YAY! For anyone who missed being able to purchase Illamasqua in the U.S., the brand will now be available at NET-A-PORTER. Currently, there is a limited selection of best sellers, such as Matte Veil, Hydra Veil, Lipsticks, Powder Blushers, Brushes, Lip Glosses, Precision Ink, Precision Gel Liner and Sculpting Powder Duo. According to Illamasqua, “We are thrilled to announce that Illamasqua is now available at Net-A-Porter”, said Samantha Ransom, General Manager North Americas. “We are looking forward to introducing our range, which includes uniquely innovative formulas developed by world class makeup artists in order to inspire a whole new customer base whom, like us are passionate about quality and fresh approaches.”  Hopefully we’ll see more products in the next few months!

HauteLook has Illamasqua this morning! I spied a ton of Nail Varnishes for $7.50 (normally $17). There were also lipsticks and lipglosses.

Illamasqua Exquisite Sheer Lipgloss ($24.00 for 0.20 fl. oz.) is described as a “pink oyster.” It’s a milky, warm-toned pink with an iridescent pink-to-peach sheen. Chanel Songe (191) (LE, $29.50) has a lesser duochrome that shifts to more of a green-ish-mauve. bareMinerals Heartbreaker (LE, $18.00) has no duochrome. Giorgio Armani #700 (P, $29.00) is lighter, less pink. Revlon Orchid (P, $7.49) is similar on but has no duochrome. Bobbi Brown Pink Gold (P, $24.00) is similar, less duochrome. Bobbi Brown Firefly (P, $24.00) is lighter. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

It looks more like a duochrome at times, but often, it just looks like a light pink. I always get excited for these types of glosses but find they have a very limited range of viewing/angles where it really looks as cool in person as it does swatched on your arm/hand (probably because you can really move and angle your arm/hand a lot more than your face!). It has a light-to-medium-weight consistency that feels creamy and comfortable to wear without being tacky. It had semi-sheer color coverage where the natural lip color is visible and will alter how this looks if you have more pigmented lips. It lasts for four and a half hours, and I never felt the shimmer while applying or as it wore away. It was lightly hydrating. The gloss is on the milkier side, so there is a little bit of settling, and if you press your lips together, it can create “lines” as the product moves around.

Again, it appears that Illamasqua is no longer available at any U.S. retailers, which means the only way to purchase their products is through their website. The press release I received for the Once… collection is for the US, and the pricing reflected what we saw in stores, but converting to “$ USD” on their website changes the price on this to $26.77 (but you will pay in £ at checkout). On non-polish and fragrance orders, shipping is free over £50.

See more photos & swatches!

Illamasqua Exquisite Sheer Lipgloss

Illamasqua Exquisite Sheer Lipgloss

Illamasqua Exquisite Sheer Lipgloss

Illamasqua Exquisite Sheer Lipgloss

Illamasqua Exquisite Sheer Lipgloss

Illamasqua Exquisite Sheer Lipgloss

Illamasqua Melange Nail Varnish ($17.00 for 0.50 fl. oz.) is described as a “golden teal [with a matte finish].” It’s a muted, medium-dark green with a hint of blue and gold and copper flecks of shimmer and sparkle. I thought it might be more a chameleon, but as I went from room to room (for different lighting), it was always a muted, dirty green to me. It had more of a satin finish where there was still some reflection, but it wasn’t glossy. I don’t know of any dupes for this shade really, but these were the closest I could think of: Zoya Stassi (P, $9.00) is much warmer, sheerer. China Glaze This is Tree-mendous (LE, $7.50) is more sparkly, sheerer. Cult Nails Grunge (P, $12.00) has less shimmer, lighter. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

It was fully opaque after two coats of polish, though it was pretty much opaque after one coat. The consistency was slightly thick, though it applied evenly and didn’t pool along the edges. It dried down quicker than the average polish. I normally get a full seven days with very minor tip wear with Illamasqua’s formula (I have worn some shades for as long as fourteen days).

It appears that Illamasqua is no longer available at any U.S. retailers, which means the only way to purchase their products is through their website. The press release I received for the Once… collection is for the US, and the pricing reflected what we saw in stores, but converting to “$ USD” on their website changes the polish to $23.53 (when I checked it). On top of that, nail lacquer is a restricted category for shipping, so to ship one polish is $24.34 (you can order up to 15 polishes, if you were doing some heavy-duty lacquer hauling). I’ve been such a huge fan of their Nail Varnish, so I’m sad to see it become harder to get (or justify).

See more photos & swatches!

Illamasqua Melange Nail Varnish

Illamasqua Melange Nail Varnish

Illamasqua Melange Nail Varnish

Illamasqua Melange Nail Varnish

Illamasqua Melange Nail Varnish

Illamasqua Melange Nail Varnish

Illamasqua Melange Nail Varnish

Illamasqua Melange Nail Varnish

The beauty of old and new endures with Once. Decadent & lavish, dabble with rich textures and autumnal, delicate colors, which are conveyed in this exquisite & harmonious fall collection.

