suqqu christmas 2016

SUQQU’s holiday makeup sets are always so special. They typically include a couple of different limited edition makeup products in keepsake pouch, and this year is no different.

Both kits were designed in collaboration with nature-inspired jewellry brand Ayaka Nishi and take inspiration from their Honeycomb and Fish Scale collections respective. The honeycomb/fish scale motif is carried through the gift box packaging, the charm on the keepsake pouches and to the embossing on the palettes. This one is Kit A, with Christmas Makeup Compact 101 Suouiro.

Unlike the subtle detailing we’ve seen on EX-32 and EX-33, the embossing on these shadows are very distinct. Each palette comes with 3 eyeshadows, an brightening face powder and a blush.

First, quick comparison swatches of the two sets. I don’t have Kit B (Christmas Makeup Compact 102 Rurikon), but took these photos when I previewed the palettes earlier this month in Tokyo:

When I was generously asked by SUQQU UK to pick a set for review, it was actually an easy decision for me to make as I had tried to purchase Kit A in Tokyo but was unfortunately there just one week too early. Both Kits have their virtues: the best feature of Kit A’s Suouiro is undoubtedly its gold eyeshadow, which is a really beautiful sparkly burnished gold. I don’t have anything quite like it in my collection. On the other hand, the darkest eyeshadow shade from Kit B’s Rurikon is the most magical deep blue ever. The rich inkiness of that shade is hard to beat.

Ultimately Kit A won me over because its warm colours were more in line with what I’d wear on a day-to-day basis. Also, since it’s designed to be an all-in-one palette, I thought it would be best to pick foolproof colours so I could use it for travel. Note that the eyeshadow colours are described by SUQQU as being gold, pink and grey but on me are more like gold, red and grey-brown. Both kits also come with matching lipglosses – 101, a “cinnamon rose” which was a lovely sheer rosy nude on me, and 102, a “deep cassis shade”.

Speaking of travel, 101 Suouiro actually reminds me of my current favourite travel palette: EX-32 Rengazome. I’ve been taking it all my trips because it’s the smallest palette I own that allows me to do a full face with. I use the red eyeshadow as blush, the matte brown to fill in my brows and the champagne as a highlighter. Here are some side-by-side swatches of Rengazome and Suouiro’s (Kit A’s) eyeshadows. If you missed out on Rengazome, you might want to consider getting this!

Is it a dupe for Rengazome? Not exactly. Suouiro is still the more ideal (and obvious) choice for travel. I like the idea that I’ll no longer have to use my fingers for blush or carry around face powder and a retractable brush. Suouiro may not have Rengazome’s “highlighter” shade or its eyebrow-friendly matte brown – this brown is more satin – but in terms of space, the inclusion of an all-over face powder and a dual ended powder/blush brush make it a winner in my book. Plus if I really need brow colour and a highlighter, this and this will easily make up the difference without adding bulk.

Now on to the FOTDs. Please excuse the extremely warm light. I’m in California right now…and it just has extremely warm light. I’m also still low-key trying to find the perfect time of day/room to take my FOTDs in without fussing over it too much because a certain someone is ALWAYS looking for an excuse to buy more studio lighting and I really don’t want to be that excuse!

Compared to Rengazome, I find Suouiro’s eyeshadow trio to be way more intuitive when it comes to placements. What you’re seeing here is my first attempt with it, and I was really pleased with the way it turned out. I patted the gold all over the lid, blended it out with the red through my crease, and darkened the inner and outer Vs with the brown which I also dragged outwards into a soft cat-eye shape. I finished up with a black pencil liner, smudged out with more of the brown eyeshadow. Here’s a close up:

Pricing & Availability: SUQQU 2016 Christmas Makeup Kits (£70) are available in-store at Fenwick of Bond Street, Harrods and Selfridges and online through Harrods and Selfridges‘ websites. You can also order through email via suqquuk@eqpuk.com

 

 

This post features products that were provided as press samples, however all opinions and observations are my own and not influenced by the brand or its PR team. This post contains affiliate links.