Gabby Young's support for Japan!

British singer and icon Gabby Young was touched by the story of the Japanese earthquake of earlier this year and has dedicated a song to the relief efforts with with all proceeds going towards Japan. As a brand ambassador and huge fan of Illamasqua we thought we'd share a little more of her work with you...

Here's more from Gabby on her contributions...

Earlier this year British songstress Gabby Young visited Japan on her world tour,where she fell in love with both the country and its people who greeted with great warmth and hospitality.A few weeks later on the same tour she was performing at SXSW in America when she heard the dreadful news of the earthquake and tsunami.

 Feeling a need to help, she immediately started organising the recording of a 'Song for Japan', encouraging her friends and family from all over the world, both professional singers and amateurs, to record their own contributions. Culminating in a recording session once she returned to the UK, the final song, a reworking of the title track from Gabby's album 'We're all in this together', has now been finished, featuring the talents of Gabby Young, Stephen Ellis of Revere, Tallulah Rendall, Kate Sikora and Kai Altair.

The beautiful artwork was created by New York artist Katelan Van Foisy.

Available now on itunes - click here

Video trailer on Youtube - click here

Illamasqua's Professional team...

Our fabulous Professional team are always out visiting colleges, students, professionals and artists across the country, spreading the word of Illamasqua! We thought we would share a little of what they’ve been up to lately…

Graduate shows & colleges

As the colleges prepare to celebrate the undiscovered talent their courses boast, our professional team have been on hand to support them with make-up behind the scenes and sponsorship of their events!

From Southampton Solent to Bournemouth to Northbrook…check out a couple of the images from just some of the graduate shows they’ve been at recently

Next week they will be heading over to indulge in the West Thames final show to see the fabulous creations of the students there. For those of you who want to head down the show is on Wednesday 15^th June and tickets can be found here.

Illamasqua’s Pro Sales Associate Ross also joined the London College of Beauty for a student make-up competition earlier this month and had the pleasure of being a guest judge…

With more Graduate shows in the coming weeks from Leeds and the London College of Beauty, be sure to stay tuned to the Illamasqua blog for more stunning examples of the students work and inspiration.

Pro Kits

Illamasqua’s heritage lies with our dedication to professional artistry and products.

Our wonderful Professional team and artists have created a selection of great kits for aspiring and working artists within the industry, including kits comprising of the essentials to kits devoted to specific genres and looks.

For more information regarding these kits please contact Ross Andrewartha via ross.andrewartha@illamasqua.com

Illamasqua's transformations...

If your make-up bag is looking a little lack lustre and in need of an injection of Illamasqua, or if you’re looking for education & inspiration…visit one of Illamasqua’s counters now for a lesson!

At Illamasqua we appreciate that time is often of the essence and know that that last minute invite for the hottest club night or party is too good to turn down, and your desire to keep up with the latest colours & trends is what feeds your make-up thirst! Our fabulous make-up artists across the country at our Illamasqua counters & Flagship store in Soho are on hand to offer free, short make-ups in our express appointments!

These are also an exciting way to sample our latest collections or to ask for a little quick advice and some tips on application. Our express transformations are available for approximately 10-15 minutes and are the perfect opportunity to learn more about the Illamasqua collection.

Illamasqua’s fabulous original transformations are also available nationwide at our counters, designed to reveal and indulge your alter ego, whoever that may be!

 For £30 redeemable, one of our professional artists will offer you an indulgent start to finish, one on one transformation with advice, tips and application guidance, shade matching or that perfect night-time or full avant garde look of your choice. This cost is redeemable against pieces from Illamasqua, so bring in your make-up bags and explore the Illamasqua range.

Student & Professional registration days at the Beak Street Flagship Store – 6th June & 18th July

To celebrate the Distinction in Make-up Artistry Awards our fabulous flagship store in Beak Street, Soho will be hosting 2 sign-up professional and student sign-up days.

Visit the store on 6th June & 18th July to register as an Illamasqua professional or student member, and become eligible for the Illamasqua professional discount AND to enter the Distinction in Make-up Artistry Awards!

Our professional team will also be on hand to discuss your entries and talk through photos of your work or your portfolios, the format for the competition and any other queries you might have! Illamasqua’s Head of Professional and artist to the stars and blockbuster movies including Inception & The King’s Speech, Spob, will be there too to offer her experience and advice.

