Illamasqua - Scarab

The second lacquer from Illamasqua's Art of Darkness Collection is the glorious and stupendous Scarab.

This is a beautiful red, with strong brown undertones.  It almost has a rusty quality to it.  Beautifully sexy and alluring.

The beauty of both this and Viridian is their multi-facetted appearance.  In some angles, they appear bright and vibrant.  In others, they truly represent darkness.  Illamasqua have totally nailed the lacquers in this collection.  On point and instant classics.

As soon as I started applying this, I immediately thought that Barbara Daly's Envy could be a dupe.  Jump to see if my radar was on target.

Illamasqua - Viridian

Oh, now THIS is something special.

Illamasqua's Viridian, from the Art of Darkness Collection.  This is a beautiful peacock green.  It glides on like a dream and you CAN get away with one coat if you're careful.  Absolutely. Adore.

When applying this, I did start to think of potential dupes.  Jump to see whether this little lovely can be replicated.

Illamasqua - (the mighty) Boosh

On my recent trip to Sydney, Mikele at Illamasqua (he's on the far left in the link, isn't he GORGEOUS) gave me a beautiful little gift bag to take away.

Included in this goodie bag was Boosh which, I'm hopeful, has been named after one of my favourite tv shows, The Mighty Boosh.  A girl can live in hope, right?

This is a beautiful, glossy black. Typical of Illamasqua lacquers, it glides on like a dream and, unlike many blacks, which I find tend to mattify, it dries to a high shine.

I hate to think what's going to happen when Illamasqua open their Melbourne counters.  I think it's a safe bet though that I will create a scene whenever I visit.





The lacquer featured in this review was provided by Illamasqua. For more information on YGN's Disclosure Policy, please click here.

Illamasqua - Velocity Take II

Edit: Alex from Illamasqua contacted me, and the Illamasqua launch is actually now happening on 25th June 2010.  

Today is a very special day because it's the day Illamasqua finally launch in Sydney!

In honour of their arrival, I'm dedicating this manicure to Alex Box and her crew.  I'm in Sydney towards the end of next month and the only 'must do' on my list is to visit Illamasqua.  So, if you're in Sydney at the end of July and you happen to  see some sad girl sobbing at the Illamasqua counter, crying 'I just can't believe you're here.  It's a dream come truuuuuuuue', whilst bewildered (and possibly amused) Illamasqua staff wonder when they should call store security, then it's probably me.

I have swatched Velocity previously, but it's a lacquer that I really wanted to take for another spin.

This is a beautiful lacquer.  You can get away with one thick coat of this but I did two.  I love it like I love carrot cake.

I decided to try this with Prism layered over the top.  Oh man, just click on the jump to see awesomesauce of a thousand flavours.

Illamasqua - Force + Force with Prism

Force is..... a force to be reckoned. Stop groaning. I know you like my funny.

Man, this is a fabulous blue.  The formula is gorgeous.  Two coats and I was done and I didn't even need a top coat.

I promised you guys a layering experiment with Prism, so click on the jump to see it matched with Force.  Prepare for this manicure to dazzle your brains out.

I'm lost in a sea of fricking awesomesauce.

Illamasqua - Prism + Comparison with City Girl 2000 #19

This is one very special bottle of lacquer.

Not just because it's Illamasqua, which automatically makes it super special in my eyes. It's the route, and the time, it took to get to me that makes it special.

This was sent way back in April by the lovely Alex of Illamasqua. It arrived this week. That's two months it took, thanks to the volcanic ash and, for whatever reason, a brief sojourn in Switzerland. Damn lacquer wanted a nice round the world trip before it got to work. ;-)

But, oh, it was so worth the wait.  I couldn't decide which photos I liked, so I've included them all.  Prism-palooza!

Illamasqua seem to have tinkered with their formula a little.  I thought their previous one was good, but this is utter perfection.  Based on this lacquer, I can safely say I have found a lacquer that measures up to Chanel.  Perfection.

This isn't designed to go opaque.  The above swatch is three coats and you can clearly see my nail line.  This is like a CND Effects lacquer in that, although it can be worn by itself, it will transform a lacquer.  I have another Illamasqua coming up later this week where I layer this over the top and the difference is startling.

Of course, as soon as I started applying this, I thought that the City Girl 2000 #19 might be a dupe.  I have lined them up side by side after the jump.

Illamasqua - Phallic Take II

Diffused Light

In honour of Illamasqua coming to Australia, and as part of my 'Jacie did a crap swatch and we all sat around and laughed at it' series, I decided to dig out my favourite Illamasqua lacquer, Phallic, and re-do the swatch.

