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Black Friday is on the horizon and there’s nothing that fends off the winter blues better than a bit of retail therapy. But, with so many deals and savings out there, it can be tough to figure out what to buy and which products are actually worth the money – you’re still spending after all!
Illamasqua have kicked off the holiday season strong with a bunch of limited-time discounts on some of their best-selling products. So, I’m here to help narrow down your decision and show you which products I’d recommend in the Black Friday sales.
A quick intro to Illamasqua
Illamasqua (a portmanteau of ‘illusion’ and ‘masquerade’) is a British makeup brand that’s all about self-expression, creativity and diversity. They use vibrant pigments and hydrating formulas to create beauty products that are not only unique and exciting, but also comfortable and kind to the skin.
All Illamasqua products are cruelty-free and, though their makeup range isn’t entirely vegan, they do have over 150 vegan products and shades to shop from. Clicking the ‘Vegan Makeup’ tab on their website will give you a full list.
Illamasqua Colour Veil*
You’ve heard of blushes in powder and liquid form, but have you ever tried a gel blusher?! Nor had I, until now!
Illamasqua’s Colour Veil is actually a gel-cream hybrid that’s inspired by the brand’s iconic Hydra Veil Primer. It’s formulated to be not only intensely pigmented, but insanely hydrating too.
The jelly-like texture of this blush is really unique. It’s silky without feeling sticky, and it gives the most gorgeous dewy finish.
I’ve got the shade ‘Frisson’ which is a stunning cool-toned mauve. On my pale skin, this colour is really complimentary – I actually feel like it’s the most natural looking blush I own! Of course, that’s not to say it’s overly subtle or unnoticeable!
What’s nice about this product is that you can build it up really easily. It’s great for light makeup days when you’re looking for just a hint of colour, but also for more full-face makeup looks where you want your blush to really stand out.
When it comes to application, I feel like a brush is best for this. I used my fingers the first time I tried the blush and while this sort of worked, I ended up with more product on my hands than my cheeks!
A dense brush diffuses the product better and is definitely way less messy. I haven’t tried applying it with a sponge but, as with liquid blushes, I feel like you’d lose some of the product as it would be soaked up.
Overall, I think this would be great for people who don’t necessarily like the sticky, tacky feel that some cream blushes tend to have. I also think it’s a great option for those who want a weightless, natural-looking blush that still has a great wear time.
Because this has the grip of a primer, it really does last all day! I love this formula and can’t wait to pick up a few of the other shades. There are currently six available: Frisson, Tonic, Consume, Enamour, Entice, and Infatuate. I have my eye on Tonic which is the most gorgeous cool peach colour!
Illamasqua Hydra Setting Spray – Matte*
I’m generally not a matte finish type of person, but this setting spray may just have changed my mind!
There are actually two versions of the Illamasqua Hydra Setting Spray, a dewy one and a matte one. I believe the dewy version was released first – to complement the the Hydra Veil Primer – and because so many people loved it, the matte spray was born!
Obviously the two sprays give very different finishes, so each one may appeal to different skin types. Having said that, I do still think that the matte version would work on dry skin, let me explain why…
The matte setting spray is still part of the Hydra Collection, so naturally it contains ingredients that are meant to hydrate the skin. You’ll find sunflower seed oil in here, as well as vitamin E and hyaluronic acid. The main difference between this and the dewy version is that the matte one also contains oil-controlling and pore-tightening ingredients like wild water mint extract.
The great thing about this setting spray is that, though it’s mattifying, it’s not too drying. It does contain denatured alcohol (like many matte setting sprays do) but it doesn’t have all those classic fragrance ingredients (e.g. linalool, limonene) that you’ll find in other setting spray formulas. As someone with sensitive skin, I don’t experience any irritation with this spray at all!
Now, the big question, how does it hold up throughout the day? I’m actually really impressed by this spray, it controls shine without leaving my face feeling tight or uncomfortable. I also like that doesn’t leave my face looking so matte that it appears flat or dull.
If you have oily skin I think you may need to refresh your makeup with this during the day, as you do still get a little bit of shine peeking through, but in general I think this does its job well!
Illamasqua Pure Pigment
Glitter eyeshadows have been ALL OVER TikTok recently, so of course I had to pick one up for myself.
What’s really cool about the Illamasqua Pure Pigment powders though is that they’re multipurpose, meaning you can use them on your eyes, brows AND even your cheeks!
They’re also super versatile in the way that you can apply them. You can use them on their own for a blindingly glittery look, or you can mix some of this in with your eyeshadow or blush to give it some extra shine.
I’ve got the shade ‘Beguile’ which is a stunning silvery white colour, although it was a really toss up between this and ‘Static’ which is a similar silvery shade with pink-purple undertones. The texture of this powder is nice and fine which you’ll definitely appreciate if you’re used to chunky glitters. It can sometimes be really tricky to find a good glitter shadow that doesn’t feel like sand when you rub it across your eyelid!
The one downside of this is that you do get quite a bit of fallout if you use a regular blending brush to apply it. I prefer to use my finger simply because 1) this makes the glitter effect more intense and 2) it minimises how much glitter you end up with on the rest of your face.
When it comes to removing this glitter, you’ll be pleased to know that this washes off SUPER easily with water – no scrubbing needed here! However, this of course means it may be more prone to wearing off during the day (especially if you get caught in the rain). I suggest using a good eyeshadow primer, and giving your glitter shadow look a generous spritz of the Hydra Setting Spray to keep this in place all day.
Overall thoughts
I’ve really enjoyed using all these products from Illamasqua but the Colour Veil blush, in particular, has stolen my heart. This has the creamiest, most comfortable formula of any blush I’ve tried and I’m sure I’ll be buying it again and again. I love it!
The Hydra Setting Spray has also surprised me (as someone who usually shies away from matte products). This is much less drying than I expected and I’d almost go as far as saying that I prefer it to some of the dewy setting sprays I own!
Pure Pigment is a good staple to have in your makeup collection – everybody needs a glitter powder! But, because it’s more suited to evening or going out looks, I’d probably use this a bit less than I would the blush and setting spray. It’s still a fantastic product and I’d definitely look forward to occasions when I can wear it!
Where can I buy these Illamasqua products?
You can shop all of these products directly from the Illamasqua website, using the code ILLAM25 will give 25% off your order.
Alternatively, you can buy these products from LOOKFANTASTIC which is also offering some amazing savings on Illamasqua in their Black Friday sales.
Have you tried any Illamasqua products? Which of these appeals to you most? Let me know down below!
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