Illamasqua Loves... Lucy Gibson Make-up Artist

One of the things that I love about working at Illamasqua is hearing about all the shoots and shows that our artists have worked on. One of the hardest working freelancers I have met is Lucy Gibson. I frequently receive texts from her about who she is working with and where they are working - for instance, recently she has worked on diverse shoots such as the come-back video of Bananarama, Agent Provocateur's latest shoot and a SHOWStudio shoot with Nick Knight amongst many, many others.

So, I thought I would showcase some of Lucy's work right here for you all to see. I took inspiration from the berry lip girl today - I have layered on Medium Pencil in 'Severe' to match my new burgundy coat [I say new; my pregnant friend gave it to me... she can't fit in it anymore, what a shame!] - and Lucy has given me a breakdown of the look below...

"The berry lip girl is wearing Satin Primer (which I use for almost all shoots!) and a little light foundation, with a touch of Cream Blusher in 'Dixie' low on the apples of the cheek for a tomboyish, wind-kissed look. To open the eyes I added Medium Pencil in 'Vow' on the waterline and clear mascara to Alison's fantastic lashes. The lips that go so well with the model's gorgeous fair complexion were made up of a base of Lipstick in 'Poison' finished with a slick of Intense Lipgloss in my favourite shade; 'Repulse'."

"This was a shot from work I regularly do with Nevs model agency and the fantastic photographer Lee Mofo, who's recent clients include Firetrap, FrostFrench and 28twelve. We hold shoot days for the agency at my warehouse studio and often shoot up to 8 girls a day, so it's important to create strong, camera ready looks with minimal time and product. Illamasqua's huge colour pay-off and great range of shades makes my job a lot easier, and needless to say my male flatmates never complain about having a house full of gorgeous models!"

"The dark, smoky eye was created for a Shoreditch clothing label called Blank, shot in the City with the fantastic Odi Caspi. Despite dodging heavy downpours of rain and having to adopt a somewhat guerilla approach to shooting to avoid the hoardes of rather unfriendly security guards, we managed to get some fantastic shots on the day!"

"Our stunning model Ashley had incredible blue eyes with a great fierce stare that I wanted to accentuate, so taking inspiration from the runways of Versace, I created a very dramatic smoky eye. I used Medium Pencil in 'Sophie' as an eyeshadow - drawing it onto the entire lid, waterline and below the eye, then using my fantastic Illamasqua Blending Brush I, II and the Eyeshadow Brush to disperse and blend the colour into a dramatic wing around the eye. I set this with Powder Eye Shadow 'Incubus' then added Powder Eye Shadow in 'Truth' to the brow bone right up to the eyebrow which was filled in with Illamasqua Powder Eyeshadow in 'Boomerang'. To finish I added lashings of Illamasqua Volume Mascara and a touch of Sheer Lipgloss in 'Brilliant' to the inner corners of the eye to give a tarry, rock chick look." [Note: Tarry! Awesome word for the look I think *mentally adds to dictionary*...]

"The skin was created using Satin Primer again, with Cream Foundation buffed into the skin using Blending Brush II (I love using this brush with foundation, it really gets into all the "nooks and crannies" giving the fantastic coverage of our foundation, but with the texture and feel of natural skin). I contoured the cheeks with a darker shade of Cream Foundation (this will differ from person to person, ask one of Illamasqua's fabulous on counter artists to match your skin tone!) before finishing the look with another of my favourite products, Lipstick in 'Submit', pressed into moisturised lips with the finger tip."

On an all day shoot like this, it's important to use longwearing products, especially in the rain, and luckily with Illamasqua's range I don't have to compromise my creativity for durability :)"

IMATS 2010 - the Fallout

The International Make-up Artist Trade Show 2010 was officially the biggest and best attended IMATS in the history of the event. This year, the London leg of the show tour was at the Alexandra Palace in North London. Brands from all over the world attended; from the hair care, tanning, prosthetics and cosmetic industries. Our involvement with the show was very last minute; Alex Box signed up as a keynote speaker and Spob - Head of Professional Development here at Illamasqua - organised our participation.

