I promise I will try to be objective, but it’s Suqqu we are talking here, a great love of mine, not sure I can even manage to be rational.
I don’t even know how or where to start, I feel like my brain is falling apart, *breathless*, ok… so it’s just make up right ?
The first thing that came to my mind is a movie, “The Island”, if you watched it you may see what I mean, these lipsticks look like perfect utopian clones. The packaging is one of the main reasons why I was so excited about this collection, matte white with a green-pink iridescence. These lipsticks look from another world far far away in the future.
Recently I was mentioning in a post that Suqqu was often including the same base color in each palette, which gets a bit redundant when you own a few palettes, I am happy that this time it’s different.
When I saw Rosy’s pictures in Allmadeupnowheretogo blog, I knew I had to pick the face palette, the quads and the lipsticks. Please also refer to Rosy’s description of the shades, she describes all the palettes wonderfully.
Not that I didn’t want the rest of the collection but I just couldn’t, Suqqu is really expensive and it’s already a luxury to be able to get that many items.
The eyeshadow palettes
EX-11 SUMIREDAMA
It’s probably going to be the most successful palette, the shades are complex, duo-chrome for the two darkest.
The dark purple shade on the Ex-11 appeared quite similar to the one on Ex-13 but it’s not as dramatic. The Ex-13 is more charcoal/purple with green and blue duo-chrome. The duo-chrome effect is still visible on the eyes but not metallic as it appears here on the pictures. These pictures have been taken with flash in order to see the effect a bit better.
If you want the color without the duo-chrome effet, the Suqqu 08 Mizuaoi palette has it.
I have also swatched the yellow shade in 09 Usumoegi to compare the intensity of the two, the Usumoegi is more opaque.
EX-12 HISUIDAMA
This palette reminded me of the Ex-08 Hanamari, that’s why I hesitated. Glad I took it because I actually prefer it. I don’t usually wear green shades but the Ex-12 is absolutely wearable for me and this is probably my favorite palette of this collection. I have tried it today, the look was soft and fresh, I paired it with the face palette and the coral lipstick from this collection, I went from sick-looking to fresh and healthy in 10 minutes !
Ex-13 GINUSUDAMA
What I like about the white shade here is that it’s pigmented enough to deliver a beautiful luminous base with micro sparkles, elegant, it opens the eye area and it’s absolutely not over the top. The dark shade on the other hand is very strong, long-lasting, don’t be afraid by the dramatic duo-chrome look on the picture, when applied it’s not as metallic and scary, complex but very wearable.
Ex-02 face palette
I love this pink-coral blush, it won’t show on darker skin tones but it’s the most flattering shade on my skin. It’s not powdery at all, just glowy, my favorite texture for blushes. When I applied it today and then I applied the coral lipstick, it reminded me of Charlize Theron looks, so incredibly light and fresh, and so insanely sexy. Not that I look anything like her 🙂 it’s just the final tones of the makeup that are very similar.
Although it comes with two little brushes, I applied it with the Hakuhodo J5543, I think it’s the best brush to use with it, it’s dense and narrow and has a flat surface.
Once I applied the blush, I applied the powder as highlighter with the same brush, just on top of the cheekbones.
The sheer swatch of the highlighter has been done with Suqqu cheek brush. I prefer to apply it very softly and build it if necessary.
The lipsticks
I am going to be fully irrational here, for me, the packaging is a good enough reason to buy them. It’s such an insane packaging, it’s like you have been to the future, grabbed a lipstick and came back with it to prove it… 😀
I love the Ex-08, it’s doesn’t provide a lot of coverage, just coats your lips with the sexiest hint of coral. Dior is very similar actually.
They don’t have an insane long-lasting power and I haven’t been wearing the other two yet, just quickly tried them but I love the Ex-08 so much that I’ll probably leave the other two for later…
If you are wondering how the packaging compares to the Christmas collection, the current collection is more matte with an iridescence (pink, green) and the Christmas is more sparkly and shiny :
Some more reviews and pictures :
Please don’t forget to check out Karima’s video and tutorial with the Ex-11 !
