PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: ILLAMASQUA POWDER EYESHADOW IN FIASCO

Here's an initial review on ILLAMASQUA POWDER EYESHADOW IN FIASCO

Price: $20 (Approx. P1200+ including miscellaneous fees)

PLACE BOUGHT: SEPHORA PRE- ORDER POOLING

OTHER LOCATIONS: SEPHORA OUTLETS; SEPHORA ONLINE

THE VERDICT:

I wanted to have a peacock blue eyeshadow for my eyeshadow collection. I was thinking of getting MAC's Plummage but it looked too dark based on the swatches online. Besides, MAC's matte eyeshadows are quite hard to apply and blend.

Since I'm having this fondness for Illamasqua lately, for Shally's December pre- order, I got myself this Illamasqua eyeshadow.

Let's review the packaging. One thing I like about Illamasqua's packaging is the sleek design. The insignia engraved on the plastic cover of the pan gave this product a gothic cult- ish appeal. So gothics and punks, Ilamasqua is the make- up to compliment your style. )

The reason behind the dark, elegant, packaging is Ilamasqua's claim that the line was inspired by the dark and tragic 1920's Berlin. If you're familiar with the rich yet tragic history of Berlin during the first to the second World War, it is the time where Hitler and his Reich dominated Germany and its neighboring countries. It is a time of the Nazis and the inhumane decree of the assasination of the Jewish race. This is the era of Edith Piaf and her likes along with their melancholic and tragic ballads, silent movies reigned, and where the faces of women were lined with black eye liners while being complimented with bold dark red lips and pale skin.

Before this entry becomes a lecture on History, let's now go to the product, shall we? :)

Illamasqua's colors, in my opinion, are avant- garde. Colors are generally dominated by either extreme neon or solid and dark colors. Illamasqua has been used to create different avant- garde make- up looks for the ramp and print. But since Illamasqua is still a budding cosmetic company, their color selection is not that huge yet. I hope they add more colors!

Fiasco is described by the Sephora website as a peacock blue eyeshadow. Indeed, it is. I love that the color is true to its description, so the Beauty Junkee didn't end up being disappointed when she got her package after waiting for 2 long months! :)

Left: With the Eye Primer; Right: Without the Eye Primer

Here's a picture of the eyeshadow with and without an eye primer. Check the Fiasco on the left side. The color became so vibrant when applied atop an eye primer. And the color is beautiful! :)

In terms of texture, their matte eyeshadow has the feel of Laura Mercier's matte eyeshadows. Quite chalky, but there's only a little fall off when you start to apply the color on your lids. It blends easily and the color easily transfers from the pan to your brush then to your lids.

Here's the eyeshadow applied on my lids. You can actually go from medium to heavy coverage. It's like having two eyeshadows in one!

The complete removal of the eyeshadow required me to use a make- up remover so I guess the staying power of this eyeshadow is good!

And this eyeshadow is hell pigmented. One swipe gives you a good amount of color. :)

I would literally consider buying more Illamasqua products. But as of now, I'll just settle with what I have 'cos I've been hoarding too much make- up lately! 

It is quite pricey, but the pan is big so you pretty much get your money's worth. I don't think it's worth collecting them all (practically speaking, they're unavailable so you'd have to shell out much more than what this is actually worth through pre- ordering). but it's quite worth owning one! :p

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: ILLAMASQUA LIPSTICK IN BRINK

Here's an initial review on ILLAMASQUA LIPSTICK IN BRINK

PRICE: $20 (BUT I PAID 1247PHP INCLUDING THE MISCELLANEOUS FEES)

PLACE BOUGHT: SEPHORA PRE- ORDERING POOL IN GIRLTALK

OTHER LOCATIONS: SEPHORA ONLINE

THE VERDICT:

I finally got my Sephora pre- order courtesy of shally (blue-purple of girltalk). She's such an honest, responsible and great seller. Thanks Sis!

The reason why I got this is because I'm completely disappointed with MAC Crosswires. I saw the swatch of Crosswires in Temptalia's blog and fell in love with the shade. It appeared like a pale orange lippie on her. And when I got it, it's a pink orange lippie that's definitely NOT how I saw it.

So I took a chance on Brink because I saw the lovely swatch on a model in Illamasqua's official blog (Check my Daily Dose for the link to the blog). It's the color that I'm exactly looking for. So to no avail, I placed an order.

As always, UK's cult cosmetic favorite has won my heart! Packaging is soo unique and classy. And the color pay- off are so true to the lipstick color in the tube.

Brink is described in the Sephora website as a matte warm coral pink lippie. I beg to disagree.

Sephora's description is very inaccurate! This has no pink undertone at all. It's simple a pale orange lipstick.

Here's the color on my lips. It's matte, just like my climax. Although there's a bit of problem here. It has the tendency to streak if I press my lips together, which I didn't encounter with my Climax. But I solved the problem by letting this settle first before pressing my lips together. :)

Brink has the tendency to be bright and bold if you layer the color. And if you're game to sport a unique lip, then Brink is perfect. It stands out without looking too odd or flashy. I'd choose this over fuschia lippies if I want to have a standout lip.

Sorry for the bed face. I got the package right after waking up. Talk about waking up on the right side of the bed. :)

Can I just say that the color is absolutely unique? It's such a wonderful pale orange lippie. Perfect! Just how I pictured and expected it to be. :)

Will I buy more Illamasqua lippies. A resounding yes! But I have to empty at least 5 tubes of lipstick before I buy more. :p

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: ILLAMASQUA LIPSTICK (CLIMAX)

Here's an initial review on ILLAMASQUA LIPSTICK IN CLIMAX

PRICE: $20

PLACE BOUGHT: SEPHORA ONLINE

OTHER LOCATIONS: SEPHORA

THE VERDICT:

I've been intrigued by this brand so when sis bluepurple of girltalk initiated a pre-order, I decided to purchase this along with MUFE's Eyeshadow in #92 and MAC Crosswires lipstick.

I've read mixed reviews on this one. Some say that it's drying and some say that it's the most moisturizing lipstick that they have encountered.

Well, I must say that it's the best lipstick that I've tried so far.

Let's now go to the actual product.

Illamasqua's lipstick packaging is sleek and sophisticated. It comes in a square black glossy plastic tube. I have a penchant for black colored cases so I give the packaging 10 stars.

Climax is described as a matte dusty rose shade. The photos I've seen online did not give justice to the color. The swatches online seemed quite coral- ish to me.

It's actually a cool pink color. It's disappointing that the Sephora color description is inaccurate. Good thing, I was a sucker for rose colored lipsticks when I ordered this. If I weren't I would pass up on this lovely color! It can also pass of as a nude rose lipstick because of it's pastel color nature. Then Illamasqua has put this in a matte finish and the result is a stunning shade!

It doesn't make my teeth look garish and it is indeed a unique rose lipstick. It brightens up a face and it stands out without looking too unnatural.

The formulation is very creamy. It's like lotion on your lips. And since I've compared it to lotion, it didn't dry my lips AT ALL, just like what lotion does to skin. So hurrah for people with dry and chapped lips for this lipstick will save your day and will finally let you enjoy lipsticks.

Will I buy this again. without a doubt, YES! I'm planning to get a back- up of Climax and another color that's sort of similar to MAC's St. Germain, or another color that I don't know yet. :) :) :)

Illamasqua is LUURRRVEEE.... :)