We enlisted the help of some of our fabulous counter staff including Adam, Halimah, Lucy, Urszula [from Fenwich Newcastle] and Nicola. As many of you are aware, Nicola creates videos as Pixiwoo on Youtube and she was in high demand at the event for photos and signatures!


Lucy, who specialises in body art and fantastical make-up, went to work on a model creating a beautiful Avatar-like look whilst Adam set about creating a range of porcelain dolls.

My video from IMATS will be going on to Youtube - I'll post the link shortly!

I grabbed a quick word with an exhausted but exhilirated Spob this morning, who tells me "it was fantastic to meet so many make-up artist students. We can't wait to host more academy events at their colleges. If they would like more information, ask their head of year to email us at info@illamasqua.com. It was also amazing to meet so many of the bloggers and beauty press." What did she think of Alex Box's speech? "Thankfully, Trudi and I had a seat reserved for Alex Box's speech; the queue to get in was rather crazy! It was fabulous to see the reception she received." So, plans for next year? "Oh yes. Bigger, better... I can't wait! But I will definitely be booking a holiday for the week after!" I think you'll deserve it, Spob.

Trudi - "At Illamasqua, we have a determined policy to invest time in the professional world. It's an important message as we are the first truly professional make-up brand. During the next year we will be working with professional artists and make-up colleges to get them familiar with the brand and demonstrate what our products can do as well as to inspire and excite them."

"IMATS wasn't on our agenda but the opportunity presented itself and we just had to do it - it is THE make-up show!"

"I had a great time meeting professional artists, students, bloggers, press, the IMATS team... what a great reception we got! Alex Box's keynote speech was fabulous and the blue Medium Pencil in 'Debonair' that she was wearing on her lips quickly sold out."

"Someone said to me that Illamasqua is new but not new; that we have fitted straight into the professional environment, which is unprecedented for a brand only 14 months old. I thought that was lovely."

Below is the winner of the student make-up artist competition, where the theme was Alice in Wonderland. I think this look to some influence from one of Alex Box's images...


Spob, Trudi and I would also like to thank the entire Illamasqua team for all their hard work and dedication.

Lucy's Lippy!

Eliza recently left us a comment, asking about Lucy's lip colour in the below photograph. Lindsay, our guest editor last week, asked Lucy about the colour. Lucy - being Lucy - couldn't just use one product, that would be too easy...

"It was Lipstick in 'Brink', with Concealer pressed into it and a little Pure Pigment in 'Furore' pressed into the cupids bow."

Thanks, Lucy!

Burlectric At SEOne

Illamasqua provided the make-up for the fashion show part of this Burlesque meets Music meets Fashion meets Technology event on Saturday the 5th September at SEOne club in London Bridge. The underground club [one of the largest in London] was decked out to provide an invigorating, sensual experience - there was even a candyfloss stand, but I was more interested in the Absolut bar that offered a myriad of delicious cocktails.

The make-up was provided by Adam, Halimah and Lucy who instructed some London College of Fashion artists on the key looks for the show.


Featuring up-and-coming designers such as Matthew Harding, Blandine Bardeau and Victoria Jensen, the show was an absolute triumph. The models stalked their way through the crowd and onto a rotating tea cup [yes, you did read that right!] to the sounds of Blur "Song 2" and other club hits spun by DJ Goldie Rocks. Traditional aspects of fashion shows were blown away and the diverse fashion on offer was very exciting.

After the fashion show, there were several burlesque performances and a random assortment of entertainment in the fashion room.

Roisin Murphy, Electro extradonaire, provided an amazing DJ Set and even though she is heavily pregnant, belted out a few hits and even some exclusive tracks from her new album.

The crowd went predictably wild and with acts such as The Coolness [who will be remembered for their on-stage antics as much as their actual performance...!], David E Sugar and Dega Breaks providing an eclectic mix of indie and electro, it was a night that the mix of indie kids, fashionistas and cool clubbers will not forget.