I was able to get these items thanks to Tiziana from Suqqu (Selfridges London) she went above and beyond to help me with my order. But then thanks to Haru (RougeDeluxe) I was able to get them lightning fast !! I cannot thank both enough for all their help ! Haru may also probably post on Suqqu soon so stay tuned !
Suqqu is very hard to find, you can either contact Selfridges London, find them on some websites or have a friend (or a purchasing company) get them for you in Japan. I love Suqqu so much that I am ready to go through whatever it takes to get their items but I have a profound love affair with this brand that pushes me to the extreme 😉
71 comments
Suqqu is all frost frost frost. Nice packaging though.
These palettes are more shimmery than average, you are right, if you don’t like shimmer it’s better to skip them or you might be disappointed.
I do love them specially because they are more daring for Suqqu. Although the shimmer is showing very strong in the flash pictures, it’s not that outrageous in real life.
Hmmm…I have stayed away from Japanese eyeshadow because they tend to be too shimmery. I like shimmer but when you have 48 year old eyelids they are pretty tricky lol! I really like these though. I hope you feel better soon Sonia. 🙂
I cannot believe you are 48, you look so much younger Bea!
I’ll see how it goes this week with the other 2 palettes…
You are killing me!!! I’ve had my eyes on EX-12 ever since you first posted Tiziana’s pictures, but I just can’t at this point in time
They all look absolutely stunning, and I know you will have so much fun wearing them, and trying various brushes with a peach and every one of them to determine which works best for what 🙂
Thank you so so much for sharing – like you, Suqqu will always have a very special place in my heart (and I already know that I will still be regretting EX-12 a few years from now… LOL)!
Hi Neo, thanks 🙂
I was considering getting a backup of the EX-12 because I see myself wearing it on a daily basis but at the end I did not, I am sure Suqqu will carry on releasing beautiful palettes.
I need to let you know that I just ordered EX-12 through Ichibankao, and I blame it all on you :D!!!!! I just hope it flies to me super fast, as I only have 3 weeks left prior to departure, ooops…. But if I remember correctly, after you’ve placed your order you get another email from Ichibankao with the opportunity to opt for EMS shipping (?) which I will gladly pay for this time, lol. Oh, and one Addiction cheek stick (my first Addiction item!) may have made its way in my order too, sigh…
Thank you Sonia!!! 🙂
Hope you wake up feeling rested and recovered!
do you prefer the ex11 or the ex13?
I love the brownish shade in the EX-13 but if I had to choose one, overall I prefer the EX-11, it has more shades that are interesting.
Hi Sonia, hope you are well and thank you for such great swatches! Can you comment on the similarities or differences between the upper right gray in 06 Ginbudou and the bottom left gray in EX-13? If EX-13 gray did not have the duochrome, would it be similar to 06 gray? And also, which do you prefer the EX-11 or EX-13?
Hi Kay, thank you so much !
the 06 grey on its own is very different from the Ex-13, the grey 06 doesn’t have any purple compared to the dark shade in Ex-13 but if you mix both the grey and the dark purple from Ginbudou then you get a similar shade to the dark one on Ex-13 and without the duo-chrome 🙂
If I had to choose the Ex-11, as a mentioned above I get more from the Ex-11.
Sonia, your answers are amazing. I ordered the EX-11 and after I saw your swatches, thought I need to get the EX-13…but letting me know that I can use mix shades in Ginbudou to get the lovely grey purple color in EX-13 is soooo helpful! Thank you so much!
