Social Media is something that has always interested me. I love how accessible Twitter and Facebook are as platforms for people to interact and share opinions and to see that first hand on behalf of such an influential brand like Illamasqua where the customers and fans are so loyal has been incredible.

Not only that, but to work in such a creative environment where everyone is so passionate about the brand and the products has been something else… having David Horne come down and ask everyone their opinions on new products that are in the pipe-line has been really surreal, but it just goes to show how valued everyone is here.

And when I say ‘everyone’ I mean quite possibly the best team you could ever wish to intern with. This month has quite literally flown by, and yes in large due to the hard work involved around the new Paranormal launch, which was honestly, and please excuse the pun, out of this world, but mainly because it has just been so much fun.

Rose Gallagher, Social Media Manager: The nicest, most genuine human being to grace this earth with the most expressive eye gestures I’ve ever witnessed.

Melanie Green, PR Executive: She’s the Salt to my Pepper and that’s all there is to say about that… I meaaan.

Nicola Thornton, PR Manager: The best story-teller I’ve ever encountered.

Lizzy Clough, PR Intern: Her inability to say words properly has had me in stitches this past month.

Overall, I’ve learnt so much over the last four weeks and I’m just so grateful to have been given this incredible opportunity that will no doubt aide me in all my future endeavors!

So thank you Illamasqua and a special big thank you to Rose for just being a great manager and friend x

P.S, I WILL be back for another Hip Hop Karaoke night very soon.

Explore everything from a wash of colour in subtle, sultry tones, to a high-colour, statement summer look with the new Paranormal collection. Learn about colour theory and the effects you can achieve by experimenting with different tones in these exclusive masterclasses, hosted by the Illamasqua Art Team.

The masterclasses will be taking place up and down the country throughout the month of May and falling into June. Join the sessions at a counter near you, at the following times:

Call your nearest counter now to book your place. Masterclasses are £20 redeemable against product purchased on the day. View the Illamasqua Store Locator here.

Whichever counter you book on at, this is due to be a colourful masterclass to remember, so don’t miss out!

Times:

Leeds 1pm and 4pm

Glasgow 2pm and 5pm

Liverpool 2pm and 4pm

Meadowhall 3.30pm and 5.30pm

Exchange 2pm and 6pm

Beak St 12pm and 4pm

Twiggy

Naomi Cambell

Boy George

First of all make-up itself! I look back at pictures of myself now and think what did my make-up look like. I’ve learnt so many tricks that are now part of my daily make-up routine. I definitely had to invest in a larger make-up bag whilst working here and I know find myself spending a lot longer doing my make-up than before.

When I think of internships I think of tea making, post duties and photo-copying, this is far from the internship I experience. In my first week I was thrown in the deep end as our Press and Blogger Generation Q event took place and as I am ending we are in the run up of our Summer13 Paranal event. It is mad to think that during my placment I have worked on six collections! I still don’t think I can pick a favourite! The I’mPerfection Blogger and Press event is definitely up there with my placment highlights! I had already been working for Illamasqua for nine months and it was such an exciting challenge to represent the brand and showcase the collection to bloggers.

Illamasqua has come to far in such a short amount of time and I am so proud to be a part of it’s journey. I started in a small team of three which saw our lovely Exective Hayley move departments, my amazing manager Alex leaving for maternity leave and the arrival of my brilliant new manager Rose. Working in such a small team I have been at the forefront of such a dynamic brand and fast growing medium, that is Social Media. I have run the department for two weeks on my own, and definitely shoved the phrase ‘Acting Social Media Manager’ down anyone’s throat that would listen.

I have been extreamly fortune to have taken part in many internal and external events that Illamasqua have worked with. Places I have never been before, my internship has allowed me to travel to Liverpool and Manchester. I was able to asist on shoots for our Halloween and Christmas looks. Documenting the events through films and videos really putting my creative flare to use.

I am so excited to see where Illamasqua will be in a couple of years to come, already in four years it has come so far and I could not think of a better place of where to have started my career in. I will be very sad to leave but I will never forget what I have learnt and the amazing people I have met along the world.

