Review: Illamasqua - Make-Up for your alter ego

Illamasqua is the product of a heavy mix of influences. Its roots stem from the dark and illicit 1920s club scene and combines a rich heritage in the manufacture of make-up for film and theatre. It also takes inspiration from members of the ‘alternative scenes’ for whom self-expression is paramount. Alternative cultures have always dared to be dramatic. They have an emotional attachment to making up. It’s an expression of their darker side, a release for their alter ego.

Illamasqua is for the bolder person hiding inside all of us. It is an act and an attitude. A symbol of tolerance. A celebration of idiosyncracies. A confident statement of self-ownership.

Their Slogan? "Make-Up for your Alter Ego". Sick right?

(THIS REVIEW WAS WRITTEN IN SEPT. 09, but re-posted )

I've been scoping out Illamasqua through the UK website for MONTHS now, so I was stoked when Alex contacted me to check out this line before it hit the U.S.Illamasqua represents what Makeup ART really is about. Now that I've had quite some time to play with the line I can do a proper review. The swatches on the site can be a bit difficult to decipher, so I've photographed & swatched my items in hopes of helping those of you who are looking to order!

 Liquid Metal "Solstice" ($24) is the stand out product from the Sirens Collection. It's the most crazy fierce gold highlighter you will EVER find. This goes on like pure 24k ladies and gents. It's marketed as a highlighting cream for the body, but it also looks amazing on the eyes and dabbed in the center of the lips. It's quite slick and doesn't "set" so it tends to crease easily on the eyes, but otherwise it's a very multi-purpose product, it's perfect for more avant garde/theatrical looks.

I'm very faithful to my MAC lippie's, but they're getting some stiff competition from Illamasqua ($20). Matte in formula, these go on VERY opaque and wear for hours. I noticed they're a little more drying than MAC, so a balm/exfoliation beforehand would be wise, but their shade selection makes up for it. Obey is the perfect milky nude peachy pink. Howl is a vampy red with a brown/blue undertone.

When they say Intense, they're not kidding! Intense Lipgloss in 'Temper' ($19) is an extremely saturated bright Tomato Orange Red. The glosses come in a squeeze type plastic tube, the shape of the tip makes it very easy to apply. I love how pigmented these are without being sticky or heavy. They also have a yummy taste to them.

'Slay' Illuminator ($18) is a stunning liquid highlighter, the perfect 'vampire' glow. A shimmery pearlescent white, with a high-shine reflective finish.

The Medium pencils (£12.00) come in a variety of colors and are suitable for eyes, lips, face, & body. These pencils are creamy, pigmented, and glide on like a dream. 'Feisty' is a matte cherry red that looks ridiculously hot paired with a classic red lipstick. 'Sophie' is a sooty matte black. I chose the medium pencil in Sophie not because I needed another black liner, but because of the story behind it. £3 from every purchase goes to support the Sophie Lancaster Foundation. You can read about their support of the Sophie Lancaster Foundation HERE. An effort to help stamp out prejudice, hatred, and intolerance everywhere.

Illamasqua's Eye Shadows ($20) are predominately mattes. I was less than impressed with these. They don't offer much pigmentation, and take quite a lot of effort to build up. I chose dark-gothic inspired colors for Fall. 'Lestat' is a charcoal black, but not as black as I had originally hoped for. 'Daemon' is a great matte red, not too pink or orangey. 'Fallen' is an understated mid-tone purple. While the colors look beautiful in the pan, they don't offer a lot of payoff. I expected them to compare to the quality of MAC or Make Up Forever, but they fall short. Maybe I got a bad batch?

Powder blush in "Lover' ($23) is a true matte apricot peach. I tend to gravitate more towards pink blushes, so I wanted to give peach a twist. These are CRAZY pigmented! They definitely rival NARS blushes. The high pigmentation means they will work on both light & dark skintones. They apply smooth and are not the least bit powdery. I liked how this didn't turn orange on me, but gave that 'peaches n cream' look. Just gorgeous!

  I didn't love the Volumizing Mascara ($23), mainly because I didn't find it 'volumizing' at all. The brush is great for separating, but it just didn't give me the va-va-voom lashes I had anticipated.

Illamasqua's False Eyelashes ($16) in #13 are dramatic and have such a funky flare style to them. If you're looking for lashes like I used in my Christina Aguilera look, get the #20's from the Sirens collection, they're spot on for that look.

Black is my favorite nailpolish color. It goes with everything, suits my personality, and if it chips? it's rock n f'n roll! Nail Varnish in Boosh ($14) goes on like sexy black PVC in just one coat. Dare is the exact color of a yellow highlighter pen. It's a shade I'd been wanting to try ever since I saw Rihanna's fierce manicure last year. A very in your face color, perfect for a club night. The formula's of these polishes are top notch.




Purchase Illamasqua at ILLAMASQUA.com and Shop NOW! on Sephora.com.