All Walks Beyond The Catwalk

I was honoured last week to receive a call from Erin O Connor [yes, I did nearly faint at my desk! She is one of my all-time fave models!] to ask for our help in the All Walks Beyond The Catwalk shoot that was taking place on Friday 18th September.

The initiative, co founded by Erin and supported by the likes of influential fashion and culture figures as Rankin, Alexandra Schulman, Sarah Brown, Nick Knight, Giles Deacon, Twiggy, Sir Stuart Rose, Georgia Jagger, Tricia James, Deborah Milner and many more, All Walks Beyond the Catwalk aims to expand upon the range of professional models used in fashion imagery, by by celebrating individuality and diversity.

Nick Knight, legendary photographer and founder of SHOWstudio says, "It's very important that we question the parameters that define beauty. I'm thrilled to support the All Walks initiative."

Alexandra Shulman, editor of British Vogue agrees: "The most important thing is to have a confidence in what you are and not to feel that you have to be like someone else; thinner, younger, blonder. Originality is the greatest treasure."

Our philosophy at Illamasqua could not be more in tune with the points that both Nick and Alexandra raise; to celebrate ones individuality and not be fully directed by the latest trends, fads and pressures to conform to a certain ideal. Our underlying commitment to encouraging our customers to discover their inner selves, their alter egos and what makes them unique through a kaliedoscope of colourful make-up is our contribution to this. Rankin, photographer, says, "I wholly admire and support the endeavours of the All Walks Beyond the Catwalk campaign. As a photographer, I am constantly confronted by perceived ideals of beauty. Interest and creativity is not about perfection but quite the opposite; beauty comes from our idiosyncrasies."

London Fashion week showcased the launch of All Walks Beyond the Catwalk. The underlying purpose of the initiative creates a positive message for women of all shapes, sizes and ages to celebrate diversity.

The following words have been taken from www.allwalks.org, the official website of the initiative.

"On the 25th Anniversary of London Fashion Week, a groundbreaking new project, ‘All Walks Beyond the Catwalk’ will feature cutting edge designers showcasing a look from their spring/summer 10 collections on models, sizes 8-16 and ages 17-65.

Inspired by charity Beat and endorsed by the British Fashion Council co-founders Caryn Franklin, Debra Bourne, Erin O’Connor and Susan Ringwood, seek to engage the fashion industry in a conversation about body image and expand upon the imagery coming out of the heart of London Fashion Week.

Caryn Franklin explains, “This is about inclusivity. The traditional ready to wear method of design, with the model added at the end of the process makes it hard to accommodate individuality in shape and size. So this project is operating a bespoke approach. By giving each designer the opportunity to collaborate with the woman who will model the garment at London Fashion Week, we expand upon the expectations for ready to wear imagery. Curvy women are showcasing top design alongside slender women, as are young and mature models. The diversity is what we wanted.”

Sarah Brown, wife of Prime Minister Rt Hon Gordon Brown, comments, “London Fashion Week is all about celebrating British brilliance, and All Walks Beyond the Catwalk is a chance to be proud of British beauty. It brings together models of all colours, shapes, sizes and ages in a dazzling array that looks gorgeous – because it looks like Britain. It’s a reminder that true style and glamour know no boundaries – that each person can look radiant because each of us has a unique special something to cherish. I’m a huge fan of the initiative and very proud to lend it my support."

Sarah Watkinson, founder and director of 12+ UK Model Management comments, “It is a rarity for my models to be involved in London Fashion Week or a cutting-edge editorial. The simple reason is that designers don’t usually design for curvy models. The results speak for themselves.”

The All Walks Beyond the Catwalk event is the launch platform for an ongoing campaign to raise awareness, educate and celebrate the beauty of individuality and positive self-esteem - remembering that no two bodies are the same. The project has received support from key figures in the fashion industry including Twiggy, Rankin, Matthew Williamson, Giles Deacon, Mary Portas, Georgia Jagger and Sir Stuart Rose. It has also received support from the London Fashion Showcasing Fund.

We sent our artists Lucy, Amanda and Helen to help out Kay Montano on the shoot. With models including Jade Parfitt, the girls created looks that mirrored the i-D shoot that was in the previous months i-D magazine. I asked them what kind of products were hot behind-the-scenes...

