First of Many!

The first new youtube video was uploaded last night, demonstrating pieces from the Golden Goddess Gift Set.

I really want to film some more of these as I think this one turned out really well. However, we need YOUR help!

Let us know which products you would like to us to demonstrate; perhaps you have Pure Pigment in 'Involve' and want some inspiration on how to use it, or maybe there is a particular Powder Blusher you have had your eye on and want to see it in action.

Is there any kind of look you have wanted to achieve but are struggling with? Stuck in a rut and want to add more colour to a basic day time look? Or do you have a particular image in mind that you would like us to try and translate in to a make-up look? Maybe you would like to see a masterclass on effective contouring or the 1920s elongated brow.

Let us know in the comments section on here, or email us at askanartist@illamasqua.com.

Ask An Artist: Smoky Eyes and Lips

Saila emailed askanartist@illamasqua.com with the following question: I want to create a smoky eye look for a party using Pure Pigment in 'Involve' with Liquid Metal in 'Phenomena'. What colour should I wear on my lips? I know that a lighter lippie would probably be the best but I don't want to end up looking paler than I already am. Any ideas?

I called the girls on the Debenhams Cardiff counter for their opinion...

"A great way to create a smoky eye with-a-twist is to blend Pure Pigment Involve all over the socket and the crease area of the eye. To enhance this further, apply on top of Cream Eye Shadow in 'Stimulus' - this will create even more drama and intensity! For a multi-dimensional look, blend Pure Pigment in 'Tingle' into the inner corner of the eyes for an extra shimmer shock.
Use the Liquid Metal in Phenomena on the tearline of eyes to really open them up. You could also try using it just in the inner corners instead of Pure Pigment in 'Tingle'.

For a complimentary lip, try using Lipstick in 'Underworld' with Sheer Lipgloss in 'Tantrum' blended over the top - a fabulous plummy look that was all over the Autumn/ Winter catwalks!

Ask An Artist: Foundation Shades Part II

"I've researched online and seen the swatches of RF 215, 205 and 240. 205 looks like the right base of a yellow warm tone although I'm darker that than. Shade 215 looks good but I'm just worried about it being too pink/cool for my skintone (I'm of asian descent). So that's my only worry with this shade. Thanks for your help - Janice."

Halimah, who some of you may know is a freelance artist for Illamasqua, has recently joined the Illamasqua Head Office team, so I now have her infinite product and cosmetic knowledge on tap, yay! I've asked for her help in answering this question...

"Below, I've swatched the foundations on my face. I have swatched both the Rich Liquid Foundation and the Cream Foundation as the colours vary slightly on the skin with the
textures.

I have a light asian skintone. I would recommend that you go with the Rich Foundation in a 215 - there are slight pink tones in this shade, but overall it's a good, warm beige shade suitable for asian skins.

For your reference, from left to right: 210, 240, 215 and 205.

With the Cream Foundations, which are a brilliant texture for everyday or evening due to the
buildable coverage, I would perhaps say the 240 would be a good match. Like you said, you
could always mix it with a slightly lighter shade during the winter months or use it more sparingly - or why not try using it with the Satin Primer for a healthy glow [which we all need in Winter!]

From left to right is 205, 210, 215 and 240.

Ask An Artist: Vitiligo

Leena from Selfridges Trafford has very kindly answered this weeks question. Leena has worked for Illamasqua since the counter launch at Selfridges Trafford back in February and has unbelievable product knowledge. She has worked with brands suc as Oasis, Al Saints and USC as well as at the Clothes Show Live. She also wrote some tips and tricks for Anjana Gosai's [the Beauty editor of Asiana magazine] 'Ultimate Guide to Beauty'. To book a make-up lesson with Leena, call Selfridges Trafford on 0161 629 1187 and to read her full biography click here.


I have vitiligo, so my skin is beige with patches of white. What do you recommend I use to match my original skin tone and completely cover the white spots while still looking natural and not made-up?

Leena says: "Basically, you need your base to look as natural as possible. I'm a bit of an expert at camouflage make-up as I myself suffer from vitiligo."


I'm Asian, with a very tanned skin tone, so the white patches are very white - I've helped many people with vitiligo and other skin problems whilst on counter and I have got it down to a fine art now! I use Light Liquid Foundation to give me a sheer, natural even base rather than using a heavy foundation which people seem to think will cover up skin problems.
Then I use our high-definition ready Concealer with Blending Brush 1 or 2 and buff over the vitiligo patches using a small amount of the Concealer in small circular movements.


After setting with a powder [I love our Loose Powder for it's finely milled texture] go over the patches again using the same Concealer and brush, but this time stipple the Concealer over the top to camouflage completely. Re-set with powder if necessary.

Ask An Artist: Halimah

Back by popular demand, I asked Halimah of Selfridges Oxford Street to answer the following question:

I have black skin - I match very well with 325 in your foundations - and am looking for a great Cream Blusher to wear.

