By now I'm sure you've seen Illamasqua's Once collection. It's one of their tamer collections, which to be honest disappoints me a little. I'd have loved to have seen a couple more 'out there' products mixed in to the collection. I only picked up two items - Melange nail polish and Bibelot Vintage Metallix.
From the moment I saw Melange nail polish I knew that I had to have it. It's the only item from the collection that really jumped out at me, and I have to say that I love it just as much as I'd hoped. It's a lovely medium teal with gold shimmer running through it. The website says it's a matte finish but I don't really think it is (it photographs more matte than it looks in real life). I've have to try putting a matte top coat on it soon.
It applied easily and was opaque in two coats. I've managed to go 24 hours so far without chipping it, which is fairly impressive for me. If there is just one thing you're going to splash out on, make it this!
I also decided to pick up a Vintage Metallix, their new cream-gel eyeshadow. I opted for Bibelot which is described as 'vintage green', which is pretty accurate. It has the gold-bronze shimmer running through it, as is really pretty.
Application however, was interesting. I found that the best way to apply this is in thin layers, buffing it out with a tapered blending brush. Usually I'd apply a cream shadow with a synthetic flat shader brush, but I found that applied the colour unevenly to begin with. I did one or two layers with my finger, blending it out, then patted some more onto the lid with the flat shader brush, again making sure to blend out. Fortunately the shimmer doesn't disappear when blended out, although I did get some fall out. I love the way it looks, but it was quite a lengthy learning process.
For a cream shadow it does wear well. Usually cream shadows crease like mad on me within the first hour, even with a primer. I did apply Bibelot on top of my Nars eyeshadow base, but even so I have been pleasantly surprised at how it wears. There was a little fading in the crease area at around the two hour mark, but I've hit 7 hours now and there isn't much difference. Not sure I'll be picking up the other two though.
I paired it with Illamasqua's Naked Rose blush (also part of this collection) and MUFE's Lab Shine Gloss in Shimmering Beige. Liner is Urban Decay 24/7 pencil in Scorch.
