To Be Alive Collection For Illamasqua For Summer 2015

 

As much as I am drooling over this lipstick, its not coming online until May. And with the discontinuation of the brand at both Sephora and The Bay, online is the only way to buy the brand now. At least on this side of the pond.

• Illamasqua To Be Alive Spirit Palette combines four powder eyeshadows with a creamy one. The Cascade, iridescent white, Inspire (royal blue) and Refine (matte navy) eyeshadows are powders, while the Awaken (iridescent icy blue) is a creamy eyeshadow. £34
• Illamasqua To Be Alive Lipstick in Vendetta is a bold blue lipstick, which creates a satin-finish. The formula is enriched with moisturizing ingredients, and nourishing Vitamin E. £18.50
• Illamasqua To Be Alive Prismatic Nail Varnish is probably the most wearable item from this collection. This lovely prismatic shade is chip resistant, highly pigmented and designed to create a two-tone effect. £14.50
• llamasqua To Be Alive Iridescence Shine Lip Gloss is a new lip gloss formula from Illamasqua. The lip gloss is lighter than the original one, and it features a light refracting technology, which promises high-impact shine with a non-sticky feel. £18

The Bay Beauty - Packaged by Julep?

I had recently ordered Illamasqua Blizzard from The Bay. When it came I opened the box and cursed. I had OBVIOUSLY gotten the wrong item. It said blizzard on the box, but it was a solid heavy box obviously too big to to be a nail polish. It felt like a foundation or a skincare item as it felt heavy and obviously full. 

But nope, it was actually  just FOUR of my nail polish.

The shade is pretty, but I really only needed one. This kind of leads me to believe that either the people who worked in the Julep shipping department moved over to the Bay. I say this jokingly, but seriously? Why is it that everytime I get an order from a company I have to phone them because of some issue? Is it THAT common for companies to screw up, or am I just someone with really bad luck? I think a fair estimate is that 30% of all my online orders come incorrect. Is this a normal percentage? Or is it seriously just me?

Illamasqua Once Collection

Its no secret that I am OBSESSED with the makeup artists over at Illmasqua and their promo images! Sadly the brand has pulled out of Canada and the United States both from Sephora and The Bay. Thankfully, at least for us Canadians who are used to astronomical (and by that I mean NOT free) shipping, they do ship internationally at illamasqua.com!

The collection includes Nail Varnish in Melange: a gorgeous antique teal colour:

A relaunch of Powder Blusher in Naked Rose. 

Sheer Lip Glosses in Exquisite, a pearly pink shade:

And relaunched Opulent, an iridescent beige:

Three new cream eye shadows – Vintage Metallix. Creamy in texture, they are shimmer finish products that dry to a smudge-resistant and long-lasting result. 

The first shade is Bibelot, a golden teal colour.

The second is Embellish, a rich cocoa shade.

The third and final shade of the range is Courtier, a dusky rose product.

Julep Emerson, Illamasqua Fragile & Deborah Lippmann Rockin Robin Comparisons

So I HAD to get Emerson. Mainly to see how similar or different it was to the other speckled polishes I have.

Deborah Lippmann Rockin' Robin, Julep Emerson, Illamasqua Fragile:

One coat:

Two coats:

Which is your favourite? For me Illamasqua wins hands down!

Illamasqua Nomad - Swatched

This is said to be a "bright jade" according to Illamasqua. Its kind of like a bright neon mint green with an aqua or teal leaning quality to it. I have no idea why it took me so long to finally pick this shade up but its a great summer colour! The formula is that of classic Illamasqua. Thick, but not too thick. opaque in almost one coat, and buttery smooth. LOVE IT!

New Illamasqua Products!

Ok, not arriving soon, but arrived. These new products were up on the website May 1st. And for those of you not sure, Illamasqua does ship internationally. I have ordered from them twice with no issues either time.

TPF Secret Easter Bunny Swap Reveal!

I was beyond excited (and quite stunned at the timing) when I arrived home from NYC and Las Vegas to find that my secret easter bunny package had arrived 15 minutes before I had. How did she time it? Darned if I know!

Such a big box! My mom and I opened it immediately.

I think I appreciate wrapping and such much more than the typical person because I am so lousy at it. But it really was wrapped and packaged SOOO well!

I love my reeses! I love how I dont even NEED to fill out a survey anymore. No pink, no red, in general no yellow, no multi coloured glitter and no indies. And always always always add reeses! lol! And seriously! Who could NOT love a REESTER bunny?!

First package:

A very pretty pastel blue Lippmann I dont have! Blue Orchid.

Now I will be honest. When I saw these I was slighly confused. Pink polish and a pink glitter top coat! Hmm...... My mom thought it made complete sense. She was sure it was a gift for bluejinx (me) to give pinkjinx (her). After reading the card the polishes made complete sense, as I too have done that multiple times! I swear in the store it was purple! NOPE! PINK! But as said, Mrs Pink Jinx claimed them. She was quite happy with them. And if shes not happy, NO ONE is.

Marc Jacobs polishes! A dark gorgeous eggplant.

My first Formula X polish. I am not happy about this. I have been steadfast in my refusal to buy/try/look at these polishes. For fear I would love them and need them all. And you know what? BAH!!!!!! My little brother was obsessed once upon a time with a Japanese show called...... something. I dont remember. But the catch phrase was Gotta Get Em All! Or something along those lines. And you yeah....... You have created a monster here. lol. And somehow, a blue Ciate polish I dont have. With over 60 of their polishes I am not sure how that happened! But yay! Its gorgeous also!

A teal polish that SCREAMS my name, and Gobsmacked. I love gobsmacked (and have it) but now I have a backup!

Another stunningly gorgeous Marc Jacobs polish. I seriously love how gorgeous this one is. But I also keep thinking "ok, this one is my next manicure" then open another and repeat the phrase! How am I going to decide?!

I have never ever heard of Dermelect let alone tried one, but I love the purple tinged blue of it. And another pretty Formula X polish.

Ok, this one ALSO needs to be my next manicure! This is not going to work I dont think. How do I do 7 different manicures all at once?

Are you kidding me?! Can you somehow make up your own three packs of minis somewhere? I must figure this out!

The only one of these I have is Boom Box, again, shocking since I have 90% of the line already. But they are little bottles and travel so well. So its a backup that will be very functional!

Such an awesome card!

I seriously had to laugh when I read the bit about the pink polishes. As I mentioned already, I do this ALL THE TIME! I seriously dont even know how I do it as much as I do, but I really do!

Can you tell how much I love everything (maybe not two of them, but my mom loves them, so they are ALL very appreciated)! Now to figure out how to determine my next manicure!