Helen tells me: "I did several models' make-up ranging from a petite mixed race girl to a curvy knockout blonde; we created looks from natural through to sculptural. The girls loved Lipstick in 'Blaze' - a real candy orange that makes the lips pop. Erin and Caryn were both really nice - I loved how Erin came round and greeted everyone in a relaxed and friendly manner. It was nice to have such a relaxed vibe - most shoots are chaos!"


Check out the All Walks website at www.allwalks.org and log on to londonfashionweek.org for more details on the initiative.

Manchester Blogger Event

Friday 4th September saw the Manchester Blogger Event at Ithaca in central Manchester. This fabulous location mirrored the Dystopia collection superbly!



As I have very little knowledge of Manchester, I asked Krystle and Lucy [two of our gorgeous artists from Selfridges Trafford] to find me a suitable location and they really came up trumps with the dark, edgy and sultry atmosphere of this exclusive Manchester bar.

With a mix of modern and traditional pan asian canapes and some seriously cool looking cocktails, the bloggers who attended got to chat with Leena, Krystle, Lucy, Alex Box and myself about the new collection and the hero products within it.

Alex Box created a dramatic Dystopia look on Mizzworthy using the directional products from the collection.

We also had a very special guest come to the event - Sylvia Lancaster. Sylvia is the Mother of Sophie Lancaster who was tragically killed in August 2007 by a group of thugs for simply looking different to them. As you all know, Illamasqua support the Sophie Lancaster Foundation by donating £3 from every Medium Pencil in 'Sophie' [our blackest black pencil] to the charity. Sylvia gave a touching speech on her life after the death of her daughter and what the charity is doing to raise awareness.

On a personal note, it was really lovely to meet Sylvia and I greatly admire her for the work she is doing and her selfless attitude. She is an inspiration to us all.

I would also like to thank the artists and the bloggers for attending and I hope you had fun checking out the latest collection!

A Time To Reflect

I have been location scouting in Soho today, as we have an event coming up that needs to be as fabulous as our Autumn Winter collection. I cannot believe that it is getting so close to launch time!

Launching a new collection is never easy - how some brands launch 12 a year is unbelievable! After the initial idea has been discussed and evaluated between Alex Box and the Head Office team, Katie and Alex will spend several days locked away discussing colours, textures influences and product stories, from samples sent by our suppliers.

The initial samples will then be approved or sent back with comprehensive notes on how we think they can be improved or how they can fit the collection better. After all the samples have been approved, Katie and Alex will take a look at palettes and what colours will create an interesting yet unique combination.

After this process? Naming the products of course! This is always good fun and there are many rejects until [corny as it sounds...] the name just fits.

Once the final products are all sorted, then our PR team will come to take a look and have a meeting with Kate, Katie and Alex to understand the collection, the fundamental inspiration and to 'have a play' with them all to get a good idea of the texture and the looks that can be achieved.


The next stage [and this stage concluded about a fortnight ago...] is to consider the collection campaign. Models, hairdresser, photographer, stylist, location... all these individuals have to 'get' the idea behind the collection and be working towards the same goal - it's an extremely creative environment and there was plenty of working on instinct at the shoot.

Since the shoot, we have been whittling down the number of photographs taken [literally, hundreds] to about a dozen to use in the final campaign, for Point of Sale, advertising, leaflets, postcards, product books, website, duratrans...

So this is the stage we are at now! The deadline we are working towards is the beginning of September when all the blood, sweat and tears [I'm so dramatic...!] will be out for you all to see...

Foundation Breakdown

Lure: Bring out the face kept hidden. The face of your bolder half. The faces that dares to take on the night...

I receive a lot of emails from international customers interested in our Foundations and asking if I can help them to pick out an accurate colour. I am of the belief that being able to actually try the product on your own face is the best way to judge if the colour is right, texture is suitable and that you like the finish that the product gives you! I hate buying a foundation and then getting home and seeing that it's all wrong...

