Illamasqua Shoot Intense Lipgloss (£14.00 for 0.20 fl. oz.) is described as a “leaf green.” It’s a brightened, medium grass green with warm, yellowy undertones and a creamy finish. It will surprise absolutely no one that I don’t have a laundry list of dupes for this shade. That, in fact, I have none to recommend to you. OCC’s Chlorophyll is much more of a teal shade. (And their newer Power Plant shade is more teal as well.)

Shoot is a high-maintenance color, because it’s in gloss form, it has a lot of slip and will move around a lot. I found this particularly problematic in maintaining and achieving opaque color throughout. It just looked uneven more often than not. To get really opaque color, you have to apply a fair amount of product, but with that much on, it is somewhat uncomfortable–just has a thick, heavy kind of feel. Luckily, it is non-sticky, so it doesn’t feel gummy, even with more product applied. I tried applying it from the tube with its brush-type applicator as well as with a separate lip brush. The results seen in photos are used with a separate lip brush, which gave me the best results but not great results.  It lasts well for four hours, and there is still a noticeable green tinge to my lips for another hour or so after.  It had a sweet, fruity scent.  I’m still noticing that every tube I’ve received of Illamasqua’s Intense Lipgloss with the brush applicator has had significantly splayed bristles.

The Glossover

	Shoot B-
	It's not an easy to use shade; the color doesn't want to stay opaque and ends up looking streaky and uneven for the majority of the time it is worn. It's an interesting, unique color for lipgloss, which is really the best thing about.
	Product 7.5/10 Pigmentation 8.5/10 Texture 8.5/10 Longevity 8.5/10 Application 3/5
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Illamasqua Shoot Intense Lipgloss

Illamasqua Shoot Intense Lipgloss

Illamasqua Shoot Intense Lipgloss

Illamasqua Shoot Intense Lipgloss

Illamasqua Shoot Intense Lipgloss

Illamasqua Shoot Intense Lipgloss

A Gold Lipgloss for the Season

Illamasqua Stranger Intense Lipgloss ($22.00 for 0.20 oz.) is described as a “metallic gold.” It’s a dirty, antique gold with a green-ish tinge and warmer, bronzy gold shimmer. It’s probably a shock to no one that I don’t have a laundry list of dupes for this shade–in fact, I couldn’t think of anything all that similar. MAC Liquid Lurex had a similar coloring in the tube, but it’s very sheer and glittery. OCC Triptych is warm, yellow-y gold. It’s different, and it’s certainly not a shade for everyone, but I’m really glad I picked it up. I think you can lightly dab it over various lipsticks/glosses to add a metallic shimmer if wearing it on its own isn’t your style.

It has mostly opaque color coverage, and the color applied evenly overall.  The Intense Lipgloss formula is designed to give rich color with a high shine finish.  It’s supposed to have a non-sticky texture, and there was no tack in the gloss to speak of.  It delivered a lot of color (and a ton of shimmer), and the finish was a bit glossy but very metallic.  Stranger lasted five hours on me, which is longer than average for a gloss. While worn, it was neither drying nor hydrating. The only downside is that ever since Illamasqua switched to brush-type applicator, nearly all of mine have had wonky, splayed brushes.

The Glossover

	Stranger A-
	For those who longed for a metallic, antique gold lip color, Illamasqua has your number. If you want to make it more wearable, mix it with your favorite red gloss or pat it lightly over a red lipstick.
	Product 9/10 Pigmentation 9.5/10 Texture 9.5/10 Longevity 9/10 Application 4.5/5
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Illamasqua Stranger Intense Lipgloss

Illamasqua Stranger Intense Lipgloss

Illamasqua Stranger Intense Lipgloss

Illamasqua Stranger Intense Lipgloss

Illamasqua Stranger Intense Lipgloss

Illamasqua Stranger Intense Lipgloss

Dress Your Lips in Opulence

Illamasqua Opulent Intense Lipgloss ($20.00 for 0.20 fl. oz.) is described as a “rainbow beige.” It’s a golden-beige with multi-colored shimmer (almost holographic but not quite) that reads mostly champagne, gold, copper, and pink once applied. NARS Albatross looks a bit lighter on the lips. MAC Bubble Lounge is lighter, less beige. MAC Luxure has a similar sparkle but is more silvered.

