Illamasqua Nomad Nail Varnish Review, Swatches etc.

After the low of not having a Human Fundamentalism launch in Brisbane, I am now on a high due to the gorgeous minty green nail varnish from the collection called "Nomad":

Oh gosh look at that tan line! I swear it doesn't look like that in real life!

I've only heard the best when it comes to Illamasqua's nail varnish formulas, and now I can honestly say BELIEVE THE HYPE!

The varnish was completely opaque in two coats and dried in minutes. Literally, 10 minutes and it's dry as dust. Pretty impressive!

I've had this polish on my acrylic nails for about a week and there's no chipping or nail wear to be seen.

Highly, highly recommend this to anyone who loves mint green polish!

Buy it From: Myer
RRP: $32

Keep it Haute!

Anni xox

Chanel "Paris to Bombay" Fancy Dress FOTD

Happy New Year everyone!

I hope you all had a wonderful 2011 and look forward to an even greater 2012.

For my first post of the year I'd like to change things up a bit and do a "Fancy Dress" look!

I got my inspiration for this post from Chanel's "Paris to Bombay" show:

This look can be worn to fancy dress parties, Bollywood parties, whatever! Onto my interpretation!

Face
Chanel Matte Lumiere Foundation
Maybeline Fit Me Concealer
Chanel Vitalumiere Powder

Cheeks
Illamasqua Lover Powder Blush
Illamasqua Rude Cream Blush

Eyes
China Doll Gel Liner
The Body Shop Black Eyeshadow
Lancome Hypnose Mascara

Lips
Chanel Coraline Lipliner
Chanel Rouge Coco Rose Dentelle

And with my fringe down...

Let me know what you think- it's my first "Fancy Dress" look, so please be kind :)

Keep it Haute!

Anni xox

Exclusive Review- Illamasqua FREAK Eau de Parfum

I've never anticipated a Parfum release as much as Illasmasqua FREAK. I mean, you know how much I love Illasmasqua, so their folly into the land of Parfum has sent me into an olfactory daze.

Now I know you're thinking "Why the snail?" I've done a little bit of research and have found out that a snail symbolises "resurrection" thus fitting perfectly with the "Alter-Ego Night-Makeup" ethos of Illamasqua. It's all about creating another persona!

You'll also notice the bottle is perched on it's side. For me, it gives the impression that the bottle will stand out in a sea of "upright" bottles... The fragrance truly is more those who want to stand out.

This is Illamasqua's official release on the bottle:

"Freak is encased in beautifully ornate art deco inspired bottle, tilted to one side, as though confirming to the dictates of an alternate reality. It's smoked glass dances in the light and features a delicate silver snail and its trail, symbolising an addictive passionate path that is both distinctive and unusually provocative"

I knew from the get go that this fragrance would be different, bold and majorly powerful and I can honestly say that it delivered. Oh it delivered.

Let me be frank, this is no Daisy by Marc Jacobs.

As soon as I smelt it, the first thought that came to my mind was:

Taken from Google Images. I do not support smoking. It's Rita Hayworth btw...

This fragrance SCREAMS Old Hollywood Glamour. It's a fragrance that demands the room, exudes confidence and expects attention.

If you could bottle a powerful and sexy woman, this would be it. As soon as I sprayed this on me, my confidence soared. Such is the power of this fragrance. It's damn sexy.

So what are the notes?

Be prepared... it's like nothing I've seen before:

Top Notes

Black Davana, Opium Flower and Belladonna

Middle Notes

Poison Hemlock, Datura and Queen of the Night Blossom

Base Notes

 Frankincense, Myrrh and Oud

What's damn awesome about this fragrance is the Queen of the Night note... You see Queen of the Night blooms only ONE night every year. JUST ONCE! That's pretty damn awesome in my opinion... and exclusive enough for me to love it.

This is Queen of the Night:

So as you can see, it's most defiantly NOT for the faint hearted. Opium, Queen of the Night, Poison Hemlock OH MY!

