Illamasqua - Hypnotica Summer 2016

Illamasqua UK

So the new summer collection from Illamasqua has been released and what a beautifully colourful range it is. I hope they add to the duo swirl lipstick's line, as the combination's are endless. 

About : The Illamasqua festival spirit lives in your heart, whether its full body paint Woodstock craziness, or a Coachella princess basking in the Californian sunshine. Hypnotica is a carnival of colour that binds the brightest pigments, psychedelic hues and slick textures with a playful festival spirit.

Slick Stick RRP £18.50 

A colour intense, retractable lip crayon that creates long-lasting definition. This creamy, water-resistant liner glides over lips effortlessly and once set it does not shift. Use to enhance the lips and to prevent colour bleed or apply across the entire lip to create a colour-intense lip colour. 

Shades available: Dream (Nude Brown)

Sketch Stick's £15.00 

A multi-use crayon with powerful pigment pay off. The Sketch Sticks allow you to get creative with colour with its creamy texture allowing for easy blending. The faultless way to add a splash of colour to any look. 

Shades available: Fly (Hot Pink), Free (Cornflower Blue), Trace (Bright Orange), Higher (Bright Yellow), Spirit (Pure White), Haze (Jet Black), Trip (Acid Green) 

Lava Lip's £19.50 

Colour intense, marbled lipstick designed with a unique recipe developed from our highly pigmented Lipstick shades. Carefully matched, these colour duos effortlessly blend together on application to create a new vibrant lip colour with a smooth, satin finish. Colour combination at its finest. 

Shades available: Activist (Deep purple and blue) 

Lip Lure £19.50 

Long lasting, colour intense liquid lipstick with a beautiful, glossy finish. Lip Lure glides onto lips smoothly and provides comfortable, continuous wear. The slender shaped sponge applicator allows for precise application and its rich pigment provides the ultimate colour payoff.

Shades available: Pow (Bright Pink)

Dolly Lashes RRP £11.00 

Handmade and cruelty free, Illamasqua False Eye Lashes are the go to for adding subtle volume and length to your natural lashes. Apply Dolly to the lower lash line with the latex-free glue provided for a flirty, fun enhancement. 

Available at : Illamasqua flagship store, 20 Beak street London W1, Leed's Victoria quarter, Liverpool Met quarter, Selfridges Oxford street London, Trafford, Manchester Exchange & Birmingham, Debenham's, Westfield's white city, Cardiff, Glasgow, Sheffield, Birmingham, Bradford and Belfast 

Illamasqua - Rich liquid foundation review

Illamasqua Website

Now I saw the VIP sale on and well I had too, 3 rich skin foundations for the price of what one would cost. Yes I may have overdone it but hey Christmas is coming and I can gift some too. Plus illamasqua is one of the brands i love for great pigmented makeup. 

They say :

Lock away your inhibitions and bring your confidence to the fore. Loved by professional make-up artists, Illamasqua Rich Liquid Foundation provides maximum, long-lasting coverage without feeling or looking heavy. It blends easily and hides problem areas perfectly. Create your canvas, then paint your work of art.

So I use the Rich skin foundation under Hydra veil by illamasqua. It's my holy grail primer and use it under any foundation. I found it made this full coverage foundation smooth out better and leave a even layer. The Rich liquid is very thick and you need to shake it well before applying as it can have a tiny amount of liquid separate. However I didn't find this a problem as most foundations require a shake. I chose the colour 133 as it was in the sale and most near my skin colour, I was surprised to find that it wasn't far off. Bar being a little light I managed to warm my complexion with some bronzer. 

Now I used this foundation in my District 3 look and this is what It looks like with no bronzer so you can see it was a little pale. I used a tiny amount on my beauty blender and this gave such a lovely finish. 

It didn't cake up but I would say to leave this to fully dry before adding a powder as it may clog your brush or leave the powder uneven. So I would not rush or apply another layer until its touch dry. Once it is then setting it in place with a powder is very easy, it does not show pores nor cake up and I found it left me looking flawless. It covered my skin blemishes and did not settle into my areas that dry in winter. So I'm very impressed with this as a full coverage plus I felt more confident. 

