Illamasqua Pure Pigments

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I’ve been thinking about doing this post for longer than you can actually imagine. Thankfully it isn’t as daunting as my Nars behemoth so it didn’t take as long, despite the fact that I do, apparently, appear to own 100% of the entire range (something which surprised me) so here we have all of the Pure Pigments in all their glory.

I first fell in love with Illamasqua’s pure pigments pretty much on the day the brand launched. I was intrigued by the packaging and the promise of really intense colour. I also love the fact that they apply so easily. The powder clings to the brush perfectly and you can create a look in seconds.

Unlike other pigment pots, the Illamasqua ones have a little hole in the centre for you to dip your brush into, or shake some out gently onto the reservoir. This is great as one sneeze won’t send it all flying across ther oom, you can’t knock it over and tip it all out, and you only use what you really need. Design excellence!

I did all of these looks with dry pigment over a primer, but they can be used wet for extra impact.

First up, Marvel, a “yellow gold shimmer”. Yes, yes it is. Yellow gold. It looks so vibrant in the photo – a tad more so than it does in real life (I think). Seen here with Illamasqua Wolf powder eyeshadow in the crease for contrast. This was a Christmas gift from my sister-in-law a couple of years ago.

Incite is described by Illamasqua as a “warm gold shimmer”. To me it appears more bronze. I received many compliments when I wore this to the office the other day. It reminds me of Illamasqua’s Sirens collection and is absolutely perfect for summer tanned skin. Seen here with Illamasqua powder eyeshadow Matter in the crease.

Furore is probably the most work-appropriate of all these looks, and is definitely one of the most versatile pigments. A “champagne peach shimmer”, it is really neutral but ever so pretty. It has the most delicate shimmer out of all of the pigments and is genuinely gorgeous. This can also be used as a fab cheek highlighter.

Ore is one of the most beautiful things that I own. From the Art of Darkness A/W 2010 collection, this is a hybrid of brown, gold, silver and something else I can’t quite put my finger on. I absolutely love it. It is super glittery and there is more fall-out with this than other pigments so it needs to be gently patted onto a very wet base. Some of the glitter disperses during the day.

Alluvium is the other Art of Darkness pigment. In the pot, it is utterly stunning, but I find it hard to translate on my eye. Like a make-up version of OPI’s Absolutely Alice glitter polish, it is a gorgeous mid-blue with gold glitter. Like Ore, it is tricky to get the glitter to stay put. It is also so pigmented that it is kind of hard to sheer out and really does require expert application. I’ve used it here over the gold shade from Nars Sea, Sun & Sex. Alluvium was a PR sample.

Fervent is apparently the firm favourite of Illamasqua MUA Adam. He describes it as “fish scales”, wheras the website leans towards a more conservative description of “reddish brown with blue, green and silver shimmer”. I bought a back-up of this immediately as it is phenomenal. I get so many compliments every time I wear this as it is just so unique. A red base with an almost duochromatic blue flash. So easy to apply and looks great all day. I love this so much I have a  back-up!

Android was from Illamasqua’s Autumn/Winter 2009 Dystopia collection. A gorgeous gun metal grey shade, aka “shimmering charcoal black”, this isn’t perhaps the most unique of all Illamasqua pigments but that doesn’t mean I don’t love it. My favourite way to wear this is as a crease contrast with a hot pink or purple shadow. A little goes a long way here! Seen here over Breathe.

Static is the other pigment from the Dystopia collection. I can clearly remember standing there at the launch utterly transfixed by the way that the hot pink and white floated through the air like fairy dust. Described as an “iridescent pinksilver shimmer” this is one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. It does have a tendency to clump together as the particles are a bit larger here but it applies perfectly. I wear this to practically every party I go to, to add a bit of spangle to my eyes. You need this. I purchased this, and the subsequent backup at the same time!

Lust, a “pale green shimmer” is very pretty and spring-like. I don’t wear it too often as it is a weeny bit frosty and light for me but I think this would look absolutely stunning on someone with a darker skintone. It applies like a dream and reminds me strongly of the pale green in Nars’ Cleo. I think I used the dark green from Cleo in the crease here actually.

Involve is the first Illamasqua item that I ever purchased, and still one I absolutely adore. A “royal purple shimmer”, I like using this as a crease shade over a lighter base colour. It is intense and just the most glorious purple, flecked through with delicate silver shimmer. Looks amazing paired with Static, or a matte cream coloured powder eyeshadow.

Conquer is a really warm “forest green shimmer”. I don’t wear it often as green eyeshadows aren’t something I reach for all that often. However, I really like it paired with baby pink for some reason. You see it here over Illamaqua’s Wicked powdered eyeshadow as a contrast shade – I’d never be brave enough to wear this all over my lid.

Chasm just makes me think of mermaid scales. And I mean that in a good way. Described by Illamasqua as a “golden turquoise shimmer”, this is really pretty. Again, it leans a little too much towards green for me to use it on a regular basis, but since starting this little project, I have fallen back in love with it again and vowed to use it more frequently. (NB, Chasm is an EU only product.)

Breathe (bottom), a “white pearl shimmer”  is a-ma-zing. (am I getting boring yet?) An intense and shimmering white, I love to use this as a highlighter under my eyebrow and also in the corners of my eyes for instant zing. It is so fresh and icy looking that it never fails to brighten my eyes. I wore a lot of this on my wedding day. I   plan on getting a backup soon as I’ve nearly used it all up. Tingle (top) is a more dense silver shade, lacking the irridescence of Breathe. It’s pretty but not as delicate. Tingle has now been discontinued so snap it up now if you like it.

Pure Pigments cost £15.50 a pot and are available here.

Helen

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