I've had to chance to try two new offerings from Illamasqua from the Spring/Summer 2010 Body Electrics collection. What is special about this collection is that it is the first Illamasqua collection debuting in the U.S. to include exclusive, limited-edition products. Looking at the collection itself, you would see that it focuses more on the highlighting aspect of makeup. This is how Illamasqua describes this offering:
Illamasqua, the UK-based make-up line for your alter ego, introduces its first collection of make-up for the whole body: Body Electrics. Inspired by the power of kinetic energy, the art of movement and the fluidity of the body in motion, this stunning collection is an anthology of creams, powders and dry body oils infused with light, shimmer and shine, designed to highlight and contour the whole body.
Body Electrics has been formulated with hyper-pigmented light-reflecting particles that ignite the skin with intense colors and finishes. Each product in the range has been selected to accentuate the body's every twist and turn to exquisite perfection, exuding a confidence that's more than skin deep.
New Gleam Cream ($36) – Light up your soul and release your inner you. Containing iridescent pearlescent pigments, this lightweight cream is suitable for face and body, lifting and highlighting wherever it’s applied. Use on its own or mix with foundation for an immediate skin brightening effect that will illuminate the night. Available in Flex (soft pink iridescent)
Gleam Cream blended into the skin
MY TAKE: The gleam cream is a highlighter in cream form. I actually don't have a lot of cream highlighters, so this is a welcome opportunity for me. I like that the cream is very lightweight and does not feel warm or "stuffy" on the skin. As you can see, it gives a nice, radiant sheen on the skin without looking greasy. In fact, even with the harsh flash, it looks just dewy and fresh. Under natural lighting, this would look even better. I am excited to wear this on a fun night out in town. This would look great on the cheekbones or anywhere you want to convey the look of soft, luminous skin (like the decolletage).
The Shades Of U Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
See the rest of the review and swatches after the jump
Pure Pigment ($24) – Made to be played with. A metallic, high-shine, pure-colour powder that highlights eyes, cheeks and brows. Mix with eye shadow, blusher or use it on its own to intense effect. Bring out your bold side. Available in Furore (beige shimmer) and Static (New! white with iridescent pink and violet flecks)
Pure Pigment in Furore
applied with no base
MY TAKE: This pigment operates as a highlighting powder and you can use this to highlight the cheeks and browbone. However, in my case, I used this as an eyeshadow and it worked great because as a wash on the lids, it gives a pretty shimmer that opens up the eyes and makes them look refreshed and awake.
I have a confession to make: I sometimes prefer loose pigments as a wash on the lids as opposed to pressed shadows because for me they apply better when packed on the lid, as opposed to pressed shadows that can look cakey if applied heavily. I like my lid color packed because this is the main look of the lid, and I don't want the crease color to overwhelm the main lid color. That is why when I tried Illamasqua's Furore pigment, I was blown away at how beautiful it looked. It looked vibrant and pigmented even without a base (as you can see on the swatch), and it applied smoothly and beautifully on the lid. I used it for work and it didn't budge the entire day (I applied eye primer this time). Furore is a beautiful beige shimmer that is perfect for everyday use, and looks professional and polished for work. If you want a more metallic finish, however, you can always opt to foil it or apply it wet. The downside I can see is that the price is pretty steep, but the quality is good and you can always split this with a friend if you just want to try it out.
The Shades Of U Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Availability:
The Illamasqua Body Electrics collection will be available at select Sephora locations and on Sephora.com beginning in May 2010.
NOTE: Media samples were provided by a representative of the company.
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