You may not like this if full coverage and the feeling of makeup makes you uncomfortable. Also I would say to use a fine milled powder to set it and not a heavy powder as you may risk a caking effect. Other wise as you can see its perfect for covering all imperfections that like me leave you feeling a little overwhelmed. I am glad I bought more then I needed as I will happily gift these to friends and family. Plus I have also purchased other products to review and I have on my face to review. 

I'm also wearing glisten- eyeliner (I'm hoping to purchase scribe and a pale blue plus black next), Succumb eyeshadow, Debonair medium pencil and the rest are Christmas presents I cannot divulge in names. However I will do more looks with the illamasqua fundemental palette I have and metal pigments. 

Did you purchase anything in the sale ? Have you tried the Rich liquid foundation ? 

Halloween Look 1 - District 3 Electronics (Hunger games trilogy)

So this is the first Halloween look for you all and the list of products i have used in achieving it -

Now as you may know the second of the hunger games trilogy (Chasing fire) is coming before Christmas. So I decided after being inspired by the covergirl images, released of looks made from there products to do versions of my own.

Now the first and second I needed to do

my own stencils so I went to doing the third look freehand. 

  ---- So products used ---

Yon-ka Fruitelia moisturiser 

Illamasqua Hydra veil Primer

Illamasqua Rich liquid foundation - Shade/

Collection 2000 Illumimating concealer 

Chanel translucent powder

HD brows in foxy for brunettes 

Stila blush - Positively pink (Breast cancer awareness 2013 release)

Vice 2 palette - The silver is shellshocked and its so creamy, unlike a shadow that can be used so easily. Mix of Radar, Voodoo, Damaged, Lovesick on my eyes 

Loreal glam eyes - black eyeliner 

Perversion - black kohl eyeliner

The balm Lipstick - Mia Moore 

Brushes used from Nima Brush set (Elite collection)

Now like every routine I start with moisturising my face and applying primer. It's coming into winter so hydration is key. Then I let this absorb and apply dots of the Rich liquid foundation and then using my beauty blender dab this into the skin. It's a heavy and full coverage foundation, so I only need apply one layer to achieve the feeling I like. 

Then I will apply my concealer and highlight under my eyes to be dabbed again into the skin with my beauty blender.  This I then set with a powder and apply my blush, bronzer and highlight. Contour as needed too. So then I will prime my eyes and I mixed and blended a mix of blue, gold and green tones to give a peacock effect like a electric spark. Then lining with my black liquid liner and using that to make connections like a circuit board. 

In the book they are very exact in detailing the looks as well as the action. So I wanted to give a visual facial representation for the districts leading up to Halloween, also the film. So using a lot of Shellshock and lovesick. I did a numeral like the roman indication on a clock as there mark on the forehead to indicate its district 3. Then Shellshock for the silver electric surge and also it's how I feel the silver would be used, to give electricity in a visual by its natural most organic form. 

So I have a lot more looks to do and I will be showcasing my looks with the MesmerEyez contact lenses. 

Illamasqua - Fundemental palette

I will defiantly not deny my love for illamasqua products due to the amazing diversity of there range. They set themselfs apart from the rest and for this have come to be known for amazing quality. This palette just shows how diverse by putting different textures inside a palette that some people may not be used to using. 

They say

Experiment with contrasting textures, from glistening Liquid Metal in molten pewter to matt Cream Pigment in mint green, to express every inch of you alter ego. Coupled with two vibrant Powder Eye Shadows in Hype (bold yellow) and Inception (rich violet), prepare for unparalleled levels of nonconformity

From a liquid metal to a cream shadow then two shadows. The silver is a liquid metal, Along with the green being a beautiful cream eyeshadow but not with shimmer and the perfect medium to pull these colours together or a base to a vibrant look. 

I don't believe there should be rules with makeup. Experiment and play around, obviously there are some pointers I would use if going out but in the privacy of your own home... Go wild. This is the beauty of make-up, it gives you that freedom to grab these colours and be free to experiment plus without a compromise on quality. It's pigments and blending are second to none, so if your new please utilise YouTube makeup artists tutorials as I'm no makeup artist and not claiming to be. 

