Though the color magenta derived its name from the Battle of Magenta in 1895, there is nothing tumultuous about Illamasqua's Magenta Muse collection. But make no mistake: there are no shrinking violets in this color collection. The teal, purple, lilac, fuchsia, mauve, grape, gunmetal, and cement gray hues in the collection are full-bodied, ebullient, and biting, ranging in texture from creamy to powdery, glossy, and liquid, and covering full spectrum of finishes -- from matte to satin, shimmering, and even iridescent.
Below, you'll find a breakdown of all the pieces in the collection, along with swatches of some of our favorites!
LIPSTICK
Two lipstick shades ($22 each at Sephora.com) capture the spirit of the collection. One, Underworld, is an iridescent violet shade that seems other-worldly, almost alien-like with its eerie but fascinating shimmer and its opalescent quality. The other shade, Test, is a pink-tinged flesh tone with a deliciously creamy finish. Together, then, the two shades stand as yin and yang, light versus dark, heavenly versus sinister.
Below, you'll find an image showing how the Illamasqua Test Lipstick looks on skin:
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CREAM PIGMENT
Three new shades of Cream Pigment ($24 each at Sephora.com) wew introduced for the Magenta Muse collection. All of the richly pigmented cream colors can be used on eyes, cheeks or lips, and they feature a yummy matte finish that doesn't appear dull or flaky and which doesn't crack, smear, or run.
The darkest shade, Mould, is a blackened, almost prune-ish grape hue, while the Dab Cream Pigment stands on the polar opposite end of the spectrum, featuring a whitened, eye-popping, clean lilac hue. The Bedaub Cream Pigment, meanwhile, has a retro mint green tint that falls within the pastel range but still looks really refined and hip.
In the photos below, you'll find swatches of the Dab and Bedaub Cream Pigment shades:
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LIQUID METAL
Imagine you're an alchemist with the Enrapture Liquid Metal ($26 at Sephora.com), a metallic copper cream color that feels almost as light as oil when you run it along the skin. As with all of Illamasqua's cream colors, the Enrapture Liquid Metal provides buildable coverage, so you can get as intense a look as you desire.
Look at how nuanced the shade looks on skin:
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PURE PIGMENT
Since Illamasqua specialized in theatrical, heavily pigmented formulations and unexpected colors, a new Pure Pigment ($24 at Sephora.com) shade was practically a necessity. This time, they opted for a shimmering gunmetal hue dubbed Android. The loose, powder pigment can be applied directly onto lids, swirled with other shadows for interesting smoky color combinations, used as liner (just wet an eyeliner brush before dipping it into the pigment pot), combined with blush to play with shadow and light along the cheekbones, and more.
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NAIL VARNISH
In terms of color offerings, the six nail varnish shades in this collection provide beaucoup satisfaction. Color range from Scorn, a matte black perfect for rock-n-roll looks, to Lament, a bright coral pink with a glossy finish and a lively, flamingo-esque kick. As you work your way into the blue-toned spectrum, you'll then discover shades like DWS, a cement gray with a glossy finish; Muse, a deep teal blue with a glossy finish; and Jo Mina, a bright violet purple with tons of shimmer.
All the Illamasqua Nail Varnish ($14 each at Sephora.com)shades blow me away since they are so long-lasting, rarely ever chipping or peeling. All the options are fabulous but, if you must pick only one, definitely cop the Poke lacquer.
Below, you'll find a photo of what the Muse nail lacquer looks like when brushed onto nails:
Here's what the Poke Nail Varnish looks like on my nails. I'm so smitten with this shade!
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