Illamasqua Embellish Eye Trio (Strike, Infinity and Embellish) : Review and Swatches!

So, new year blogging hasn't started off too well seeing as I haven't actually posted anything in about three weeks. Oops. In my defense I have been super busy with work and I've recently started a new job. Also, I know I said my next review was going to be Illamasqua's Multi Facet Palette in Aura, but I did (another) mini haul of the Illamasqua winter sale and I REALLY couldn't wait to do a review of the following products, because I'm kind of a little bit in love with them. So without further ado, here we go!

If the title didn't give it away, today I'll be reviewing Illamasqua's Embellish Eye Trio! Can we just take a moment to appreciate this packaging?! I love how the black, gold and bronze tones match the products. It's super pretty, and would make a beautiful gift. With the two most recent collections - Once and Facets - Illamasqua have changed up the packaging a little. It's still classy and still very true to the brand, but it's always nice to see an aesthetic change. I'm not sure whether this will be a permanent thing or if it was only for specific products but I'm definitely a fan. 

Once you open the box you're met with this! Embossed in gold text is each product name and the individual shade. Included in this set is Brow Gel in Strike, which as far as I'm aware is the only shade currently available as this is a relatively new product. Wouldn't it be great to see the Eyebrow Cake shades released as Brow Gels? Also included in this set is Gel Liner in Infinity and Vintage Metallix in Embellish. 

The pots are glass, so you can see the product nice and clearly through them. They also have a gorgeous metallic rose-gold coloured screw lid, with the Illamasqua logo in the centre. Hmm, I might have failed to mention that this will be a super long post with A LOT of pictures... Shall we get on to the individual products then?

First up we have Precision Gel Liner in Infinity! This is a really REALLY deep black, and was first released as part of Illamasqua's Paranormal collection for Summer 2013. I found the formula of this very creamy, even for a gel eyeliner. It reminds me of MAC's Fluidline in Blacktrack, however I think the applied texture of Infinity is slightly smoother. Also, because of it's super-creamy formula Infinity doesn't dry straight away, which can be positive or negative depending on your preference. If you like your liner to dry quickly this product may require some patience, but if application takes you a little longer then this formula is perfect, as it gives you more time to play around and perfect your line, or alternatively to create that sultry, smudged look. Personally I find gel eyeliner much easier to use than liquid, and a small amount of this stuff goes a VERY long way. I can see Infinity becoming a staple part of my professional kit.

Next up we have Brow Gel in Strike! On Illamasqua's website this shade is simply described as "Brown" but if we're being specific about it I'd probably say it's a light brown with slight red undertones. It's a fairly universal shade and will compliment most hair colours. It wont be too dark for blondes, but it's not too light for darker hair colours either. Strike is very matte and dries fairly quickly. I love that it allows you to get a sharp, clean edge without having to use concealer. When I define my eyebrows with pencil or powder I always have to clean up with concealer to get the perfect line but with Strike that's completely unnecessary, yay for no more concealer clean ups! Now, if you don't like that harsh edge on your brows you can definitely use this lightly to create a more natural look. Oh and the best thing about Strike? Not only is it insanely pigmented, it's also waterproof! Rain? No problem. Sweat? Don't worry about it. Smudging? We've got it covered. In short, this stuff will not move. 

And do we have time for one more? I think we do! I've saved my favourite until last: Vintage Metallix in Embellish! *swoon* So, let me give you a quick product run down. Vintage Metallix were released as part of Illamasqua's Once... collection; they're a cream-based eyeshadow packed with shimmer which gives the product beautiful light-reflective properties. They come in three shades: Bibelot, Courtier and Embellish. I've used Courtier (a dusty-pink nude flecked with gold shimmer) for a while now, I find it makes a perfect base for powder eye shadows as it's highly crease-resistant and really brings out pigmentation. It's also a great highlight for anywhere on the face and body. I was super excited to try out Embellish, and as part of this set how could I refuse?! Bibelot, don't think I've forgotten about you, I'll get my hands on you soon!

So, back to Embellish. It's described as "vintage brown" which is accurate, but I would also describe it as a copper flecked with gold shimmer. The great thing about this product is that it's highly buildable, so if you don't want to go too intense you can just use a light wash or you can go all out and smother your eyelids in gorgeous bronze goodness. Like Infinity and Strike the formula is very creamy, so it's super easy to blend but it dries down very well and is completely crease-proof. I personally wouldn't use Embellish as a base because I think the colour is seriously lovely on its own, but it could definitely be used as an eyeshadow primer.

