Illamasqua Haul

ul

hello beautifuls,

so i had a super amazing delivery from illamasqua :-D and i’m over the moon with it! i looked round the store in the trafford centre a few months back and cos of the annoying staff that wouldn’t leave me alone and kept recommending products i wasn’t interested in or didn’t want i didn’t end up getting anything and went to seek refuge at the selfridges food hall! but illamasqua is a brand i’ve always wanted to try and always kind of knew i’d love. so with my 40% professional discount i really went a bit mad and bought all this stuff.

it arrived today with a two day deliver time which i was impressed with - and some of the products have really blown me away! where as there are a few duds that i’m disappointed with.

i am completely in love with the brushes, the no.1 blusher brush is so so unbelievably soft, not at all scratchy, and is the perfect shape for the hollows of cheekbones and for a thicker highlight. and as daft as it sounds it actually picks up more product than any other blush brush i’ve used! this is very useful especially for quick application, but could also be a fault (its usually better to build up with blush rather than wack too much on by accident!) buttt…. the brush is beyond amazing incredible at blending! this brush honestly took my breath away and not makeup products have done that!

the blending brush 2 is made with the same hair and is again so so soft and incredible, it’s so relaxing just brushing it along your skin! popping on makeup always relaxes me but with these amazing brushes i might well be off to sleep! the blending brush is a tad too big for precise eyeshadow application, this would be used more for colours that you want an all over eyelid wash.. it’s definitely too big for any crease work, but again it is amazing at blending, so if you firstly applied your colours as blocks, this brush is completely perfect at blending out your shadows so they appear to intertwine seemlessly together, without making the products colour fade which is what generally happens when blending. this brush is a great size for applying highlight too - don’t ever confine your brushes to one use only!

the false lashes are brill but for £12 they to be honest are just regular lashes similar to eylure or normal drugstore brands, so if i hadn’t got my 40% off i would have been pretty disappointed spending that amount of money on lashes.

the stagnate nail varnish from the toxic nature collection is just wonderful, a perfect taupy nude that i’ve been after for ages and will compliment a (fake :) ) tan perfectly.

one incredible huge disappointment is the eyeshadow in moonflower, on the site ‘it is a creamy white with a shimmer finish’ but actually it only offers a pale white glow that is really a bit pointless! a was after a strong white shadow that was really pigmented but actually this is a slight shimmer that is unpigmented enough that it would be better used as a highlight (which is what i’ll use it for rather than an eyeshadow). the other shadow i got was a deep purple ‘savage’, when blended it’s more of a plum but is still a little less pigmented than i’d like, but a whole heap better than moonflower. it’s a great crease shade and i’ll definitely be experimenting with it later on! :-)

i got one of the liquid metals in phenomena, and again, a little less pigmented than i’d like, it would take atleast three layers of building up for it to be as super silvery metallic that i’d like, but i guess the fact its buildable means i can use it over any colour eyeshadow or lippy to give a silvery sheen - so it can be used in different ways :-) when it is built up its fab, very multidimensional and the glittery bits are so unbelievably fine they’re unnoticable but it still has that amazing sparkle of a glitter. i usually hate cream eyeshadows cos they always seem to crease or feel too sticky, but i can see myself really loving this product! hopefully with a bit of urban decay primer potion it won’t crease! :-)

the sealing gel is a product i’ve been after for a while, it can be used to turn any powder product into a strong waterproof gel/liquid, so can be used to create eyeliners, lip colours… looking forward to trying this out and creating some funky eyeliner shades!

the lipstick is an amazing colour, a blue pink similar to macs snob/saint germain but has more of a matte texture and seems less moiturising so might be a little more long lasting. i haven’t used it on my lips yet so i’ll let you know how it goes! it smelt amazing like vanilla - very similar to mac lippys!

the lipgloss is a fun candy pink that will provide either a slight pink sheen on lips, or really bring out the funky pink lipstick! again not sure about the texture or longevitiy of this product, fingers crossed it’s a good en!

