Archived Post
Illamasqua Growl Lipstick Review, Photos, Swatches
The Sultry Season: Illamasqua Growl Lipstick
Illamasqua Growl Lipstick
($22.00 for 0.14 oz.) is a deep reddened brown-wine with opaque color coverage and a low sheen. This is a shade that will last six to eight hours without much work, because it has a drier formula, it really clings to lips. I don’t find Illamasqua’s shades drying, but they do take a little more pressure to apply. They’re creamy and yet not slippery. This shade sits right between MAC Media and MAC Underworld.
Is this the right vamp for you? Would you wear it?
The Sultry Season is a series of posts featuring deep, rich shades of brown, berry, plum, and wine lipsticks and lipglosses — just right for autumn — that runs through October 2010.
See photos and swatches…
Illamasqua Growl Lipstick
Love the colour, but I really don’t think it’s for this 45 year old.
You look so gorg with these types of color on your lips, Christine. 😀
However, my Rapturous Mattene looks somewhat like this (on me), but a bit redder. 🙂
I love the plum, wine, berry colors but I’m scared I’ll end up looking all chola. :\
Do you have any recommendations for me so I won’t feel that way? lol
Aww 🙁 Try it with a really nude eye and winged liner – very classy.
This, Mac Underworld and Film Noir are on my list! :> I love reddish browns although its as if this color looks too mature on me.
I don’t want this comment to sound bitchy, but are you regretting this lipstick season choice? All of the colours I’ve seen have had way more Leave it!s than Love it!s and a lot of the comments are about how unwearable the shades are. I know there’s only so many shades of pink and coral lipstick one person can handle, but I personally am really missing the spring/summer seasons!
No, not at all. I assume when people are choosing leave it, it’s because it’s not for them, but not because they hate my post! I’ve also had a lot of readers comment about how much they like certain shades, so as long as it helps someone, I’m a happy camper 🙂
I like to think of Temptalia and myself as an equal opportunity employer when it comes to makeup – and fall is one season where the vampy lips are always “in” so it’s nice to be able to do it. Naturally, the series is by season and the lip trend for that season – it wouldn’t really make sense to keep the summer season going in fall!
I am not a fan of dark colours on myself, but I still “Love it” if it’s a beautiful colour. You always showcare beautiful colours, and I’m very happy that you showcase vampy colours! It’s nice to look at, and now I know what they look like without risking picking one up and hating it.
Thanks for the series, Christine!
No problem 😀
The spring and summer shades do seem to be more “wearable” but I am so ready for a change in scenery! Fall is coming up and it is nice to see the makeup match the clothes. Although I may not purchase any of these exact shades they do give me inspiration for a similar look 🙂
Same here 🙂
Personally, I find myself loving the fall season lippies. Even though you really do shine in the bright corals and pinks, I love how you still try out shades that compliment other people’s skin tones and style tastes. Your lip swatches are a must for me, especially when doing online makeup shopping, and personally, I’m attracted to loud-mouthed neons, deep vampy colours. Basically, colours that most people wouldn’t EVER dream of touching.
Thanks for speaking up, Cathryn! I knew there had to be plenty interested in it 🙂
Well, count me as one of those who are really grateful of these types of posts!!
I know the majority of your readers (and the whole population it seems) have an aversion of dark lipsticks, but there is people (like me) who get bored to tears of the never ending peachy, nude, coral, pink colors every blogger features all year round. This why I love Christine, she thinks of everybody and doesn’t care what narrow minded people think. She pushes boundaries and at the time helps some many of us with type of posts. I shop online a lot and until I don’t see a swatch I don’t buy because we know how website swatches are rubbish.
Thank you Christine!!!
My pleasure, Katherine!
I’m on the search for a good vampy lipstick. So far I haven’t liked any of the lipsticks you’ve featured on the sultry season, but I like seeing the swatches. Sometimes it helps to see things that aren’t right, so it can steer you to something that is right. For instance, this swatch suggests that I need something more blue. IOW, keep it up! Besides, I’m hopeful that you’re going to post my perfect vamp lip aaaaany day now.
