Celeb Spot in Cardiff

Bonnie Tyler, the 80s singing legend, paid the Debenhams Cardiff Illamasqua counter a visit last week! The singer of such classics as 'Total Eclipse of the Heart' and 'Holding out for a Hero' is show here with the Cardiff team and Mika from Selfridges London.

According to the team she was absolutely lovely and she picked up the Medium Pencil in 'Sophie'. the Pink Smoke Dystopia Palette and a bright Lipstick!

Whoosh! Femme Party At Shoreditch House

Shoreditch House - the one stop exclusive members club in East London that has a roof top pool, fabulous restaurant, Cowshed spa and bowling area [affectionately known as the biscuit tin] where on Sunday 17th January, Illamasqua National Make-up Artists Mika and Adam set up a station to create some funky looks at the party thrown by legendary DJ Jodie Harsh and cult diva [and host of Gay Bingo - one of the funniest nights I have ever attended] Johnny Woo.

Adam bought his alter ego Medusa out to play, with radical hair and full on gothic lip. Mika went for a gothic porcelain doll look with his staple navy blue lip. This, I am told, will be the Autumn Winter 2010 lip colour! You heard it here first!

I also grabbed a quick chat with Jodie who told me all about her fabulous wigs. Apparently, she only ever keep two at a time [I was surprised by this - I thought she would have a whole dressing room dedicated to them!] but they are imported from Las Vegas every few weeks!




The photos are courtesy of Kenny Campbell at KCTV.

Professional Selection Kit No1

Those of you who have visited our website recently will have seen our Professional Selection kits. The idea behind these was to work with several key Illamasqua make-up artists to create their idea of an indispensable kit. As our gift to you in the miserable month of January, the kits offer up to 25% off RRP.

Both Adam and Mika, who work at Selfridges London, have put together two kits each containing their favourite colours and tips on how to use them. To back this up, we are filming tutorials over the next few weeks that will then be uploaded to Youtube - I have Adam coming in this afternoon to film with me!

The first video to be uploaded uses the Professional Kit No1 and No3. These were created in collaboration with Spob, our Head of Professional Development at Illamasqua.

Find out new ways to use products like Cream Blusher in 'Libido' and Intense Lipgloss in 'Repulse'...

To watch it, click here.

Bah! Humbug! The Anti-Christmas Party With The Broken Hearts DJs

The Broken Hearts, a seriously cool DJ duo - described by Timeout magazine as "Turntable goddesses... guaranteed to pull out a plethora of delights from both the DJ crate and the dressing-up box" - hosted the Back to Ours: Bah! Humbug! Anti-christmas party at The Hospital Club in Covent Garden on Friday 11th December.

They are big fans of Illamasqua and asked us to come along and create some party looks on their guests, so Adam, Mika and Helen set up a make-up table complete with stencils and went colour crazy!

Alex Box [Creative Director] and Kate Massarella [Brand Director] also popped down for a lime daiquiri [or three] but I couldn't find any pictures of them... I think they were too busy propping up the bar!

Black heart motifs were painted on to everyone from the bar men, to the Broken Hearts themselves and almost all of the guests - who ranged from burlesque artists to club kids to media moguls - using Eye Liner Cake in 'Mislead' mixed with Sealing Gel for ultimate staying power.


On hand to take lots of snaps was the lovely Christopher James, founder of weknowwhastyoudidlastnight.com

The beautiful set was designed by Petra Stoors, the acclaimed set designer who has a client list that includes Alexander McQueen.




The black and white theme of the evening was only broken by the bright Intense Lipglosses - 'Besotted' and 'Indulge' were the most requested according to the artists.

It all got a messy at the end, a sure sign of a great night...

Thanks to The Broken Hearts girls, Christopher James, Ali at The Hospital Club, Petra Storrs and everyone else for a fantastic night!

Mika In iD...

The uber-cool magazine featured a double page spread of Selfridges Oxford St National Artist and Dystopia star Mika in December's edition...

Mika Comes to Cardiff!

Mika will be making a highly anticipated guest appearance on the Debenhams Cardiff counter on Thursday 19th, Friday 20th and Saturday 21st November.

If you would like to meet the Selfridges London National Make-up Artist, star of the Dystopia collection adverts and infamous mainstay of the London club scene, give the Debenhams Cardiff Illamasqua counter a ring on 02920342278.

I grabbed a quick word with Mika to find out more about the Dystopia photoshoot, his favourite products and his excitement about visiting Cardiff...