the powder blush is just fabulous, it comes out of the pan so easily it’s actually unbelievable, i only dabbed the blusher brush onto the product so so gently and enough product came off to completely do both cheeks! this hopefully means that the blush should last me a long time! i’m not one to use blush much as my cheeks are naturally so flushed and red that it’s a constant battle to hide redness, so the thought of repinking my cheeks just seems a tad ridiculous, but after seeing a lot of pink haired girlies sporting super pink cheeks and lips (sj-ox you’re one of them! :-) ), i’ve decided it’s a look definitely work trying! this blush was on illamasquas best sellers list and after only spending a few minutes with it i can really see why, i’m already blown away by it - and can see it becoming a staple product in my kit :-)

the precision ink eyeliner is such a deep black it’s fab! i’m really impressed with it, and after swatching it on my hand it dried so quickkly and now seems very unbudgable! i’ve been rubbing it and even wet it and it’s still not moving - amazing, perfect for long nights out!

the medium pencil i got in shade manic is for my eyebrows, and it’s the most perfect colour ever to match up with my hair (along with macs incredible magenta which is my current staple product). the formulation was so soft and smooth on my skin, buttttt only a slight rubbing means all the product has gone! when i’m using it as the sole product for my brows i really need it to be longlasting and wear and tear proof, so i really hope this will be ok! :-)

the pure pigment in android is a touch disappointing as it looked a deep bluey black with silver glitter pigment through it - like a night sky! but in actual fact the bluey black shade pales out on skin and leaves a glitter wash over it - a real shame but i reckon a bit of perseverance and a lot of building might get this product to have a touch more pigmentation.

the matt primer so far seems really impressive, i only applied it to my hand and it suddenly seemed extremely soft but also so unoily and matte it was really impressive! can’t wait to try this on my often oily and sweaty skin hahaha!

the skin base foundation so far has really impressed me - it smells really nice, kind of fruity and makeuppy all mixed together! it seems quite a thick well pigmented formula that looks like it will provide good coverage, so hopefully it’s going to be another product i’ll love! the only thing i found disappointing with the foundation and primer is they seem to be in small bottles, you probably get the same amount of product for your money as other stuff, but it just seems so small! :-(

i’ve wanted the powdered metal in ether for absolutely ages and am glad to be ticking that off my makeup wants list! its a yellowy gold powder that is really super fine with a slight shimmer, and is just the perfect colour for highlighting the tops of cheekbones, and the body. the yellowy gold tones should give me a really healthy glow, i’ll just have to be careful i don’t go overboard with it or i might end up looking like i have jaundice hahaha!

would love to know what you guys favourite illamasqua products are, but also would love to know what your fave makeup products are in general :-)

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Here's what exactly I ordered with prices and shades - don't be too shocked by the price, I get a good chunk off with professional discount ;-)

Here's me with a full face of Illamasqua makeup on...

love it!

and me and Dan being silly sausages :-)

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Foundation Foundation Foundation

Hello lovelies,

So glad to be back blogging again! :-) I've been super busy and had a few knocks to my confidence but now I'm back full of joy again to tell you guys and dolls all about my thoughts on everything from makeup to the ocean :-)

I want to review all the foundations I've used - it's a question I get asked quite often about my favourite foundation, what I'd recommend, what are different foundations like.. Hopefully I can answer all your questions here! :-) However, don't ask me what foundation shade would match you cos without seeing you face to face there's no way on earth I can tell you for definite! I may have a rough idea but don't want you guys purchasing foundations just based on what shade I think you might be.

Note; all the views I'm giving of the longevity etc. of a foundation are based on it being worn with MAC Prep and Prime skin, and then with a powder such as MAC Mineralise Skin Finish Natural or Body Shop Pressed Powder (which is AMAZING) applied with an Illamasqua Blush Brush.

Anyway, let's get going...

MAC Studio Fix Fluid

Most peoples favourite MAC foundation is Studio Fix Fluid. Personally it is one of my favourites that they do but I don't really love or entirely recommend it at all.

It is a medium full coverage foundation which means it'll cover any uneven tones in your skin, mask redness well and just really disguise any problem areas you'd rather not let the general public see! Personally I think it's best applied with fingers, or a MAC 187 brush or a sponge - but that's all down to personal preference, and I definitely prefer application with fingers with any foundation! :-) The foundation glides on and sits well on the skin. However on dry skin days no matter how much I've moisturised my skin, I do feel Studio Fix really enhances the look of my dry skin, making it flakey and thus more noticable :-( It lasts for a reasonable amount of time (I'd say 6hours ish) but then slides off in heat :-( So all in all it is a foundation that does its job reasonably well but is not particularly great. In general I use it to mix with other foundations to make a mix that is more full coverage due to the addition of Studio Fix.

