I'd been eyeing it ever since it was released in the Theatre of the Nameless collection and finally caved in when they had a 30% discount on it a few weeks ago. I was really intimidated by it when I first received it because my tube of Goes and Goes was too tame (and warm) next to it! LOL. I have it on for the first time today and I'm pleasantly surprised how wearable it turned out to be.
My box of lovely Illamasqua lip products arrived yesterday afternoon (i missed the big discount
). I tried them on last night, but the lighting in my house s**ks. So my impressions are somewhat limited...
-- Kontrol Lipstick ("blue violet") is a quite dark -- darker than i had thought -- blue-violet that is only very slightly greyish. It is VERY matte. I had it on my wish list for ages and i'm happy with it.
-- Underworld Lipstick ("iridescent blueberry violet, shimmer finish") is not quite fuchsia (thank goodness!), but is a medium-light, pinky purple, magenta color that is matte, with a bright blue duochrome sheen that really stands out. I was so afraid the base color would be too bright for me after i saw it in a shop. But somehow it works - i think its matte-ness mutes it slightly. I'm excitedly wearing it today, after checking it out in daylight.
Both are not, in my opinion, truly drying, but they are very far from moisturizing, and people who expect lipstick to feel slippery or moist may think them dry. Fragrance is listed in the ingredients and i get a hint of vanilla.
And because i seem to never have too much
purple, i also got:
-- Fierce Intense Lipgloss ("bright blue purple") is a nice medium blue violet gloss. I got it to partner with Kontrol on some occasions
-- Boost Intense Lipgloss ("blueberry violet") is magenta with blue duochrome, just like Underworld, but in a gloss, so its base color seems brighter.
Illamasqua glosses are VERY SHINY and not sticky. They moisten and soften the matte lipsticks when worn together, for those times you want either more shine or more moisture.
The glosses have a fruity scent I do not like - in fact, i was surprised they had such a fruity smell. However, i can live with it since it isn't as disgusting as some DS products, has no flavor, and fades fairly soon.
Go Team Purple!
Still on my Illamasqua wish list are:
-- Violate Sheer Gloss - "dark green shimmer"
-- Gender Intense Gloss - ("bright sky blue") aqua turquoise
-- Apocalips Lipstick - ("teal, matte finish") sky blue aqua turquoise
-- Medium Pencil in Debonair - "bright sky blue"
-- Fetish Lipstick - "bright blueberry violet, matte finish"
I dunno, i may be adding a new addiction, on top of my MAC fetish... (why, yes, i did get the mostly purple pigment set and the lip gloss set with Boys Go Crazy from Guilty Passions)
So my potential disappointment over
Strong Woman is fading, while my excitment for
Firm Form continues unabated.