Showing posts with label Illamasqua. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Illamasqua. Show all posts

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Ola Jordan's Halloween Make-Up on Strictly Come Dancing... Illamasqua Inspired?

Anybody else think that Ola Jordan's makeup on Strictly Come Dancing last night was a bit similar to the make-up from Illamasqua's Toxic Nature collection in the eye department?

I've grabbed some of these images from the internet, but they're not as clear as they could be and they don't show the make-up that well, so I've just took a couple of screen shots on my phone, which I think show the look better.

Whaddya think? Also, isn't she beautiful? I have a massive girl crush on her.
My screen captures.


This post originated at www.thebeautyscoop.co.uk

Friday, February 24, 2012

Illamasqua Bronzing Duo!

A little bit of sun yesterday got me thinking about the warmer months that we hopefully have ahead of us, so I thought it only right that I should show you this Bronzing Duo from Illamasqua that I've had ever since the Liverpool store launch last year.

The duo comprises of a lighter and darker bronzing shade, that are SO soft, buttery soft and so silky on the skin, I think this is partly because the shimmer is very fine, it's not at all gritty or glittery which is a bit more complementary to the skin, and stops you looking like you've been sprinkled with fairy dust (or doing art with a 5 year old)! I find my skin looks radiant when I use this set, I use it sparingly as it is VERY pigmented, so a light hand is recommended.
Top, flash. Bottom, No flash.
The swatches do make it look slightly orange, more so than it does in real life and whilst I wouldn't use this as an all over bronzer, it's perfectly lovely to highlight and contour (to some degree, bare in mind that it isn't matte)! I really like this, it's a perfectly lovely set that I think most people could make use of - even using them as blusher.
Top, flash. Bottom, No flash.
Illamasqua's tagline 'Make-up for your alter ego', and the fact that their make-up artistry (courtesy of the fabulous, and utterly lovely, Alex Box) and subsequent collection images are always quite out there, could make some people think that all their make-up is completely unwearable for people who weren't into such looks, but they'd be wrong.

They actually have a great deal of products, in various colours that can be used as subtly or as wildly as you desire. I love that most of their products are multi-use, generally very pigmented and also long lasting whilst also being very reasonably priced. If you haven't tried any of their products before, or have been wary about their colours/products, and live near to one of their stores, or concession stands then I really urge you to pop there and have a look for yourself.
Top, flash. Bottom, No flash (but it was near a light).
The Bronzing Duo is £20.50, and is available online from Illamasqua.com. I can't wait for summer to come so that I can get even more use out of it.



This post originated at www.thebeautyscoop.co.uk

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Illamasqua Stark & Angst For Eyebrows!


I visited the Illamasqua concession in Selfridges Beauty Hall in Manchester a month or so ago and got chatting to the very helpful assistant there who really opened my eyes to making a bit more of my eyebrows, by making them match my hair a bit more.
I've never really done a huge amount with my brows, just the usual tinting and threading/plucking etc and whilst I do fill them in a little here and there, it's literally just to fill in gaps and do minor enhancements. I'm always too scared of the 'Scouse brows' effect (yes I watched one episode of Desperate Scousewives... although it pained me to do so) to be any more adventurous with my HD Brows kit.
Scouse Brows, before (L) and after (R)

So, when it was suggested that I could try something like this with my brows, I was a bit hesitant; I mean I love seeing Alex Box's work for Illamasqua, I just don't think it would work on a 30 year old that's off to do her shopping in Tesco's, but I agreed as it couldn't *really* hurt and could always be wiped off if I hated it.

He used Illamasqua's Angst powder eyeshadow, and then took it down so it wasn't so 'out there' by using their Brow Cake in Stark... and do you know what? I didn't hate it; I was really very pleasantly surprised and purchased the 2 products used immediately.
 Stark!
 
Angst!
 L-R - Stark, Angst!
 Both together!