Illamasqua 'kick-started' Kat Sykes' career

If you are a student simply bring with you the details of your course, enrolment letters and certificates and anything else you might have from the course you are studying or have recently graduated from with a selection of examples of your work.

If you are a current professional please bring with you a copy of your CV, call sheet and your portfolio.

Click here for more details on the Illamasqua professional membership.

Professionals registering on the day will also receive 30% off in store to inspire those creative juices and draw out those alter egos in preparation for the biggest Awards in make-up art.....

For any further queries, please contact Ross Andrewartha at ross.andrewartha@illamasqua.com

When: 11am - 6pm 6th June & 18th July

Where: The Illamasqua Flagship Store, 20 Beak Street, London, W1f 9RE

Illamasqua Sponsors Southampton Solent University Graduate Show

Last night was a fantastic piece of fashionista fun - the annual Southampton Solent University fashion students graduate show.

It was a great night with some truly inspirational and professional work on show and the make-up and hair was wonderful, with the Hair and Make-up Styling students performing with great credit.

If you are inspired by the work, click here to visit the fashion page of Southampton Solent University. 

Don't forget - if you are a student - to enter our fantastic Distinction in Make-up Artistry Awards now that the deadline has been extended ...

I'll let the pictures do the talking ... but you can find many more at facebook.com/illamasqua!

A lead up to Australian Burlesque festival!

A lovely post from Sydney based blogger Sara-May on the fabulous Burlesque activity on our Sydney counter…

Last Thursday the 26^th of May, the Illamasqua counter at Myer Sydney City was the place to be! Illamasqua is the major sponsor of the Australian Burlesque Festival and our Sydney Counter hosted a special performance by the doyenne of Australian Burlesque, Sapphira, along with her cohort, Dolores Daquiri.

I have a bit of a fetish for Burlesque, so I wasn’t going to miss this for the world!

Dolores Daquiri being transformed by Illamasqua Make-up Artist Adam

I arrived to see the very talented Illamasqua artists hard at work, transforming these lovely ladies into goddesses of the stage. Perfect winged eyeliner, flawless red lips, this was pin up girl make-up, Illamasqua-style.

Sapphira being transformed by Illamasqua’s Frances

Dolores Daquiri reflected on the Illamasqua counter…

And here is Dolores again having her lashes applied.

Of course, as you can imagine, 2 showgirls in full costume having their make-up done drew quite a crowd! Some, like me, had come specifically for the show, others I am sure were simply curious.

Once their make-up was done, we were treated to a short performance by Sapphira, followed by the opportunity to chat with both dancers.

It was fabulous fun, and if the Sydney workshops had not been booked out, I would definitely have signed up for some! If you are in another Australian state, make sure you check the website at http://australianburlesquefest.com for more details about the festival!

  

Thank you to Sara-May for the story.

Illamasqua team up with Southampton Solent University to support their final show

Southampton Solent University are hosting their London graduate fashion show at the Free Range Fashion Event tomorrow, presenting the very best in fashion, hair and make-up artistry.

Location: The Boiler House, Old Truman Brewery, 91 Brick Lane

Doors open from 7.00pm.

The fabulous Southampton Solent team had this to say about the show…

“Guests will have the opportunity to view a live fashion shoot, styled and shot by Solent students, followed by the catwalk show at 8.00pm.

Graduating Fashion students will be presenting collections utilising a range of fabric types and incorporating diverse themes from wearable architecture – using riveted metal and wood – to collections inspired by abstract expressionism and the destructive power of water.”

“We will be showcasing work from the various fashion degrees available at Solent – including Fashion, Fashion Styling and Fashion with Photography.” Southampton Solent University

Illamasqua, as the official sponsor for the evening will be providing the make-up backstage for their final show and our team will also be creating demos and inspirations around the venue for your enjoyment.

We will have all of the amazing snaps from the show and a breakdown of the looks for you next week so stay tuned!

Tulips & Pansies...

Illamasqua took New York by storm at the Tulips & Pansies event last Thursday 19th May at Gotham Hall. Our Senior US make-up artist and US brand ambassador Andrea Helgadottir headed up a team of 6 artists who created looks on 18 models.

Each look varied according to the floral design and outfit that was being worn, from looks inspired by Marie Antoinette and Elizabeth Taylor in Cleopatra to a trannie punk dominatrix with a floral whip in hand!

