Shard- A Review

Following my Illamasqua lust list post, I went ahead and treated myself to the lipstick from the collection- Shard. Retailing at £16.50, it was definitely an investment, but it's one that's proved to be worthy.

Shard is a beautiful, matte autumnal berry colour and is perfect for this coming season. It's quite buildable, but I found that if I just dabbed it on, although it was a subtle look it didn't photograph very well. I do sometimes struggle when applying matte lipsticks as they're such a dry consistency but with a coat of lip balm, this goes on like a breeze! 

One thing I can't quite decide on is it's staying power. The day I bought it I put it on and it lasted hours and hours, I even had to wipe my lips with a cleanser to take it off at night! However when I actually wore it on a night out, I did have to reapply it half way through the night. Just the once, mind! All in all, it does have great staying power, I just haven't decided if it has magnificent staying power just yet. 

I'm really glad I splashed out for this product as a) I know I'd just be pining for it if I didn't and b) the colour is beautiful. I can't wait to get more use out of it when I fully immerse myself into AW fashion again when the weather decides to stay chilly for more than a couple of days and I can get the glitter out. Do you have a signature AW lipstick or make up product? I'd love to try it!

Kate A x

Lust List: Illamasqua Sacred Hour

I need to start this post by saying that I think this may be my all time favourite Illamasqua collection. I need it all! I'm a massive fan of the colours Illamasqua use for their products. They're all so unusual and absolutely stunning. I've picked out my three favourite products and put them at the very top of my lust list.

Firstly, the Reflection eye palette is without a doubt at the top of my list. The four colours, Precipice (Soft Lemon), Acute (Ash Taupe), Graphica (Graphite Grey) or Dart (Toasted Bronze) are all beautiful and I think Precipice would look perfect for a natural eye or a bold fifties and sixties look with Graphica or Acute lining the socket. As I'm a blue-eyed girl I always go for bronzes around my eyes on a night out  and Dart looks like none of my several bronze eye shadows. At £34.50, it's a definite treat!

Just look at that lipstick. Shard is an absolutely gorgeous red violet colour with a matt finish. Always a plus in my book. I just know it'll look great with Autumn/Winters new dark and embellished trends and I have an outfit planned around it already! At £16.50, Illamasqua lipsticks don't come cheap, but I don't mind investing in good make up if I know I'll use it over and over. 

The third one was tough to pick, but Velvet blusher in Sleek came out top. I've been looking for a coral blush that won't look strange on my super pale complexion and I think this colour is just right. It's a cream- to- powder blush which I often find to have the best results (plus I can be lazy and apply it with my fingers when I'm in a rush). It retails at £18.

Anybody have their eye on anything else in the collection? Who's brave enough to try the eyelashes?

Kate A x

Images obtained from Illamasqua.com