Suqqu Blend Color Eyeshadow Ex-21 Murasakisuishou, Creamy Glow Lipstick Moist #09 Zakuroseki for Autumn/Winter 2014 Collection, Review, Swatch & Comparison

Do you remember the information post on Autumn Winter Collection of Suqqu which would be released in Selfridges today and Fenwick Bond Street on the 28th of August? Yesterday I was driving around like a mad woman, trying to catch my package. I am so happy that I could so that I can share my first impressions review with you today, right on time for the UK release.

The collection is composed of three Eye Color Palettes, one Blend Eye Shadow with four split pan (limited), one creamy eye liner, two nail polishes and four lipsticks, only one of them being limited. At the moment I have three of the items to share with you, Eye Color Palette in Aoruri, Blend Eye Shadow Palette Ex-21 in Murasakisuishou and Creamy Glow Lipstick Moist #09 in Zakuroseki. Thanks to a friend in London, I made it on the Selfridges list for two of the other Eye Color Palette (#01 and #02) as well as the new formula (veil glow) lipstick in #08. I will review them once I get hold of them which will be sometime around the second week of September.

I would like to start the reviews with the gorgeously unique Blend Color Eye Shadow Ex-21 Murasakishuishou which I am wearing today on my eyes and Creamy Glow Lipstick Moist #09 Zakuroseki which I currently enjoy on my lips. If you are not familiar with Suqqu naming convension, here is a tip, the products starting with Ex are limited edition, so if you want to get hold of Ex-21, you should be checking out stalking Selfridges website (not affiliated) today or alternatively give them a call in store. You can call general customer service (+44 113 369 8040) and get directed or call (e.g. London +44 20 7318 3956) directly. (I am not affiliated, telephone numbers are just for your convenience). Just a remark from me though, if you are inside EU, by buying the items from online store, you are better off since calling means shipping would be almost twice as much for you. For US residents, shipping should be almost the same in store or online.

After going over some organizational points, let me introduce you to...

...the most gorgeous Suqqu Blend Color Eyeshadow which is ever released, Ex-21 Murasakisuishou. Is it the pretties ever? Some of the previous ones have really a special place in my heart (to name a few, Ex-20, Ex-15, Ex-17, Ex-11 and the list goes on) but this one is certainly unique in a way that it is so versatile. You will see what I mean once I start showing you the swatches...

The theme of Autumn/Winter 2014 Collection is jewellery, the products are named after gemstones.  Murasakisuishou is the old name for Amethyst, which is composed of two words, "Murasaki" meaning violet and "Shuishou" meaning crystal. After my research I found out that today one would use amejisuto for amethyst. When I could de-cypher the name of the quad, I started getting ever more excited because Ametyst is my favorite stone and I think why... the color? ;-)

Top left: A combination of light cool pink and pale gold. Once mixed together, these reveal a lovely peachy/rose gold shade. The finish is pearly but in no ways frosty, the shimmer in Suqqu is very delicate, it never emphasizes any lines nor becomes too shimmery. I find Suqqu line great for all ages.

Top right: Taupe fest! A mid toned cool taupe together with a warmer taupe, they are both lovely, once mixed, they reveal a gorgeous neutral taupe, which is so complex, you can just swipe this one on your lids and you are done.

Bottom left: Deep brown with khaki undertones sharing the pan with a cooler anthracite with brown undertones. These two have less shimmer than top left and right shades. The shimmer is rather sparse to bring complexity. Once mixed together, they form a lovely natural definition/liner shade.

Bottom right: Very light pink and beige to form a cooler or warmer base color so that the other shades can be blended to perfection. I use these to define the brow bone and blend the crease and they work great.

If you are a little confused and don't want to deal with the split pan, here is how the shades would look if you mix them together. You see that this way Ex-21 Murasakisuishou is a neutral quad with lovely taupe and peach.

But I like mixing and matching so today I used the pink shade on the inner third of the lid, gold next to it on the inner corner, cooler taupe around the center and mix of dark shades on the crease. Now you see why the quad is called Amethyst? Because it can put purple crystals on your eyes. I found it easy to pick up the single eye shadows from split pan, loved the resulting look. I can already think of many other looks using this palette, I will try to post more depending on my travel schedule on the next days.

I compared the single and combined shades some other shades from previous palettes, I hope this helps to give you some idea. 

Top left: Good news here, the very limited Ex-20 Natsubotan's pink is close to the pink in Murasakisuishou, so if you missed that one, here is a second chance. Once two of the shades are swirled together, they are close to Ex-19 Toryokuzora's delicate peach. Check out Kate's wonderful eye looks using what she calls "copper peach".

Top right: There is one rule that every make-up product enthusiast knows, no taupe is like another! I remembered it once more while I was going over my Suqqu palettes trying to find a close taupe, no chance. #11 Himesango is the closest, but shimmer is different and it is cooler. Ex-16 top right is close to the bottom shade, but not the same.

Bottom left: Again I don't own anything close to these two deeper taupes. I included Ex-19 to show you the sparse shimmer, which is close to Ex-19 but much sparser and finer.

For the FOTD, let me introduce you to Suqqu Creamy Glow Lipstick Moist #09 Zakuroseki, this is my first Suqqu lipstick and I really like it since I like sheer lipsticks and this one is even not that sheer, it has a glossy finish and a tad of stickiness which goes away after the first minutes. I find it comfortable to wear with moderate wear time. Zakuro means pomegranate in japanese, which describes the color wonderfully.

Below I am wearing Blend Color Eyeshadow Ex-21 Murasakisuishou on the eyes as explained above, Creamy Glow Lipstick Moist #09 Zakuroseki on the lips and Balancing Cheeks #01 Momoshuiro Blush Duo (reviewed here) on the cheeks. I really like the feminine but natural look of the quad and the combination with the lip color. I will definitely try many other possible looks with it.

Final thoughts: Love at first sight for Murasakisuishou. It is unique, versatile, feminine, natural and the shimmer is so delicate and complex. Creamy Glow Lipstick Moist #09 Zakuroseki is also lovely for a swipe and go day.

As I am typing this post, products haven't appeared yet on Suqqu website. I will let you know over social media once they are there. Please leave a comment if you spot them, thanks.

Are you eyeing anything from this collection?