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Illamasqua Hermetic Intense Lipgloss Review, Photos, Swatches

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Christine |

Illamasqua Hermetic Intense Lipgloss
Illamasqua Hermetic Intense Lipgloss

An Alternative to Red for the Holidays

If you’ve been reading Temptalia for a few months, you probably know I have an obsession with Illamasqua’s Intense Lipglosses (see reviews of ten other shades here). They’re ultra pigmented with a high glossy shine in bold, bright colors. They last awhile and never feel uncomfortable on lips.

Illamasqua Hermetic Intense Lipgloss ($20.00 for 0.20 oz.) is a new shade launched with the Art of Darkness collection for autumn/winter. It is unique in its finish, from my experience with the Intense Lipglosses, because it has a high shimmer, nearly metallic finish (all Intense Lipglosses I’ve tried are creamier, very subtle if not zero shimmer). It’s a welcome addition, since I do enjoy shimmery glosses, too. The gloss comes in a thin, squeeze-tube with a slanted applicator.

Hermetic is a bold burgundy brown with lighter burgundy shimmer. It’s very deep and takes very little color to get opaque results. It feels very holiday to me, which I think owes to the slight metallic-ness of the finish. It’s holiday without being a full-on red. I see subtle red-brown undertones, but it’s definitely not your typical holiday red. It seems a little on the cooler side to me, though it worked well on my warmer skin tone, so don’t let that dissuade you from checking it out.

Illamasqua Hermetic Intense Lipgloss
Illamasqua Hermetic Intense Lipgloss

Illamasqua Hermetic Intense Lipgloss
Illamasqua Hermetic Intense Lipgloss

Illamasqua Hermetic Intense Lipgloss
Illamasqua Hermetic Intense Lipgloss

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71 Comments

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kate Avatar
kate

Gorgeous color! This reminds me of the old version of Urban Decay’s Lip Gunk in Gash, which was a similar deep metallic red. Once I run out I think this would be a really good replacement!

Brandon Avatar
Brandon

Wow.

You look SO stunning in this shade of red! I do think it needs a lipliner under it because it is just a gloss after all, but still, if you have any holiday parties coming up, you should wear this for sure =]

baby in a corner Avatar
baby in a corner

Wow amazing! It would be very hard to get this type of super shiny metallic finish from a lipstick! I think this would suit a lot of skintones too.

Amber Avatar
Amber

GAH! I wish I could pull these types of colors off! but I am a super-fair skinned redhead and would look dead in this type of shade. so sad. But this looks gorgeous on you Christine – thanks for the swatches!

Ani_BEE Avatar
Ani_BEE

It’s very rare to see a gloss that pigmented *_* it’s the reason why i don’t by to many since the shades never show up on my pink lips.

I hope Sephora will have this in store to test out. It look luscious.

Emily Avatar
Emily

This is SO pretty but I’ll pass cause it’s not anything i’d ever use. If I were a makeup artist though, I would buy it and use it every chance I had!

Bernice Avatar
Bernice

Hi Christine 🙂
I had never heard of this lipgloss line/series from Illamasqua until I read your first review on these and I definitely see why you love them so much! And as always, you look fab !

Hannah Avatar
Hannah

I’ve never seen Illamasqua in stores at my local Sephora… how does the texture and wear of the Intense Lipglosses compare to Chanel’s Rouge Allure Lacques?

Yoyo Avatar
Yoyo

Wow, what a beautiful color!
texture wise, it does remind me of Bare Escentuals Full Coverage Buxoms? I have a few, and they are definitely liquid lipstick, not gloss.
I don’t think I own a color like this though…. it’s going on my list!

Edani Avatar
Edani

I got this for xmas this year, on your recommendation, and absolutely love it! I wore it to work today (thankfully my boss is a makeup junkie, too, so I have some freedom in my shades for work) and already have gotten several compliments! This is my first Illamasqua gloss and I’m very pleased with the texture and pigmentation. It only took a tiny bit to get great color on my lips! Thank you for your review, once again! I’m certainly going to pick up more Illamasqua glosses soon–maybe even Gender! 😉

aurora Avatar
aurora

Illamasqua has just come to our town. Can you recommend me a lipstick that is among your favorites? I hope it is sunnier today than on Monday. Have a lovely day, and thank you for answering my question. Aurora

Nichole Avatar
Nichole

I saw this on your site and knew I had to get it. I just received it from my Sephora’s F&F sale haul. I love it!!!! Do you know if it’s limited edition? If so, I’ll have to go buy back-ups. Thanks Christine.

Alicia Avatar
Alicia

Hi! I’d just like to thank you for this site because I always go to it before making any makeup purchase and i find your opinions very helpful. I’ve been in absolute love with dark plum, cranberry and burgundy lips and have been looking for a lipgloss with some sparkle and full, opaque coverage. This was the closest that I’ve found. I just think that it’s a bit too brown for my NC35 complexion. Any suggestions to make it a bit more red or purple without compromising it’s intensity? Should I layer it with something like MAC Cyber or an intense purple or red like MAC Russian Red? Sorry for the length!

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