Illamasqua Throb Nail Varnish Review, Photos, Swatches
Illamasqua Throb Nail Varnish
Illamasqua Throb Nail Varnish ($17.00 for 0.50 fl. oz.) is described as a “blood red.” It’s a medium-dark, subtly cool-toned red with a cream finish. There’s a pink tinge to it, and it’s bright but a little dusty, too. Revlon Bordeaux (P, $4.99) is darker. Tom Ford Beauty Trophy Wife (LE, $32.00) is lighter, brighter. NARS Lost Red (LE, $19.00) is brighter. MAC RiRi Woo (LE, $16.00) is similar. MAC Stage Red (LE, $16.00) is darker. MAC Flaming Rose (P, $16.00) is similar. Chanel Suspicious (P, $27.00) is pinker. Butter London Pillar Box Red (P, $15.00) is similar. See comparison swatches.
Recently promoted for Valentine’s Day, Throb is a worthwhile option for anyone seeking a more muted, darker red cream. It’s intensely pigmented, and you really only need one coat for full color coverage. I’ve included two sets of photos; the first set is a single coat, and then I have a couple more that shows two coats, so you can see how there’s no real difference in color or opacity. To me, the noticeable difference is just that two coats gives it a thicker, glossier look and finish. The consistency wasn’t too thick or too thin, and it flowed evenly and smoothly across the nail without bubbling or streaking. Illamasqua’s formula typically wears seven to ten days on me with very minor tip wear but no chipping.
Throb
PPermanent. $17.00.
Illamasqua Throb Nail Varnish
Illamasqua Throb Nail Varnish
Illamasqua Throb Nail Varnish
Illamasqua Throb Nail Varnish
Illamasqua Throb Nail Varnish
Illamasqua Throb Nail Varnish
Illamasqua Throb Nail Varnish
Illamasqua Throb Nail Varnish (Two Coats)
Illamasqua Throb Nail Varnish (Two Coats)
Looks like the perfect red. Pleased to see its an A+. Been looking for a really good long lasting red polish as O.P.I. seem to be letting me down quality wise atm.
It’s amazingly pigmented! 🙂
I love Throb. It’s one of my favorite reds. The formula is amazing (as with all Illamasqua polishes) and it’s the most traditional true red I’ve come across. IMO it’s a staple red polish that everyone should have in their collection.
Happy to hear you love yours! Can’t believe this was my first time trying it 🙂
Red is my favorite color to wear on my fingers and toes! This red is truly gorgeous!
Sounds like it’s right up your alley!
How does this compare to Tom Ford shameless red? BTW, you are missing an HTML tag on your Tom Ford trophy wife link!
Shameless Red is warm-toned!
Oh, I really like that color. It’s bold but not in your face bold!
YAY! 😀
Oooh loooovely! I like the finis, very creamy indeed.
Creamy and glossy – can’t go wrong!
Cute shade, but it doesn’t “wow” me.
Aww, that’s too bad!
The formula and finish looks fantastic, but the color itself is a little lackluster, to me.
There is a slight mutedness to it!
I love the pinkness/dustiness that you mention! It makes it a bit more interesting than the average red (much as I adore Butter London’s Come to Bed Red).
Someday, I will try Illamasqua’s stuff. And possibly lose control and buy the whole store. Should probably start saving now… 😉
Start with the polish. 🙂
Pretty!
Glad you liked it, Rikki!
Oh say no more. I am getting tis one. Not that I need anymore red!
Haha! That’s what I said, “I don’t need another red!”
Looks like an absolutely gorgeous colour!
It is!
Illamasqua polishes are my favorite! Two coats makes it look a little less muted, a teeny bit more intense. But you’re right…you can barely tell!
It’s incredible how little the difference is!
Oh…it’s hard for me to throw down that much for a nail polish knowing I can get two Zoya’s at the same price. But that red looks so perfect as a staple red creme.
I totally understand, Maggie! Illamasqua went from $14 to $17 overnight practically, and $17 is fairly steep.
Hi Christine! I’m curious, when you test polishes do you wear them on their own or use a base and top coat? (I assume the former?) Just wondering how you get 7-10 days of wear without a top coat? Thanks! Beautiful color…
Hi Samantha,
I used to do both tests (straight color, also with base/top coat), but since almost nothing chips on me… well, ever… I just do straight color now to accommodate more testing of formulas. For example, I’ve worn an Illamasqua polish for 2 full weeks with zero chips – had more growth (new nail showing at the bottom) than tip wear – when I used it with a top/base coat.
Not often i see an A+ review! Too bad i rarely do my nails
Aww!!