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REVIEWS // Illamasqua's Hydra Veil and Box Lipstick
Sunday, July 31, 2016
So, my friends over at HQ Hair have started to stock - drum roll please - Illamasqua! This is a BIG deal for me, because the thing I love most about HQ Hair are the discounts. There are always discounts - so their site will be the first place I look to for my Illamasqua fix in future.
I feel that HQ Hair has really evolved, as I remember back in the day I used to get all my hair products from them, and they didn't really do an awful lot else. A quick look at their site today, and you'll see that they've really moved with the times and now stock a lot of top brands in makeup and skincare too.
As for Illamasqua, their Precision Gel Liner is still my all-time favourite eyeliner - it's my Holy Grail product - so I harbour a lot of love for these guys. Their whole ethos when they first came on to the scene was something I could really identify with, and although they may have lost a little bit of that, they do still come out with the occasional stonker of a product that throws it back to the good old days. Apocalips, their electrifying tealy-turquoise lipstick, is one such product, and it's no exaggeration to say that it's currently sat in my 'top 5 lipsticks of all time' list. Well, it would be if I actually kept such a list.
*Note to self: create said list*
Anyway, to celebrate this momentous occasion, HQ Hair sent me *Illamasqua's mysterious Hydra Veil and their lipstick *'Box'. Here's what Illamasqua have to say on the Hydra Veil:
"Part hydrator, part primer, Hydra Veil instantly hydrates and smooths skin through a self-levelling, futuristic clear gel. Microalgae, Vitamin C and B3 work together to help maintain skins hydration levels, creating a healthy looking, balanced finish."
Box is a striking, scarlet red lipstick that was created by the former creative director at Illamasqua, Alex Box, as her signature lipstick. So good, she named it after herself? We shall see!
So what do I think of them, then?
Hydra Veil
For me, the Hydra Veil is really hydrating for my skin. I have the most obscenely complicated skin in the entire world (probably) - it's oily/combination with a twist: it's also dehydrated. I don't even know how that's possible, but at the moment I'd say that actually it's just all out oily. ARGH.
I had actually bought the Hydra Veil before, using my own hard-earned cash money and at first I was a bit confused as to why I'd just spent £32 on something that hydrated my skin. I'd be much better off just buying a hydrating gel moisturiser and spending the £28 change on something shiny. It was only when I used it in conjunction with my NARS All-Day Luminous Foundation that I understood its true power.
The All-Day Luminous Foundation is one of those where you just think "WHY?" Because the finish is genuinely awesome, but it's also severely drying and clings to every single dry bit of skin, revealing dry patches in places you didn't even know were problematic. Even though I loved that finish, it made me look like I'd laid out flat in the Sahara desert all day and baked my skin half to death.
But all that changes when you use it with Hydra Veil as a base - those dry patches just don't surface. And it doesn't only work with the NARS foundation either, take any drying, heavy foundation and it performs the same trick. For that reason, it makes the perfect base for me and turns those frustratingly almost-perfect foundations in to something that's spot on.
Box Lipstick
As for the lipstick, it's your classic striking Red with a nice matte finish. But it isn't one of those super-drying mattes, it applies to the lips with a bit of a tug but it does feel incredibly comfortable as you go about your day. It's also got staying power, and will easily outlast that dirty burger (unlike most lippies!) ehehehe. The shade, the feel and the longevity make this one of those rare lipsticks that makes me feel like a boss when I'm wearing it. Don't fuck with me, bish.
This all gave me the perfect excuse to create another look this time something a little more simple, with the trademark winged liner and a badass lipstick, the Hydra Veil acting as a base for my foundation and that red lippie stealing the show.
Illamasqua's Hydra Veil, priced at £32, and Box Lipstick, at £19.50, can both be purchased now on the HQ Hair website.
*PR Sample
8 comments
You look frickin' fabulous! And seriously that wing is insane! LOVES ITTT! I have their Apocolips lip colour as well and their black lipstick, I love them! xo
ReplyDeleteI have hydrovail but always forget about it, I think I need to play again! My skin is just so dry!
ReplyDeleteGirl, I think this every time I look at your pictures, your eyeliner skills are PHENOMENAL!!!
ReplyDeleteand that red lipstick is very flattering on your skin tone.
My fave blogger and fave brand!!! I could actually see you working for Illamasqua! Love the modern glamour look, and that Box lipstick just look beautiful on you. I got the precsision Iink liner this month and JAKOFEMFKLNSK how good is it!! Going on to HQ hair right now to stock up on everything. xx
ReplyDeleteYou need to teach me make up one day! Looks incredibly literally #eyelinergoals
ReplyDeleteYour makeup skills just get better & better - eyeliner on fleeeeeeeek! I tried the HydraVeil and I know what you mean, on its own you're kind of like 'what's the big deal' but it's such a great base for drying foundations. Their highlighters and blushers are also amazing x
ReplyDeleteWow the lip colour is hot! love it, looks great! I feel your pain with the skin type. I'm always like is it dry? is it oily? lol
ReplyDeleteFor some reason, even though the clues in the name, I didn't realise that's what Hydra veil did! Durr. That red lipstick is so so amazing though!! xx
ReplyDeleteTamz | http://www.throughneweyesx.com