Suqqu Christmas Makeup Kits 2014

Based on the theme of "Christmas dolce" (Italian for sweets), Suqqu's 2014 Christmas Makeup Kits will be launched on 1 November in Japan and retail at 8640yen each.

Makeup Kit A, which is described as the feminine pretty variation, contains:
1. Blend Color Eyeshadow EX22 Yukiichigo 雪苺 (5g)
2. Reset Cleansing Cream 40g
3. Refining Foam 30g
4. Creamy Glow Lipstick Moist EX13 Beniaka 紅赤 (1.2g)
5. Charcoal grey pouch H11×W21×D3.5cm





Makeup Kit B, which is described as the modern elegant variation, contains:
1. Blend Color Eyeshadow EX23 Tsukianzu 月杏 (5g)
2. Reset Cleansing Cream 40g
3. Refining Foam 30g
4. Creamy Glow Lipstick Moist EX13 Beniaka 紅赤 (1.2g)
5. Ivory pouch H11×W21×D3.5cm



The Creamy Glow Lipstick Moist EX13 Beniaka is a re-promoted shade originally released in the Fall 2013 collection.

Holika Holika Aqua Petit Jelly BB and Jelly Starter

Aqua Petit Jelly BB and its accompanying primer, Aqua Petit Jelly Starter, were recently released by Holika Holika as lighter alternatives to the usual BB creams for the summer months.



The heavy frosted glass jars are not travel-friendly but one thoughtful feature of the packaging is the spatula attached to the cap, which is a much more hygienic way of dispensing the product, instead of sticking one's fingers into the jar.



The Jelly BB and Jelly Starter both promise "soft and bouncy skin" through a host of moisturising agents.



The Jelly BB comes in two shades. The lighter shade, #1 Aqua Beige turned out to be a good match for my skintone. The Jelly BB has a light watery jelly texture, which is quite different from the usual BB creams. It spreads very easily on the skin without streaking, but it does require a bit more effort to blend over areas with enlarged pores.



Both the Petit Jelly BB and the Starter come packaged with a large sponge but I usually prefer to apply with my fingers instead.



The Jelly Starter comes in only one shade, a pale pink with iridescent shimmer. Unlike the Jelly BB which has SPF20 PA++, the Jelly Starter does not provide sun protection.



When applied, it gives my skin a bit of a glow, without looking too pink-toned or oily/shiny. Although it claims to cover up blemishes, it doesn't perform well in that respect. Nevertheless, it does help to make application of the Jelly BB smoother and easier.



Of the two, I like the Jelly BB much more, whereas the Jelly Starter is fairly ordinary to me. It has no greyish undertone and its light texture feels fresh and comfortable on my skin, which gets oily very quickly in Singapore's humid weather. The Jelly BB does a good job of evening out my skintone. The coverage is sheer to medium, and a separate concealer is needed for larger blemishes.



The oil control was decent, with my T-zone starting to shine only after 2.5 hours. With some foundations, my T-zone starts getting oily in less than an hour. With the Jelly BB, I have to blot about every two hours. Overall, I think the Jelly BB is a good option to explore if you are averse to the dense textures of the usual BB creams. In South Korea, it costs just 13,500won (about S$15.20) whereas in Singapore, it costs S$32.90. Nevertheless, I think that is still relatively affordable, plus you can get a 10% discount if you are a member.



The other products used for this look include: Holika Holika Midnight Owl #2 and Enamel Magic Melomovie Mascara, Too Faced Shadow Insurance, Lancome Color Design All-in-one Palette Emerald Boudoir, MAC Hot House Lipglass, Body Shop Extra Virgin Minerals Loose Powder Foundation #102 Natural Ivory, K-Palette Real Lasting Eyebrow #1 and Shiseido Automatic Fine Eyeliner.



For the Lancome palette, I used all the shades except for the emerald shade.



List of ingredients for the Petit Jelly BB.



List of ingredients for the Starter.

Sunday Shopping Spree (Clinique, Stila, Holika Holika, Hello Kitty)

Did a bit of shopping in town today!

My first stop was Isetan Scotts to pick up the Clinique Black Honey Superbalm Moisturizing Gloss (S$26, 15ml). According to the SA, each counter received only 20 pieces of the lipgloss, which was selling fast. When I picked up mine in the morning, there were only 10 left. Do also check out Joey's and Sophia's posts on the press event.

Next at Tangs Orchard, I was happy to find that the Stila Striking in South Beach palette had arrived at the Escentials boutique.

It retails at S$29 here, versus US$14 in the US. But thanks to a combination of using my Tangs Citibank bonus dollars and Escentials points, I paid just S$20 for it. Now, I just need Wonderful in Waikiki and Living the Life in Laguna to complete my collection!

At Guardian Pharmacy in Ion, I picked up the My Beauty Diary Aegean Sea Pink Rockrose Mask and Mediterranean Orange Blossom Mask. These were on sale at S$5.95 each for a box of 5 masks. I think the usual price is S$6.95.

Also snagged this BRTC sampler pack of four BB creams at half price for just S$8.90. The manufacturing date is 26 Nov 2009 with the expiry date in November 2012.

At Kinokuniya at Ngee Ann City, I came across these Hello Kitty accessories with a cute lace motif.


Since there was a 10% discount on stationery items for members, I decided to get the laptop sleeve.


The case fits my 13-inch white MacBook perfectly.

