Suqqu Extra Glow Lipstick

Before trying both Suqqu Creamy Glow Lipstick Moist and the Extra Glow Lipstick, I was pretty sure I'd prefer the latter. After all, the whole line's all about shimmer-free, bright, and cheery colors, versus the mostly neutral, muted, and my-lips-but-betters from the Creamy Glow Moists typical of most Japanese lipsticks. So I picked up two Extra Glows to try, 05 冴杏 (Saeanzu) Orange Red and 10 映華 (Haebana) Blooming Pink.

All pictures taken in natural light without flash.

Again I'll start with the packaging. There's a reason why these lippies retail 1,000yen less than their Creamy Glow, Creamy Glow Moist, and Bright Up sisters, and that reason is plastic. Unfortunately, Suqqu went from slim and sleek metal tubes to square and bigger plastic tubes. It's no atrocity like Jill Stuart but I'm a little sadder still. I'll be less sad if the retail is around 3,000yen, but 4,000yen makes plastic that much harder to like.

Suqqu lipstick packaging comparison: Bright Up versus Creamy Glow/Moist versus Extra Glow.

Here's Bright Up versus Creamy Glow/Moist versus Extra Glow versus Lunasol lipsticks. The Extra Glow is very slightly longer and slimmer than Lunasol. In my hands though, Lunasol feels that much nicer, weightier, and more substantial, all while being 1,000yen less!

Anyway, I do appreciate that the Extra Glow permanent lineup looks bright and gorgeous in various online swatches. I'd swatched EX-01 蜜苺 (Mitsuichigo) and EX-02 蜜柿 (Mitsugaki) in person and was aghast to find them pretty much barely-there balms. Thank goodness the sheer and colorless thing is LE-only, a small relief for my gaunt wallet.

Formula wise, I find these Extra Glows to be slightly thinner than Lunasol Full Glamor Lips, again with the exception of 02 Cherry Red, EX08 Spicy Red, and the newer colors released fall 2016. It's definitely thinner than the Creamy Glow Moists, though more pigmented. Finish wise they're inconsistent, with some colors more translucent, or even transparent, and others a touch more opaque. I definitely love that they're all shimmer-free!

- 05 冴杏 (Saeanzu) Orange Red: swatched translucent but goes on my lips orangey apricot that's initially slightly milky upon application. Thankfully, the color seems to "adapt" and the milkiness disappears after a few minutes, so it's totally wearable for me.

- 10 映華 (Haebana) Blooming Pink: transparent medium pink.

05 冴杏 (Saeanzu) Orange Red and 10 映華 (Haebana) Blooming Pink.

Does 10's "transparent medium pink" ring a bell? ^.^ Here's Bright Up 09 versus Extra Glow 10, the former is slightly redder and the latter slightly cooler. On my lips, they're virtually indistinguishable. Pick the packaging (or price) that most pleases you.