Great ! 🙂
I tend to mix them a lot to find new shades or sometimes just to make them more wearable for me or “less flat”…
In response to your exchange with Kay I have to tell you my “find” with the ex-13 palette. I started with the darkest shade all over the lid and felt it was just too dark for me so I layered the pink shade all over it and then the bronze all over that…. Muddy mess? No way! Gorgeous!!! I swear I will wear that palette that way all the time. Sometimes accidents with Suqqu palettes turn out better than the intended! Also, I agree that I don’t find them frosty or overly metallic. I was terrified they would be because that is not a pretty look over 40 😉
😀 for some reason Suqqu shimmer applies and fades in an elegant way despite the shimmery aspect.
I will try this accident too ! thanks for the idea Stacy !
Ahhhhhhhh! Just gorgeous! I am surprised how enticing ex-12 is to me now that I see your pictures! I knew I would love ex-11 and ex-13. At your “convenience” will you snap an eye picture as you use each one? I am so glad to read that you are impressed with the face palette! The blush color looks perfect! And the lippies…… 😉
I was thinking of you today when we got some extremely rare snow flakes!
Neo! Hello and a belated congrats on your new job! So excited for you! There is nothing like the anticipation and excitement of moving to a new local IMO! Glad you will still have the Internet, just open a savings account to put all of your unused cosmetic funds in…. Think how huge it will become 😉
I will try to do that this week, I hope to be less sick and have the energy 🙂
It must be weird for you to get snowflakes, I think this winter is going on forever here, feels like it never ends !
Hi Stacy :)!!! And lol, at this rate – my “last” Tanseido order, a “last” Hakuhodo order, one “last” Suqqu palette (which comes on the heels of the last last one consisting of Usumoegi), one “last” TF bronzer and lippie, one “last” eye shadow quad from GA (#11, instant HG status, have worn it every single day since I got it!!!!), one “last” new concealer, etc, etc, I’ve already spent my cosmetics’ savings from the next few years!!!! 😀 😀 😀
And thank you for your kind words: I’m very excited indeed, and at this point can’t wait to get there. I had forgotten how much work an international move is, and hadn’t realized how much crap – pardon myFrench, but really! – I had accumulated in the last 5 years, and in such a tiny place too!!! Incredible, lol. So I’ll be glad to be on my way, as I always seem to find more things to do, buy, and clean up 😀
One “everything” accumulates 😛
I hope you like Usumoegi! Do you know, it’s actually the palette from the four I got that I like wearing the most and looks most flattering on me?? And to think I almost didn’t get it!
I mean “last”!!!
I just hated green eyeshadows before Suqqu, couldn’t wear them at all, Usumoegi and the Ex-12 are really lovely green shades, I am happy it’s the one you prefer the most !
Blergh…0_o I like those eyeshadows but not the frost finish. 🙁
Soooo gorgeous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!thank you for sharing,Sonia.i was so calm before you show this,but now at 2 in the night,suqqu my
have-to-have-must-have
you need to get some sleep Margaret 😀
Oooh thanks for the swatches 🙂 are these up online yet?
For anyone interested, I recommend skypax for mail forwarding 🙂 its wht I use for Suqqu orders from.selfridges.
thanks for sharing the skypax Cindy !
I can see the face palette online but not the eyeshadows, you may need to contact the counter to double check..
do you want my contact ?
Haha no thanks Sonia, I will patiently wait. I’m trying to be good. If I get anything from this collection, I will have to de-stash and purge to justify it. It’s killing me though, your swatches. I live all the sparkles!! 🙂
Hi Sonia- what beautiful swatches of all three palettes. I have just ordered ex-11 and cannot wait for its arrival.
I don’t own anything suqqu and never been tempted either as they seem so sparkly but would like to try the ex-11, it seems delicate and subtle.
I was actually surprised with the EX-11, it’s not as dramatic as it looks at all, absolutely wearable for the office.
I have enough matte shadows already so I am quite happy that Suqqu did a more dramatic still wearable shimmery shadows.
I agree with Sylvia. If I were to purchase one to try out, it would be the EX11 I think. 🙂
Nikoleta, what are your favorite eyeshadows at the moment?