Chanel Pro Lumiere Foundation

Dear old Dan bought me this for my birthday after a Chanel lady in Meadowhall applied it - and boy was I impressed! It is a pretty amazing product, it makes skin look luminous without looking sparkly or too oily - it just seems to make you look like you have a super healthy radiance and warmth. Not many products can make you look like you've just finished a week long pamper session! My main downfall with this product is the coverage, it is Chanels idea of full but too me that just isn't enough! I have quite red cheeks and they still show through slightly.. which I guess is good if you want to look natural but slightly enhanced - but I like to look matte and as if my skin is surrealy perfect! :-) So I have to use this foundation with a lot of Dermablend concealer underneath and usually only use it on reasonably good skin days. This apricot smelling foundation is just lovely and although I have to work around it I'm sure I'll be repurchasing when I run out.

Vichy Dermablend Foundation

Now this foundation isn't for the fainthearted. If you want full full full coverage, no underneath pigment showing through, no undertones coming through - you basically want to mask your skin, then this is the foundation for you. I've only found it in Boots in the UK and online - so if you fancy some pop there :-) This foundation is mainly used for people with skin conditions and more as a corrective makeup - for example to correct pigmentation in the skin, mask scarring or tattoos.. but that doesn't mean you can't use it as everyday makeup. Its formulation has been made to work well around any skin type or condition, so not only was it fine with my slight facial eczema, it actually helped it! Brill :-) It is a thick gloopy liquid and you hardly need any to really get the finish you want. It lasts for ages and I am so impressed with it! The only trouble with it is that it does feel quite thick on so I don't particularly like wearing it in summer on warm days, but for nights out and the rest of the year it's perfect! :-) I'd really recommend it :-D Apart from it smells pretty rank hahaha

MAC Studio Moisture Tint

This is more a tinted moisturiser than foundation but on good skin days, sunny warm days or times when I just don't fancy feeling like I've got a full face of makeup on... I use this because it has a good enough coverage to cover things I don't want to be seen, but feels really light on the skin and it kind of feels like I'm letting my skin breathe without being conscious that I have no makeup on. It lasts reasonably well if you keep doing a few powder touch ups and keep your eye on it :-) I'd really recommend this :-)

Loreal True Match Foundation

Lo and behold my favourite foundation in the world EVER. I could sing from the rooftops till the cows come home about this foundation - it stays on all day, it can be mixed with other foundations to vary the finish and coverage you want, it is medium to almost full coverage, it has a matte coverage when powder is applied over it - it's wonderful! You definitely need to wear powder with it though, my skin looks way too shiny without it. I love this stuff so so much! Plus its cheap enough and Boots always have offers on like buy 2 get 2 free so it means you can get a few shades so anytime of the year you can mix them together to get your perfect shade :-) I think that Loreal made this to make a super similar high street dupe of MAC Studio Fix Fluid but I actually think this is better! So don't go wasting your money on Studio Fix :-)

Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation

Initially I completed hated this foundation with a passion, I slapped too much on and it just made my skin look cakey flakey and dried out! But then I decided to try using a tiny pea sized amount and it blew me away. It covers any discoloration so so well, and it really makes it look like your own skin is just amazing. You need the tiniest amount ever so I reckon the bottle will last foreverrrrrrrrr (however the bottle is pretty badly designed so it's super hard to squeeze once it's getting a bit emptier :-( ). It lasts longer than an average foundation but not for a super super long time but powder certainly helps its longevity. It can also definitely be used as a concealer too/instead and then use it as a foundation over the top too, just use a teeny amount over a small area to help conceal particular bad spots.

MAC Face and Body Foundation

MAC Face and Body foundation is probably my favourite foundation that MAC has to offer. It's super liquid, has an odd smell but I really love it, and makes skin look SO oily, but once you've got used to it and understand it as a product it can work so well for you! Personally, I apply it in layers until I get the desired coverage I'm after (one layer would just look sheer but you can keep applying layers to get a medium coverage). It sticks to skin really well and is very long lasting - and mixed with other foundations will also make them last longer on your skin too. The only problems I encounter with this foundation is first that it makes my skin look so so shiny and feel kind of oily, but with a sweep of powder the shine is banished!, and secondly that it kind of makes my skin feel like it can't breathe! - but you get used to that hahaha. A huge positive is that it really feels like it moisturises my dry skin and it usually makes my eczema less noticable. I think this foundation is a good all rounder and you can just adapt the way you use it to find a method that works for you.