Now, the tube I have (which is a sample) indicates this is a Sheer Lipgloss, but online, Illamasqua has it listed as an Intense Lipgloss and again on their Facebook (when they posted promos)–so I’m going to go off of their websites. Intense Lipglosses are supposed to be rich in color, non-sticky, and have a high-shine finish.  The color coverage is semi-sheer to semi-opaque; there’s noticeable sheerness in the color, but there is enough sparkle that it still delivers a noticeable change in lip color. I didn’t initially feel the glitter/sparkle, but after a half hour, there was a definite grittiness and I could feel the edges of the sparkles.  Opulent wore for four hours, which was good and consistent with most glosses. The texture was non-sticky, and the finish had plenty of glossy shine.

With Generation Q, I noticed that Illamasqua has changed the packaging on their lipglosses. They used to be slanted, squeeze-tubes, but now they’re clear plastic with a black screw-top that twists and reveals a brush-type applicator. Both of the glosses I receive with this type of applicator had several splayed bristles, which made application more difficult. The bristles could be a little softer, as they seemed to be a touch scratchy against the lips as well as created some brush strokes. I’m not sure if I just happened to get two exceptionally messed-up brushes or if a lot of them are going to be that way. For now, we’ll assume that because these were samples, they were an early run, and perhaps not pristine, but I don’t think the applicator is ideal for this gloss formula–a regular doe-foot would be easier to maneuver around the lips and be less likely to cause visible brush strokes. I also detected a fruity scent.

The Glossover

	Illamasqua Opulent Intense Lipgloss Review, Photos, Swatches B
	This product works well for layering, and on its own, it's okay, but I think it lacks the opacity as described for the Intense Lipgloss formula, so it's a bit of a let-down. I don't like the grittiness that develops.
	Product 9/10 Pigmentation 7.5/10 Texture 9/10 Longevity 8.5/10 Application 4/5
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Illamasqua Opulent Intense Lipgloss

Illamasqua Opulent Intense Lipgloss

Illamasqua Opulent Intense Lipgloss

Illamasqua Opulent Intense Lipgloss

Illamasqua Opulent Intense Lipgloss

Illamasqua Opulent Intense Lipgloss

Get a Boost of Rich Color for Fall

Illamasqua Boost Intense Lipgloss ($20.00 for 0.20 fl. oz.) is described as a “blueberry violet.” It’s a cool-toned, blue-based magenta pink with violet-fuchsia iridescent shimmer. I couldn’t think of a great dupe for this; lipsticks that may have been somewhat similar in color lacked the shimmer/sheen, which is such a noticeable characteristic of this gloss that they didn’t look alike at all. MAC Style Packed is pinker with no iridescence. LORAC Cliche has some iridescence, but it’s pinker and so much sheerer. Benefit Wild Child also had an iridescent shimmer, but it was sheerer and lighter.

Illamasqua’s Intense Lipgloss formula is supposed to deliver high-shine, rich color, and be non-sticky. Boost is mostly opaque, though there’s a little translucence that lets my natural lip color peek through. It’s very pigmented for a gloss overall, but it’s not as opaque as other shades in the range are. It does have an extremely glossy sheen, though, and the sheen lasts quite awhile. I wore this, and it lasted for five hours with the glossiness being pretty high-shine for three and a half of those hours. The color didn’t apply quite as evenly as it should have, though it’s one of those colors (because there doesn’t seem to be a lot on the market that is similar to it) that may make it worth the extra energy to apply. It’s not too heavy, feels comfortable on lips, and has a non-sticky texture–it feels very slick on lips.

