SUQQU

Bobbi Brown Nectar and Nude Eye Palette Review, Swatch and Eye Makeup Tutorial

June 18, 2014

Bobbi Brown is the queen of neutrals, and I love her eye shadow palette if the colors are done right for me. My last palette from BB was from 2 years ago, and finally she released this Nectar and Nude Eye Palette from her recent Nudes in Bloom Collection that captured my heart again. It retails for $95 in Australia (I bought here) which is double the price than in the States, and I made sure I absolutely wanted it so I dropped by the counter 3 times to swatch the colors!

The palette contains 4 matte and 2 shimmery/sparkly eye shadows, with the latter two being the standout for me. They are very smooth to apply and blend, and complement any matte neutral shades for a multi-dimensional look. They bring the matte shades to life, and in my opinion without these two this would be quite a boring palette!
Pale Cream (new shade and matte) – exactly the same color as my skin so it doesn’t show on my skin in the swatch below. It’s excellent for using it as a base color.
Soft Buff (new shade and matte) – matte taupe with mauve undertone. It’s relatively smooth for a matte shade and easy to blend.
Golden Bronze (new shade and metalic) – shimmery pale golden bronze. It’s the most buttery soft and smooth shade out of the palette. Stunning!
Pink Bellini (new shade and sparkly) – very smooth with pink micro glitter for a fine sparkle
Earth (new shade and matte) – a true medium brown shade which would be the most used color out of this palette for me.
Rich Cavair (new shade and matte) – goes on dark chocolate brown. Not as pigmented as the other shade, and it is dry and not easy for blending.

Here is a tutorial of how I would use this palette for a natural eye makeup.

Brushes used in this tutorial include CHIKUHODO Z5; Edward Bess Luxury Eye Brush; Suqqu brush Medium, Suqqu brush F, Laura Mercier Smoky Eye Liner Brush , Laura Mercier Smudge Brush

Overall this is a classic neutral and very versatile eye palette and will be a staple in my makeup rotation. My next Bobbi Brown will definitely be this new stunning palette!

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Labels: BOBBI BROWN • BRUSHES • CHIKUHODO • EYESHADOW • Laura Mercier • SUQQU • TUTORIAL

Sunday Pamper

June 11, 2014

As much as I enjoy a pampering spa treatment every now and then, I often do a ‘home version’ on a weekly basis. Obviously it’s a lot cheaper, and to be honest, the result is pretty much ‘spa-like’ with the help of some good products. My current home-facial is as below – it’s my ideal Sunday night wind down activity with my favorite candle, music and magazines!

1. Deep Cleanse – After removing the makeup, I wash my face using my Clarisonic Aria with a foaming cleanser. I bought this wonderful cleansing tool about 2 months ago and I am completely hooked on it. It gives the skin a true deep cleanse and mild exfoliation which significantly improves the skin congestion around my problematic areas.

2. Massage – This is an essential step to improve blood circulation and lymph drainage hence your face appears more contoured and radiant. I often notice that my face appears significantly slimmer and more lifted after a professional facial. At home I always follow the famous Tanaka’s Face Contouring massage (you can watch her videos here – part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4 shows the before and after result). She is the guru of anti-aging massage, and her book has sold millions of copies across Asia. Combining her massage technique with my Suqqu Massage and Mask Cream helps in firming, detoxifying and lifting the face. If your face is starting to show signs of sagging/fatigue, or you are prone to water retention, I highly recommend that you include this step into your skin care routine. Be aware not to massage on dry skin as too much friction will undo the benefits.

3. Purifying/Clarifying – I then put on the Chantecaille Fruit and Flower Acid Mask. It’s a very gentle clarifying mask that acts almost like a mild peel. It removes the dead skin cells, unclog the pores and brighten up the complexion. I have very thin skin and this one delivers the result without any irritation.

4. Hydrate/Moisturize – Now my skin is all clean and ready to absorb the miracle ingredient of Pitera from my all time favorite SKII’s Facial Treatment Mask. After trying out tons of paper masks over the years, this one still remains my top favorite. It hydrates, brightens and plumps up even the most tiring skin . When using a face mask make sure you are always lie down, because these weighty paper masks (as they are soaked in liquid) can drag your face down “discreetly” if you have it on while sitting/standing!

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Labels: Beauty Tools • CHANTECAILLE • CLARISONIC • SKII • SKINCARE • SUQQU

Coming Soon!

January 17, 2014

1. Nars Final Cut Blush New Attitude – My heart skipped a few beats when I saw the preview of Nars Final Cut Collection – it’s all about Pink! After playing with the testers for some time, I ended up with these two items. Check out the swatches of the entire Final Cut collection on The Make-Up Blogette. Nordstrom has a tutorial video on this collection.

