Once...

Ever thought Illamasqua was a bit 'out there' for you? Think again! Their new autumn collection is hands down the prettiest I've seen so far this year. Each and every item manages to be both wearable and unique at the same time. Not an easy feat. I think the brand has totally hit the nail on the head with this one, sticking to it's otherworldly roots but managing to drop a totally wearable collection. I have a feeling this will be a sell out...

Entitled 'Once', the collection is inspired by the 'exquisite point when a flower starts to fade and becomes impossibly beautiful in it's complex decline.' As always with Illamasqua, the accompanying imagery is drop-dead-gorgeous. There are seven pieces in the collection. So what are the must-buys, and which can you pass on?

First up, there are two really subtle iridescent, lip glosses. The lighter of the two 'Exquisite' is my personal favourite. It leaves a stunning pink sheen to the lips. The other shade 'Opulent' is a little harder to pull off, shimmery sheer taupe/beige shade. I'm also not a big fan of the chunky glitter in this, but if you can stand it, it's a lovely shade.

Next up are three of the new 'Vintage Metallix' gel-creme Eyeshadows. All three of these shades are stunning, shimmery, and annoyingly hard to photograph. The texture is gorgeous. Quite thin and 'wet' for a creme, but heavily pigmented and extremely long lasting (once these are on, they will not budge) my personal favourite is the beige shade with pink shimmering undertones. Stunning.

L-R: Courtier, Embellish, Babelot

They've also included one of their powder blushes. These are some of my favourite blushes on the market for pigmentation, texture and blend-ability. Unbelievably smooth and silky, this shade is Naked Rose and it's the perfect, natural rosey-pink shade. Perfect for everyday wear, or layered up for a more dramatic look.

Last but not least is the nail polish, 'Melange'. This is my least favourite from the collection. An olive green with golden shimmer, it's pretty and definitely unique, but not something I'd wear very often. As usual with Illamasqua polishes though, the consultancy is outstanding. If you like this shade, you won't be disappointed by it's formulation, that's for sure!

Roundup
Must-see items: Lipgloss in Exquisite (£16.50) , Creme Eyeshadow in Courtier (£16.50)
Well worth a look: Blush in Naked Rose (£21.50), Creme Eyeshadows in Bibelot & Embellish (£16.50)
Skip-able: Lipgloss in Opulent (£16.50), Nail Polish in Melange (£14.50)

The 'Once' collection is available from Friday.