Illamasqua Eye Shadow, Blush, and Lipstick Swatches and Review

Illamasqua products were introduced to U.S. shores last year. Illamasqua was originally launched in the U.K. and I know from all the buzz going around that it is one of the hottest, most talked-about brands in the industry nowadays. The wide range of shades and newest textures make this new brand very appealing not only to the beauty and fashion industry but also to the retail market.

I was given the chance to try these Illamasqua products and I'd like to say that I was absolutely floored by the pigmentation of the items I tried. I understand why these became so popular in just a short amount of time: quality speaks.

Matte Blusher:





Let us start with the blusher. I am usually not a fan of matte blushes but I was very impressed with the way the product applied. Illamasqua blusher in Chased is matte but it's hella pigmented. This is not like some lesser quality matte blushes I've tried which applied splotchy on the cheeks with a chalky finish. I had to use an angled duo fiber brush because the pigmentation is really good and I didn't want to end up with clown cheeks. It applied smoothly and gave pink-lilac cheeks that look natural and with a lit from within look. The color is intense but you can definitely tone it down with the right tools.  Powder blush retails for $23.00 (0.14 oz)


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The Shades Of U rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Matte Eye Shadow:



Creep is a matte lavender eyeshadow; it retails for $20.00 for 0.07 oz. product. I also don't use a lot of matte shadows but this one applied smoothly on the lid. I made a mistake of not using a similar-colored cream shadow base on the lid to make the color pop. I guess it is important to use not just an eyeshadow base but also a colored base for these if you really want the true color to show up on the skin. Application is great and staying power is good.

The Shades Of U rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars

Lipstick:

See rest of review after the jump



Growl is supposed to be a matte eggplant-colored lipstick but it sure didn't feel like it. It wasn't drying on the lips and it gave this satiny sheen that I really liked. Staying power is very good and I really like the feel on the lips. This retails for $20 but the size is pretty substantial (0.14 oz). Pigmentation is phenomenal and staying power is great. If you like matte or satin finishes, try Growl. As I said, this is not completely matte but gives a slight, pretty sheen.

The Shades Of U rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

All in all, I am impressed with the quality of this (relatively) new kid on the block. The colors are pigmented, intense, and would really satisfy the cravings of a true makeup enthusiast, as well as many makeup artists and fashion icons that need a full spectrum of hues to choose from. The only downside is that the price is a bit steep. Your consolation though is you truly get what you pay for.

Illamasqua is available at Sephora boutiques and http://www.sephora.com/.

Coming up next: Eye Look and Tutorial Using Illamasqua Eye Shadow

NOTE: Media samples were provided by a representative of the company. For more on the matter, please refer to the Disclosure Page.