Review: Illamasqua Cry Eyeshadow

Illamasqua. Makeup for your alter ego. One year old British makeup sensation that made it's way across the pond a few months ago.

It's got a lot of hype to live up to, thanks to Youtubers in Britain. Does it live up to it?

..not the eyeshadow, at least.
Cry is a cool medium pink that has alot of blue in it. At first I was wary (this was won in a giveaway overseas) of the color, but gave it a try anyways.

Illamasqua. Makeup for your alter ego. One year old British makeup sensation that made it's way across the pond a few months ago.

It's got a lot of hype to live up to, thanks to Youtubers in Britain. Even more by their eyeshadows' description:

Bring a room to its knees without saying a word. Each of these glorious colours makes a statement that's as individual as you are. Highly pigmented, these long-lasting colors ensure all-night intensity. Experiment and be bold.

Does it live up to it?

..not the eyeshadow, at least.
Cry is a cool MATTE medium pink that has alot of blue in it. At first I was wary (this was won in a giveaway overseas) of the color and the finish (LOVE shimmer...wary of mattes) but gave it a try anyways.
Well...it's okay. Mediocre. People were saying how it totally rivaled MAC (didn't crease like MAC on me.....but I don't mind how MAC creases) and shu. Uh....this formula might be able to beat out MAC's old matte formula (but Matte2 totally destroys Illamasqua), but shu uemura still reigns supreme for me! The formula on Cry felt a bit chalky and powdery, nothing like the buttery textures of MAC Matte2. When I swatched it, I needed to build up 3 layers to get the intensity you see in the pic above.

That's alright, I thought. Alot of shadows apply better on the lids right? Well I had to apply 2 layers of Cry to get it to show and, to my horror, it took on a distinctly warm fuschia feel. What?? Yeah, fuschia. Yuck...I can definetly tell you it didn't look too great.

But the color is something that I can change, so lets talk more about the formula. It was kind of dry, and like I said before, a bit chalky and had a 'dusty' feel to it. It doesn't do the brighter color any justice, so I expect the neutral colors will be better. I'm very curious about the shimmer eyeshadows especially.

The packaging is shiny black, which does attract alot of fingerprints (SO annoying!) But unlike NARS packaging, there is a clear window embossed with their logo (and if you tilt it, it looks like there's a logo under it!). I like the window so you can see the color quickly. The sides of the square are pushed in, like if you played with a soft candy chew and pressed in.

Illamasqua eyeshadow retail 20$ for .07 oz.

My first foray into Illamasqua doesn't leave me terribly impressed, but I am eager to try their lipgloss, foundations/primers and blush and reserve judgement until then.