What surprised me even more, was the fact that when I got home, Mr Beauty Scoop first of all noticed the 'brow job' and even more shockingly said he LIKED IT!! This is coming from the man who doesn't really like me having too much colour on my face and says I look better with 'less make-up'...  well, you could have knocked me down with a feather, I thought that I was going to have to put up with him tutting whenever I applied it - ha!

Anyway, I've played around with my purchases ever since and I actually think I'm doing quite well with my brows, I think it helps that the colours aren't dark, so I don't run the risk of having 'Scouse brows' and looking angry! I don't have them like this all the time, but it's nice to have the option now!

Another shade that looks promising for matching with plummy tones in hair is Forgiveness, I urge you to at least visit a counter and give this a whirl... you too may be pleasantly surprised!

I even have a matching pair of glasses!

What do you think?

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Illamasqua Launches Liverpool Store!

I look like death warmed up, sorry. How gorgeous is Alex Box though?!

Last week I had the pleasure of attending the Illamasqua Liverpool store launch, and it was amazing. Seriously, it was like my own private heaven (except there were other people there) with so many amazing products in even more amazing colours!

The launch had everything I like in a launch, great people, a great atmosphere and a fabulous cocktail (tequila based) to sip on whilst I browsed the store and generally mingled with people there. I even had the absolute pleasure of spending quite a lot of time with the absolutely awesome (and so very lovely) Alex Box who is everything I hoped she'd be, and more - and also spent some time with Illamasqua's founder and chairman, Julian Kynaston who was also very lovely indeed. You can really see the passion for the brand with these guys, which is so very refreshing to see.


The store is amazing, it looks fantastic (as you'd expect) and is well laid out, the products are easy to view and also play about with, and the staff are friendly and knowledgeable to boot. It's easy to get to from Liverpool Lime St train station on foot at the Met Quarter (near MAC) and I really haven't a bad word to say about it, other than I wish it was in Manchester instead/also!

I really wanted to have lashes applied at the event, but the pair that had been put aside for me got pinched unfortunately, so I had lipstick applied instead (see first pic) - and what a fab lipstick it was, I can't remember the name of it, but I NEED to buy it so I will have to find out!
I didn't really get any photographs worth showing as I took my point and shoot, which was bloody awful to use and with awful photographs to show for it, especially now that I am used to my DSLR (and yes, I did keep going to look through the non-existent viewfinder - how very embarrassing) so the photographs included in this post were taken by others at the event (including Pixie Voltaire) - excuse how I look, I almost didn't make it there as I was really quite poorly!

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Review: Illamasqua Skin Base.

I’ve seen mixed reviews about this product, some love it, some hate it... I don’t think I’ve seen many, if any that are on the fence with it, which I kind of feel I kind of am as things stand; let me tell you why.

I love the coverage, it evens out my skin and gives great coverage (when I say great, I really do mean it) without feeling, or looking heavy... which is perfect for the days where I am a bit self conscious about the state of my skin or have a spot.

I also love how it applies with my fingers, not so much with a foundation brush if I am honest though – using my fingers was perfectly acceptable anyway, and is actually probably for the best as not everybody will have a foundation brush to hand, yet they will probably have fingers. I should add that I didn’t apply it heavily as I think that would have been too much and could have potentially gone cakey, or just generally crap on my skin. I found the coverage even from the light layer I applied to be completely fine for my skin that night.

What stopped me giving this a rave review was the fact that it just didn’t last as I hoped it would. I saw people saying they had worn it all day, on tubes in hot weather and it hadn’t budged so I was hoping for a product that lasted very well, like my Double Wear foundation does.

What I got was something that disappeared about half way into my ‘night’ out... I say ‘night’ because it was actually just a few drinks with my dad and his wife, nothing too stressful or full on, not in a hot club, no dancing... nothing that would make my make-up disappear, anyway. I actually ended up with a shiny forehead and nose too, which is again something I never really have a problem with.