This is a super Illamasqua colour.  Two coats. High shine.  Deep midnight blue with shimmer throughout.  I never fail to be complimented when wearing this colour.  Even though it is a blue lacquer, which is outside the norm for the average person, it has a sexy sophistication going on.  I love it.

Stay tuned because, in a couple of hours, I'll launch the April Giveaway involving Glitter Gal.  Too exciting!

Illamasqua - Pastel Nails Collection

Love.... does not even begin to describe the Illamasqua Pastel Nails Collection.

There is just something wonderfully sexy and subtle about these.  Not to mention that they look like sorbet, which automatically appeals to my 'must eat ice-cream (or ice-cream related products) on a daily basis' fetish.

Before I go into the swatches (which I've hidden under the cut because the swatches are plentiful and large), I just wanted to address some concerns people have had with the large square Illamasqua lid.  Now, I don't want to tell you guys how to suck eggs, so just skip this bit if you already know.

The square lid does come off, leaving you with a much smaller and easier to deal with brush. When you're finished, just put the lid back on.  Too easy!

Illamasqua - Phallic

If you're all pinked out from Valentine's Day, then here is the antidote!

Illamasqua's Phallic* is a gorgeous blue shimmer.  The blue is wonderfully dark and romantic, whilst the shimmer (which is a light blue, how inspired) sits almost suspended in the lacquer.  Definitely click for a larger version.

Formula wise, this is even better than the other Illamasquas I've tried.  I literally couldn't bugger up the application with this.  It just flows onto the nail and sits perfectly.

As for the name, well I don't really want to think about the thought process behind this.  But it oddly fits. And it's oh so Illamasqua to have a controversial name. 

I can't imagine calling this anything else.  And I can't imagine I would be able to tell my boss - who is fascinated with my love of lacquer - the real name of this, lest I be accused of harassment.

So, what do you think?  Is this a lacquer you might consider for Valentine's?

*This product was provided to me for review by the fabulous Alex of Illamasqua.  Click for more information on YGN's Disclosure Policy.

Illamasqua - Obsess

Whooomp, there it is.....!

Illamasqua are never shy with their colours.  Obsess is proof positive of that.

This is a gorgeous neon pink.  Although, sometimes I swear I can see flashes of purple running through this.  Definitely click to see the larger version - the purple does emerge (kinda like those 3d pictures) eventually.

As with all Illamasqua polishes, application is too easy.  I love that I never have to work hard with Illamasqua.  The polish just seems to know where it needs to go.  It is a dream formula.

So, ladies, have you survived this bright pink assault on your retinas?  What do you think?  Love or loathe?

Illamasqua - Velocity

Woohoooo!  I appear to have resolved the lighting issues that have been plaguing me for a couple of weeks.  The photos are back to being crisp and clear.  Once again, thanks for your patience and support!

*****

Illamasqua's Velocity is from the Dystopia Collection.  This is a stunning lavender purple that just reminds me of spring. And weddings.  What an amazing wedding colour this would be.

Formula-wise, Illamasqua lacquers are up there with Chanel and Rescue Beauty Lounge.  I could have easily gotten away with one coat for this swatch (I only did a second because I smooched up my ring finger).

It dried reasonably quickly and I didn't need a topcoat to get the shine that I covet.  All up, a glorious lacquer that I suspect will get alot of wear from me.

I'll be trialling the other lacquer from Dystopia, Obsess, as part of my Valentines Day manicures next week.  I can't wait to see if it performs as well as Velocity.

So ladies, what do you think?  Are you feeling Velocity?  How do you find Illamasqua's lacquers? 

Hey There, Wait A Minute Mr Postman - My mum is wicked ace

One of the good things about having parents who live in Europe (aside from the fact that my mum's nagging abilities are way diluted from that distance), is that they are able to pick up for me polishes that I might not otherwise get, or which are too expensive to post to Australia.

And then, other times, they get me Chanel just because they know I love all things Chanel.  I even named my dog, Kabuki, after a Chanel lacquer.  This time, my mum bought me Vendetta, which I've been lemming something fierce for a while. 

What can I say about Vendetta, other than it's Chanel and it's freaking gorgeous.  I've been wearing this to death the last few days.  I think I'm going to have to buy a second back-up bottle.

Once I'd recovered from my fainting fit at seeing Vendetta, my mother then followed up with a double serve of Illamasqua's Dystopia Collection.  On the left is Velocity and on the right is Obsess.

I am in high end heaven.  I'm not a nail snob by any means.  Case in point: my love for BYS lacquers.  But these lacquers, along with my RBL lacquers, are something really special.  It's a mix of the colours, the creaminess of the formulas, the longevity on the nail.

So, what do you guys think?  Do you love Vendetta as much as I do?  And what about Illamasqua.  For me, I just think of ice-cream when I see them.