Revlon Photo Ready Foundation

This is another foundation that I'm quite a fan of. Again, like Loreal True Match, I suspect that this is a foundation Revlon have brought out to try and create a dupe of MACs Studio Fix Fluid - as it just seems so similar. I would say it is of comparable quality to Studio Fix and I'm not sure which edges it as the better/worst.. Anyways, I really like this one! It has good coverage, lasts a while (but nowhere near as long as Loreal True Match!!), and when I fancy a change from my faves this is the one I turn to. As well as this, although I've never tried it, apparently it is formulated to look super perfect in photos compared to other foundations :-) and that's always a winner!

MAC Select Foundation

I'm not a particular fan of MAC Select Foundation as I want a medium/full coverage foundation that gives me a matte finish - this is the complete opposite! It gives low coverage with a super sheer finish - which just makes me look completely oily and ridiculous! I sometimes mix it with Studio Fix or True Match to sheer and thin out those relatively thicker foundations - but other than that my Select foundation doesn't get used too much. I reckon it'd be better suited for people with normal/dry skin who have pretty perfect skin with no imperfections that they want to mask.

MAC ProLongwear Foundation

MAC Prolongwear is another foundation that is just too low coverage for me. I did try and build up coverage, but it took so much product and in the end I felt like I had about 3 inches of makeup on! Never a good thing! As I didn't particularly apply this product in the way MAC intended, it definitely didn't live up to its name as Prolongwear - it only lasted 5ish hours and I just wasn't impressed with it at all. However my friend Amy recommends using MAC Prolongwear Concealer as a foundation as it lasts ages and provides good coverage - so I think I might try that! :-)

Clinique Superbalanced Makeup

This was my first ever high end foundation and I was oh so disappointed with it. I explained my skin type and problems to the Clinique lady and she recommended this to me, but all it did was make my skin super oily for days after using it and bring me out in spots :-( Plus when I actually did wear it it just enhanced my dry bits by a ridiculous amount - it made my skin literally look AWFUL! Never to be used again!

Right girlies, that's it for me and my foundation views! I hope I've helped you guys in making decisions on your next foundation purchase.

Let me know if you have any questions with regards anything I've said :-)

Lots of love always

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Illamasqua Style Shoot

Hello my dear readers,
First of all I must apologise for not blogging for so long! What with the move to Sheffield and then my laptop breaking, I just haven't had chance to blog! However, I have had time to do lots of photoshoots, which I shall tell you all about :D
Last Thursday, I worked for the first time with model Pinderella (Donna) and Hayley Jayne Photography. I was super super excited to work with them both! Hayley had mentioned her stylist had a vintage black and white jacket that she'd love to shoot with, so straight away I got thinking of makeup with a black and white theme. I decided to go for Illamasqua stlye makeup - not your regular every day stuff! I'd been wanting to try this look for ages, and practised it on myself first to check everything worked (which it did, apart from it's hard to blend products onto a white face, and it was hard to get the white to be completely opaque).. I did this at about 1am and woke poor old Danny up to show him - he had a fright!
So last Thursday I went and got Donna from the train station, she's so pretty in person, and such a wonderful character! I instantly felt at ease and we had a good chat and giggle together :D The shoot was at Hayleys house, she had the most perfect white brick wall as a backdrop! Hayley was also so lovely in person, and really made us feel at home in her lovely house!
I got to work on the makeup, and boy it took a long time, but was super worth it!
Here's some sneak peek pictures I took of the shppt. What do you guys reckon to it? Isn't Pinderella just beautiful! And I love the black and white shot, amazing! And that jacket, wow!







LOVE these pictures!


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Illamasqua Job! - Fingers Crossed!

Hello sweeties,

So today I bit the bullet - I applied for a job at Illamasqua! I've always had such big self doubt in my mind that I'm not good enough, especially not good enough to be one of those amazing makeup counter girlies! But today I just thought, why not, why can't I be?! I love makeup so much, I love costume makeup, being individual, having crazy makeup - I love everything about it - so why shouldn't little old me work there too?!?

I wrote them a long email and tried to show them how much I love makeup and how passionate I am, and fingers crossed my personality and love will shine through :) It'd be such an honour to work for Illamasqua! So now my fate is in the hands of the Gods - let's hope I get my chance :) I can't think of anything more fun to do!

My fingers and toes will be crossed till I hear from them! Wish me luck!

Go after your dreams,

Emily xoxo