Who?
I really can't remember when I started this little affair with Cult British Beauty brand Illamasqua, but i remember my first order was Light Liquid foundation in shade 115 and a powder blusher in Disobey. Illamasqua is the child of Julian Kynaston, created to stray from the conventional image that every brand and beauty mall counter shoves down our throats. Illamasqua is the bolder person that hides inside us. The brand is inspired from many influences, some being the dark and illicit 1920's club scene, it also takes inspiration from the individuals who aren't afraid to push the boundaries.
My Personal Experience with Illamasqua.
When it comes to make up and beauty brands and counters, I am one of those customers who complain if I do not receive the best service. After being in retail myself, providing a cheery smile and help at hand, I don't see why others can't.
I feel that I don't need to worry when I shop online or instore at Illamasqua, they provide the best customer service i've received! They take the time to listen to your needs, your preferred look and actually take an interest! Illamasqua supports aspiring artists and their own, I'm grateful that they have shared and posted my work on their social networking websites. This hasn't boosted my confidence in make up artistry, but has also opened my artistry up to people who I wouldn't have been in contact with by myself.
To sum it up, Illamasqua are probably the most kindest and caring brand you will ever come into contact with, not to mention their AMAZING products. The pigmentation, life and colours are fantastic! There's a whole feast to feed your alter ego with!
My long due Illamasqua Haul, products with an * have been sent to me.
Lipsticks - £16.50
Immodest* - A light Pastel Pink that goes and stays on like a dream - Matte Finish - It is a tiny bit drying but nothing too drastic.
// I've been lusting after this baby for quite a while now, I couldn't decide whether or not it would be too similar to other pinks in my lipstick palette. However I came home one day to a lovely little package from the guys and Rose at HQ, and inside was This Lipstick along with a couple of other things.
Over - I really don't think that the swatch is true to what the real colour is, Over is a gorgeous coral shade, perfect for the summer! I don't find this drying at all!
Flare - The brightest orange you'll come across (Brighter than Neon Orange by MAC PRO) - Find this drying, however I think it's pretty easy to apply. The colour is amazing! Pigmentation is spot on!
Apocalips - My Friend Ryan persuaded me to buy this, in the bullet it looks greeny, however on the lips I find it being more of a teal/ blue. I find this shade the most difficult to apply and probably the most drying. But you can't pass on a colour as amazing as this can you?
Kontrol - I LIVE FOR THIS COLOUR! By far my favourite, however I am partial to a bit of purple ;) - It's a matte finish, however I think it's more satin like as the texture of the lipstick is definitely creamier and applies like an absolute dream!
Blushers - £18.00
Intrigue - I love this powder blusher, it is amazing for highlights and can even work for a highlight below the brow bone. Another thing this is amazing for is a white eyeshadow! Yes, you get more for your money if you buy intrigue and use it is an eyeshadow. It's a matte finish and the pigmentation is amazing.
Ambition - This shade is a really pretty Neutral Shimmer, I would say it's a gorgeous blush colour but I wouldn't use it to contour. It has amazing flecks of golden glitter.
Disobey - I really like this shade as a contouring shade, however I find it a bit too brown. I think I would prefer it if it was a taupe shade. Would look amazing on tanned skin! It's a matte finish and you definitely do NOT need a lot to get a good colour pay off.
Aurora (Gleam) - I'm iffy with this product, some days I love it, some days I'm not overly impressed with it. I think it's a beautiful highlighting colour, however I sometimes find it can make myself and 1/5 times my client look a bit too shiny! It's amazing for proms and weddings to add that extra bit of shimmer. This product can be used underneath the foundation for a subtle shimmer, or ontop to create a bigger impact.
Libido* - This way another product in my little goodie bag from HQ and Rose. This is an amazing and beautiful colour! I've always wanted a red, however this product can be built up. If used sparingly and blended really well, it can be a very nice subtle blush/ hint of rosiness. However if used normally the colour pay off is an amazing brick red! It looks fantastic! It's ideal for a creative look or on darker skin.
(Cream blushes can also be used on the lips if you use a lip liner to keep the product in place.)
S.O.P.H.I.E - A beautiful blush that would suit most skin tones! I bought this blusher because of the charity it supports, which is the Sophie Lancaster Foundation (check it out <<). Another reason why I love Illamasqua, is because it supports Charities that are trying to make a difference in the world we live in.