2. Nars Final Cut Skin Illuminator Adelaide

3. Suqqu Concealer 01 – I heard so many good things about the white concealer as a highlighter!

4. Suratt Automatique Lip Crayon POC – A new makeup brand only available at Barneys. This is my first product from this line as I always have faith in the quality of the beauty products from Barneys. Check out reviews and swatches on Wondegondigo. Have you tried anything from Suratt? I would love to hear your thoughts 🙂

5. Giorgio Armani Flash Lacquer 520 – I rushed to the store and got these beautiful glosses after I read the review on The Beauty Look Book!

6. Giorgio Armani Flash Lacquer 522

7. Tom Ford Lip Color Indian Rose – I bought thes lipstick with the gloss because the combo looked so beautiful on the gorgeous Tom Ford SA.

8. Tom Ford Ultra Shine Lip Gloss Sahara Pink

Deal Alert! Neiman Marcus is currently offering $50 off any $200 purchase with promo code JAN50 and free shipping to Australia which I think is pretty fantastic (offer ends this Friday)! So I got myself this one…Yay!

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Labels: Giorgio Armani • NARS • SHOP • SUQQU • SURATT • Tom Ford

Holiday Look with Suqqu Holiday 2013 Makeup Kit B

December 21, 2013

I finally have the time to play around with all the new holiday makeups I bought! I have lots of gatherings and dinners to go in the next couple of weeks and this look created with the Suqqu Makeup Kit B from its 2013 Holiday Collection will make a debut! It’s a very bold and sultry makeup look that’s out of my character but it fits right into the holiday festive season.

I’ll just give a brief review of the Suqqu Holiday Kit B as there are plenty of reviews online. It contains Blend Color EyeShadow Quad Ex19, Mascara Volume Long N, Reset Cleansing Cream, Refining Foam and a grey pouch (not in the picture – quite hideous looking) and mirror.

The star of the set is the Blend Color Eye Shadow Quad EX19. The packaging is absolutely to die for, so as an avid Suqqu fan I bought this set in a heartbeat just for collecting. The colors are very earthy and neutral with a holiday twist. You can never go wrong with a soft shimmering peach and sandy taupe as your basic colors, whilst the midnight khaki green with silver glitters adds a punch of glamor to the quad. Some reviews said that this particular shade is dry, and I don’t have this issue. Compared to the other glitter eye shadows of other brands such as BB, MAC and Nars, I think this is one of the best I own – it’s pigmented, smooth and has no fall out.

Swatches with 1 swipe

The Eye Makeup:

Applied the creamy white shade as a base all over the lid, then the shimmery peach over the eye socket and the taupe on the outer v. I then smudged the sparkly dark green along the upper lash line, and finished with falsies.

For the lower lash line, the dark green is applied to the outer third, and the shimmery peach on the tear duct. I then lined the lash line with a red shimmery eyeliner pencil by Holika Holika (reviewed here) for an edgier twist.

Other Makeup Used:

Tony Moly Aqua Aura Moisturizing BB Cream

Dior Blush in Pink Happiness

MAC lipstick in MAC Red

Once again, I highly recommend this gorgeous Suqqu set if you can still get your hands on it as it has been sold out on Selfridges. Their makeup really is the eastern version of Chanel beauty – sophisticated and timeless in every aspect.

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Labels: EYESHADOW • FOTD • SUQQU

2013 Holiday Beauty Wishlist

November 2, 2013

Whilst most people realize that the end of another year is fast approaching by noticing that the shops are starting to sell xmas goodies, as a beauty enthusiast I am reminded because of the Holiday Makeup Collections trickling into the stores! After scouring the internet for previews I have finally put together my 2013 holiday beauty wishlist. Except for the Suqqu Makeup Kit B which I have already ordered on Selfridges (in case you don’t know that Selfridges now ship Suqqu internationally with VAT deduction available!), I’ll just have to wait patiently for the rest of them to arrive in Australia.

1. Dior Sparkling Nail Powders Set (Nordstrom exclusive) – love the over-the-top opulent finish for party nails

2. Dior 5-Couleurs Eyeshadow in Golden Flower – a perfect combination of warm neutrals

3. Chanel Nuit Infinie de Chanel Collection Holiday 2013 – particularly the eye shadow palette which is another alluring set of neutrals that can be worn all year round

4. La Mer Treatment Lotion – eager to try out this latest product from La Mer

5. Suqqu Makeupt Kit B – bought this droolwhorthy set with a heart beat!

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Labels: CHANEL • DIOR • EYESHADOW • LA MER • SUQQU

Multiples

May 22, 2013

You know you can’t live without these products when you have multiple backups of them.

From left to right:

1. Shu Uemura Precision Volume Mascara Waterproof – suggested by my readers and they are absolutely amazing!! It does everything I want for my lashes (review to come soon).