When trying the fragrance, give it a little time to settle on the skin before making a decision. Let it react with the skin's chemistry...

 Founder and Joint MD of Illamasqua, Julian Kynaston, describes FREAK:

"For me FREAK is all of the dangerous and sexy part of Kubrick's film Eyes Wide Shut captured in a bottle. There is no middle ground with FREAK. The name, the packaging and the fragrance will polarise opinion simply from love to hate"

FREAK is available from October 10th at all Illamasqua counters (in Myer for us Aussies). RRP is $149AUD.

Unleash your inner sex symbol with FREAK.

Keep it Haute

Anni xox

A sample of FREAK was provided for consideration.

I love Blush- Illamasqua "Ambition" Review

Haute Quote: "Because you've got to have Ambition"

Every once in a while I'll fall head over heels in love and hold onto a product like Gollum holds onto his precious....

I'd like to think my skin is a bit better, though.

One such product that has sent my heart aflutter is Illamasqua's FIRST EVER BLUSH WITH SHIMMER called "Ambition"

Ambition is part of the "Theatre of the Nameless" collection and it's just great.

What's The Colour?

Ambition is a soft, neutral pink with gold shimmer delicately pressed throughout. Some have said it's a bit like Nars' "Orgasm"... but in my opinion it isn't as corally.

What's The Product Like?

The product is fantastic. The powder is finely milled, highly pigmented and applies like a dream. It also comes in the lovely 1920's inspired packaging that is synonymous with Illamasqua

Without flash in natural light

With Flash- you can really see the gold shimmer shining through

And this is what it looks like on my face- really subtle and pretty!

Overall Impression

This blush is most certainly going in my "everyday makeup" bag. It's such a gorgeous wash of colour that makes you look healthy, pretty and perky! The gold shimmer works so well to highlight and lift the cheekbones without adding highlighting products. I highly recommend this blush to EVERYONE!

Where to Buy It: Myer, Illamasqua Online

How Much: $42.00

Have a lovely Friday my lovelies!

Keep it Haute





Illamasqua Theatre of the Nameless Launch Complete with BBBE Shenanigans

This is my favourite Illamasqua collection OF ALL TIME for a number of reasons:

1. It has "Theatre" in the title
2. It is based on the birth and explosion of popular theatre- the 1920's. OMG if I had to write a thesis on how influential the 1920 theatre scene is on today's scene, I'd be here forever.
3. It includes some fabulous real-life characters as inspiration (Anita Berber and Sebastian the Poet)
4. It has the first shimmery blush from Illamasqua
5. The use of Venetian Masks  (I have a tattoo of them)

"Descend into the riotous scene of erotic adventure that is the Theatre of the Nameless collection.

In this nocturnal den of the dissident leaders of underworld subcultures, exotic dancers rub shoulders with actors and anarchists.

Infused with the essence of self-expression that transformed 1920s Berlin, this rich and indulgent collection envelops the senses.

Darkly sophisticated tones are accompanied by shocks of dazzling iridescence and kinky rubber-look finishes, creating a breathtakingly modern interpretation of the most illicit nightlife in history.
It's time to cross the threshold and embrace a world of unadulterated decadence."

THE COLLECTION

Unfortunately, Brisbane missed out on getting the nail polish so the polish pictured is from The Art of Darkness collection.

The collection has:



2 Cream Pigments:

Purple- Depravity

Coral- Androgen

3 Pure Pigments

Black- Zeitgeist

Auburn- Berber

White- Beguile

2 False Lashes

Grandeur (plain black)

Weimer (red, green and black)

2 Lipsticks

Deep Purple- Kontrol

Mauve- Resist

3 Lip Glosses

Neutral- Facade

Emerald Green- Violate

Mauve- Belladonna

2 Powder Blushers

Peachy Shimmer- Ambition

Rosed Flush- Morale

Eyebrow Cake

Auburn

4 "Rubber Effect" Nail Polishes

Purple- Faux Pas

Emerald- Kink

Red- Vice

Coffee- Taint

NOW ON TO THE LOLS!!

