Review: Illamasqua Cream Blush in Betray

I am really head-over-heels in love with the Illamasqua's Blushes at the moment.

Since I bought my first blush in Ravish in November and loved the formula and pigmentation, I've been trying to expand my Illamasqua cream blush collection and I bought my latest cream blush; Betray, at the Illamasqua Counter at Selfridges during their Christmas Comes Early Promotion.

What They Say

Betray is a 'Deep Rose Plum' with a 'dewy finish' which can be used to 'highlight your cheekbones and shape your face'.You can either 'build and blend with fingers or use a brush to create the colour intensity you desire'.

What I Say

Well I've already mentioned earlier that I love the Cream blush formula. I don't feel that it comes off too oily or pigmented and it is long-wearing (which is great for anyone who doesn't like to touch up their makeup during the day).

Betray is described as a deep rose colour and in its blush pot/square package it does look like a dark rose but I think it comes off a lot lighter on my skin. It seems to show up more like a sweet pink rather than a deep rose.

 I don't have to be as careful with this blush as I had to with Ravish as it is a much lighter colour and I do need to use a little bit more product to get it to show up however this blush is still super pigmented so I don't have to use more than one or two swipes with my angled foundation brush. Remember with Illamasqua Blushes, less is more . . unless you like the clown paint look 

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Christmas Comes Early & Primark Haul

Last week was Selfridges Annual Friends and Family's Christmas Comes Early event where anyone associated with  the store or any of their employees get a reusable voucher that can be reclaimed on almost any concession in the store.

On Clothing you got a 20% but with beauty you got a 10% discount

*cue evil laughter*

I know I'm meant to be on a self-inflicted makeup ban but a discount IS a discount.

 I planned to hit up Selfridges on the Saturday but after getting locked in my room (click here to read about that fiasco) I didn't really feel up to it, So on Sunday, I popped over and went straight to the MAC Makeup Counter but the counter was sooooo busy and the Makeup artists where giving me some serious air-time (as always) *I know MAC Makeup artists have a reputation for being rude but Selfridges MAC Makeup Artists take the biscuit and tea . . and the teapot*

No worries on my part because I popped on to my personal favourite counter - Illamasqua, where I had a lovely consultation with the make up artist who was super nice and helped me pick out an everyday creme blush (which I was after), an eyeshadow in Savage (which I wasn't) and gave me a consultation on a foundation powder that would be good for hot climates.

Illamasqua Eyeshadow in Savage

Illamasqua Blush  in Betray

I love it

Since Selfridges and Primark are in a walking distance from each other and I needed some tights (I'm stacking up for when winter eventually hits). I flounced over to primark where I got some great goodies.

When I saw this cute red retro bag going for £5, I actually yelped in happiness!!! It's sooooo cute!!!!
I also saw these cute earrings going for £1 . . . and I had to have them

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Review: Illamasqua Cream Blush in Ravish

Illamasqua is best known for their take-no-prisoner shades, outrageously unique beauty campaigns and their deviously names beauty products. Since discovering the Illamasqua brand this summer, I have turned into a bit of an Illamasqua whore and their cream blush in Ravish is currently ranking a very high top spot in my pink/plum blush collection.

What They Say

Ravish is a bright raspberry red ‘with a dewy finish’. ‘Highlight your cheekbones, shape your face, build & blend with fingers to create the colour intensity you desire. Use over foundation for impact or under for a captivating glow. However you apply it, be daring’

What I Say

I originally bought Ravish many months ago, as I was looking for an intense pinkish, plum blush that would look great on dark skin as well as a longwearing stay. I think the Makeup gods were looking down on me the day I visited the Illamasqua counter, as this was exactly what I found.

Depending on how you use this shade (i.e. for contouring or to add a pop of colour onto the cheeks) you will end up with an intense, dewy finish. I like to use this very gently on my cheeks using an ELF Angled Contour Brush rather than my ELF Angled Foundation Brush, which I normally use for crème blushes as this blush can be SUPER intense and needs a light handedness to ensure you don’t end up looking like you used clown paint for your cheeks.

 On a bit of a whim, I also used Ravish as a lipstick and  . . .woow . . just WOOOW!!! I think I might actually start using this as a lipstick. The colour and pigment is super rich and gives a glossy finish that many lipsticks fail to even do right

Illamasqua Ravish used on cheeks and lips

Ravish really is the go-to Cream Blush

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