2. Ysl Touché Eclat – an oldie but a goodie. I mix both shade 1 and 2 for everyday use. It doesn’t provide much coverage but it brightens up the skin without making it look cakey. The formulation is great for most skin types unless you have very dry under eye areas, then you need a good moisturizing eye cream underneath and it helps the product to set beautifully.

3. Suqqu Cheek Blush Brush– crème de la crème of brushes, reviewed here.

4. Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray – reviewed here

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Labels: MASCARA • Oribe • Shu Uemura • SUQQU • YSL

Suqqu Lipsticks Reviews and Swatches – Creamy Glow and Creamy Glow Moist

May 1, 2013

Long time readers would know that Suqqu Creamy Glow are my holy grail lipsticks. Knowing that they will be discontinued soon and replaced by a new range, I went into panic mode and ordered some more shades to complete my collection. I currently own shades 01, 10, 18, and my newest additions include 03 TSUYAZAKURA, 05 SUZUMECHA, and 11 SHAREGAKI. Picking a lip color from Suqqu is a no-brainer, as it’s such a classic beauty brand with mainly a neutral color palette designed for everyday wear. In addition to the Creamy Glow, I have also bought a lipstick from the Creamy Glow Moist range which is their newer release. Unfortunately I don’t find the texture and finish as amazing as the original creamy glow, so I am very glad with my purchase of these backups just in case the coming range doesn’t live up to my expectations!

To recap, the Suqqu Creamy Glow lipsticks have the most amazing texture. They are very rich in pigment, yet retain some translucency when applied so it makes your lips appear so moist and youthful. The texture is buttery soft and glides on like weightless silk, and it has enough slip so the product won’t get caught between the dry lines or skin. It also doesn’t bleed with a superb lasting power. There is not a single flaw I can pick! Click here and here for the full reviews and swatches of 01, 10 and 18.

However, the Suqqu Creamy Glow Moist is not as fantastic. The texture is noticeably thicker and more balmy so it feels quite heavy on the lips (like some balmy lip balms). It is slightly more sheer (which doesn’t bother me) but I don’t find the formula is as moisturizing.

Reviews and Swatches of Creamy glow 03 TSUYAZAKURA, 05 SUZUMECHA, 11 SHAREGAKI and Creamy Glow Moist 01 HARUOTO

Suqqu Creamy Glow 03 TSUYAZAKURA – a beautiful neutral pink. Compared to 01 SAEBANA, it is slightly rosier, and has a warmer pink tone so it is more suitable for a wider range of skintone.

Suqqu Creamy Glow 05 SUZUMECHA – a beigey peachy pink which makes a perfect fool-proof “your lips but better” shade.

Suqqu Creamy Glow 11 SHAREGAKI – similar to 05 SUZUMECHA but peachier, and is also similar to 10 URUMISHU but more subtle and less tangerine.

Suqqu Creamy Glow Moist 01 HARUOTO – similar to 05 SUZUMECHA but more nude and beige. As you can see in the swatch, the finish of this has a lesser sheen to it.

Group swatches of all my Suqqu!

I have also compiled all the swatches (except 18 KARAKURENAI) into one picture so it is easier for you to compare the differences in the undertone.

Bottom Line: You gotta get your hands on the Suqqu Creamy Glow lipsticks before they are gone!

Suqqu can be found here with international shipping and VAT deductions available at checkout.

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Labels: LIPSTICK • SUQQU

Suqqu Blend Color Eye Shadow Palette EX11 SUMIREDAMA Review and Tutorial

April 16, 2013

A very belated post on the review and tutorial of Suqqu Blend Color Eye Shadow Palette EX11 SUMIREDAMA 董珠 from the Spring 2013 collection. If you have seen this post, you would know I bought two palettes from the Spring 2013 collection. EX11 SUMIREDAMA leans slightly cooler with a main undertone of taupe which is right up most neutral lover’s alley. I cannot rave enough about this collection, particularly the eyeshadow palettes which are still very “Suqqu” – impeccably designed, neutral and classic with an interesting twist of duochrome colors.

A picture of the case deserves the spot light in this post today. Suqqu has gone back to their original white packaging, but better. The sturdy frosted white case looks so elegnant at every angle, like the eyeshadow itself.

As you can see in the pic, the mushroomy taupe color (top right) and the silvery green/navy/purple color (bottom left) have a duochrome effect. All four shades are highly pigmented and appear very shimmery from the pan, and when applied they have a beautiful pearlescent finish (not metallic and glittery) and blend beautifully into each other. The silky, buttery and moist textures of them are absolutley divine. Unlike other eye shadows, I never get fallout with Suqqu.

Swatches:

Tutorial

Apply A all over the eye socket area, then apply B on the outer v.

Apply D along the upper lash line, the thickness should be slightly over the crease so you can still see 0.5 cm of it when the eye is open. Apply C on the inner corner to highlight.