Thank you 😀
I feel I can not wear dark colours (Bobbi Brown’s Black Garnet – a blackened bronze – and Clinique Black Honey (sheer dark plum) ) are the only exceptions – I love to look at this series though, and I am a desperate try-er for dark colours on myself.
You make me want to try the navy blue by Illamasqua and Growl, I even love the black you did 🙂
Aww 😀
Yikes, i’m definitely finding more lipsticks in my taste this season than spring or summer. I’ve noticed that a lot of people who seem to choose “leave it” go on to explain in the comments that they would love to wear the color, but just feel they can’t pull it off (which is sad to hear because i’ve never met a person who can’t actually pull off darker, sultrier lip colors, just people who think they can’t because they’re safe with thier makeup choices)
I’m a makeup artist so I may see beauty as more of an art, but I’m definitely one person who wears ruby reds and plummy wines day to day. That said, i’m totally enjoying the warmer colors in the Sultry Season. So much fun! I just added like, umpteen lipsticks to my makeup wish-list, ha.
I agree! People look AMAZING in dark colors, no need to fear!
Wow, this shade makes your teeth look SUPER white!
Well I like this color a lot. To be honest, I’ve enjoyed The Sultry Season series so far and it’s actually my favorite over the Summer one. I think many people are stuck in a box when it comes to makeup. It’s important to branch out and experiment. It’s hard to define my makeup style because one minute I can be the neutral girl, next I can be bold, next I can be gothic! Lol Of course people who’re stuck in that pink or neutral comfort zone are going to dislike the colors because when it comes to makeup as a whole they’re narrow minded. I really like the fact that not only does Christine show off the pinks, nudes, and corals (which I love), but she also shows those gorgeous deep reds, purples, and mauve colors. Colors like Show Orchid, GaGa, etc. are summer colors. Colors like Growl are in style for the fall, so even though Show Orchid is one of my top pinks, I wouldn’t be caught dead rocking it in the fall. Growl would look ridiculously fierce out in cold weather with a neutral eye, and a cute, double-buttoned, white pea coat because of the contrast it would give. *SIGHS* I truly adore this series Christine, keep up the fabulous work.
Thank you, Brittany!!
Ohhh that’s a nice one! It’s not *too* brown either. Like it 🙂
This is a GORGEOUS shade! I must own it. I am loving the fall lipstick series. I love the vampy dark lips. Some of my favorite shades are MAC’s Media, Night Violet, Faultlessly. Thanks for the post!
this is a beautiful color!!! i neeeeeeds it
I love that color! Very vamp! However, I am 47 . . .
I looooove this! Right on trend for the fall, and so easy to pair with a barely-there eye for a quick but sophisticated look. These lipstick choices are definitely putting me in the mood for fall!
Wow that lipstick looks GREAT on you!!!
Thank you, Laura!
Hey Lady,
I like it,I like Dare You by Mac much better!
I love this color!!! Love it
Love it!
I wore that the other day after sort of forgetting for the last six months that I own it. I love it with a very soft eye and MAC Gold Dust Lipglass on top. Looks so pretty on your lips Christine.
Thank you, Anja! Gold Dust sounds so pretty on top!
Ooooh love it <3 Do you think this would make lips look smaller, like darker colors tend to do? I'm a lover of vampy lips in all seasons, so this one definitely looks like a winner! Can't wait to see if you do a dark purple 🙂
I imagine it would make them a little smaller, but I will say it’s hard for me to tell since my lips aren’t very thin!
Really? I didn’t know that? I have really thick lips and when I wear dark colors I feel like they blow up my lips and I look like a goldfish.
Damnit, you’re killing me with all these bad ass vampy shades! I don’t even wear lipstick and now all I can think of is getting a beautiful tube of deep red lipstick.
I wear dark/vampy colors 365 because of my skin tone. Very appreciative of this series!
Yes. I would definitely wear that red shade. It would be gorgeous with a dab of pearl gloss in the center of the lip and well blended.