In fact the foundation appeared to have disappeared completely on my nose by the time I was home... see the photo below, excuse the awful photo and the face I was 'pulling'; also, my eyebrows, they were due for a threading... and I didn’t take time to neaten and fill them in as my fringe mostly disguised them and I didn’t have time as it was decided at short notice to go out. Please also excuse the fact that my face looks huge, odd camera angle and unfortunate perspective from the computer screen lol.

Shade SB06, with added bronzer on top after my drinks - note the shiny patches.

I didn’t use primer with the Skin Base on this occasion. Partly because I believe it to have been marketed as some kind of BB Cream which apparently don't need primer, but also I wouldn’t usually for something like this as I don’t really need it, not unless I’m going somewhere for either a longer period of time, somewhere with more testing conditions (heat etc) or where I’ll be more active (dancing).

I also didn’t put any powder over the top, just a little bronzer – the reason for this being that my skin is slightly dry, and powder with this foundation would have highlighted all my dry spots and made my base look cakey. I only narrowly escaped the dry bits around the nose that Charlotte from Lipglossing experienced – it looked like it could go either way, but luckily it didn’t fail me greatly on that score.

I think I’ll have to give this a go with a primer, maybe that way it will last the way I hoped it would, I don’t want to rule it out completely as I really was impressed with the finish I got from it early on in the night.

To conclude, I’d still probably buy this to be honest but I’d just have to find a way to make it last, trying out various primers and powders to see which one works best for my skin. I think this foundation is one that you do need to try out before buying as I really think that it depends on your skin as to how well this will work... hence the mixed reviews you may have seen online.

Photo below courtesy of the gorgeous Lipglossing!

PR Sample Tube ( shown above. I believe these are available at some stands for you to take away and try also) - views are my own!

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Illamasqua Succubus Lip Gloss (Throb Collection)!


This juicy red lip gloss is part of the much talked about Illamasqua ‘Throb’ collection for Valentine’s Day 2011. It’s a beautiful red, and more importantly it feels like a flattering one on my skin tone... which doesn’t always accept reds that well.

I’ve done my close up lip swatches with and without flash and I thought that instead of just blobbing and smearing the product on my hand that I’d make it a little more interesting, since it’s almost Valentine’s day – what do you think?

Flash:
Flash (even closer):
No Flash:
Hand (Day lamp):
Hand (Flash):


Disclosure: PR Sample

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Illamasqua 'Throb' Valentine's Collection


With Valentine’s day just around the corner (less than 1 month away; which also means my 30th birthday is almost here too – eek) I thought it only right that I should start showing you what new goodies all the best beauty companies have to offer.


I’ll start with Illamasqua’s offerings, a mini collection very aptly named ‘THROB’! It’s a sexy and seductive selection or products that look perfect for Valentine’s day (especially Valentine’s night) and it’s set for release on January 17th in the UK and online; international release dates are yet to be released.

For the lips:

"Made up of blood reds to awaken your mouth's erotic sensuality ..."

Intense Lipgloss in 'Succubus' - a high-shine, colour-rich intense lipgloss in seductive red.


Lipstick in 'Sangers' - a colour-intense lipstick, with a highly pigmented blood red tone.


For the nails:

"And naughty but nice shades for the nails ..."

Nail Varnish in 'Load' - a rich, cream coating for the nails



Nail Varnish in 'Scorn' - a midnight matt finish, said to be a deep statement of obsession.


Nail Varnish in 'Throb' - a powerful red nail polish, the colour of blood spilled by desperate, rejected lovers.


Products used in top picture:

Cream Foundation 100
Rich Liquid Foundation 115
Powder Foundation 105
Powder Blusher in ‘Disobey’
Powder Blusher in ‘Intrigue’
Pure Pigment in ‘Furore’
Powder Eye Shadow in ‘Heroine’ [on cheeks and eyes
Powder Eye Shadow in ‘Sex’
Cream Pigment in ‘Emerge’   ** NEW for SS11 collection! **
Eye Liner Cake in ‘Mislead’
Sealing Gel [for eyebrows]

PI in ‘Abyss’

http://www.illamasqua.com/collections/throb/
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