Morale - I colour that can be built up to create a high impactive colour, or used sheerly that will still create a powerful impact. It's described as a rosy flush, however It is definitely more purple based.
Eyeshadows/ Pigments/ Liquid Metals. - £15.50/ £17.50/ £17.50
Stalk - I love stalk, it was my first Illamasqua eyeshadow along with Can Can. It's a deep green with blue undertones. It's a beautiful colour! The pigmentation is amazing. Sometimes it can be a tiny bit drying and powdery if too much is used, however you don't need a lot to get an amazing colour pay off.
Fiasco - A deep navy blue! It's one of my favorites as it adds great depth on the outer V or in the crease of a blue/ green shadow like burst or stalk. I dropped this eyeshadow and it cracked in half, safe to say I was devastated! (Is that sad I'm emotionally attached to my make up?)
Tango - This is my newest edition to my Illamasqua Palette! An amazing colour, It's very similar to MACs antiqued colour. The colour pay off is amazing, and the amount of depth to the bronzed copper colour is to die for! It's a beautiful NATURAL colour. It's one of Illamasquas very few shimmers. Normally brands produce shimmer shadows as a cheap way of creating a product that looks pigmented, but is masked by the tiny flecks of glitter and shimmer. However this is not the case for this eyeshadow, to be honest I think this is more pigmented than the matte eyeshadows.
Inception - Another purple... shock horror! :P A beautiful dark violet shade. It's a beautiful natural purple shade (if that makes sense) amazing colour pay off, but I think it could have been a bit purpler.
Hype - If you want a yellow eyeshadow, buy Hype! It's an orange based yellow. It's similar to golden rod by mac... BUT this is better! It doesn't need building up because the pigmentation is amazing.
Vapour - I bought this at Christmas, it's a lovely orange colour and looks amazing with dark blue eyeshadow or as a transition colour for a shade similar to hype!
Fledgling - This colour is a lovely grass green, I did think it would be brighter. However I think you would either need a green base or a white base to make this colour fulfil it's potential. It's a beautiful vibrant green, that you should definately should buy if you want a highly pigmented green (they're hard to come by).
Burst - I actually bought this thinking it would be greener for some bizarre reason, however it's a beautiful sea blue, it's like Stalk but it's counter part. Where stalk is green with Blue Undertones. This is definitely a Blue with green undertones. Looks amazing with brown or blue eyes!
Courtesan - This can be used as a gorgeous lid colour, it's possibly the hardest shadow I have to work with, as I find it needs building to get an amazing colour pay off. However it's still a beautiful colour. This shade Can also be used as a subtle blush for pale skinned people.
Can Can* - I received this off HQ and Rose, and it's a beautiful darker version of courtesan. It looks gorgeous on tanned skin and Olive skin tones.
Surge - I know this is going to sound weird, but this liquid metal is a silver liquid metal with a dirty golden undertone. It isn't a true silver, but it's beyond beautiful. The texture is really weird as well, it feels wet but it goes on amazingly pigmented and dries brilliantly. I found that this liquid didn't crease on my eyelids. I set it with a similar coloured eyeshadow, or alternatively you can use glitter, as it sticks really well!
Furore* - Just this colour :| Look at it and look how amazing it is! I'm in love, it's a lighter toned version of tango. This is a loose pigment, and you do not need a lot! Amazing colour pay off, normally i'm iffy when it comes to pigments. Be careful not to drop it on your bed (like i did :( )
Electrum* - Another liquid metal, this is a radiant antiqued gold! It's beautiful, and the pigment is amazing! It will act as a brilliant base for furore or tango.
Beguile - I use this pigment for dramatic highlighting on the eyes and cheek bones, but it can also be used under or in foundation to create a fantasy like sparkle!
Bedaub - A mint cream pigment that goes in with great impact! It's a very unique colour but will look beautiful this summer! It can also be used on the lips!
Eyelashes - £14.50
I only recently bought Illamasqua eyelashes just recently, I received #23 as a gift from HQ and Rose. I'll update this after I have worn/ used them. But they look amazing!
I would like to say a huge huge HUGE thank you to Illamasqua's HQ and Rose!
You can find Rose's blog at - Mixed Gems
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