With Generation Q, I noticed that Illamasqua has changed the packaging on their lipglosses. They used to be slanted, squeeze-tubes, but now they’re clear plastic with a black screw-top that twists and reveals a brush-type applicator. Both of the glosses I receive with this type of applicator had several splayed bristles, which made application more difficult. The bristles could be a little softer, as they seemed to be a touch scratchy against the lips as well as created some brush strokes. I’m not sure if I just happened to get two exceptionally messed-up brushes or if a lot of them are going to be that way. For now, we’ll assume that because these were samples, they were an early run, and perhaps not pristine, but I don’t think the applicator is ideal for this gloss formula–a regular doe-foot would be easier to maneuver around the lips and be less likely to cause visible brush strokes. I also detected a fruity scent.

The Glossover

	Boost A-
	It could be a little more pigmented (to be true-to-description and in line with the rest of the range), but otherwise the formula is good. The new applicator/packaging could use some improvement, and I'm not certain how wide-spread the splayed bristles will be.
	Product 9/10 Pigmentation 9/10 Texture 9.5/10 Longevity 9.5/10 Application 4/5
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Illamasqua Boost Intense Lipgloss

Illamasqua Boost Intense Lipgloss

Illamasqua Boost Intense Lipgloss

Illamasqua Boost Intense Lipgloss

Illamasqua Boost Intense Lipgloss

Illamasqua Boost Intense Lipgloss

Illamasqua Theatre of the Nameless: Facade Intense Lipgloss

Illamasqua Facade Intense Lipgloss ($20.00 for 0.20 fl. oz.) is described as a “taupe beige.” It’s a medium-dark taupe–it’s a mix of beige, gray, and brown–with a cream finish. The glossiness of traditional gloss is very apparent, but it’s opaque in color like you’d expect from a full coverage lipstick. Like many Illamasqua colors, it’s not your typical “nude,” but it can work as such.  When I was trying to think of a dupe for it, nothing was coming to mind–not a gloss or a lipstick; MAC Our Pick was the closest, but it’s warmer.

In my experience, Illamasqua’s Intense Lipgloss is opaque, long-wearing, non-sticky, and scent- and taste-free. Facade doesn’t last as long as a lot of the other shades I’ve tried within the range, but it does last four hours (and it’s not marketed as a long-wearing gloss).

The Glossover

	Façade A
	It's a different color, but I think it's workable--especially on cooler skin tones. Against my warmer skin tone, it's not too flattering, but with a really heavy, smoky eye, I think it might work. I love the color coverage!
	Product 10/10 Pigmentation 10/10 Texture 10/10 Longevity 9/10 Application 4/5
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Illamasqua Facade Intense Lipgloss

Illamasqua Facade Intense Lipgloss

Illamasqua Facade Intense Lipgloss

Illamasqua Facade Intense Lipgloss (apologies–I’m not wearing foundation!)

Illamasqua Theatre of the Nameless: Belladonna Intense Lipgloss

Illamasqua Belladonna Intense Lipgloss ($20.00 for 0.20 fl. oz.) is described as a “vibrant magenta.” It’s a vibrant, medium-dark fuchsia pink with a creamy finish and glossy shine. It has full color coverage and goes on evenly with little fuss. MAC Full Speed Ahead is similar in color, slightly brighter and bluer-based.

Illamasqua’s Intense Lipgloss formula is one of my favorites, especially when you’re hunting for an opaque gloss. It delivers shine but full color coverage without feathering or bleeding. I typically get really good wear, too; when I sported Belladonna on its own, it wore for a full six hours and lasted until eight hours where I felt I needed to reapply. The glossiness fades quicker (mostly gone by the third hour), but the color lingers for much longer. It’s non-sticky, too, and I couldn’t detect any scent or taste.

The Glossover

	Belladonna A
	Loving the addition of a deeper pink that's still vibrant but not totally in-your-face to Illamasqua's Intense Lipgloss line-up! Full color coverage, six hour wear, and not drying for even a moment makes this formula a favorite.
	Product 10/10 Pigmentation 10/10 Texture 10/10 Longevity 10/10 Application 4/5
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Illamasqua Belladonna Intense Lipgloss

Illamasqua Belladonna Intense Lipgloss

Illamasqua Belladonna Intense Lipgloss

Illamasqua Belladonna Intense Lipgloss