SUQQU‘s Loose Powder was released as part of the brand’s fall 2007 base makeup collection. It is available in two shades, Natural and Deep. The two shades work together to create highlight and contour for the face. Today I am reviewing the shade in Natural.
Color-wise, Natural is a sheer off-white cream. It has a subtly pearly finish. When I tested it on the back of my hand, I thought the finish might be too pearly for me. I was also worried that the luminous finish might make my pores look more obvious. But when worn on the face, it imparts a softly luminous finish that is neither pearly or frosty. It doesn’t accentuate the look of pores. Also, the powder is very light and fine.
The enclosed powder puff is relatively soft and easy to use.
Compared with Lavshuca Face Powder and Kiss Mat Chiffon Powder, this product doesn’t have any efficacy in shine control or pore coverage. (It also has the least amount of coverage among the three.) It will not work as a setting powder for those with combination or oily skin.
Among the loose powder products that I have reviewed, it is the closest to Crème de la Mer’s The Powder in Translucent. The main difference is that SUQQU’s finish is more natural and less shimmery and it doesn’t have the pink iridescence that the Crème de la Mer powder has. Overall, as a highlighting powder (particularly for daytime makeup), I prefer SUQQU’s.
Essentially, this is a finishing powder that works as a subtle highlighter, as it adds a soft and very natural glow for the face. It is also subtle enough to be used all over the face if the softly glowy finish is what you would like to go for. (It is able to help create the “brilliant skin” that is very popular in Japan right now.)
(SUQQU is currently available in Japan, Thailand, and the UK. Check here to see the information on all the SUQQU retail points.)
Updated on July 26th 2009:
Examples of “Brilliant Skin”, requested by reader Tamtam. (I am also considering writing up a separate post on this trend.)
(image from www.kanebo-cosmetics.jp/coffretdor)
(image from www.biteki.com)
More on SUQQU’s fall 2007 base makeup collection:
Foundation Face-Off: Chanel vs. SUQQU
Makeup Base Creamy & Brightup
Other related posts:
SUQQU Fall 2009 Point Makeup Collection
SUQQU Fall 2009 Base Makeup Releases
SUQQU Clear Veil Powder
Japanese Beauty Brand Profile: SUQQU
(image/info from www.nikkei.co.jp)
(images/info from www.joseishi.net/voce/)
Cosme Decorte AQ, one of Kosé’s top-end lines, will release its fall 2009 collection in Japan on August 21st.
The new point makeup items include:
– Shadow Supreme (above, 3 new variations)
– Rouge Supreme (5 new shades)
– Nail Supreme (5 new shades)
– Lip Brush
The new base makeup items (which will be housed in the new packaging launched last year for AQ’s fall 2008 point makeup collection) include:
– Cream Foundation Supreme (7 shades, SPF 20, PA++)
– Powder Foundation Supreme (7 shades, SPF 15, PA++)
– Makeup Base (2 shades, SPF 18, PA+)
– Concealer (2 shades, SPF 25, PA+++)
– Modelling Nuancer (pressed powder/ highlighter, 2 shades)
– Face Powder N (1 shade)
– Lip Glosser (lip treatment, lipstick base and lip gloss)
Related posts:
Cosme Decorte AQ Summer 2008 Collection
Beauté de Kosé Spring 2009 Collection
Foundation Face-Off (4): Dior vs. Kosé Esprique Precious
by PJ on Monday, July 13, 2009
in -Coffret d'Or, -Kanebo, -Lavshuca, 2009 Spring, 2009 Summer, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup, makeup - base makeup, stash focus
(images/info from www.joseishi.net/voce/)
On September 18th, SUQQU will release Concealer Tone Up and the fall/winter 2009 edition of Base Makeup Kit in Japan.
Concealer Tone Up is an orange-based concealer for the eye area. The product is designed to offer a natural but effective coverage while maintaining the moisture level in the eye area.
The limited-edition Base Makeup Kit includes:
– Dual Pressed Powder (full-sized product)
– Foundation (cream-type foundation, 16g)
– Makeup Base Creamy (7g, see review here)
– original pouch
I’d expect these two items to be available in the UK shortly after they are launched in Japan.
Related posts:
SUQQU Base Makeup Kit (Spring/Summer 2009)
SUQQU Clear Veil Powder
SUQQU Fall 2009 Collection
(including the base makeup item Polish Face Color)
(images from www.kanebo-cosmetics.jp/coffretdor)
(Coffret D’Or Eye Color)
(image from www.nikkei.co.jp)
(image/info from www.nikkei.com)
Ever since I tried out Coffret D’Or‘s Beauty Lasting Pact UV, I have always been looking forward to Coffret D’Or’s new base makeup items. (Beauty Lasting Pact UV is among the best powder foundations for oily skin that I have ever tried.)
On September 1st, Coffret D’Or will release its fall/winter base makeup collection. The new items feature Moisture Color Pearl, which provides extra moisture as well as a translucent finish for the skin.
The new items include:
– Beauty Essence Liquid
(liquid foundation, 7 shades)
– Beauty Essence Color Veil (light control primer, 2 shades)– Tone Up Highlighter (pen highlighter, 1 shade)
– Pure Crystalish Compact (light control powder, 2 shades)
– Retouch Veil (makeup retouch mist)
– Fall/Winter 2009 powder foundation case
(There doesn’t seem to be a new powder foundation for fall/winter 2009.)