In fact, I wear mostly cream shadows : my favorite ones are the shiseido (in the old line I adore prune moirée H4, a subtle green brown red duochrome, I have 3 back ups or trèfle H13), the new ones are very subtle too but less complexe, love double wear shadow cream by lauder (mochaccino the most as it is a very delicate taupe or the discontinued vintage violet), bare minerals urban nature, I’ve recently bought a new cid cream shadow in purple quartz (http://www.feelunique.com/p/New-CID-Cosmetics-i-colour-Long-Wear-Cream-Eyeshadow-5g) : I like the colour very much but it tends to crease without a base and of course mac paints (bamboom, love it!) or paint pots (indianwood, constructivist…). Best value for the money were the rimmel mousse eyeshadows : sassy and splash (I have numerous back ups of these), splash is a green duochrome to wear as a wash of colour, it is stunning. For powder shadows I appreciate a lot rouge bunny (bejeweled skylark and delicate hummingbird, I’d love to wear abyssinian catbird more often but it gives me a tired look) or the dior singles, and many others that I tend to never use 🙂 I have some old Serge Alvarez singles that used to be very long lasting and subtle but don’t like the new ones.
Sorry, it is spring plum H4 for the shiseido cream shadow and not H8.
I thought I was the only one loving these Shiseido (I think I have nearly all of them!), of course also Mochaccino and vintage violet !
Sounds like we like the same ones here !
I am also very surprised you talk about Cid because I have one palette that I bought in London and I never hear anyone speaking about it and it’s really beautiful!
I have to check out Splash but we don’t have Rimmel here, never saw it.
Same for Serge Alvarez… never tried.
I am also playing with Laura Mercier sticks at the moment, I am loving the Grey Pearl !
On Friday they should release the BB creamy sticks here, I really really want the Shadow !!! 😀
Hi Sonia, thanks for your review! I just ordered EX-12 — I think it may be the sleeper, the least exciting looking but the most flattering in the bunch. I love Suqqu eyeshadows; the soft focus twinkle Suqqu manages to create is magical!
I think you will love it Kay, please do give me your honest feedback once you tried it.
I will definitely get to the bottom of this one !
Or…maybe the EX12? Blergh I cannot decide!
So beautiful!!! I’m contemplating getting Ex-11 and Ex-12 plus the Creamy Glow Ex-10….
Thanks so much for your swatches!
I have been wearing EX-11 and 12, even for work, I am pleasantly surprised with them, the lasting power of the dark shadow in ex-11 is amazing, I have taken 2 showers since I did the swatches on my arm (and I have rubbed my arm with an sponge) and I can still see them! Not sure it’s a good thing though but I can’t complain 😛
I have to try 13 tomorrow, we’ll see how this one goes since it’s the most dramatic of the three I am not sure I can manage it for work but we’ll see.
How’s the shimmer factor in day time? I love love love Usumoegi but it’s so shimmery! Even though it’s wearable shimmer, sometimes in full daylight I’m afraid of looking like Edward Cullen!
Argh, my wordpress account is annoying me!
My alternate identity, feeling a little schizo 🙂
And that sounds like the lasting power is amazing. If it’s smudge and sweat proof… I’m sold!
When I did the look with the Ex-11 it lasted all the day at the office, it faded but at the end of the day I could very clearly see where I had placed the dark purple (outer v) and the gradation with the pink on the lid which was still there, more sheer but still even.
I always wear a base though 🙂
😀 I see..
I think at the end it’s a personal preference and taste. For example : I have many Le Metier or Chantecaille shadows that look heavier on the lids than these Suqqu and even if they “shine” less, they deliver a more metallic or obvious application. These Suqqu, even the duo-chrome are shiny but they melt into the skin in a way that you don’t see powder at all, it’s like my lids have been painted from beneath the skin. So yes it’s shiny, and I can see why many of you won’t like them because of that and you are absolutely right, I do love them because they add that twist that I don’t find in many other eyeshadows, they open up my eyes, specially these duo-chromes go extremely well with my olive eyes and make them pop. I have many matte eyeshadows that I can wear but not many shiny eyeshadows that I can easily wear without looking tacky and Suqqu is a brand that works just fine for me.
