(SUQQU Powder Foundation Glow & Chanel Mat Lumière)
(ample amount for numerous applications)
I happened to get some generous trial samples of two of the foundations I was looking forward to trying out: Chanel Mat Lumière and SUQQU Powder Foundation Glow. The samples allow many applications so I was able to really compare them.
Finish:
Both have a pleasingly matte finish. Chanel’s finish lives up to its name, as it is predominantly matte but with a natural and subtle luminosity. SUQQU creates more of a velvety matte finish, which looks very polished. I am happy with both.
Coverage:
As I usually go for a medium or medium-to-full coverage, SUQQU wins it here for me. It has an effortless medium-to-full coverage without looking chalky or cakey at all. The ultra-smooth powder almost has a moist feel, which is a joy to use. On the other hand, Chanel gives a natural and sheer-to-medium coverage. Personally, I would like a bit more coverage than this.
Pore Concealing:
Again, SUQQU wins it hands down in this category. Powder foundations from Japanese brands often do exceptionally well in smoothing out pores. Chanel falls short in covering pores effectively.
Shine Control:
This is where Chanel performs better than SUQQU. Sometimes, the trade-off for a velvety and almost moist powder foundation is that the powder doesn’t absorb sebum very effectively. In this case, Chanel’s slightly dryer powder tackles this area more successfully.
Overall, I still prefer SUQQU’s Powder Foundation Glow. It creates a great coverage and finish, and it conceals pores very well and gives a smooth and polished look. (I just need to remember to blot out the shine a bit more often.) But Chanel’s Mat Lumière is not bad at all, and it will suit someone that wants a sheer and natural look. Both are a worth a good look.
Notes on the basics:
Chanel Mat Lumière: 6 shades, SPF 10 PA +
SUQQU Powder Foundation Glow: 5 shdes, SPF16 PA ++
(PA indicates the strength of UVA protection, ranging from PA+ to PA ++++)
Related Posts:
SUQQU Fall 2007 Foundation Lineup
(See the other brand-new items apart from the foundation reviewed above.)
SUQQU: Sensuality with an Attitude
(my personal take on one of the most welcome additions to the UK beauty scene)
Chanel: The Perfect Black
(Find out why Chanel is one of my favorite brands.)
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi PJ! I love reading your blog!
I have two questions for you:
1) How did you manage to score such sweet deluxe samples? Here in the States (at my local Macy’s) the sales associates are always so damn stingy with samples, often denying they have any and then surreptitiously hoarding them for themselves (another Macy’s employee let me in on the secret), damn them. Better department stores (such as Nordstrom, Saks and Neiman Marcus) are quite liberal with samples, unfortunately I live hours away from them.
2) Have you tried using a Milk of Magnesia mask for your skin? I tried it as a teenager and it worked wonders for my oily skin. Now, sadly, I suffer from the opposite problem: bone dry skin (but don’t worry, it’s not related to the Milk of Magnesia).
Hello there,
Thank you very much for reading my blog and leaving a comment!
I think the main thing is that these two products have just been launched in the UK. Many counters tend to have samples of their latest products.
But I didn’t actually ask for them because there are rarely samples for powder foundations. For SUQQU, the assistant recognized me from previous visits and she knew I had been very interested in the new foundation products. As for Chanel, I had a very pleasant conversation with the assistant about how Mat Lumière is compared with other Chanel foundations and she asked me if I would like to try it. She actually gave me two different shades.
(By the way, I didn’t make any purchase at the Chanel counter, and I spent about 16 USD at SUQQU and I received several samples of the various new foundation products.)
Do please allow me to invite you to read a post I wrote a while ago about getting samples at the counters. (But obviously the tips won’t work that well if the sales assistants tend not to hand out samples very much…)
About Milk Magnesia mask, I have read about it before but I have not tried it. My skin is dry-oily, which means the sebum secretion is over-compensating the dryness. (This idea has been more widely acknowledged in Japanese cosmetics.) So, products that absorb oil tend to make the issue worse and would encourage the skin to produce even more oil.
I’d imagine this might work better for people who just have oily skin and have no dryness issues.
Thank you very much again for your questions and comments!! :)
Hi PJ,
Great post! I love comparing things… :) It’s a great way to gain more understanding about a product. Hopefully we’ll see more “face-offs” in the future!
Hello Tammy again,
Thank you for your compliment!!
I am glad you enjoyed reading this post. I enjoyed writing it as well.
I will definitely bring out more face-offs in the future. Ummm…I already have some candidates in mind! :)
Thanks again for commenting!
…Foundation Face-Off: Chanel & SUQQU…
Hello Karen,
Thank you for the link again! :)
Hello! I just encountered your blog when I was visiting in Japan. I’m itching to get some Suqqu base makeup and foundation, but it’s too bad I’m back in the U.S. already! I checked out that site you mentioned and would like to place an order for the creamy foundation. Do you have any info you can pass on to me to choose the correct foundation colour? I’m a 020 in the Cle De Peau foundation line. Safe to choose the 2nd colour you think?
Hi Shirley,
I see. Yes, I think either 15 or 20 would be okay. I would probably suggest 15, which is the second shade from the lightest.
Hope it helps!
Thank you for your question, and do let me know what you think about the foundation! :)
Hi PJ!
Thank you for your clarification on my query about the RMK loose powder earlier.
And this has been another great post! After reading, I’m tempted to splurge on that Chanel powder foundation. May I know what’s the shade you used?
Pearl
Hi Pearl,
You are very welcome. Thank you for your kind words, and I am sorry for the late reply!
The shade I used for this post (the sample I was given at the Chanel counter) is 80 Contour. As far as I remember, it was slightly too dark for me but it was one of the only two sample shades available at the time.
Thank you for stopping by again! :)