Introduction to Illamasqua Haul

The inevitable finally happened and I treated myself to some Illamasqua products for the first time!

I had been intrigued by Illamasqua ever since they launched the Australian 'Fight for a Fair Price for Beauty' campaign in 2012. The campaign highlighted the ridiculous and well known fact, of how overpriced makeup items can be just because they are being sold over an Australian counters. Illamasqua  highlighted the fact that we are a nation are forced to spend up to 61% more than UK customers. Needless to say, it got a lot of people talking!

Following the campaign, whether you believe it to be a marketing ploy or not… Illamasqua decided to be the black sheep and diverge from the norm (as they are so well known for doing), kept their word and lowered their prices in Australia.

Since the prices have gone down, the margin between purchasing makeup products from drugstores in Australia and buying from Illamasqua aren't that different (often just a few dollars difference, at least when it comes to lipsticks and powders).

After this realisation… it seemed like the perfect time to live a little and try out a few of the products I had hankering to join my makeup collection.

After a lot of deliberation, I put the Lip Twin Set comprising of the lipstick in Obey and Intense Lipgloss in Plentiful. I also grabbed a powder blusher in S.O.P.H.I.E. and the Blusher Brush 1.

This gorgeous combination of Obey (left) and Plentiful (right) come as a limited edition set. Obey is an opaque coral-pink colour. It is very pigmented and a matte finish. I definitely recommend putting on a moisturising lip balm before you smack this baby on because it can be a little drying and tugs a little during application. As it is matte, it can dry out your lips a little bit so having a lipgloss over the top whether it's clear or something that matches the colour of Obey might help struggling with the formula.

The lipgloss Plentiful was designed specifically for this purpose. When they say it it an 'intense' lipgloss they are not kidding! Plentiful is possibly the most pigmented lipgloss I have come across. It is perfect for the summer with its pretty coral shade which has been blended specifically to complement Obey. Plentiful is my favourite part of the duo which I either wear alone or with Obey, in any case a steady hand and a sheer coating will do the trick - it is very thick and obvious if you layer too much on there!

I love this combination but they are not everyday colours for me. I prefer more natural shades during the day. However, this is the duo for you if you want to make a statement and even better, if you need a pretty combination to last you through the day or night.

If bright peachy colours are not up your alley, then Illamasqua has another limited edition set in Sangers and Succubus which are described as long-lasting, blood red shades. You can't go wrong with a red lip after all!

I also picked up these two items as part of a deal Illamasqua offers online. Called the 'Create Your Own  Blusher Set'. This deal is a web exclusive where you can purchase any powder blusher and the Blusher Brush 1 for a discounted price. Brilliant! They offer a few different options so the web exclusives are definitely worth having a look at.

I wanted a new blush brush so combination offer this seemed like the perfect pickup for me. I had always wanted to try the Illamasqua brushes because they are completely cruelty-free, synthetic and hypoallergenic. The Blusher Brush 1 can be used to apply either power or cream blushers. It is really soft and perfect for blending or layering to get the intensity you want. The smaller shape (in comparison to the Real Techniques Blush Brush) makes it easy to colour in your cheeks just the way you like it. The brush also looks beautiful and sophisticated and it also has a really nice weight to it. My only qualm with this product is that it doesn't have the name printed on the brush.

For the blusher, I picked S.O.P.H.I.E. is a golden coral shimmer (I'm all about the corals from Illamasqua apparently!). The shimmer in the blusher is very noticeable in the pan but the finely milled and soft texture is very flattering on the cheeks, adding a radiant and healthy flush. I love this blush as it is extremely long-lasting, pigmented and blendable. A must-have for me now!

Honestly, I was leaning towards purchasing a few of the other blushers (after all, blush is my favourite thing) when I read a bit more about why the this shade was created and who it was inspired by. I do love a story with a good message after all. I will briefly explain, the creation of the shade S.O.P.H.I.E was inspired by the story of Sophie Lancaster. Sophie and her boyfriend were encountered and assaulted for looking different. Sadly following the attack, Sophie later died from her injuries. In memory of Sophie, her mother founded the Sophie Lancaster Foundation to promote understanding, tolerance and awareness of subcultures among youth, to ensure a more accepting mindset in generations to come. Of course, Illamasqua is known for promoting self-expression and pushing the boundaries a little bit with their campaigns. The I'mperfection collection, for example, was brought out to highlight and encourage sharing our imperfections which make us more unique and perfect.

I'm really happy with my first purchase from Illamasqua! Have you got any Illamasqua must-have recommendations for next time round?