He's ecstatic to be here.

Nikki from Styling You wearing Resist and looking FINE!

Yolly photobombing with melting skin and demonic eyes

A model wearing a creation by the fabulous Deanna

Tiarah looking incredible!

Hey! It's Dana from Blushfully!

Sarah's new tattoo!

Yolly bombing again....

MUA Deanna with Yolly

Don't be a drag just be a queen- Daniel the "newbie MUA" at Illamasqua! I LOVE THIS GUY!

BOOM! How amazing is his makeup!?

The nail polishes!

Tiarah again

Playing around with the products- Sarah in the background preening <3

Why so mysterious?

*insert witty comment about removing your mask and letting your alter ego out here"

AND THEN IT WAS OUR TURN TO PLAY WITH PROPS!

As you can see, it was an AWESOME night! I LOVE THE COLLECTION and have already bought "Ambition". I'm in love!!

Keep it Haute!



I Love Gold FOTD

I do love gold (the colour AND the precious kind). I love it in makeup, as sequins, jewelry, hair colour, skin colour... the list goes on!

So today I did a golden FOTD to match the gold sequins on my top! Here it is:

Face:

Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation #8

Illamasqua Powder Foundation

Illamasqua Undereye Concealer

Cheeks

Smash Box Powder Blush in Chiffon

Illamasqua Bronzer in Writhe to Contour

Elizabeth Arden Highlighting Powder

Eyes

Urdan Decay Primer Potion

From UD Naked Palette: Half Baked all over Lid, Smog in Crease

Napoleon Perdis China Doll Gel Liner

Sublime de Chanel Mascara

Oradess Eye Definer Liner in Black

Lips

Rouge Coco Shine in Canotier

Fragrance

Britney Spears Fantasy

Oh hello blotchy tan! YOU'VE RUINED MY LIFE! Urgh. Worst. Tan. Ever.

Just quickly as well, please don't forget to lock up when you leave the house. There's been an increase in Break and Enters around Brisbane and I'd be beside myself if anything happened to any of you!

Keep it Haute



Another "Work Makeup" Look!

I thought I'd show you guys another "look" I've been wearing to work...
This one has a matte eye (using the Naked Palette) and bold, juicy lips (thanks to Chanel Rouge Coco Shines).

Hope you enjoy!

Can I just say that my foundation DOES match my chest- the flash on the camera makes my face very white :\

Face

Chanel Matt Lumiere Foundation

Illamasqua Powder Foundation

FACE OF AUSTRALIA Bronzer

Eyes

Urban Decay Naked Palette- Virgin, Buck and Darkhorse

Chanel Khol Eyeliner in Noir

Sublime de Chanel Mascara

Lips

Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Aventure

Chanel Pink Sugar Lip Liner

Perfume

Rose Oil dotted on my pulse points

Please leave me a link in the comments if you've done a post about your work makeup :)

Keep it Haute!



How I Wear My Makeup To Work!

Hey Fellow Hautees!

Today I thought I'd show you how I've been wearing my makeup to work recently. If you follow me on Twitter you'd know that I've just started a new job where I have to be very professional, authoritative and confident. In real life, I am none of those things- I'm easy-going, relaxed and crazy. SO my makeup has had to change and be more serious *sad face*

This is how I've been wearing my makeup to work lately:

Face

Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation #8 (this has to be THE best foundation I've ever used)

Illamasqua Powder Foundation

Cheeks

Illamasqua Powder Blush in Lover

Illamasqua Bornzer in Writhe as Contour

Eyes

Urban Decay Naked Palette (Sin, Sidecar and Darkhorse)

Chanel Khol Liner in Noir

Sublime de Chanel Mascara

Lips

Rouge Coco Shine in Boy

Taken from Google Images as my lighting sucks.

My eye is ready for its close-up

"Sin" on the inner corner

"Sidecar" all over the lid

"Darkhorse" on the outer corner

Do you think I look professional? Is it working??

Keep it Haute