I love makeup and experiment as much as possible with my looks. I'm just so glad I can use colours of this quality and a lovely range to make it so easy to work with. I'm venturing more into artistic work and being more experimental so I hope this shows.  

I will show you all I can on pigmentation, lasting and application to my level and believe me, I've hit some major levels in my time lol as you who know my goth era will no doubt pull a few gems out.

Confidence is key if you want to rock a hot yellow... Then life gives you one chance and believe me its all in good fun. Be free and dare to be bold if its calling you, Neons are just holding the season and with autumn/fall,

muted reds and neutrals coming back to go with the beautiful season of autumn. So make use if the time left. 

Also I have used the maybelline chromatics and I wish I knew these were limited edition and can I ask the question no ones asking... WHY maybelline ??? WHY ??? But that's another review. 

So back to this palette the pigments are amazing, blendable and just amazing. My kind of palette totally and if the yellow looks scary, then its a fabulous colour to pop golds and bronze colours lightly blended underneath as a base. I've found so if your looking for bold illamasqua is your shop to go. 

If unsure then go in as I'm sure the lovely staff will give you all the help you need.

Illamasqua Website Link

BBB - British beauty blogger box

BBB box was released this week and I saw this by chance on a blogger site. Now to say this sold out like a hot cake is an understatement, when I emailed there was 6 left.

I saw the YouTube video and the promotional post via the blog and was so impressed that I asked if I could order. It was £19.95 incl postage. Well worth the money in my opinion. So many quality products were included that they were snapped up in quick record time.

It came in a box lined with pink tissue paper, had a booklet inside which gave a overview of each product plus certain products had promotional codes. Really great addition and showed it was well thought of, constructed over many months and had a main aim to offer value to the consumer as well as an opportunity to trial great products. 

So included were 

Benefits Porefessional 

Bourjois cream blush in honey glow 

Philosophy purity 3 in 1 cleanser 

Trilogy rose hip oil 

Jo loves by Jo Malone

B. lengthening and volume mascara 

Elemis 

Melvita orange body water 

Melvita body soufflé cream 

Lanolips lip colour 

Bioeffect oil

Illamasqua in Electrum
Neom - Hand cream 

I love all the products and have come across most of them in many beauty boxes before but the value is that I have these as travel companions for when I go to hospital or I really want to do a long trial of a product to see if I wish to purchase it.

The bourjois cream blush is just stunning and it does look a little orange but then smoothes out into a beautiful peachy warm toned blush. Really beautiful for summer. B. mascara I have wanted to try for a while as I've not had the opportunity to try any of there products as yet so I'm looking forward to using this when I've finished with this months mascara. (I do a monthly mascara review now). 

The illamasqua was also another product I wanted to add to my lovely collection as the colour is so unusual and I think it will go well with my green eyes as a base. I'm looking forward to using this colour. Also within the booklet there was codes to some brands offering percentages off products and showed a lot of work went into this box.

This was well worth the money and i really hope she releases more boxes as i would defiantly purchase again. It is quality and all the items beauty bloggers and lovers want in a box. Variety and quality products with proper sized samples. Im very impressed and will hold my hands up to say well done British beauty blogger you done an amazing job.

Elemental goddess - Fire

So in keeping with the elemental series of goddess' I'm doing the next one shall be - Fire.

Now this was tricky as I didn't want to do the standard red and yellow cartoony flames. I wanted to add something different with the addition of sooty colours to symbolise the ash and also take the forehead to a "V" where flames would start and then go back towards the hair. Now I'm aware It would have looked so much better if I'd had contacts or a form of head-piece. I'm no makeup artist and this is just me using my body as an art canvas. My therapy. 

So what I used (If a grid of products i used would help please comment as id happily add this) ;

Elemis - Pro- radiance illuminating balm ( just for under the eyes to brighten)

Illamasqua - hydra veil primer 

Benefit Fake up (01) and Paula's choice concealer in light to cover the redness from hay fever season.