“Once is the beauty of the burnished, eroded and erudite. A palette inspired by the gentle and exquisite point when a flower starts to fade and becomes impossibly beautiful in its complex decline. Combined with the subtle opulence of faded gilt layers that reveal themselves the more you blend and search. She is an incandescent moment, a poem alive and a light within a pallet of decaying decadence.” — Alex Box, Creative Director for Illamasqua

Vintage Metallic Eye Shadow ($25.50) (New, Permanent)

• Courtier Dusky rose
• Embellish Rich cocoa
• Bibelot Rustic golden teal

Sheer Lipgloss ($24.00)

• Exquisite Pink oyster (New, Permanent)
• Opulent Rainbow beige (Repromote)

Powder Blusher ($26.00)

• Naked Rose Soft neutral pink (Repromote)

Nail Varnish ($17.00) (New, Permanent)

• Melange Antique teal

Availability: Now at Illamasqua

See more photos!

Illamasqua Once… Collection for Fall 2014

Illamasqua Once… Collection for Fall 2014

Illamasqua Once… Collection for Fall 2014

Illamasqua Once… Collection for Fall 2014

Illamasqua Once… Collection for Fall 2014

Illamasqua Once… Collection for Fall 2014

Illamasqua Once… Collection for Fall 2014

Illamasqua Once… Collection for Fall 2014

Illamasqua Once… Collection for Fall 2014

Illamasqua Once… Collection for Fall 2014

Illamasqua Once… Collection for Fall 2014

Illamasqua Once… Collection for Fall 2014

Illamasqua Once… Collection for Fall 2014

Illamasqua Once… Collection for Fall 2014

Illamasqua Once… Collection for Fall 2014

I love a good highlighter, which I’m sure comes as no surprise to regular readers! Many of my favorites are limited edition, but I also have a few favorites that you can get year-round and never have to worry about running out of. Check ’em out:

1. NARS 413 BLKR — buildable, liquid highlighter
2. Kevyn Aucoin Candlelight — pale, golden beige
3. Becca Moonstone — a frosted golden champagne
4. theBalm Mary Lou-manizer — a shimmery gold
5. Illamasqua Aurora — a glimmering cream highlighter

>> See side-by-side swatches! <<

I’m often asked for recommendations for blushes, and I thought I’d put together an updated, three-part series on blushes for fair, medium, and dark skin tones (I’ve done this at least once before). I’d love for you to share your favorites for your skin tone as well The more suggestions, the better! (Keep in mind, this is only a jumping off point–five recommendations at various price points, finishes, and undertones, but there are certainly many more that would suit!)

1. NYX Flamingo — a cool-toned, matte pink
2. Illamasqua Peaked — a cool-toned, pink-plum
3. Tarina Tarantino Neopolitan Lane — a muted, rosy brown with a matte finish
4. Makeup Geek Spellbound — a soft, warm-toned pink with a satin finish
5. Make Up For Ever #310 — a medium, warm-toned pink

>> See side-by-side swatches! <<

Illamasqua Flirtatious Velvet Blusher ($32.00 for 0.18 oz.) is described as a “soft pink.” It’s a light-medium, peach-coral with warm undertones and a satin-matte finish. Makeup Geek Bliss (P, $9.99) is lighter, powder. Tom Ford Beauty Unabashed Blush (LE, $55.00) is powder. Sleek MakeUP Newport Peach (P) is pinker. NARS Final Cut (LE, $29.00) is brighter, powder. Make Up For Ever #215 HD Blush (P, $26.00) is very similar. Hourglass Diffused Heat (P, $35.00) is pinker, powder. bareMinerals Swoon (LE, $19.00) is powder. Fyrinnae Nordic Angel (P, $6.50) is darker, powder. MAC Immortal Flower (LE, $21.00) is lighter, powder. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

It had good color payoff, but as it is a light-medium color and I’m about medium in skin tone, the blush isn’t very visible on me. I think this would work much better on other skin tones. The texture is lightly creamy but dries down to a mostly matte, powder-like finish–there’s no tackiness after it sets (which is shortly after it is applied to the skin). It is difficult to overdo, as the formula is very forgiving and easily blended out for softer, sheerer color if desired. The formula was long-wearing and stayed on for eight and a half hours before starting to fade.

This is/was available at Bloomingdale’s, but it may only be available in-stores. It is available through Illamasqua’s website as well.

See more photos & swatches!

Illamasqua Flirtatious Velvet Blusher

Illamasqua Flirtatious Velvet Blusher

Illamasqua Flirtatious Velvet Blusher

Illamasqua Flirtatious Velvet Blusher

Illamasqua Flirtatious Velvet Blusher

Illamasqua Flirtatious Velvet Blusher