"I think that 'Ravish' and 'Devour' Cream Blushers are amazing. Start with the Highlighter Brush just behind the apples of the cheek and the blend outwards, covering the apples and up towards the cheekbones.

'Ravish' is the left shade - a cutesy colour that can be blended out very easily for a barely there hint of colour, perfect for every day.

You can see here how it is very wearable wine shade with red undertones. I have tried to blend out the colour in the swatch so you can see how it would look with a subtle application and a more intense application.

'Devour' is a lot more striking, but looks incredible on skintones that match 325, 330 and 340. This is a soft red with subtle orange undertones.

I also recommend using these colours on the lips - they are very hydrating and dewy!"

To book a lesson with Halimah, call 0207 318 3788. To view her bio, click here.

Ask An Artist: Jonathan

Today I put forward a customer question to Jonathan, our Retail Operations Manager and formerly Business Manager at Selfridges, Oxford Street [so he really knows his stuff!]

What kind of colours are Abandon and Melt? It's not very clear on your Website - Clare

First off, I'd like to say that we have listened to all feedback in regards to our online swatches - we know they are not all 100% accurate and we are working on ways to improve this as soon as possible to help everyone make the best choices, as well as recommendations from the products and/or links to this blog and others to provide you with as much information as possible. I know how frustrating it can be to buy a product from abroad and for it to be different to how you envisioned. This is a priority for us and we will keep you updated on the progress.

Secondly, both 'Abandon' and 'Melt' make up part of our Shimmer Lipstick collection - they are still hyper pigmented but without the matt finish that the majority of our Lipsticks have. I'll let Jonathan tell you more:

"'Abandon' is a really unique colour - it's a pale silvery lilac with a slightly pinky gold undertone. This colour looks lovely on pale skins or those with cool undertones - it also looks lovely smudged across cheekbones for a hint of shimmering pinky colour.

'Melt' is a warmer colour - it's a similar texture and finish to 'Abandon' and is a lovely pale bronze/ gold. This would make a fabulous cheekbones highlighter for asian and olive skin tones."

Below is a swatch of both colours, with 'Melt' nearest the top and 'Abandon' underneath - not the clearest of images, but shimmers are pretty difficult to catch right!

Here is Jonathan demonstrating the lustrous qualities of Vitamin E infused Lipstick in 'Abandon':

If you have a question for the team, email it to askanartist@illamasqua.com. Whether it be brand related, product related or just a general make-up query, we are here to help!

Here is a 4-colour Lip Palette with Abandon on the bottom right - special thanks to Row at cosmetic-candy.com for the image!

Ask An Artist

Daniel is one of our Selfridges Oxford Street artists and is also an integral member of our Illamasqua Training Team - few people know and love the brand more than Daniel!

Daniel was born in Malta and begun his make-up career in Maltese theatre before expanding into the fashion world. To read his full biography click here.

I thought Daniel would be the perfect person to get an answer for the following question, submitted by Rachel on Myspace:

What is the best nude toned lipgloss that Illamasqua offers?

Daniel: “You would think buying a nude lip gloss would be very simple, however there are a great variety on the market. We have a texture and a finish to suit everyone – for warm undertones, Sheer Lipgloss in 'Enchant' is gorgeous, for olive skins try Sheer Lipgloss in 'Provoke'.

If you are looking for a 1960’s lip, look no further than Intense Lipgloss in 'Lucid' if you are cooler toned. Warmer tones will love 'Embroil'. These colours will both tone down all your natural lip colour as they are so pigmented.”

Above I have swatched the colours that Daniel has referred to: From L-R, 'Enchant' and 'Provoke' Sheer lipglosses and 'Lucid' Intense Lipgloss.

Below Lynne [www.youtube.com/lynniiieee] has swatched Embroil...
To book a make-up lesson with Daniel, please call 0207 318 3788

To read a review of a make-up lesson by Daniel follow this link.

Ask An Artist

This series will strive to answer any questions that we receive from our Facebook fanclub, Myspace, Youtube channel or here on our blog! We will then ask one of our talented professional artists to answer them personally in this weekly series. Feel free to email askanartist@illamasqua.com and put forward any query you might have, be it about the brand, general make-up tips or related to a specific product and we will do our best to give you a great answer!

To kick off this series, I have taken a question from Youtube channel and put it forward to Aga, one of our Selfridges Oxford Street based artists. Aga has provided looks for such prestigious designers such as Alexander McQueen. To read her full biography click here.

This weeks question, taken from our Youtube channel, is:

What is Sealing Gel and how do I use it?

Aga: “Sealing Gel is basically a make-up fixer. If you love a particular Powder Eye Shadow but don’t have an eye liner in that colour then mix a drop of Sealing Gel into the corner of the eye product and it will create a thick, strong paste which can be applied directly to eyes using a thin brush [try Eye Liner Brush]. The Sealing Gel will guarantee that this colour will stay true until you want to take it off. I also suggest mixing it with Pure Pigment to get a sparking liner. It’s an invaluable product to have in your make-up case.”

To book a make-up lesson with Aga, call 0207 318 3788.