SUQQU Summer 2016 Blend Color Eyeshadow EX-30 & Creamy Glow Lipstick EX-20

It’s really a wonderful day when you wake up to an email from one of your favorite makeup brands, asking if you’d like to receive some products to understand the brand better.  I must have read and reread the email a million times, and checked the address to see if it’s an Internet hoax, before deciding to reply anyway.  SUQQU is one of those unicorns that are highly raved about, I don’t know a single person who have tried their products and not fallen in love.  And until a couple of years ago when SUQQU landed at Selfridges, thus opening up to worldwide shipping (yes!!!); it remained an elusive brand to get hold of.  I’m still praying to the makeup gods to send SUQQU over to Singapore for good, but until then, receiving SUQQU packages in the mail is the next best thing to freshly baked breads in the morning.  And by the time the package finally arrived, my grabby fingers tore right in, and very nearly dropped the precious palette when I saw it was the very one I have been eyeing for weeks from press sneaks!!  Ladies, let me introduce you to a very special duo from the upcoming Summer 2016 UK Exclusive collection – SUQQU Blend Color Eyeshadow EX-30 and Creamy Glow Lipstick EX-20!

SUQQU Blend Color Eyeshadow EX-30 Hekikai is 1 of 2 limited edition eyeshadow palettes that are being launched exclusively at Selfridges UK this Summer 2016.  It caught my eye because I have a special fondness for blue eyeshadows, as this seems to be a color that many other brands have difficulties perfecting.  Also, if you are familiar with SUQQU, you would know that this striking color combination is something that is completely unusual, and extremely bold.

SUQQU eyeshadows typically involve lots of neutrals, jazzed up by their infamous micro-shimmers.  With EX-30 Hekikai, SUQQU has taken a very different route.  We find 3 matte shades and 1 pure shimmer shade with a mostly-opaque (though slightly translucent) base.  Here are the swatches:

In counter-clockwise direction of the palette, starting from top right hand corner, the shades are:

• Matte white, with a subliminal melting texture that allows it to be dusted so finely across the lids as a base without showing up white, yet pigmented enough to be piled on as a highlight accent
• The star of the palette is this turquoise blue shimmer!  It is not as fine as the micro-shimmers that you would typically find in SUQQU palettes, but neither are these the gritty flakes that you might find in other brands.
• Matte lime green that pulls almost mustard yellow on my skin tone.  This is an interesting shade because it is so bold, but layers perfectly with the blue shades as a nice transition, and also works as an inner corner accent.
• Dark navy with a matte finish.  This one is very pigmented, but easily blendable with a brush.  Out of the 4 shades in this palette, this one was not as silky smooth as the others, but still excellent in the universe of dark blues.

Here is the first eye look I created using all 4 shades in EX-30!

For this eye look, I started with the dark navy on the outer corner, blending towards the middle of the lid and outwards towards the crease.  Then, I dabbed on the shimmery turquoise on the inner half of the lid.  Dabbing allows me to pile on the color and build opacity, whereas sweeping it on the lid with a brush will sheer it out substantially.  Next, I swept the white under my brow bone as a highlight, and popped the lime green in the inner corner of my eye.  Finished by lining the lash line, and coats of mascara.

And this is the full look in context:

For most people, shy Asians especially, an entire blue eye look may be a bit much for daily wear to the office.  So I played around with EX-30 a little bit more, and created a subtler eye look:

For this eye look, I played with the skin-like quality of the lime green, and using a brush, I was able to sheer it out so it just gives a hint of color without being too glaring.  Thereafter, I lined my lash line with the dark navy, and pushed the shimmery turquoise on top of it with a flat angular brush.  And just for the heck of it, I added a dab of the shimmery turquoise onto the middle of my lid just for a bit of iridescence.  Since this was for day wear, I left the lower lash line undone, finishing with just 2 coats of mascara.

Along with the 2 Blend Color Eyeshadow palettes, SUQQU will also be releasing 2 complementary Creamy Glow Lipsticks as part of the UK Exclusive.  The one I received is EX-20 Hyaku Daidai, which I had initially feared would clash horribly with the cooler-toned blue EX-30 palette.  Thankfully, it actually helped me steer clear of being too matchy-matchy, and with the right blush, I was able to wear it perfectly well!  You have already seen it in action in the makeup look shown above, so I will only leave you with the comment that these lipsticks are top quality, with lovely moisturizing textures on the lips and long-lasting color!  EX-20 Hyaku Daidai itself is a warm-toned coral red that has some golden shimmers with a lovely glossy finish.

Overall, I’m really in awe of this collection, which is so bold and different from what we have seen so far from SUQQU.  Do check out Sara’s wonderful post covering all 4 pieces of the collection here, and Belly’s very interesting swatches and comparisons here!  The collection will be available at Selfridges online from 28 April, don’t miss it!

_{This post featured products that were kindly provided for my consideration.  Regardless, all opinions expressed here are my own honest, unbiased views.}