My Melody stationery with a UK flag theme.

At Holika Holika, the Aqua Petit Jelly BB display caught my eye. The Jelly BB SPF20 PA++, which comes in two shades, has a wonderfully light texture and looks quite natural when swatched.

There is a matching Jelly Starter which serves as an illuminating and hydrating primer. This doesn't add any colour to the skin but instead, gives it an added glow.


The Jelly BB and Jelly Starter retail at S$32.90 each. If you are a Holika member, you can enjoy a 10% discount. (A $100 purchase qualifies you for the membership.) For National Day, Holika is also offering a 20% discount on selected products, plus gifts with purchase of S$40, S$60 and S$80 (see the details on their Facebook page).

With my purchase, I received a pack of Juicy Hawaii Orangeade Lip & Eye Remover Tissue wipes.

Also saw the hoarding of the upcoming H&M store, which will be opening on 3 September. It's probably the most anticipated fashion store opening of the year in Singapore, but I've never had much luck shopping in H&M.

Hope you had a good weekend too!

Holika Holika Midnight Owl

Earlier today, I wandered into the Holika Holika store at Wisma Atria in search of sponge tip applicators but got distracted by the new Midnight Owl compacts. According to the SA, these just arrived less than one week ago.


I'm not an owl or bird enthusiast but the whimsical design and gorgeous mix of shimmery shades were just too adorable to resist. I love the intricate design details like the speech bubble with the heart inside and the stars in the background.

#1 is a standard highlighting powder, similar to the earlier Merry Holika highlighting powder with the cat motif. Blended together, it applies as a soft glowy powder with very refined silver shimmer (no big chunky glitter bits).

#2 has more of a pinkish tint and can be used as a blush or on top of blush for a more glowy effect. With a generous 10g of product, each compact can probably last many moons even with daily use. The included brush feels soft and gentle on the skin. I also like the fact that there is a protective plastic tray on top of the powder.

While the Midnight Owl compacts are quite expensive at S$49.90, you can get a 10% discount on the spot if you spend more than S$50 to become a member. There is no membership card or points/rewards system. The staff simply take down your personal particulars and you just need to quote your IC number for future purchases to enjoy the 10% discount. On your birthday, you get a 30% discount. According to the Holika Holika website, the Midnight Owl compacts retail for just 20,000won (about S$23) in Korea. The immense price difference is annoying but I can't be bothered to navigate through GMarket.

Holika Holika is currently having a Great Singapore Sale promotion under which you can get 20% off with purchase of 2 products, or 30% off with purchase of 3 products. However, this promotion is not applicable to new products like the Midnight Owl compacts.

Holika Holika

Holika Holika recently sent me three of their star products to review.

The Fairy Bakery Muffin Shadow #3 (S$25) is a baked eyeshadow duo of a midnight blue paired with a swirled silver/lavender/greyish black half. The midnight blue shade takes quite a bit of layering to achieve a more intense finish. Even applied with a wet brush, the finish is a tad muted and not what I would term metallic. The swirled half is more shimmery but it is also messier as it tends to kick up a lot of shimmery bits (as you can see in the pic below). It applies as a slightly dusky silver.

For this look, I basically applied the blue shade from the upper lashline to the crease and the silvery shade as a wash over the browbone area and more intensely in the crease area. Used over a good primer, the eyeshadows lasted well through more than 8 hours of wear without significant creasing or fallout on the under eye area.

The Enamel Magic Melomovie Special Set (S$32.50) contains the Enamel Magic Melomovie Mascara and its own biphase remover. The waterproof mascara contains silk protein and pearl powder to create dramatic, gorgeous lashes with a "glossy coating base".

The tube packaging looks similar to Majolica Majorca's mascaras but that's pretty much where the resemblance ends. I found that the curvy S-shaped brush works very well with my sparse, thin lashes. The formula is quite slick and applies very smoothly. It does not contain fibres, which is a plus for me as fibre-based mascaras tend to irritate my eyes.

The mascara is good at lengthening the lashes and giving them greater definition without clumping. The volumising effect is not that significant but I liked how the mascara doesn't clump no matter how many times I brush it through my lashes. It doesn't flake or smudge at all throughout the day. It also removes easily with the Biore Makeup Remover for Eye & lip. Lotus Palace has reviewed the mascara here.

The Merry Holika All Over Face (S$50) is a face highlighting powder that also doubles up as a blush (using the pink half of the kitty).

It is sprinkled through with a very fine shimmer. Even after a couple of uses, the shimmer is still visible but not to worry as it does not show up as obvious glitter particles when applied.

Below are swatches of the 6 individual shades done on bare skin without any primer. Swirled together, the powder gives a subtle glowy finish. The pink shade works well on its own as a blush as it has good colour payoff.

It comes with its own powder brush in a plastic sleeve. The brush is nicely dense and feels as soft as a similar brush that I have from RMK.

Here's the look that I did with all three products.

The perennial gripe among Singaporean ladies about South Korean beauty brands is that the prices in Singapore are significantly higher than the prices in South Korea. In that respect, I think Holika Holika could have done better in making the prices more competitive, compared to say Gmarket. Nevertheless, it does have a diverse range of both makeup and skincare products that are worth checking out.

The Holika Holika store is located at level B1 of Wisma Atria. You can check out the Holika Holika Facebook page and Twitter for news on promotions and lucky draws.