple hoarder that I am. But that infamous SUQQU shimmer makes this one irresistible.

The plum in Benikakoiij is a nicely balanced purple with just a dash of red in the base and does not lean too brown. Of the comparable shades I pulled up, Dior Trafalgar has the possibility of becoming closest by combining the deep burgundy-brown and red shades in the palette together.

• All 3 shades layered creates a gossamer-fine purple-golden magical veil of shimmer that is beyond description. I’m not always fond of wearing my eyeshadows all blended in together (although that seems to be the way these SUQQU palettes are designed), but this combination I love with all my heart!

And here is how Benikakesora looks on me, all layered together.

And in my usual half-half manner of application… I first dusted the shimmery white in a thin layer across my entire lid, then I applied the coppery-plum on the inner 2/3 of the lid. Thereafter, I dabbed on the plum on the outer third, and finished with another dab of shimmery white on the center of my lids just for some pop. Lined top and bottom lash lines with black liner, and finished with a dash of shimmery white on the inner third of my lower lash line to brighten.

Here is the full look in context:

Overall, I’m really fond of SUQQU Eye Color Palette EX-01 Benikakesora, and I’m still ogling at EX-02 Yosaizora [check it out on Sara’s blog here].  The colors are soft, typical of SUQQU, though something to keep in mind if you typical prefer high intensity, bold colors; but perfect for the sunny months ahead.  This is a great handy palette for a weekend trip, day looks where you want to look crisp and well-heeled.  Feel free to wear just the peach or plum shades on their own with just a dash of white shimmer, smoke out with a darkening base, etc.