Illamasqua Posture Lipstick ($24.00 for 0.14 oz.) is described as a “cool mauve.” It’s a cool-toned, gray-tinted lavender with a matte finish. MAC Nocturnal Instincts is pinker, not as cool-toned/gray. MAC Fresh Amour is more opaque, cooler-toned. MAC Lavender Whip is pinker. OCC Digitalis is also pinker. See comparison swatches here.

The good news is that this wasn’t nearly as dry as ESP! It has mostly opaque color payoff, and the color applied fairly evenly and smoothly. The consistency of the formula is a bit dry and stiff, so it will tug a bit at the lip, but it doesn’t drag or catch to the point where application is really difficult or the resulting coverage is patchy. The drier texture does cling somewhat to lips, but it didn’t actually seem drying over the five and a half hours it lasted on my lips. I didn’t see this listed on Sephora’s website, so I’m not sure if it will be launching at Sephora with the rest of the Paranomal collection or not, but it is available on Illamasqua’s website.

The Glossover

P	Posture B
	The texture was on the drying side in terms of feel, but it didn't dry out my lips when I wore it. It's an interesting color, so you may be more willing to work with this in exchange for the more unique coloring. I'd recommend lighting dabbing a balm on top or underneath to make it easier to wear and work with.
	Product 8/10 Pigmentation 9.5/10 Texture 7/10 Longevity 9/10 Application 4/5
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Illamasqua Posture Lipstick

Illamasqua Posture Lipstick

Illamasqua Posture Lipstick

Illamasqua Posture Lipstick

Illamasqua Posture Lipstick

Illamasqua Posture Lipstick

Illamasqua ESP Lipstick ($26.00 for 0.14 oz.) is described as a “vivid violet.” It’s a rich, violet purple with pink undertones and a matte finish. Nothing that I could think of seemed to come very close–this is very purple; not pink, not fuchsia, and then not ultra dark/vampy. OCC Belladonna was the closest, but it’s lighter. MAC Potent Fig and MAC Fervent are much darker, less violet. MAC Violetta and MAC Heroine are both much pinker. Illamasqua Kontrol is purpler, grayer, and quite a bit darker. See swatch comparisons here.

Though it’s a more unique color, and anyone who’s been on the hunt for a brightened purple will be tempted by ESP, the texture is very, very unforgiving. It’s incredibly dry, which made application problematic, wear uncomfortable, and the color looked dry and patchy applied. I would highly recommend laying down a smidgen of balm first–just enough to make everything smooth over better–and applying the color with a lip brush.It’s very easy to break the bullet because of how much pressure you exert just to swipe the lipstick across the lips (it tugs, drags, and pulls). It will come as no surprise but this is uncomfortable to wear, because it feels like it is clinging to the lips and is somewhat drying (but not as drying as it looks). The upside, I guess, is because it is clingy, whatever you do apply will last quite awhile (six hours for me).

The Glossover

P	ESP D+
	This was one of the driest, stiffest lipsticks I've used not -- not just drying or clingy but the consistency of the lipstick was hard to work with and apply.
	Product 5/10 Pigmentation 8.5/10 Texture 4/10 Longevity 10/10 Application 3/5
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Illamasqua ESP Lipstick

Illamasqua ESP Lipstick

Illamasqua ESP Lipstick

Illamasqua ESP Lipstick

Illamasqua ESP Lipstick

Illamasqua ESP Lipstick

This Will Draw You in Like a Magnet

Illamasqua Magnetism Lipstick ($22.00 for 0.14 oz.) is described as a “deep raspberry pink.” It’s a raspberry pink-red with a natural glossy sheen. NARS Afghan Red is softer, more of a sheen than a glossy finish. MAC Deliciously Forbidden is pinker. Hourglass Nocturnal is less intense. Guerlain Pour Troubler is redder.

The finish on Magnetism is a first for me, because I remember previous Illamasqua lipsticks I’ve tried as having a matte finish (or even an iridescent but still mostly matte finish). Magnetism has quite the sheen, and as a result, actually feels very unlike the brand’s formula overall. It has a much creamier, more glide-on consistency and feel that doesn’t tug or pull at all, and it’s comfortable and hydrating to wear.  It was really easy to apply the color, but it had a tendency to create lines if you pressed your lips together.  This shade wore five and a half hours and left behind a faint stain. The color coverage was opaque.

The Glossover

P	Magnetism A
	This was a surprising item from the collection (from what I've seen so far), because it had a slightly different texture. I think those who have avoided Illamasqua's lipstick range because of the more matte, drier texture, may find this one a breath of fresh air.
	Product 10/10 Pigmentation 10/10 Texture 9.5/10 Longevity 9.5/10 Application 4.5/5
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Illamasqua Magnetism Lipstick

Illamasqua Magnetism Lipstick

Illamasqua Magnetism Lipstick

Illamasqua Magnetism Lipstick

Illamasqua Magnetism Lipstick

Illamasqua Magnetism Lipstick

Illamasqua Apocalips Lipstick

Illamasqua Apocalips Lipstick (£15.50 for 0.14 oz.) is described as a “teal” with a matte finish. It’s an opaque blue-teal with a matte finish. It’s certainly not the shade you think of when you hear the word “everyday.” I’m sure it doesn’t come as much of a surprise when I say I don’t have anything quite like this. The closest would be Illamasqua’s Gender, which is a bluish lipgloss. I haven’t swatched or used it yet, but perhaps OCC’s Chlorophyll will be similar (but it looks more like a green-teal).