Kay hart mineral -  Yellow concealer

Mix of MAC (NW15 studio sculpt) plus Loreal true match foundation 

Physicians formula - youth wear powder in translucent 

Sleek blush - Pomegranate

Sigma golden highlight - resort palette 

Maybelline colour tattoo - Metallic pomegranate 

La Colours palette - Stargazer (reds,golds and bronze colours used)

Vivo single eyeshadow - like 24ct Black and gold mineral colour

Loreal Gel liner - Black

Illamasqua liquid metal- red & gold

Urban decay kohl -Perversion

Lush liquid lipstick - Desire (red) 

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So first of all moisturise with the Elemis illuminating balm and also I used this to add some brightness to my eye area as il be using quite bold ash colours. Then the illamasqua Hydra veil to prime my face fully, once dry then take benefits fake up to the under eye and Paula's choice light concealer to the nose to cover redness from seasonal hay fever. Set this with either a mineral loose clear powder or in my case Kay hart yellow mineral concealer to set this into place. This is the best mineral concealer I've used and its very light plus doesn't clog.

Then using a mix of Studio sculpt and True match blended in on the back of my hand to warm, apply evenly. Rubbing in with fingers and adding another layer if needed. I find mixing these two makes a full coverage foundation so one layer is enough. Then set when dry with the Youth wear powder as it has a flick of a highlighting property with shimmer. Not a lot but enough to make the face illuminate without needing to add more powders then needed. Take the sleek blush and apply a good layer stippling this colour in and working that so the lines aren't harsh and the colour is also taken up towards the ear.

So then we take the maybelinne colour tattoo and paint the eye with this taking it past the just past the crease. Then using the vivo single shadow, pack that onto the outer "V" blending towards the middle. Don't take it past the crease as you want some of the colour tattoo to still show. Then taking the La colours (top bronze and gold to the right) take the gold to highlight the tear duct and also bring this colour to meet the middle in strokes (feathering effect to break up bulk colour and help give dimension) , as you want to use the bronze too in the same way with some of the dark pomegranate still visible. 

Line the eye with the red colour from the illamasqua palette and the gold to line the bottom lash line. Then taking the black gel liner do the wing and run this line above the red on the top lash line running this to a point in the middle. Use the gold to take the line from the bottom to above the black wing and again run this to a tip at the end. The black liner should also run a little at the edge of the lower lash liner to a point at the waterline. Line the waterline with Perversion. It should be an effect where the Gold, black and red are inter-twining.

Then for lips take the perversion and lightly line the lip (sterilise the pencil after after) then using a lip brush blend this in and add some of the red and gold from the illamasqua palettes to blend with, use some lush liquid red lipstick to just ombré the middle section (Make it look like drips so the lips are fiery and like a lump of coal thats red inside but black around it). Use some concealer on a brush to tidy and make the lip edges sharper. My hair line was some of the vivo 24ct colour stippled with the pomegranate sleek blush, then take the gold and red illamasqua on to a fine nail art brush and fan in some lines for flames also towards the sides, take lush' red liquid lipstick and dab some on so it then fades into the brow line.  Now I used some vivo to stipple the sides above the blush to give the feeling of ashes and also ran some gold threw my brow-line. Then just tap in some Sigma golden highlight to give the illusion of the yellow flame through the brows and in the areas most prominent and your done. 

Hope you enjoyed this look xxxx earth or wind next ?? 

Elemental goddess' - Water

*****  Illamasqua Liquid metal palette inspirational look week ****

Water Goddess

So after reviewing my Hydra veil i was on a mission as i noticed my liquid metal palette and thought i must do something really amazing with it to show the quality of the colour payoff and also what can be achieved. Now i looked and it immediately sprung to mind to do the elements with the palette. No easy task when your not professional nor have a steady hand due to high dose medication. However whats life with no challenge ?

