New York Fashion Week Beauty Looks Part 1

Oh my goodness, is style.com just the best website ever for fashion?! All the looks get uploaded so quickly it's unbelievable! Anyway, I stumbled across the Doo.Ri show, who I have never heard of before, but this dress has my name written all over it. Actually, if that was true, my bank manager would chase me out the country... but I'm smitten all the same.

I love the make-up, too. Chiselled cheekbones give a nod to the trend of everything 80s and the purple lips give it a very cool, individual twist.

I'm not a big fan of winter - no more throwing-on-a-sundress and sunglasses moments, we now have to *gasp* layer...! - and I hate the rainy days and leaving my house in the morning [and it's dark] and leaving the office at night [and it's dark] and having to take an umbrella on nights out... you get my drift. However, the one thing I love about this season? More excuses to turn the make-up a notch! Dark, thick brows and smoky gothic colours are what winter is all about.

I would use Lipstick in 'Fetish' for this look and for the gorgeous, statement brows I would try mixing a drop of Sealing Gel with Eyebrow Cake in 'Vehement'.

Update on Swatches on The Website

I know we have come under some critiscism for the swatches on our website. As reported a few weeks back, we are working on this! We don't have a set date when the new look swatches will be ready, but I will keep you informed on this however I think we are on track for November. They are looking really good and thanks to everyone for your patience!

Nail Art Competition: Update

We have been receiving a lot of unexpected feedback from members of the nail community in regards to the winner of our Nail Art Competition that was announced yesterday.

We set the competition up to encourage creativity and judged the competition purely on the nail art itself and not on the individual entrants. We had no idea that our decision would cause any offense and we were completely unaware of any issues such as this within the nail community.

Your opinions and thoughts are extremely important to us and after consulting with some top forum figures, we have decided to award the two runners up [Helen and Loungie] with the first prize.

Nail Art Competition : WINNERS!

The Runner's up [and winners of three Nail Varnishes from our core range] are...

Helen's Wonder Woman Alter Ego

This was such an unexpected and unique entry. Well done Helen! Helen also has an absolute must-read blog. Click here to check it out.


LoungiesPunk Rock Alter Ego

Such an imaginative use of self expression [and use of props!] and beautiful application has resulted in this absolutely wonderful entry.


And the winner is...

OriginalWacky's Naughty/Nice Alter Ego

Sophy and I just fell in love with this entry - the contrasting colours, the creative theme and the explanation in to how this look was obtained and the inspirations behind it meant that this is a very worthy winner. Originalwacky has won both of the new Nail Varnishes from the Dystopia collection and two Nail Varnishes of her choice from the core range.

Thanks to everyone for entering and if the winners can contact me at info@illamasqua.com to let me know what products they would like, I can get those sent out to you! Thanks also to Sophy Robson for judging the competition - it was great fun!

Ask An Artist: Porcelain Doll

The Porcelain Doll look is an iconic image now. We have had several questions as to how to recreate this look at home and so I asked Jon from Selfridges Trafford for his expert advice...

Jon: Start by applying Satin Primer all over the skin with the Foundation Brush to get a smooth, even and glowing finish. Then apply Cream Foundation in 100 or 110, depending on your skin tone and how porcelain you want to go! I find that using the Highlighter Brush to buff this product in gives the most flawless finish. Stipple the foundation over the brows to fade them out to fully replicate this look - the focus is on the lashes, not the brows. [nb: Alex Box likes to use soap and a toothbrush to press the eye shadow hairs against the skin to help them merge away!]

For the cheeks, apply Powder Blusher in 'Chased' under the cheekbones to faintly sculpt and work it up towards the temples, blending in to the hairline.

For the eyes, apply Powder Eye Shadow in 'Vision' all over the lid, then take the Powder Eye Shadow in 'Forgiveness' and apply all over the mobile lid and along the lower lash line. Apply Powder Eye Shadow in 'Wicked' to the inner and outer corners of the eye and along the lower lash line. Line the inner rims with Medium Pencil in 'Hex' for a natural colour that will make the whites of the eyes 'pop' - essential when using red and purple toned eye colours that can make eyes look a little bloodshot.

Take the False Eye Lashes '10' and apply several sets along the lower lash line for added impact. Heavily coat the top lashes with Volume Mascara in 'Harness'.

For the lips, line with Medium Pencil in 'Severe' and apply Sheer Lipgloss in 'Brilliant' for a glossy finish.



To book a lesson with Jon, call the Selfridges Trafford counter on 0161 629 1187

Illamasqua To The Bullring!

I'm thrilled to officially announce that Illamasqua will be launching in the Birmingham Selfridges in November!

I have had many requests from Midlands dwellers eager for some Illamasqua! Well now you do not have to journey to London/ Trafford/ Cardiff for a counter as the Bullring in Birmingham will soon be home to a brand new Illamasqua counter.

We are currently recruiting for freelance, full time and counter managers for Birmingham so if you want to join the Illamasqua revolution, send your CV to maurice.mcdonagh@illamasqua.com or apply through the website here.

I will bring you more details as they come through to me!

London Fashion Week is A-Coming...

London Fashion Week is coming and this is the first time we have dipped our toe in! The House of Blue Eyes is a show that promises to be wacky, fun and totally individual, so we just had to get involved with this.

Today I had a meeting with Johnny [the brilliantly extrovert stylist and founder of House of Blue Eyes] and Alex Box to discuss looks for the show. We didn't have a model, so yours truly got to sit down and have Alex create a look that will reference the ambience and theatrical splendour of the outfits that will be paraded on Friday night.

