Secret Beauty Blog -

Cult British beauty brand Illamasqua are offering free make up lessons in their flagship Beak Street store, all you have to do is turn up! The ‘Beauty School Drop-In’ is a fab idea, even for those who have their daily routine down to a fine art the artists at Illamasqua will pass on their technique and expertise in these 15 minute masterclasses.

Taken from Illamasqua.com -
”Based within our Flagship Beak Street Store, Illamasqua’s School of Make-up Art, is running a series of 15-minute make-upclasses, completely free of charge with our new Beauty School Drop-in.
We’ve crafted a series of 12 different sessions so you can learn how to master everything from flawless skin to a jaw-dropping smoky eye.

With the first confirmed dates in May and June, and more dates and timetables planned for the rest of 2012, select your chosen session from the school timetable below, or why not stick around and stay for a few in one afternoon.

Beauty School Drop-in is available exclusively at the Illamasqua School of Make-up Art, 20 Beak Street, London, W1F 9RE.”
The next one is on Saturday 2nd June and I will definitely be there!
The 15 minute classes run through the day starting at 1.15 pm, …

I’m back! Sorry for the short hiatus, personal issues sometimes get in the way of blogging but I’m back now and have lots planned

As soon as I heard about the Illamasqua Skin Base foundation I desperately wanted to get my hands on it, it sounded exactly what I was looking for in a foundation and I needed a new eyeliner so that’s how this accidental haul came about.

From L-R
Pressed powder in PP 120 £19.50
Nail varnish in Lament £13.50
Skin Base foundation in SB 06
Cream blusher in Dixie £16.50
Precision Ink in Abyss £17.00

As you can see I’m really into coral at the moment!

Nail polish in Lament
Illamasqua nail polish is the best EVER! The formula is amazing, the brush is amazing, the lasting power is amazing… Just everything is amazing!

Cream blusher in Dixie

Dixie swatched in natural sunlight
Absolutely love this! I suits my colouring so well, and it has more slip and it slightly sheerer then the other Illamasqua cream blushers I own which makes it a lot more wearable as I don’t have to spend as much time blending and applying.
I’ve had everything a little while now so I’m able to give a short review on everything -
Skin Base …

This is a bit of an old ‘tag’ post but I was looking at my makeup collection recently and wondered just how much I had spent on it all. Now it would be a bit of a task to tally everything up but I could easily put a price on my most used everyday products, so here they are! I didn’t purposely try to pick my most expensive items, these are genuinely what I use every morning for work.

All prices taken from the brands official websites (and escentual.com for the Vichy & Jack Black where I purchased them)
Clarins Skin Illusion foundation – £24.00
Vichy Dermablend foundation (used as concealer) – £15.50
Clinique  stay-matte sheer powder (to set base) – £20.00
MAC Blot powder (for touch -ups) – £17.50
Clarins Mosaique bronzer – £26.00
No.7  blusher – £9.00
Clinique Superfine liner for brows – £11.00
Lancome Hypnose Drama mascara – £20.45
Illamasqua Precision Ink liner – £17.00
Jack Black lip balm – £7.25
MAC Creme D’Nude lipstick – £13.50

Which all totals to….
£181.20
Oh wow…. I really didn’t think it would be that much! I’m not a makeup snob or anything, but I do think you should really invest in good basics like foundation and mascara. Having oily skin I do …

I’ve never done a ‘monthly favourites’ post as I don’t feel liking a product for such a small amount of time could count it as a favourite, but these products have been getting alot of love from me and are my daily staples.

First up is the Purity Regenerating Overnight Moistusier – my skin is only used to light, mattifying moisturisers so when I fed it this is drunk it right up! It leaves my skin so soft and in the morning my complextion looks even and plump. I love the whole Purity range but this is definately my favourite.
Clinique Anti-Blemish Solutions foundation – I’ve used this non-stop since I got it a few months ago, it provides amazing coverage, doesn’t break me out and lasts all day. I’m nearly out and it’s a tad too dark now it’s Winter so I think I’ll get the lighter shade next time. Highly recommended!

Famous Dave’s Tanning Mousse – the best fake tan ever! It sinks in with no residue, dries super quick, doesn’t smell AT ALL and leaves you with a gorgeous, natural sun kissed colour. What’s not to love? It puts St Tropez & Fake Bake to SHAME.