I agree that for daytime depending on the shadows it can be too much, I wear Usumoegi at the office and it’s absolutely fine ! but I am used to it and I won’t necessarily wear all the shiny ones at once lid to browbone.
What kind of shadows do you wear for daytime ? (brand/texture)
Hope I didn’t confuse you above!
I’m really loving Suqqu Ex-05 Tandou right now (I picked it up secondhand at a blogsale a few weeks ago) and it’s very wearable for me. But before Suqqu, I was very much into, still am :), the Burberry neutrals, ie Dark Sable, Pale Barley, Almond, Midnight Brown. So mostly neutral browns in matte/satin finish.
I agree, the Burberry are fantastic ! specially the ones you mention here, also loving the dark plum as a smokey eye !
Also have the Plum 😛 but I haven’t touched it yet …. maybe I’ll do that soon haha…
I totally agree with you — Hisuidama is my favourite of this collection and I’m so glad to see it getting more love! I also find it less frosty than the other two, which is a good thing for me 😀
Fantastic ! I am so happy you love this one too Kate ! I wish you will do one or some looks with it, I also love when you pair your looks with different lipsticks, it’s very useful and interesting, thanks so much for all the huge work you put into them ! take care !
OH MY!!!
I know I have to get everything… and I have contacted Tiziana already (still waiting for the new foundation N to come in, so everything can be shipped out to me in 1 order, to make the DHL postage worth)….
I am getting really excited with these colors!!! what a nice departures from the almost matte colors in the past, I am like, hope the 20th come soon and the foundation will be released so I can get my hands on them…..
and the lipsticks look very nude and I think they will look perfect with a smokey eye…..
Now I need to start saving up and prepare to pay a good chunk of $$ when the items are ready to be shipped to me.
They all look so lovely, I so wish Suqqu was more available in the US. I may make a huge purchase in the summer to justify the cost of shipping. “But honey, I HAD to buy this much or the shipping would be too outrageous.” Would that work on the hubby, you think? Hehe, worth a shot 🙂
I came home tonight to my Ichibankao order waiting for me (yay for a super speedy delivery!), and I’m so so happy :)!!!! EX-12 is everything I wanted it to be (and actually everything I had hoped EX-08 Hanamari would be but wasn’t – I’m having a very hard time making this particular one work for me, and so far it’s my only Suqqu regret :(…), and I can’t wait to play with it tomorrow!
As an aside, I’m also very pleased with my Addiction Cheek Stick in Damask Rose, it’s exactly the color I was looking for in a creme blush, and I also like it on my lips, so in a pinch it’s a good multitasker too.
Thank you so much again Sonia, for pushing me over the edge 😀 😀 😀 (and for making me very happy in the process 😉 )
Did you play with it 🙂 ?
I need to try the Addiction sticks one day…
I can not believe you have not tried the Addiction cheek stick! :p I purchased Revenge based on looks I have seen Kate at Drivel do. The color was a little outside of my comfort zone but turned out to be fabulous! The application is so sheer and build able and easy!
I can promise you will love the product…. the colors I am having trouble with choosing a second….
I will for sure be getting two of the Addiction summer palettes, and I will add a cheek stick 😛
I played! And I love! Very very happy with this one, and I can see myself reaching for it quite often, and playing up the pinks or the greens (maybe not so much the blues, but you never know :D) according to my mood 🙂
I should get rid of Hanamari – I will never reach for it anymore (only tried it 3-4 times anyway as it is, I just can’t seem to be able to make it work for me :(). Too bad, it’s so pretty, just not for me!