So i used for this look - 

Illamasqua - Hydra veil primer 

Loreal True Match foundation with Benefit Fake up concealer (hay-fever season - red honker)

MAC sheer pressed powder in NW15 

Physicians formula - Natural mineral blush 

MUA -Brow kit

VIVO Baked bronzer in 01

LA Colours eyeshadow palette in Stargazer (Review coming)

Illamasqua liquid metals palette 

Illamasqua liquid metal in Surge

Loreal - Gel liner in black

Chanel mascara in black 

Urban decay 24/7 pencil liner in - Perversion and electric blue  

MAC - Strobe cream for the silver shimmer effect  

I wish i could have afforded more Illamasqua especially the foundation and more colours and a eyeliner as i would be in my element, but i did the best with what i had to hand. I couldn't buy the foundation as the colour range is so vast it would be impossible unless i bought a white as well to get this when housebound. Doesn't mean i wont stop collecting the colours and metals ;O) 

So as with all my look-books i do my face first and use my new added holy grail item, Illamasqua's Hydra veil, this is an amazing primer and hydrator for dry skin tones and all tones wanting to keep there skin from getting dehydrated in summer. Then came using my trusty Loreal true match foundation which i always come back to when i want good coverage but not a heavy feel. I wanted this to look light as she is a water goddess, plus i gave a light dusting of MAC's sheer pressed powder and physicians formula blush which is very nude and offers just that kissed glow with no shimmer. Then finally added a light brow to the face plus a dust of warm bronzer around the chin area to add some radiance. Then with my Illamasqua surge using my finger (Not a brush as the heat warms it lovely and makes application so much easier then a brush, it will come off patchy on a brush even synthetic) then once that was applied

added the lightest (top left silver) to the first half of the lid from the tear duct out also applying to the inner corner highlight. Then taking a little more surge to go again this time from the middle of the lid to the last quarter (not forgetting to tape under the eye for that sharp line) then move to the lower row of the palette. This time the far right colour on the bottom and pack that from the 2nd quarter to the edge of the eye, don't blend to much at this point as the surge is still quite creamy and once you take a sponge applicator to just marry the top colour (top left) into the crease and patting the connection where the two colours met, there will hardly be any noticing. So then take the 3rd from right colour on the bottom, take a pencil brush and lightly tap in the corner 'V' some of this colour to add some depth to the eye. Don't worry about blending or adding to much as its just to define.

Then using the black Gel liner again line the eye with a flick ending halfway too the eyebrows end ( up to you as depends on how you feel about this much eye liner) then taking the Urban decay liners. Use the vivid blue to line just under the water line and Perversion to do the waterline and top line. Then coat with mascara (My favourites been a Chanel sample i received but any will do and add lashes if you like). So then taking a silver eyeliner i lightly traced a 'S' symbol with water drops coming off this and added my own twist. Then took the blue in the Illamaqua palette to fill in this line drawing and topped it by adding some dots of surge on top to make it pop.

With the lips again i lined them with the Blue in the palette, smudged it a little then filled in with the surge on a tiny brush. 

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So what do you think ? Fire is tomorrow so any ideas for what Earth and Wind could include ? 

Selfridges Summer festival beauty box

WOW Selfridges , 2 boxes in the space of two months, you really spoil us as these are quality boxes packed full of amazing products. The summer festival themed one was no different and i love it all. Retailing for £25 with a value of £110. This was quality filled and had something for everyone.

So as per usual coming in the white and yellow box tied with a ribbon, there is always a style and chic to these boxes. It feels like store service to your door and packed in that way so you feel special. 

My only complaint is the delivery cost is a little steep as it doesn't change if you ordered 1 or 2 boxes, so when your talking about them giving you a little back as a thanks by covering delivery. I think thats the least they could do where other companies do, Selfridges maybe need to look at that as it does bump the £25 price up to £30. My one gripe and when I've received £110 worth of products then im not making a huge issue of this.

So the contents were -

Violent lips - Rainbow colours 

Illamasqua liquid metal - Surge

Eyeko - Skinny liquid eyeliner 

Topshop - Lip crayon in powder room

Cowshed - Antibacterial handgel 

Bare-minerals - Moxie lipgloss

Sol de Janeiro - Cooling mist

NPW - Chubby glitter stick in hottest pink

NPW - Face wipes in tutti fruity

ColourSmash - Pink hair shadow

Azature - Nail colour in Champagne

Also a Illamasqua card to receive a free colour consultation 

So as you can see the box is stuffed full with amazing items. There are some kooky items with the glitter chubby stick and the violent lips, but i will use them in some kooky looks. I know i have missed the week of looks as IMATs was last week. However ending up in hospital put a spanner in the works so i was not able to do that. I will be putting this back on track and doing the looks within the next couple of weeks. So back to the box. 

