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Illamasqua Flare Lipstick Review, Photos, Swatches

Illamasqua Flare Lipstick
Illamasqua Flare 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).

Flare

PPermanent. $24.00.
B+
B+
8.5
Product
10
Pigmentation
8.5
Texture
9.5
Longevity
3.5
Application
89%
Total

Illamasqua Flare Lipstick
Illamasqua Flare Lipstick

Illamasqua Flare Lipstick
Illamasqua Flare Lipstick

Illamasqua Flare Lipstick
Illamasqua Flare Lipstick

52 Comments

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Samantha Avatar

“It arrived that way, with the entire bullet dislodged and stuck to the cat”

I sure hope there were no cats involved, this isn’t a Paul and Joe lipstick lol.

Sam Avatar

That is strange. I don’t own nearly as many as you do, but I have also heard many other people complain about the lipsticks breaking. It is a shame, because their matte lipsticks are great. And I hate having to get the product out of the tube with a lip brush. And it is strange that the matte shades tend to break more, because mattes are usually very dense, and not prone to breaking easily.

ak Avatar

I have five Illamasqua lipsticks now, and they all look fine except for my Sangers one that LOOKS like it’s about to break in the tube or like it almost got broken even though there is not a crack in it…at the moment.

Karyn Avatar

I would consider this a product defect. For the cost and the amount of complaints, I think this is inexcusable. I just purchased a tube, heated the end (too much perhaps), and the entire bullet collapsed and looks like a squishy mess. I feel I should not have to fix brand new makeup. Mine is going back to Sephora.

Sarah B. Avatar

I am afraid this is not a one time problem.
My Sanger came slighlty dislodged as well and it has a lot of bump marks from wearing now… Maybe the lipsticks are too soft and they are not packing to well.

Lucie Avatar

So beautiful! Would you say that this is more opaque than Morange? Morange doesn’t cover my natural lip colour all the way and pulls really yellow. :/ Is this a truer orange shade?

Lizzie Avatar

Unfortunately I had the same problem with an Illamasqua lipstick that I ordered. I was so bummed because I’ve read so much about the product line that I placed a big order through Sephora and 2 of my lipsticks arrived dislodged and touching the cap. Returned the whole thing.Could be the formula? These 2 new lipsticks look amazing on you though absolutely AMAZING.

Mandi Avatar

Christine-Do you know Illamasqua’s phone number to be able to call from the states? There phone number on the site doesnt work because its a UK number and not an 800 number. I ordered over $300 from there site and they double charged my Mastercard $600+ and its been over a week of me trying to contact them via email and no one is responding. Kind of frustrating since I got double charged so much and need it refunded asap. I hope you can help me. Thank you-

Puff Avatar

I really love this color and I have been eagerly waiting for your your review! I must say it looks great on you! I am disappointed though because I am so scared that this shade will look awful on my cool/extremely pale skin. What do you guys think? Should I go for it anyway?

Helen Avatar

I have the same problem with orange lipsticks. I really like them, but I also have cool-toned, light (but not extremely fair) skin, and they’re not the most flattering on me. Maybe you should try self-tanning, then orange lipsticks might look better on you? Or, use an orange lipstick, then cover it w/a transparent pink gloss?

Sofi Avatar

Same happened to me when I ordered ‘Atomic’, which is equally gorgeous. They were happy to replace it, no way I was gonna keep a defective treasure!

Kylie Avatar

I have had dislodgment issues on three of my five illamasqua lipsticks… which is such a shame because they are my favorites and I find it near impossible to apply them after they have broken 🙁 I think it may have something to do with how hard the lipsticks are… ?

wish there was something I could do to fix it

Dusty Avatar

I know you said that this is your first broken one… And of course you only ever HEAR about something when someone is unhappy (I’m sure TONS of orders arrive safe and sound all over the world). That being said – I’ve heard from several people who’ve ordered from Illamasqua directly that lipsticks and pressed powder products have arrived broken.

One of my good friends had a powder arrive broken TWICE – They finally gave up because they had spent so much money returning it the first time and didn’t want to spend it all over again just in case it showed up busted a third time. They won’t refund shipping charges for broken products, it’s their policy.

I detube my lipsticks so I wouldn’t care, but powders is another thing. All the stories of broken products is one of the things that’s kept me from ordering from them. I’ve had stuff arrive busted before, I’ve never heard of a company not refunding your shipping charges to get you a new product though.

Yanna Avatar

At first when I saw the lipstick, I thought “Yuck! Who would wear orange lipstick?” But when I see it on you, it actually looks nice! How do you apply lipstick so perfect on your lips??? Care to demonstrate a lipstick application tutorial for us?

Bonnie Avatar

All the Illamasqua lipsticks I’ve tried have had this happen- either they arrive loose or end up breaking at the base after several uses. I don’t have many of them, and it’s kind of disappointing to have that happen to every one. HOWEVER, I love their formula and just end up using a lipbrush to apply the lipstick. I’ll keep buying their lipsticks in the future, despite that problem (and the fact that they’re more than I like to spend on lipsticks usually).

ak Avatar

As usual plenty of lipstick colors look great on you Christine 🙂 but I already only just bought the most lovely Givency Rouge Interdit in Candide Tangerine, and I’m thinking of buying a second before they all run out as that color is limited edition and all.

The Givenchy Candid Tangerine is beautiful on me even though it looks as neon and scary in the tube as this new Illamasqua Flare one does, but it really is an orange that’s darker without being too dark or rusty and is totally not neon but wearble and still summery. It’s gorgeous and I’m satified with it very much so, even with it on my large bright pink bottom lip. I’m an NC45.

donna Avatar

hey christine, i’m the friend dusty is referring to, that company was a nightmare to deal with, i have yet to be refunded for one of the three products they sent me that were damaged, and this has been going on since nov.
i finally gave up and refuse to deal with them ever again. i will just eat the 40 or 50 bucks i lost in product and shipping charges back to the UK. imo, the right hand doesn’t know what the left hand is doing there.
i swear to the God’s of lipstick, i am normally an incredibly patient person because i have a long retail background, but they kept changing the rules every time i would finally, after waiting days and days to hear back from them, get someone to agree to refund my money. i love their products, especially their brushes, but i cannot handle having to follow 4o dollars around for months and months. oye, i hate to say all that, but it’s true. i really respect their concept and creative edge so much. too bad.

donna Avatar

never thought of that christine. thanks. will keep that in mind for and if but hopefully never again. btw, 5 months later. no refund. on to other brands. on another note, have you seen the ysl chromatics, they are so beautiful.

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