I can't say it enough times! Edgy UK brand Illamasqua, with its inspired, rich, color-packed makeup and the best names in the biz has its roots in 1920's Berlin and its claws all over makeup artists and makeup fanatics everywhere. And it is coming here. To the States. Really. In Sephora.
My thoughts: This completely saves me the stress of making a shopping list for my friend in London to pick up. However, I'm the teensiest, tiniest bit down, 'cause I'd hoped that when Illamasqua came to the States it would be in a department store or boutiques, so they'd have artists dedicated to the brand. Instead, it gets tossed into the hodgepodge that is Sephora. Meh... I'll be ok, I love Sephora. I just wanted to have the Illamasqua experience be.... MORE. In the UK, the artists are dressed to the nines and the counters look stunning -it seems like a touch of theater mixed with a-ma-zing makeup. What's better than that!? I think some of the flava will be lost at Sephora. Boo! Well, regardless, I hope one of the Sephora stores near me gets the line in the Fall. Doubtful, but at least I can see the goods when I go to NY in a few months. Can't wait!
(this is one of the most stunning promo pics I've ever seen!)
SCRATCH | Let's start with the nails, 'cause a) I'm a polish addict, as you know, and b) I'm convinced this formula is the A-#1 best-wearing lacquer in the industry, if MILF is any indication (my review here). So, what don't I want, right? OK, I guess I'll narrow it down a bit:
- For starters, I want to test their Top and Base Coats to see if they make the ridiculously long wear of the varnishes last even longer - and if they work on other polishes, too. So sign me up for one of each!
Gonna grab: Alarm, Snap, Boosh, Baptiste, Unnatural, Rampage, Jan, Lament, and Phallic.
That leaves the following on my UK wishlist: Scorch, Snap, Glory, Poke, Brigette, and Demure.
BITE| Illamasqua makes three categories of lip products, and naturally I want to sample from each! They offer Lipstick, Sheer Lipgloss and Intense Lipgloss. From what I've heard the Intense Lipgloss is incredible - completely opaque and just stunning! And the colors - -- oh, the colors! I am not up for blue lips, but for those who are, Illamasqua has ya covered. I want to get my hands on:
- Lipstick | I think it's clear from the swatches selected below what colors I like in lipsticks. :) Now, I would love to get my hands on Vengeance, but it's EU only - so that will go on my "bribe a friend to pick it up list"! :) As a note: Box is the shade created painstakingly by Illamasqua artistry genius Alex Box, and she considers it the perfect red for cool, fair complexions. I've gotta try it!
Gonna Grab: Box, Resist, Underworld, and Corrupt.
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Sheer Lipgloss | Illamasquat lipglosses are in a cool long and skinny tube applicator with the coolest transparent tip! Packaging alone is a "WIN" and I can't wait to try the formula based on the pictures I've seen.
Gonna Grab: Soul, Divine and Tantrum.
- Intense Lipgloss | Completely opaque coverage - that's what I understand you get with these. I'm slightly intimidated by the bold colors (wrong for dropping kids off at preschool!) so will stick to "safe" shades at first. Of course, Petulant is a bold fuchsia, so my idea of "safe" may differ from yours. :)
Gonna Grab: Move, Petulant, Frenzy, and Fume.
That leaves Fury Intense Gloss to add to the UK list !
Lure | The skin products. I love trying foundations, but usually am left disappointed. How will Illamasqua measure up? And blushes are one of my major temptations, even though I certainly don't need more...
- Primer | I love and completely believe in the power of Primers! Illamasqua offers two - a Matte finish and a Satin finish. Both are SPF 20,and both are available at Sephora. Can't wait to try them.
Powdered Metal | Um, yes please. All three. Yes, at least one (and probably two) of these seem to dark for my skin, but who cares!? I'm sure I'll find a use for them - if not personally, surely on freelance jobs. At the very least, Bebhionn will be mine! Mine I say! Sadly, they are not available here in the US (at least at this time). Onto the UK order they go!
- Foundation | I'll be starting with the Rich Liquid Foundation, which offers believable-but-full coverage but may also pick up Light Liquid Foundation - a more sheer version only available in the UK. Also available here in the US: Cream and Powder foundations.
- Powder and Cream blushes | Well, it's Illamasqua, so we know these are going to be highly pigmented. I can't wait to try them! It's hard to tell from online swatches, but Rumour looks like it may be a great contour on my fair, cool skin - too bad it's a UK item. The UK portion of the line has tons of neutral shades for bronzing and contouring -check it out! Wonder why it's mostly color products here? Hmph.
Pierce | The eyes have it, as we all know. It's my favorite range of products to check out, whatever the line, and IIllamasqua is no different!
- Powder Shadow | Uber-pigmented shadows, guys and gals! I won't bother saying more, except Imagine looks like a color I may never take off; I love periwinkle! Predator and Daemon will have to be on my UK order.
- Pure Pigments | AKA- loose shadows. Metallic. High-shine. OK to wear wherever. I expect greatness from these and hope I'm not disappointed. I do hear great things about the container's small opening - less fear of spillage and loss! I especially am curious to see how Fervent compares to MAC's Blue-Brown PIgment, and how Involve stacks up against my beloved MAC Violet!
- Lashes | My lifestyle has nothing at all to do with wearing False Lashes, except when I'm freelancing at MAC and wearing theirs, but I am completely enamored of and obsessed with them. Love them! Take a look at the ones I'm peepin':
I haven't named everything available at Sephora - I'm quite sure you can browse the site for yourelf and see what is there. :) I just wanted a shout-out to my faves.
I do have some major complaints, though:
- Where are the cream shadows?
- I didn't expect them, but boo, no palettes.
- Where are the pencils!?
- WHERE IS S.O.P.H.I.E.!?
I guess we'll wait and see if they expand the line to include some of those things...
Meanwhile, what are YOU looking forward to from this line!?