THANK YOU!

What a wild look, so precise and creative! Take Precision Inks in Scribe and Abyss and draw your Zebra design. The added silver on the eyes and lips just completes this look. Take Liquid Metal in Phenomena as a base for your eye and build up with Powder Eye Shadow in Feline and Obsidian. Line the upper lash line and create a dip down using Abyss again. Lastly swipe Intense Lipgloss in Galactic across the lips and you’re ready to go! (Taz Khan)

We love it when you put a unique twist on your speckled eyes. Check out this orange inspired look I can’t decided whether I like the ombre brows or eyes better, what about you? Create a light base using Powder Eye Shadow in Sister and Apex, then use Precision Inks in Abyss and Scribe for a speckled look. For the eyebrows use a mixture of Medium Pencils in Paint, Thrash and Spell blending in for a faded effect. (Alex Keen Photography)

Have a great weekend experimenting!

I love how rich and glossy Nail Varnish in Nobel looks, Mixed with other colours or even on it’s own, it is one of my favourite shades!

http://instagram.com/samfabz

Are you a fan of the new Pink Raindrops? What a beautiful creamy texture!

http://instagram.com/glitteredgloss

Can’t decide on your favourite I’mPerfection nail varnish, why not use them all and create a Speckled rainbow!

http://instagram.com/_nail_addict_

Looking for the perfect combination of purple Prosperity and Speckle work so well together, why not try mixing your shades up!

http://instagram.com/hanatu85

I almost forgot how much I love Nail Varnish in Creator, it always reminds me of midnight skies

http://instagram.com/ambergregg

This alternative nail look is so cool! Use Nail Varnish in Cameo for a reverse effect on the classic white tip and fill in with any chosen shade. I suggest Nail Varnish in Freckle it is practically identical.

http://instagram.com/heynicenails

Last but by no means least perhaps my favourite Manicure Monday look this week. Such a cute flower design using Nail Varnish in Lament, reminds me of spring!

http://instagram.com/libedon

Hope you have enjoyed this weeks Manicure Monday, don’t forget to Hash-tag Illamasqua on Instagram so we can find your nail creations!

Over the next four days of Easter, on illamasqua.com and in our Leeds, Liverpool and Beak Street Store, we’ll be releasing a different set of hidden best-selling shades at over 45% off every day. Your job is to find them.

Simply crack the cryptic clues revealed by e-mail or within the illamasqua online shop and follow the trail to reveal your exclusive Easter treats.

Keep your eyes peeled for the BIG surprise treat on Easter Monday.

Today’s Clue: 

Look beyond the shadows to uncover an exclusive, hidden discount. Keep your eyes peeled.

]]> http://www.illamasqua.com/socialise/join-the-illamasqua-easter-hunt/feed/ 2 http://www.illamasqua.com/socialise/you-are-beauty-gallery-10/ http://www.illamasqua.com/socialise/you-are-beauty-gallery-10/#comments Fri, 22 Mar 2013 12:45:04 +0000 Serina Gill http://www.illamasqua.com/socialise/?p=14429 Thinking of experimenting with some bold new colours this weekend but need some inspiration? We have collated some of this weeks best make-up looks sent in by our talented fans, check them out with guidelines on how to achieve their looks

LOOKAMILLION

I love her eyes in this one, the whirlwind of colours reminds me of a far out galaxy. Begin by taking Powder Eye Shadow in Sex and use this as a base on your lids and take it completely around the eye. Then apply Powder Eye Shadow in Imagine blending upwards. Then apply Powder Eye Shadow in Livid to the eye sweeping across going in the same motion as Sex and Imagine. Finish off with a flick using Precision Ink in Havoc.

These colours work so well together don’t you think? I adore how the lips and eyes compliment each other so well. For the eyes use Powder Eye Shadow in Servant and add a touch of Powder Eye Shadow in Intense around the socket of the eye, taking it right back creating a flick. Line your upper lash line with Precision Ink with Scribe and take it back following Intense. Lastly apply a coat of Lipstick in Magnetism.