I love that i added to my Illamasqua family with Surge and this will be well loved as i want to branch into more Illamasqua to trial. I feel its my place to go now as its colour rich and explosive to the eye. So i have a vast collection i want to hit pan on and also go on a spending ban till october.

Eyeko eyeliner is again another addition i have as i own the chubby shadow they product and this liner is something i am dying to try. Now i own some violent lips but have not used them as yet as I've not found a look that i can expressively use this for but these rainbow lips are making me think of rainbow bright and a inspired look. So let me know your ideas. The colour-smash i love and yes I'm in my 30s but my hair would always have flashes of pink in it when i was younger. This cream is not permanent so it will wash out and i can use this for looks no problem. Not damage my hair and be expressive to my hearts content. 

Okay so the Chubby glitter stick in hot pink will be fabulous for some looks i have in mind to just add colour in hits with some sparkle plus be amazing for festival lovers everywhere. The Azature polish is amazing and if it comes off this colour and not clear then i will be impressed, as what inspires a glam look more then some nail glitter. The mini hand and face wipes are very purse perfect and i have grabbed these for my bag plus they smell so fruity and lovely. Paired that in hand with having the Cowshed anti-bacterial gel, as I'm one who always needs to have clean space and wipe down surfaces plus take wipes everywhere with me to hospital. I can imagine that at a festival i would take a truck load as its a quick way to clean up a mess.

So overall im so impressed with the quality of this box as i went into some items briefly to show the quality but even the cooling mist for these hot days is a godsend and i seriously am impressed with the huge bottle they provide, also the bare-minerals new Moxie lip product is something as well as the Topshop line I've wanted to try.  You will see these products in looks week shown to there full potential. I can't believe the value.

Did you purchase the Summer box from Selfridges ?

Illamasqua - Hydra Veil

Having been a massive fan of illamasqua and the boldness of the shades they offer. The innovative and amazing creators of illamasqua have done it again with the paranormal collection. Along with this collection came the release of a new and innovative Hydration and primer system. 

They say 

Create a radiant finish with Hydra Veil's instantly rehydrating, gel formula. Providing the optimal base for your make-up, apply before foundation with an Illamasqua Brush.

The product I wanted and was most excited about was hydra veil and yes it's pricey ( £27 for 30ml ) but for a dry skin lass like myself, I needed to see if this holds up to the claims. 

Illamasqua new paranormal collection has been the most exciting and inspirational collection I've seen this season. I really love the boldness of illamasqua products and already own the metal 4 palette as a bit of a difference and boldness to my collection. I am contemplating buying ESP and the palette but I defiantly wanted the new and innovative hydra veil primer/moisturiser.

Now not only is the product innovative but the packaging too is something new too. There is a spoon included so you can measure out a portion size (Pea sized) dot. Now when i say this was very clever of a approach it was, the consistency is a runny jelly and when you remove some. There is a slight indent in where you removed the small amount but the jelly reforms and then becomes one smooth surface again. Its really something to be seen, if you can visit your local store then try it. 

Now this small amount you may think is crazy that it could even cover one cheek let alone your whole face but believe me do not be over tempted to add more or use another spoon as it will be too much. One spoon is plenty and spreads over the face in a delicate and light fashion that its really quite cooling as well as being soothing to the skin. I could also feel it tightening as well so the plumping actions must be working. The pores were not visible so i was very impressed. It moisturised my skin so well as a primer that the amount of foundation i needed was cut down and also concealer was minimal. I really am impressed with this product. 

Yes, its not a cheap product but the amount you need and the spoon provided make sure you wont over-use and then end up scraping the sides for the last drops. I defiantly made the mistake of over using and didn't take a exact spoon just let it flail over the sides. It was far too much and i had to then wait ages for it to dry and the tightening feeling was quite apparent. So yes keep to the spoon amount they have given you as its the right amount.  I will repurchase this when its finished as for dry skin this is a god-send.