Thank you for pushing me over the edge Sonia: EX-12 would have been my biggest miss ever, and I know I would have always regretted it if I hadn’t gone for it 🙂
And yes, you need at least one (if not more!) Addiction cheek stick :D!!!!
you are welcome Neo 😀 😀 😀
at the end this ex-12 got a lot of love !
I was going to get an Addiction Stick too, but I wanted to try Addiction Argan Tree (as a contour) but the shop on Tenso I was getting it from didn’t have it, so I’ll save it for another order! So glad that you’re happy with your order 🙂 I have Ex-11 on its way to me…
Yay Bonnie!!!!! Can’t wait for your feedback on EX-11! Just that bottom left color makes it worth the palette!
And I can see many Addiction cheek sticks in your future, I have no doubt 😉 (I just have to go check out Argan Tree now…)
It is so pretty, isn’t it? I wanted to get the Ex-12 too but… no, no, no!
I think Messy Wands has a swatch of Argan Tree! Are you going to put in another order 😛
Hey Neo! Is there anything / color you could compare Damask Rose to? Or describe to me undertones or or or?
Hi Stacy! I think the best and most accurate representation of Damask Rose is the swatch on So Lonely in Gorgeous, where she swatched all of the Addiction Cheek Sticks – she just swatched very very heavily, but you will see that immediately.
On the swatches, it looks very much like Amazing, but in a bit less intense. Sadly, I only have Damask Rose, so I can’t really compare, but I would say that Damask Rose is a fuchsia leaning rose, which has a neutral to slightly blue base. It applies very sheer (but can be built up, as I imagine must be the case with all of them), and nothing as scary and intense as in the swatches, lol. BUt it does give a healthy flush and very fresh look. It’s really really pretty, and applied super sheer, it looks very natural.
I have a hard time finding a comparison, but it does have something that makes me think of the RBR Florita, I have to say. Back in 2 secs, going to check! ok, forget it: Florita is waaaay warmer than Damask Rose – next to it, Damask Rose looks positively blue based, lol. And also just compared to TF Wicked which looks much more pink next to it. I really have nothing that compares in my mini collection (which in a way is a good thing I guess :D)
Does that help at all?? (sorry, trying my best, but this one is tough!)
Thanks Neo! That was fantastically helpful 😉
Can anyone talk about the to be released (summer limited for the 2013 SS series) e/s EX-14 瑠璃珠(RURIDAMA) ?
The new EX14 will be sold on 17 May in Japan, but why does Suqqu release the whole line with so much deep purple/ blue eyeliner color!?
S/S 2013 should be light blue or pastel blue…
oh… I’ll have a look !! thanks !
Together with the launching of a summer limited eye palette, a new line of Suqqu lipstick (“Bright Up Lipstick”) comes too! In Japan, the official website has made an announcement that the lipstick line, “Creamy Glow Lipstick”, will be discontinued in May.
The “Frame Fix Liquid Foundation N” will also replace the older liquid foundation in March for Japan, which is the old news.
http://www.suqqu.com/news/discontinued/
Thank you Gladys, excellent ! looking forward to this new launch !!!
The swatch of the new lipsticks and the EX-14 palette has been released, provided by the very kind weibo writer (a Suqqu salesperson) Erica.
weibo:
http://weibo.com/whyericawhy
photo:
http://photo.weibo.com/1693502987/wbphotos/large/photo_id/3569414714329104?refer=weibofeedv5
The lipstick is more long-lasting, the e/s is lavender like, but I wait anxioulsy for Drivel About Frivol’s mixing experiment before purchase.
Thank you ! 🙂 coooool !
I can’t wait to get it ! of course there is no way I’ll skip it !
For the lippies, number 4 is calling my name 😛
Sorry for all, link replacment
(Would Sonia please delete my comment (April 21, 2013 at 7:01 am) please?
The swatch of the new lipsticks and the EX-14 palette has been released, provided by the very kind weibo writer (a Suqqu salesperson) Erica.
photo:
http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_64f0ce0b0101kjow.html