Make Up By Leanne

How cool does this rainbow inspired eye design look? You will need to block the eye with different colours, blending them together to create an effortless effect. Start from the inner corners of the eyes and blend high, just below the eyebrows. For this look I recommend Powder Eye Shadow in Never for the blue then carry this through into a purple colour use Powder Eye Shadow in CanCan. Then use Burst followed lastly by Feint. You can add cute little dots to the eye by using Precision Ink in Scribe. For a similar funky eyebrow apply Medium Pencil in Tivitate.

How striking is this look? I love how the hair and make-up matches, she looks hot to the touch! Take bright vibrant Cream Blusher in Libido and cover this around your entire eye past the eyebrows and up to the bridge of your nose. Apply liquid Metal in Electrum to the inner corners of your eyes. Take Medium Pencil in S.O.P.H.I.E and smudge messily under your eyes. Then Take Precision Ink in Abyss and draw on your sculptured brows. Creating small lines to join up the eyes and brows. (Tip: If you find this difficult you can trace your design using our Angled Brush and Powder Eye Shadow in Obsidian) Finish off this look with False Eye Lashes No.16. 

Karla Powell Make-up Artist

We love Karla’s speckled lip. To recreate fill your lips with Lipstick in Pristine and line the top lip with Precision Ink in Abyss. Then take Precision Ink in Scribe to create the white dots, simple!

Hope you have enjoyed this weeks You Are Beauty Gallery, have fun experimenting with your own looks!

Here are my top five Illamasqua products for the perfect Spring make-up…

Cream Blusher in Promise

Cream Blushers are made for spring! The dewy effect it gives radiates off the skin and gives a softer look to the face. I have chosen the colour Promise as it is simply gorgeous, it gives a subtle pink flush to the skin without being too overpowering. The rich tone reminds me of cherry blossoms and they are very reminiscent of spring!

Gleam in Aurora

This is the perfect highlighter for spring. The iridescent shine is the pick-me-up your face needs when the sun finally comes out after being hidden for so long. The sparkling champagne colour sits perfectly on your face and stays with you all day.

Intense Lipgloss in Fierce

I love Fierce, and it tastes as good as it looks! The stunning purple-blue tone adds an intense colour to my ideal spring look, being a bright colour it isn’t too bold but still gives that Illamasqua edge.

Nail Varnish in Nomad

You can’t have a spring favourites without green! This is a beautiful blend of jade; Nomad’s creamy texture looks divine on the fingertips. It paints the perfect picture of spring!

Cream Pigment in Dab

I tend to avoid dark smoky eyes in spring but like to add a little colour to my eyes still. Cream Pigments are the best for this as it creates a softer look on the lids that are easily blendable. I’ve chosen Dab as the creamy lilac colour signifies to me Spring and acts as a great base to add other pastille colours that look much more flattering to the eye.

Seeing as this post is all about spring it wouldn’t be right if I didn’t include our latest (and my favourite to date) collection: I’mPerfection.

My all time favourite piece from this collection? As much as I adore how unique and delicious the nails look I think the Blush Up Brush has to be my go-to I’mPerfection piece. There is just nothing else like it around, although I’m sure it will get duplicated by other envious beauty brands soon enough. The effect it leaves on my face is like no other and I have used it every day since it was first given to me. I’m not blessed with model cheekbones but this brush creates runway style definition I never knew I had!

Poshpepper13 has chosen to to combine Nail Varnishes Charisma and Speckle together, the colours compliment each other so well!

Ashley models Nail Varnish in Nomad and Jo’mina beautifully! I can’t decide which one is my favourite on her, can you?

Domdom_k has opted for a retro swirl design using Nail Varnish in Cameo 

Wow Shaz has used Nail Varnish in Untold to create this stunning design, reminds me of Christmas!

Hookedonpolish shows you how to be creative using Nail Varnish in Cameo!

This has to be my favourite nail look this week, it reminds me of Easter! Santellax0 has used Nail Varnish in Load as a starting base

Hope you have enjoyed this week’s Manicure Monday Monday don’t forget to Hash tag Illamasqua when uploading your designs!