Updated on July 7th 2009:
Image of the two cases of Pure Crystalish Compact:
(image from www.cosme.net)
Related posts:
Coffret D’Or Fall 2009 Point Makeup Collection
Coffret D’Or Summer 2009 Collection
Coffret D’Or Shine Accent Eyes in Pink Variation (Spring 2009)
Last week, I reviewed some of the eye makeup items in Lancôme’s fall 2009 collection. Today, I will share my thoughts on some items from the rest of the collection.
(Color Fever Matte in (from left to right)
151, 152, and 153)
A new range of Color Fever lipsticks, Color Fever Matte, is introduced to Lancôme’s lipstick lineup. Aaron De Mey wanted to create lip colors that would be richly pigmented as well as matte in order to maximize the color impact, and Color Fever Matte is the result.
To formulate Color Fever Matte, Lancôme tried to combine a matte finish and a smooth and nourishing texture, two things that don’t always co-exist. I think the end result is quite successful. While delivering a velvety matte finish, they glide on easily and don’t make lips feel or look dry.
Among the three shades, 151 Red Avant-Garde (left) is the most vivid and the closest to cardinal red. 152 Red Paris Paris (middle) is slightly cooler and more rose-toned, and it goes on slightly darker than 151. 153 Red Libertine (right) is the most muted and is perhaps the most wearable for those who don’t usually wear rich reds for the lips.
You can wear these colors with a lip liner for a defined and classic look, but my favorite way to apply them is to keep them just inside the lip line and use the fingertip to blend the color gently towards the lip line to create a softer edge and a more sensual look.
The two new Color Fever Gloss shades in this collection are 026 Pure Gold and 125 Aaron’s Red. Aaron’s red is a vibrant cool-toned shimmer-less red. (It goes on cooler than it appears in the tube.) While imparting a glossy transparency, the color (when worn alone) is very intense and the overall look resembles a lipstick-plus-gloss combination. I think the shade can be compared to that of strawberry jelly, which is color-rich but still transparent. Plus the shade does look mouth-watering…
Pure Gold has a completely different finish. It is a semi-opaque gold with fine multi-colored shimmer, and the richness of the color does resemble liquid gold. One coat of it gives the lips a yellow-based neutral tone. (It is a nice way to create a natural neutral tone for the lips without making them overly pale or ashy.) Two or more coats will start to create a rich gold-foil shine.
Both shades complement Color Fever Matte well. Aaron’s Red adds lip-plumping glossiness to the matte finish, while Pure Gold on the center of the lips makes the lips look stunningly luxurious. (If you don’t want any glossiness on the lips but still want a touch of gold, Aaron suggests using one of the golds in the eye palettes for a glistening gold-dust finish.)
Rose Liberté is created to add a veil of gold to the complexion. Some might be disappointed to know that the vibrant shimmer is an overspray, but I think the softly luminous gold-toned beige powder underneath is much more user-friendly. (I think the overspray, which has the same multi-colored shimmer as that in the Pure Gold Color Fever Gloss, is more suited as an eyeshadow.)
Also in this collection is the Powder Brush, which is designed to help apply not only Rose Liberté but also other loose and pressed powder products. The large fluffy brush feels soft on the face and is angled for more flexibility in the application.
Here are my personal picks from the collection:
– Palette Liberté in Bleu Royauté (signature item of the collection)
– Palette Liberté in Or Liberté (chic and wearable)
– Color Fever Matte in Red Paris Paris (vivid but elegant)
– Color Fever Gloss in Pure Gold (versatile and ultra-glamorous)
One of the demanding tasks of an artistic director of an international beauty brand is to express his/her unique vision as an artist and to create products with a mass-market appeal on a global scale. I think Aaron De Mey has done a great job with Lancôme’s fall 2009 collection. The creative vision is crystal-clear, and the products, thorough which we are able to see his original ideas, not only aim to set trends but also attempt to create classics. I wonder what is going to wow us in spring 2010…
Other fall 2009 makeup collections:
YSL
Clé de Peau
SUQQU
(images and info from www.covermark.co.jp)
Covermark was originally an American brand. It was founded by Lydia O’Leary in New York in 1928 as she developed a product to cover the birthmark on her face. (The product was named Covermark.)
In 1960, Japan O’Leary Corporation was established to distribute Covermark in Japan. The company was then separated from O’Leary Coporation in 1992 and became independent. It started to formulate and produce new base makeup products.
Covermark Japan also carries basic point makeup and skincare items. The latest skincare range is the Cell Advanced range. However, Covermark has always been famous in Asia as a base makeup brand.
(The original US Covermark site can be found here, and you can read more about the history of the brand here.)
(Covermark Basic Formula,
in 23 shade, SPF 33, PA+++)
.
The Covermark Basic Formula (above) is based on two of Covermark’s original products, Covermark S and Excellent Covermark E. It is a paste-type foundation which is able to create a full coverage.
Some of Covermark’s other popular products include Moisture Veil (the brand’s only powder foundation at the moment), Soft ES Pact (also with a paste consistency), Essence Foundation (cream foundation), and Essence Foundation Liquid (liquid foundation, seen at the top of the post).
Covermark is currently available in Japan, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand. (Check out the English site here.)
I have not had a chance to try products from Covermark yet. If you have, do let us know what you think. Thank you very much!
.
Related posts:
Japanese Base Makeup Week
SUQQU Clear Veil Powder
Remembering Raycious
Other Japanese Cosmetics Focus posts:
ECM
(another brand noted for base makeup items)
Kanebo Freeplus
Sony Vecua
Mamew
(image from www.kanebo-cosmetics.jp/coffretdor)
(image from www.biteki.com)