The formula is very dry, though it will slide over lips well enough to deposit opaque color without too much pulling or dragging (but there is some). The finish is entirely matte. It’s unscented, and there was no discernible taste when I tested it. Apocalips will wear and wear and wear–and it will stain, too. The stain is almost like frostbitten lips, to be honest! This shade wore for six hours with little fading, but because of the drier texture, you’ll want to ensure that you absolutely have perfect, moisturized lips prior to application. My lips felt a little dry after wearing this for six and a half hours. I wouldn’t describe the formula as drying, just dry, and naturally, lips without any hydration, will need some after several hours. My lips weren’t chapped or cracked, though–and that is how my lips react when a formula is truly drying.

The Glossover

P	Apocalips A-
	Bold, unconventional color that applies neatly, stays in place, and goes on entirely opaque (no streaking!)--wear it with confidence!
	Product 8.5/10 Pigmentation 10/10 Texture 8/10 Longevity 10/10 Application 4/5
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Illamasqua Apocalips Lipstick

Illamasqua Apocalips Lipstick

Illamasqua Apocalips Lipstick (Diffused Flash)

Illamasqua Apocalips Lipstick (Studio Lighting)

Illamasqua Apocalips Lipstick

Illamasqua Fall/Winter 2011: Kontrol Lipstick

Illamasqua Kontrol Lipstick ($22.00 for 0.14 oz.) is described as a “blue-violet” by Illamasqua, while Sephora lists it as a “matte deep lavender.” The texture of Kontrol is actually quite different from Illamasqua’s line of lipsticks–it’s very, very creamy. It’s not dry at all, and the reality is the finish isn’t exactly matte either. It’s has a noticeable shine though it wears off in an hour or so, and then it takes on a more satiny, semi-matte finish. I was utterly shocked by how creamy the consistency was! It glided on like butter with mostly opaque color coverage.

The color is a dark purple, which doesn’t read “blue violet” to me, though it’s not red-toned either. It’s more cool-toned than warm, especially as it brings out the yellow undertones in my skin. I felt like I had seen this color before, but I couldn’t think of anything and nothing matched in the Swatch Gallery. When it comes to lipstick, most purples lean red, so if you’ve always wanted something truer, this might be the one.

Illamasqua’s lipsticks wear well, usually four to six hours because of the drier, mostly matte formula, but some of the darker shades wear as long as eight hours before reapplication becomes necessary. Kontrol wore about five hours on me, but it was more comfortable to wear compared to other Illamasqua lipsticks. I don’t find the formula to be drying, but the lack of slip does decrease overall comfort a tad. The lipsticks are unscented and taste-free.

The Glossover

P	Kontrol A-
	This is a love it or hate it kind of color; some will love the artistic freedom and slant on it, others will know they'll never wear it. It's always nice to have choices!
	Product 9/10 Pigmentation 10/10 Texture 9/10 Longevity 9.5/10 Application 4/5
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Illamasqua Kontrol Lipstick

Illamasqua Kontrol Lipstick

Illamasqua Kontrol Lipstick

Illamasqua Kontrol Lipstick

Illamasqua Toxic Nature:  Flare Lipstick

Illamasqua Flare Lipstick (£15.50 for 0.14 oz.) is described as a “bright orange,” and it is new for spring/summer and part of the brand’s Toxic Nature collection, which should show up at Sephora in April. For now, though, it is available through Illamasqua directly.   It’s a vibrant, medium-dark orange–it’s almost neon but more like traffic cone orange.

And yes, that is a broken lipstick.  It arrived that way, with the entire bullet dislodged and stuck to the cap, and I used absolutely no finesse to maneuver out it would appear!  I haven’t had this issue with my other Illamasqua lipsticks, so I’m considering it a one-time deal and not a product defect.

my thoughts on the formula: Illamasqua’s Lipstick formula feels a little dry when applied, but let it warm up on your lips, because it really isn’t the drying kind. It does hug the lips, though, which makes it a much longer wearing lipstick (six hours or more).

The Glossover

P	Flare B+
	It's a nice bright orange with a near matte finish, and it has a tendency to pull the yellowness out in my natural skin tone.  I think this is an orange best suited for warmer complexions.
	Product 8.5/10 Pigmentation 10/10 Texture 8.5/10 Longevity 9.5/10 Application 3.5/5
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Illamasqua Flare Lipstick

Illamasqua Flare Lipstick

Illamasqua Flare Lipstick