I can't give much away [obv!] but be prepared for a full report [and a pic of me in the test shoot make-up!] next week. Last year, Johnny persuaded Kate Moss, Beth Ditto and Alice Dellal to walk for him, so who knows who will be stalking the catwalk this time around...

Check out Johnny's work at http://www.houseofblueeyes.com/collections

Nail Art Competition: Finalists

Hi Everyone! Hope you had a nice weekend! I'm in a great mood today as it is nearly London Fashion Week and I'm really excited to see what all the designers are up to for Spring Summer 2010 - which means the noughties are nearly over! ['noughties' still sounds weird doesn't it...]

Sophy Robson popped in last week and we went through all of the Nail Art Competition entries to pick out some winners. Thanks to everyone - it was very difficult to pick our finalists, but we have and here they are...

First up is Sasa, who has entered this fabulous corsetry entry. She says "I just LOVE corsets. They look and feel so good. I guess I was a victorian lolita in my previous life." Sophy thought this look was very inspired and well executed. I think a victorian lolita is a great alter ego!


Next we have the hungry asian's entry. Sophy loved this because "pointed nails are where it's at for this season." I think the design is beautiful. "I call this the stiletto optical illusion. I am a quiet and shy person. I am the epitome of fufu girly: pink, bows, anything pastel, cute puppies, you name it. I don't like to wear dark eye makeup (maybe I don't know how to put it on, yeah!), I usually wear jeans and a t-shirt. My alter ego would be bold, loud and striking! She would wear 6 inch stilettos and a mini skirt." Sounds fab.

I really loved this entry from Myriam - beautiful colour combination and texture blend. I think the image that inspired it is also lovely.

Next we have Helen's entry from the fabulous nail blog helensheenie.wordpress. Helen says, "By day, your average office worker. By night – Wonderwoman!" Sophy and I loved the inspiration behind it and Sophy was very impressed with the execution - it was all done freehand! Fabulous design, Helen.

Following on from Wonderwoman, we have Punk Rock girl! "Sleeping all day, drinking all night, spitting on the floor and making loud and wild music." That is Polish Lounge's Punk Rock alter ego. Loungie gave us three entries, but we loved this one the most. Sophy thought it was very inspired and original and I just love tartan!

Next we have Happyberrynaiad's pole dancing alter ego entry! This is just beautifully executed and we loved the representational ideas behind it all. "The black line down te middle represents the beloved pole. I've tried to indicate movement by 'drawing out' some of the black. The red and white lines depict the dancer's movements. The dots are the audience." I think it looks quite japanese inspired. Very pretty.


Sophy adored this next entry from Chinda-Chan as she is a big cappucino fan! I was really inspired by the texture of this design and the unusual colour combinations to create the cappucino look! Chinda-Chan tells us: "I'm inspired by Coffee because I would not make one day without!". I hear that!

Next up we have this Naughty/Nice entry from original wacky. I was really excited by this entry as the nails were different on each hand yet the execution was spot-on. Sophy loved the inspiration, the style and the mixture of textures and colours. "By day, I am a nice person, who enjoys spending time with family, and volunteering for an animal rescue. By night, I'd like to think I turn into a hedonistic woman who demands fun at all costs." Sounds like my kinda woman!

We both also agreed that Lacquerlaine's Gunslinger had the perfect mix of humour and uniqueness. We were also suprised to see that this was one of only a small number of entries that utilised matt polish, which I thought was meant to be TNBT [the next big thing...] in the nail world! I also love her take on the Illamasqua Alter Ego poem that she put on to her blog:

My Alter Ego is the person I want to become.
She is a braver, gunslinging version of me.
She doesn't hold back.
She loads, cocks and fires.

We both also loved the textural mix of Holly's entry. The gorgeous matt black swirl over the glitter base looked beautiful. Holly tells us how she unleashed her inner Van Gogh, " was thinking about the famous painting "Starry Starry Night" when I created this design." Sophy and I both thought it extremely artistic!

Thanks to everyone who entered, we really appreciate saying all your work! We will host another competition before Christmas.

The finalists will be posted this coming Thursday 17th September!

Illamasqua Loves... Nights Out!

The perfect Saturday Night outfit [or Thursday, or Friday...] is something that we are all eternally looking for, right? Well, I think I may have found mine. Alexander Wang, not only do you have a great name, but you are a genius with material.

This gorgeous grape dress will perfectly compliment all my new Dystopia products and give it a real 80s twist.

I am adoring this little number. Pair with Lanvins gorgeous black shoeboots and add a gorgeous cuff [loving this Anita Ko diamond encrusted piece].

Then all you need is False Eye Lashes in 13 for fluttering lashes and a slick of Intense Lipgloss in 'Petulant' mixed with Intense Lipgloss in 'Galactic' and your good to go! See you on Monday!

All available to buy at www.net-a-porter.com

Rich Foundation Tutorial

This is a great link to the Gossmakeupartist blog - a brilliant demonstration on how to use the Rich Liquid Foundation to get the best out of it.


To summarise:

It can be used neat or mixed with moisturiser/ Primer. As Goss mentions, a little goes a long way so mix about one part Foundation to three parts moisturiser for suitable daytime coverage.

Buffing it in with a brush [our Highlighter Brush is my fave for this] will create a flawless look.

The Foundation will last a very long time, due to the consistency and thickness of the formula meaning you only need to use a little of the product.

Enjoy and thanks Goss!