 As well as being a night of fashion and glamour, Tulips & Pansies is also an inspiring event which raises funds for VillageCare. The event pairs established and up-and-coming fashion designers with creative counterparts in the floral industry. Together they design and create outrageous and elegant floral headdresses. 

The inspirations and creations are diverse, but the designers share a passion for the cause. Whether it’s Diane von Furstenberg’s Vietnamese Sun Hat or Ashleigh Verrier’s Bonnie & Clyde duo, the designs play into the high fashion and fun atmosphere of the evening while bringing media and public awareness to the plight of the still growing HIV/AIDS community in New York.

After the ‘Easter Parade meets Catwalk Show’ took place and prizes were given to the designers for producing the best looks that evening, guests moved into our Transformation Area along with the host of the evening, Ariana Rockefeller, who had her make up done by one of our artists. One particular Broadway and TV actress told us she was a huge fan of all of our products in particular our Lipstick in Box.

Thank you to Andrea and the team for creating such fantastic looks!

CULT Products

What a busy week its been - happy Friday everyone! I have spent the past few weeks researching our entire product line to come up with the Top Ten cult products - these are based on beauty editor loves, editorial, bloggers, forums, ratings on Sephora.com, sales online, sales on counter and google hits ... and here we have the official Top Ten Cult products from Illamasqua!

Lipstick in 'Box'

"I am so ridiculously in love. I've drank tea, ate my lunch, yappered away and it's still going strong. This Lipstick has some serious staying power which I am veru much impressed with. It's a fabulous matte and is a lovely deep scarlet" - hellcandy.com

Liquid Metal in 'Surge'

"I adore this colour, it's very unique ... paired with a green it looks like a beautiful olive-metal colour. With brown it looks more golden and with silvers, grey and blacks... versatility!" - ai-rori.blogspot.com

Cream Blusher in 'Dixie'

I love it! This could genuinely be my Holy Grail  blusher! The pigment is amazing ... it blends and builds beautifully, stays in place throughout the day/night and best of all - remains dewy on your skin! A rarity, even amongst the best of them!" - makeuptomakeout.com

Sealing Gel

"Instead of dunking your brush in water, dunk it in this genius little bottle of gel and it turns any of your eye shadows into a waterproof liquid liner. Genius. And for £10.50 for two bottles, this isn't a want - it's a NEED." - thebeautystop.com

Pure Pigment in 'Ore'

"This is one of those products that shocks and awes the minute you swatch it. Ore is a medium-dark metallic bronze with soft red undertones, multicoloured shimmer, and a dazzling sheen ... so luxe and full of depth it really needs to be seen to be believed." - temptalia.com

Nail Varnish in 'Collide'

"It's hard to capture how incredibly bright and glowing this colour is. I'd describe it as a neon pink without any blue undetones ... this nail polish is hot, hot, HOT! Love it for Summer. Love Illamasqua polishes." - misschievous.tv

Powder Blusher in 'Hussy'

It's a gorgeous matte coral pink that is super-pigmented. REALLY super-pigmented ... the finely milled matte powder blends seamlessly and melts in to the skin. [It] looks incredibly natural and lasts all day. By far, Illamasqua Hussy is the best blush I own. Yup - I said it. Best blush ever!" - beauty-reflections.com

Highlighter Brush

"The brush hairs are synthetic and extremely soft - softer than any other natural-haired brush I've owned ... This brush is the perfect size for placing a highlighter on your face, doesn't shed, and picks up the right amount of product." - allurabeauty.com

Satin Primer

"Everything is different with this primer ... The skin looks healthy and feels moisturized. It gives the most amazing dewy finish which looks super sexy! This is my must have! It's the kind of product that you can't live without once you try it." - makeup4all.com

Bronzing Duo

"The colours have some shimmer to them, but not in an over the top way. It makes your face gleam, rather than shine. The darker colour is perfect for contouring, it's not too shiny for it. And the lighter colour gives a beautiful glow to the face." - makeup-and-macaroons.blogspot.com

Plus, spend £80 at Illamasqua.com and receive one CULT product completely free [saving up to £23.50], so you can see what all the fuss is about! Simply pick your favourite item, add it to your basket and enter promo code "cult80" at the Edit Your Basket stage before 9am GMT Friday 3rd June.