Can you believe that the Illamasqua Beyond Powder OMG highlighter is my first ever Illamasqua makeup product?
Yet, my friends who know and love the brand have been talking to me about it for a very long time already! (Yes, Noor and Aseya, it’s you I’m talking about wink ). And I confess that I was a complete stranger to the brand until then. The breakthrough came as I was watching Aseya’s Snapshat story a few weeks ago. She recently went to London to attend an Illamasqua makeup training session and it really looks super cool!
What is Illamasqua?
Illamasqua is a brand from England (and you can feel it!wink ).
The brand was founded by Julian Kynaston, a well-known entrepreneur in the world of English beauty brands. After working for years for some successful English brands (GHD, Tangle Teezer etc), he decided to create his own makeup brand while he was attending the goth festival in the city of Whitby, North Yorkshire (can this story be more English?) (and I'm not even talking about his past as a Leeds football club hooligan) (I know, it's kind of crazy!) (#onlyintheUK).
While he was in a pub in Whitby, he noticed that the people who were there to attend the festival had a real connection with each other through their respective makeups. It was mostly very creative makeups, which allowed them to express their true personalities but also to identify each other.
He decided to create a brand with a professional quality, rich in different and original colors to please all those who wanted to express themselves through makeup and get out of the usual beauty standards.
So he founded Illamasqua in 2008. He was joined in 2010 by Joseph Corre, the son of Vivienne Westwood (the eccentric English fashion designer) and Malcolm McLaren (the manager of the Sex Pistols). It's difficult to create more punk roots than that for a brand, isn't it?wink
The name Illamasqua is a contraction of the two words "Illusion" and "Masquerade".
The brand is clearly inspired by the aesthetics of the Goth movement, early 20th century German theaters and burlesque cabarets but also by the ultra glamorous Hollywood golden age.
The visual communication is often very magical, sometimes dark and above all truly underground.
Illamasqua's values:
Illamasqua is an eco-friendly brand. They don't test their products on animals and they also use synthetic bristles for their makeup brushes. All products are also vegan.
Moreover, the mantra of Illamasqua is the expression and respect of individuality. The slogan of Illamasqua is "Make-up your alter ego," which refers to the idea of applying makeup not to hide but to reveal and express your true personality.
Besides fighting for the freedom of creativity, the brand partners with the S.O.P.H.I.E Lancaster Foundation, created after the death of a young Englishwoman beaten to death because her look was "different". Illamasqua has also helped to create a video about the tragedy to help increase awareness on this topic.
Illamasqua gives £3 to the Foundation for each S.O.P.H.I.E. eyeliner pencil bought, and encourages its clients to relay a message of tolerance.
Aseya also showed some of the products she purchased on Snapshat with her pro discount (lucky her!). And I had a mini heart attack when I saw her highlighter Beyond Power in the shade Epic. I sent her a message immediately to know more about it and she sadly told me that the shade for fair skin (OMG) was unfortunately completely sold out everywhere at that time. Because Epic is stunning but it’s a rose gold, perfect for Aseya and her lovely caramel complexion but less for mine.
And when I saw the color OMG, I immediately fell in love (didn’t really help, Aseya raving about the product) (if you want to save money, avoid being friends with bloggers, it usually means a death sentence for your wallet ah ah ah wink ).
So I basically hunted it down as you should when you’re a makeup-addict and a few weeks later it was available again on Illamasqua website so I could get my greedy hands on it.
Illamasqua Beyond Powder OMG, presentation:
What the brand says about it:
“A baked highlighting powder subtly adding a warm hue to your complexion for a natural, radiant glow. Whether you want to achieve an all over illuminating finish or simply highlight certain points, Beyond’s lightweight texture glides onto skin effortlessly, creating a healthy, flawless skin finish. With the choice to apply wet or dry, it provides long lasting results and can also be used on the body to achieve a natural, bronzed skin effect.”
The fact that it’s a baked powder makes it quite different from the other highlighters I own. Typically, baked powders are finer and more subtle than traditional highlighters.
I also have another highlighter a little bit similar to this one: the Laura Mercier Matte Radiance Baked Powder that I love. The colors are quite different and the Illamasqua one is more intense and a slightly warmer undertone. Its color is almost duo-chrome: it’s between a light golden and a slightly pink champagne. It’s a real gem!
I also love the fact you can apply it wet or dry according to the intensity you want. It can also be layered for a more intense effect and almost “metallic” but even so, it’s still super subtle.
However, for the possible application all over the face, I confess that with my oily skin, I don’t really feel like it’s a good idea…
In short, as you have probably guessed already, I really love this product! bigsmile
Illamasqua Beyond Powder OMG, my test and thoughts:
– Formula and texture:
The texture is very fine and quite powdery when you dust your brush in it (it’s quite characteristic from baked powders) but it’s easy to apply on the face and it won’t leave fall outs everywhere.
About the ingredients, no nasty petrochemical derivatives like Becca. tongue
– Packaging:
I love this sleek black plastic compact with a mirror. It’s very elegant IMO.
– Finish:
Shimmery but very subtle. It brings a very natural radiant glow to the cheeks. It can be more intense depending on the amount you apply on the skin but it’s never too much. The iridescent finish is so fine that it blends into the skin without making any texture like with some of the other, thicker highlighters.
In short, and to stay in the fantastic goth world of Illamasqua, it looks like fairy or star dust! heart
– Color Range:
It’s available in 2 shades:
– Epic: a sublime rose gold that will be perfect for dark skin tones (although I can’t help but want it, even if I’m super pale because it’s so beautiful, but I definitely have to restrain myself)
– OMG: a light golden champagne almost pink but with a warm undertone. It’s almost duo-chrome with all these shades blended together but it would be a subtle duo-chrome. It’s ideal for light skins or even darker skin tones who want a very intense highlighter.
– Application:
I use one of my favorite highlighter brushes:
– the Sigma F35,
– the Anastasia Beverly Hills #23
– the Morphe 310. This one is ideal for a very light and natural application.
– Pigmentation:
Very good pigmentation and the color is easily buildable.
– Lasting Power:
It lasts pretty well on my skin (about 8h), especially if you apply it with a wet makeup brush.
– Value For Money:
It’s not cheap but it’s also not a small quantity (7g) and it’s great quality. It retails for 32£ (about $42).
Illamasqua Beyond Powder OMG, swatch:
And on me:
- Applied with a dry makeup brush:
My lipstick: Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Meringue.
- Applied with a wet makeup brush:
My lipstick: Urban Decay Vice lipstick Sheer Liar.
In summary:
[wprs-pros][wprs-cons]
I had a real crush for this highlighter and I confess, also for the brand. I loved discovering the very special story of Illamasqua when I did my research to prepare this post and I think I definitely have to look closer at the other products of the brand (Nour and Aseya, fancy a ride to the Illamasqua shop soon? ;) ).
The Illamasqua Beyond Powder OMG highlighter is available on Illamasqua website but also on Asos.com for 32£ ($42).
And you, did you know the brand Illamasqua and this highlighter? Tempted by this very unique brand universe?
Photo credit: bonnie-garner.com