"With an impressively extensive colour and product range that's almost unprecedented for a fledgling brand, British cosmetics company Illamasqua is shaping up to be one of the most exciting launches of the year. Debuting in Selfridges and drawing its dark inspiration from 1920s Berlin, Illamasqua will offer a massive fifty professional-quality pieces at the time of launch, and from its 107 eye shadow shades to a huge 46 lip colours the line has an emphasis on high-drama and colourful, longlasting formulations."
(Vogue.com)
I had heard a lot about the launch of this new makeup brand and was intrigued by the quirky images and eccentric looks. When I heard it being likened to MAC and found out it was from the people behind GHD, I knew it wasn't to be missed.
Currently only available as Selfridges, Oxford Street, I eagerly sought it out on a visit to London last month.
The packaging is simple, sleek black and the range of colours is fantastic, some of them being really unusual and unique. In particular they had a pale pinky/flesh toned eyeliner which I really wanted (to use on my waterline instead of white) but unfortunately had sold out.
And here's what I ended up getting;
Intense Lipgloss in Absorb
This smells incredible (like Refreshers!) and the colour is like nothing I own or have seen before. It almost looks like a very glossy concealer, highly pigmented and creamy. A tiny bit on the lips gives a very shiny very nude lip, I love it! Great used over darker/brighter colours to tone them down.
Eye liner cake and sealing gel.
Just a drop of the sealing gel transforms the eye liner cake into a liquid eyeliner which dries to an ultra-long lasting and intense finish. It can also be mixed with eyeshadows and pigment to create a colour intense paste which dries quickly and lasts for hours. Very Handy! With the right brush this creates a precise and dramatic line. I also wanted the Illamasqua slanted eyeliner brush which looks fab (and not like anything by MAC) but again it was sold out!
Lipstick in Liar
On the lips this is a pale chalky pink, surprisingly nothing like I already own from MAC. The only thing I don't like about it is the tiny flecks of glitter in it; they can hardly be seen at all however feel gritty and a bit scratchy on the lips. Nothing that can't be cured by a bit of clear gloss though! Overall verdict, very pretty and I love the tube!
Has anyone else come across Illamasqua?
4 comments:
Hi
I love Illamasqua, I was there last week and had the full £30 makeover [redeemable against product purchases] and had a makeover with Alex, shes fab! She showed me loads of colours that I would normally not look twice at, and I ended up spending a silly amount, the intense lipglosses are my favourites. And I love red lipstick, and they have about 6 different shades of red. Definitely better than MAC.
i saw this and walked straight past it whoops was it right near mac...i just made a bee line for mac hehehe!!! im not being funny but all the guys on this stall were heavily and i mean drag like made up...it kinda put me off...i thought it was show make up!! xx
@Tiffany, Yeh the colours are a bit crazy but there are some more wearable products.Good for fancy dress or if you feel like going a bit crazy and experimantal!x
Hi! I have been reading your blog this week and I love it. So pleased you did a post on Illamasqua. I was in Selfridges about a month a go and I bought a nail polish in "alarm". It's a bright reddy-orange colour, I love it! Really high quality, it didn't chip for aaaaaaages. I don't know if it was fully worth the £12 it cost though...
I did check the website after buying the varnish and it looks NOTHING like the swatch online though, so something to be careful of.
Liquid Metal from Illamasqua is next on my wish-list.
(PS I know this is a really late comment!!)
Great blog x
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