For those of you who do like to buy foundation of the internet, I've had a chat with Katie, our Product Development Manager and composed a quicklist that will give you an insight into our foundations:

Rich Liquid Foundation

Texture: Extremely rich and thick, suitable for night-time make-up as it creates a fantastic base for colour application.
Performance: Flawless and opaque. Mixes beautifully with Satin Primer for a dewier look. Dries semi-matt.

Skin types: All
Colours:
100 - purest porcelain white
105 - our lightest 'skin' shade
110-145 - best for pale skins
205-240 - best for medium skins
320-335 - best for dark/ black skins
340-355 - blackest black - brilliant for theatrical use as opposed to a real 'skin' shade


Light Liquid Foundation

Texture: Lightweight and airy, with a very fluid consistency.
Performance: Beautifully easy to apply and very cooling. Dries to a dewy, light to medium finish.
Skin types: All
Colours:
100 - purest porcelain white
105 - our lightest 'skin' shade
110-145 - best for pale skins
205-240 - best for medium skins
320-330 - best for dark/ black skins
340-350 - blackest black - brilliant for theatrical use as opposed to a real 'skin' shade
Performance:
Skin types: All, especially combination to dry.


Cream Foundation

Texture: Cream compact that gives a rich, opaque finish but blends beautifully.
Performance: Has a mirror in the compact, so great for on-the-go touchups! Dries to a semi-matt finish with a medium-full coverage and can be used wet or dry.

Skin types: All, especially drier skin types.
Colours:
100 - purest porcelain white
110 - our lightest 'skin' shade
110-145 - best for pale skins
205-240 - best for medium skins
320-330 - best for dark/ black skins
340-350 - blackest black - brilliant for theatrical use as opposed to a real 'skin' shade


Powder Foundation

Texture: Matt finish creamy feel powder.
Performance: Can be used alone or over any of the foundations. Gives a full, matt finish. Also comes with a mirror for touching up on-the-go. To sheer it out a bit, use with a damp sponge or brush and it still dries matt.
Skin types: Especially good for combination to oily skin types.
Colours:
100 - purest porcelain white
105 - our lightest 'skin' shade
110-145 - best for pale skins
205-240 - best for medium skins
320-330 - best for dark/ black skins
340-355 - blackest black - brilliant for theatrical use as opposed to a real 'skin' shade

Thanks to Lucy, our lovely intern and Crispian, our Customer Services Manager for letting me paint their faces whilst they were trying to work! You can see how thrilled they are....!

I hope this helps! I will do similar posts for our Concealers and Powders - leave me a comment if you would like this, or any other similar info on our products.

Welcome To The Illamasqua Blog Page!

Hello and thanks for checking out the Illamasqua blog! This blog aims to bring you not only the latest news, events, gossip and development from the world of Illamasqua, but also endeavours to give you a glimpse into the hectic and fun world of cosmetics – introduce you to the team, see who does what and show you how a beauty company works.

Illamasqua is a privately owned company, based in London [where else?!] and have only been retailing since November 2008.

Celebrated make-up artist Alex Box is our Artistic Director and artist Anja Huwe former frontwoman of German goth band X Mal Deutschland and David Vanian, lead singer of the legendary Damned both had a big input into the creative development of Illamasqua.

There are normally nine of us in the main Head Office [I say normally as we are always constantly on the move and I think the last time we were all in the same office at the same time was about a month ago now!] and they are:

Julian – Chairman and founder...

Kate – Marketing and Product Director...

Carl – Managing Director
Katie – Product Development Manager
Crispian – Customer Service Executive
Maurice – HR Manager

Jonathan – Retail Operations Manager
Lucy – Intern

And me – Alex – Marketing Assistant. I will be writing most of these blogs so if you want to get in contact with me, just leave a comment on the post and I will be sure to read it.

For more information on our in-store artists, visit www.illamasqua.com and follow the About Us link to find details of our Manchester and London artists. Details on artists at the newer counters will be uploaded soon.

For a more thorough background of who we are and what we represent, check out the website at www.illamasqua.com - there are also some beautiful images on there and to quote Napoleon Bonaparte [why not, eh] A picture tells a thousand words…