If you've made it this far, congratulations on your astounding attention span. What can I say, I like to be thorough. The time has now come...for swatches!

Natural light without flash

With flash

More than anything I think these swatches really reflect how pigmented these products are. Infinity is like staring into a black hole - it definitely lives up to it's name. And check the way the light catches the shimmer on Embellish, especially in the second photo. I'm in love. Totally in love. 

Now I hate to be the bearer of bad news but about halfway through writing this post I found out that the Embellish Trio has actually been discontinued as of yesterday. It was infact just a limited edition gift set for Christmas. I can hear the sobbing already. But it's not all doom and gloom! If checking your local Illamasqua counter/store for any left over sets doesn't come up with anything, all three products are still available for separate purchase and you can find them at Illamasqua's website. Personally I think it's worth having all three and in the next few days I'll be posting an eye look to show you how you can use them all together.

So, there you have it. Thanks for reading this looooooong post and I promise my next review will be of the Multi Facet Palette in Aura. I hope this review has helped - until next time!

Illamasqua Growl Lipstick: Review and Swatches!

Anybody who knows me knows that the Illamasqua winter sale is pretty much the highlight of my year, and this year was no exception. Among the products I purchased was their lipstick in Growl, which I've wanted to try out for quite a while now as I absolutely LOVE a vampy lip. At the price of £9.50 (half of the regular price) how could I possibly refuse?!

I ordered online at Illamasqua's website and my products were delivered within three days, which I thought was great considering that the postage was free. I've always found that Illamasqua provide flawless service - as a brand they really do care about their customers, and it shows. So, my lipstick arrived pictured exactly as above in the usual shiny, chic black packaging. I can't stress enough how much I love the way Illamasqua package their products, it's unique and kind of edgy but at the same time looks super professional and aesthetically it works well in any makeup kit.

On Illamasqua's website Growl is described as a "rich mahogany brown" which is definitely fair to say, however I personally felt that it also had a slight wine-red tinge. I do think that this could just be the way it looks on me, as I've seen this shade on darker skin-tones and it looks more brown, so maybe paler complexions bring out the red tones, especially if you're practically translucent like myself. As with many lipsticks Growl looks much darker in the tube than it does when applied, so don't be terrified if you open the tube and it doesn't look quite like the colour that you were expecting!

Illamasqua are renowned for their intensely pigmented products, and as you can see from the swatch above Growl is highly opaque and gives amazing colour payoff. It's a very strong shade and just the kind of colour I usually wear - by this point I was totally in love! When I initially swatched Growl I thought it was really similar in colour to MAC's Media.

And finally this was Growl applied on bare lips! I love love LOVE this shade! On Illamasqua's website it's described as having a matte finish and this is 100% true. I've often read that people find the formula difficult to apply and very drying but I've honestly never had either of these problems, and I've been using Illamasqua products for about 3 years. In fact, I think they have the best lipstick formula on the market right now. Intense colour payoff, easy application, unbelievably long wear time (seriously, I've been through whole days without having to re-apply, even after eating and drinking) and some really unique shades (Yes Apocalips, I'm looking at you!) ...what more could you want?!

So, my final verdict? Growl is amazing and I can see it fast becoming my new go-to shade. Personally I don't choose the lipstick I wear by what season it is and I would totally wear this in the Summer, but if you're looking for your perfect deep, dark Winter shade you just found it!

You can buy Growl here, it's still on sale and at half price it's an absolute bargain. It's a beautiful shade and really does suit all skin tones. Would I recommend it? Hell yes!

I hope this hasn't been too awful for a first review, feedback would be amazing! Oh, and all of these photos were taken in natural light without flash. Next I'll be reviewing Illamasqua's Multi Facet Palette in Aura, so stay posted!

New year, new blog!

So it's January 1st 2015, and I have finally taken the plunge and joined the world of beauty blogging. I've been meaning to do this for a good couple of years, but my endless excuses have always held me back. So, let's say goodbye to "But I don't have the time," and "There's no point, nobody will read it anyway," because we're doing this now and it's WAY overdue. Rubbish excuses, you're being left in 2014.

I've often been asked to do makeup tutorials, and I've often promised to but never actually gone through with it (sorry!) but I will be doing tutorials eventually. However, for the time being I'm mainly going to focus on product reviews, posting different looks, and maybe sharing a few tricks and tips. Once Fashion Week 2015 rolls around I'll also be talking about different runway trends so you can definitely expect some of that in the near future!

As far as introductions go I'm keeping this one short and sweet, so I'll finish here. Happy 2015 everyone, and let the makeup-talk commence!