SUQQU‘s fall 2012 makeup collection featured two variations of Gradation Cheeks. (No other variation was released since the launch of the product back then.) Gradation Cheeks in EX-01 Mizudaidai included a light peach and a pale ivory peach, and I reviewed it back in 2012. Some time later, I purchased EX-02 Mizumomo, and today I will be sharing my thoughts on it.
SUQQU Gradation Cheeks in EX-02 Mizumomo (スック グラデーション チークス EX-02 瑞桃, limited edition, ¥6500 in Japan, £38 in the UK) features two shades. They are:
- fuchsia pink, lightly-to-moderately pigmented, satiny with a soft veil of fine shimmer
- off-white pink, lightly pigmented, luminous matte with very subtle shimmer
The light-reflective particles in the two shades are multi-hued. Both shades are easy to apply and blend. The fuchsia pink has a good staying power, and the off-white pink has a decently good staying power.
When applied light-handedly, the fuchsia pink looks warmer on the skin than it does in the pan and creates a natural flush for the cheeks. (The shade is fairly translucent and the warm tone of my skin tone shows through it.) For the cool tone of the shade to show up more, I do need to layer the shade to increase its color intensity and opacity.
The off-white pink works well as a base, a setting shade and a subtle highlighting shade. (When I use it as a base and apply the fuchsia pink light-handedly, it doesn’t make the fuchsia pink look more cool-toned.) Its pink tone is very subtle, and, as a highlighting shade, it doesn’t make my skin look unnaturally pinkish. Also, its semi-matte finish has a gentle soft-focus effect. It can look slightly more luminous with some layering, but its skin-smoothing effect will be slightly reduced.
(I still prefer the packagings of the two-color blusher palettes (Blend Cheeks (fall 2007), Noble Nuance Cheeks (spring 2010), Balancing Cheeks (fall 2010), Nuancing Cheeks (Spring 2012), Gradation Cheeks and Balancing Cheeks N (spring 2014)) to that of Pure Color Blush launched in fall 2016. I like the squareness and the thickness of the cases, and I also like the smaller logos on those cases.)
Overall, I do like this product. Both shades are easy to work with, and I like their elegant and understated finishes. However, I do wish that, even with a light-handed application, the fuchsia pink could look as fuchsia-toned on my cheeks as it appears in the pan.
Related posts:
SUQQU Summer 2018 Makeup Collection
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