Hey Mika! How are you?

"Really well - looking forward to meeting the girls at the Cardiff counter tomorrow. They have all offered to take me out on the town and I haven't visited Cardiff before so it's all very exciting."

Your always out on the town! How do you think the Cardiff night-life will compare to London?

"You'll have to ask me when I'm back! I am currently running a weeky club called Vogue at Willa's in Mayfair. The theme of the night is always the current issue of Vogue - inspired by the photo shoots or the adverts running in the magazine, the night is an artistic melting pot of fashionistas, club kids, models, socialites and a variety of people from the fashion, beauty and art worlds."

I have been dying to ask you what the Dystopia photoshoot was like - it must have been fabulous!

"You were there?!"

For about half an hour! How long did your day last?!

"The call was 8am and when I got there, Alex Box was already in 6 inch heels, which she lasted on all day - what an icon! Even I can't manage that - the whole shoot, from start to finish was 13 hours. Alex created three looks on me and each took about two hours to complete. My favourite look is the black and white one, with the swirly face patterns. Alex did all of it in one go and I was amazed at how little post-production there was. I've always assumed that everything was airbrushed for weeks after the photo shoot, but I saw the final images a few days after the shoot. You can't airbrush art; you would lose the point of it."

Too right. So, what are your favourite products from the Dystopia collection?

"I adore the Pure Pigment in 'Android' - the dark, sultry shimmer is just such a versatile product. I love to layer it on top of Cream Eye Shadow in 'Debauch' or 'Entangle' or even the Concealer in '350' for a really gorgeous, but quick and easy, smoky eye.
I also love the False Lashes 21. They are stunning."


Will you be wearing them on the Cardiff counter?

"Perhaps, but I am currently rocking the Limited Edition Decadence lashes - the silver ones. At Halloween I put them in my eye brows for winged brows!"

You'll have to send me a photo. What has been your defining moment working for Illamasqua?

"That's a tough one! The past year has been absolutely amazing for me, both professionally and personally. I think that the crowning glory would be the advert that is going to run in next months iD magazine - a double page advert of the back-to-back image of me in the Dystopia ads. I am so excited to see that I can barely contain myself! I also loved that the Sunday Times Style featured a picture of me and of course the Dystopia shoot was just the best day ever."


Here is a photo of Mika and myself - we bumped into each other at Gay Pride in the Summer... his pout is substantially better than mine!


Book now for a lesson with Mika - £20 redeemable against purchases made on the day.

Alex Box by Rankin Book Signing

For all of you who couldn't come along - or who live in other countries! - here are some photos from the event yesterday.

Alex Box came to Selfridges Oxford St to sign copies of her critically acclaimed book Alex Box by Rankin.

Alex is rocking the green lips - is she on to something here?! - and a gorgeous green 80s jumpsuit.

The lovely Holly provided the canvas for Alex's extrovert creativity and was soon made up with a variety of Powder Eye Shadows, Pure Pigments, Powder Blushers and just about every other product on the Illamasqua counter, by the look of things!

She also signed copies of her beautiful new book.

Mika [star of the Dystopia collection] was also there and he is pictured here, modelling his new hair cut, with Aga.

Alex Box Book Signing 5th November

Alex Box will be at Selfridges Oxford St between 4 and 7pm on Thursday 5th November to exclusively sign copies of the Alex Box by Rankin book.

Alex and the artists will also be creating looks from the book.

I have also heard that Sharmadean Reid from Wah Nails salon in Shoreditch [the hot spot for creative nail art!] will be on the temporary site opposite the Illamasqua counter - the perfect excuse for an artistic beauty afternoon!

Did anyone else spot Mika [our lovely artist from Selfridges Oxford St and star of the Dystopia ads!] in the Sunday Times Style magazine last Sunday? In case you missed it, here is the clipping!

Alex Box Masterclass - Dare To Be Different: Part 2

Below are some images from the event that I couldn't fit on to the first post! Find yourself, if you attended!

The feed back from the event was phenomenal and I'd like to thank everyone for coming along and for all your comments and ideas on how we can make the next one even better. Fingers crossed we can roll this out among the other cities that we have counters in the future and that everyone gets to witness Alex Box at her most creative!










"I had an utterly wonderful evening and would like to thank Illamasqua for putting on such a spectacular event." [Helen from Helen and Sheenies Nice Things]


For reviews on the event click here, here and here.