ELF Translucent Matifying …

As most of you know, Illamasqua hosted a fantastic event last weekend unveiling their brand new stand alone store at 20 Beak Street, London. They also gave bloggers a first look at the AMAZING new collection Art Of Darkness which is full of rich, jewel toned colours.

I was unable to make the event but I have some gorgeous peices from the collection to show you, the Liquid Metal in Superior and the Powdered Metal in Ether.

As you would expect with Illamasqua, the packaging and product imagery is amazing and alot of thought has gone into the design. The Art Of Darkness collection products are sent with an outer cardboard slip, which slips off to reveal the usual Illamasqua sleek black boxes.

Powdered Metal – Ether £22 15g
Revel in an intense radiance that no one can ignore. Apply to body and face to create anything from a subtle sheen to an extreme metallic finish. Step into the limelight and demand to be noticed.
Liquid Metal – Superior £17 8g
Prepare to dazzle with this gloriously rich and highly pigmented metallic cream. Use to adorn eyes, face and body, and apply with fingers or a brush. …

The PERFECT neon barbie pink. Fabulous application as usual, long wearing as usual….. Perfection as usual! I have to say, Illamasqua polishes are the BEST I have ever used. I like the thin but opaque formula, the thin narrow brush and the chunky handle. The wear is like no other brand, a full 7 days and then some. The only thing I don’t like is the price tag, at £13 they’re not cheap but they ARE worth it IMO.

2 coats with Sally Hansen Maximum Shine topcoat
Isn’t it gorgeous!
£13 Illamasqua.com

Illamasqua Muse… Geddit?
Bought in the 50% off Illamasqua sale, usual R.R.P £13.00 (I wouldn’t pay that btw) but the formula is FABULOUS. Not too thin, not too thick, nice slim brush and a nice chunky square handle. Very unique colour, but looks very much like the new MAC Alice & Olivia ‘Morning After’?
I have a few of these now, and they really are the best quality polishes I have ever used. But I still think £13 is a bit too steep =0/

Of course my camera failed to pick up the true murky green/blue colour but it really is a lovely polish. This picture is a 5 day old mani, so you can see a bit of tip wear etc. But I think I can get away with at least another 2 days!

Im a bit 50/50 on Illamasqua, it gets such rave reviews and there are alot of fans but I still can’t seem to love the brand like how I love MAC. I love the look of the website, I love the collection ideas and the S.O.P.H.I.E campaign but for some reason nothing gets me excited enough to part with my cash… Unless there’s a sale. Which there was.
I couldn’t help but indulge a little when I saw they was selling their discontinued items at 50% off, here’s what I picked up:

Nail polish (L – R) Hectic, Demure, Jo’Mina
Blusher in Rumour
Pure Pigment in Lust
Sheer Lipgloss in Explode

Swatched with no primer, just look at that pigment!
Pure Pigment in Lust – Blusher in Rumour – Sheer Lipgloss in Explode
First impressions? The nail polishes are gorgeous, but I still wouldn’t pay £13 for one, thats just too much IMO.
The blusher is like hot chocolate powder! Buttery soft and very pigmented. Reminds me of my favourite blusher ever, No.7 Honey. I can see myself using, and loving this alot
The Pure Pigment is stunning, highly pigmented and an amazing lime green, similar to MAC Juxt and we all know how much I love me …

Hi guys, just a quick note to let you all know Illamasqua are currently offering their discontinued products at 50% off! I’m stocking up on a few lippies and blushers!!!!!!!!
Also, check out their amazing ‘Make Up Amnesty’ which is launching soon!

Click here to be taken to the ‘last chance to buy’ section of the website
I heard on the grapevine new products will be added daily so keep checking!

Just a quickie (cheeky) about a few beauty steals floating about that some of you might not know about…
ELF (eyeslipsface) are currently offering ALL of their £1.50 range eye products at just a pound! Offer ends midnight this sunday, enter EYE1UK at the checkout

FrontCover is ALL half price at Boots & Boots.com at the moment, so if like me you have been umming & ahhing over the Mermaid Dreams paltte now is the time to snap it up!

And Illamasqua will be hosting a FANTASTIC ‘make up amnesty’ where you can trade in ANY item of make up from ANY brand and get 25% off an Illamasqua product! Best bit? You can take in unlimited items AND they can be smashed, broken or empty and you will still get the discount. I think this is an amazing deal, and typical of quirky Illamasqua to hold such an event. Miss Vexinthecity has the low down on it, read her post here.
The ‘amnesty’ starts on 17th-31st July at selected Selfridges.