Suqqu Spring Nuancing Cheeks comparison swatches

New eyeshadow palette swatches will come tomorrow, but I thought it best to prioritise the limited edition blush duos (£38) and put them in some kind of context for those of you still deciding whether or not to buy. Click here for my original swatches of the blushes.

Disclaimer: I am a texture fiend and believe that true 'dupes' are vanishingly rare. These swatches are just to give an idea of how these shades compare to others, which may be more accessible.

Pictures in natural light unless otherwise specified.

1. Suqqu EX-01 Botaniro with Shu Uemura Colour Atelier P Medium Pink 365, Rouge Bunny Rouge Gracilis and Lipstick Queen Oxymoron Matte Gloss Free Ride.

Shu P365 is almost a dead ringer for the left side of Botaniro, albeit less pigmented and slightly peachier.

with flash

The right side of Botaniro is somewhere between Lipstick Queen Free Ride (brighter, pinker) and RBR Gracilis (softer, peachier).

with flash

2. Suqqu EX-02 Kohakusui with Illamasqua Cream Blusher Rude and RMSBeauty lip2cheek Smile.

I don't own any shades similar to the individual pans in the duo, but when evenly mixed, Kokakusui produces something similar to Illamasqua Rude (peachier and with more of a pastel tone than Kohakusui's brighter coral) and RMSbeauty Smile (lighter, pinker).

with flash

3. Suqqu EX-03 Akanemizu with Rouge Bunny Rouge Orpheline.

Short'n'sweet because again I don't have anything too close to either individual Suqqu shade, but their lovechild is a warmer, more corally sister of one of my favourite blushes ever: RBR Orpheline, and I suspect could be brought even closer with judicious mixing (this shade was 1:1)

with flash

Suqqu Spring Blush Duo and Lipstick Swatches

Today, Suqqu finally launched its spring collection in UK and I went to pick up a few bits and bobs for my nearest 'n' dearests. Inquiring minds may like to know that the counter was not mobbed as in previous years, and they've instituted a no-purchasing-of-multiples policy. These two elements may be related...

From March 15th-18th, the incredibly talented Suqqu International Makeup Artist Kazumi Obayashi will be visiting the London counter again. Makeovers with her are *correction: £70* redeemable and there will be gifts with purchase too.

Nuancing Cheeks (£38 each) are blush duos which feature two well pigmented shades in Suqqu's incredibly smooth, blendable textures:

• left: a satin with very subtle shimmer (think Shiseido+)
• right: a satin matte scattered through with larger but v. sparse shimmer flecks (not overspray)

Each limited edition compact contains 3.8g of product and as always, includes an excellent squirrel hair brush.
All swatches made with sponge applicators. One swipe for the single shades, two swipes for the layered swatches.

EX-01 Botaniro, natural light

EX-01 Botaniro, with flash

EX-01 Botaniro left pan // right pan // mixed, natural light

EX-01 Botaniro swatches with flash

EX-02 Kohakusui, natural light

EX-02 Kohakusui, with flash

EX-02 Kohakusui, left pan // right pan // mixed, natural light

EX-02 Kohakusui, swatches with flash

EX-03 Akanemizu, natural light

EX-03 Akanemizu, with flash

EX-03 Akanemizu, left pan // right pan // mixed, natural light

EX-03 Akanemizu swatches with flash

Creamy Glow Moist Lipsticks (3.8g, £27 each). Unlike the current lineup of Creamy Glow lipsticks, these three new shades are sheer, shimmer-free jellies like the trio released last autumn. Two shades will join the permanent line but the third (EX-04) is limited edition.
Swatches are three swipes each

01 Haruoto // 02 Kurumiiro // EX-04 Tousakura

natural light

natural light, full sun

Addiction by Ayako Suspicious Cheek Stick

Playing catch up -- can you believe I got this for Christmas?! And now it's almost Suqqu Spring time March.

I actually find the formula of Suspicious differs slightly from my other Addiction cheek sticks; it seems even more matte and has slightly less slip than Revenge or Amazing. This could be batch variation, or by design -- the other two are brights, and this is a sombre (almost severe) deep plum, with a distinctly blue base and few pink tones to lighten it. I suppose it's fitting as suspicion is a much colder, indeterminate state...

The most similar shade I own is MAC's Dirty Plum powder blush (from Liberty of London), but it is easier to wear than Suspicious, with more berry-redness. I've swatched them together, along with some other vaguely-in-the-same-region shades, and the other two cheek sticks.

Sleek Pomegranate
Becca Beach Tint Raspberry
MAC Dirty Plum
Addiction Cheek Sticks: Suspicious, Revenge and Amazing

natural light

with flash to show textural variation