Mizz Worthy's Illamasqua Contest!

"Illamasqua is the product of a heady mix of influences. Its roots stem from the dark and illicit 1920s club scene and combines a rich heritage in the manufacture of make-up for film and theatre. It also takes inspiration from members of the ‘alternative scenes’ for whom self-expression is paramount. Alternative cultures have always dared to be dramatic. They have an emotional attachment to making up. It’s an expression of their darker side, a release for their alter ego.

Illamasqua is for the bolder person hiding inside all of us. It is an act and an attitude. A symbol of tolerance. A celebration of idiosyncracies. A confident statement of self-ownership."

- http://www.illamasqua.com/

I personally love what the Illamasqua brand stands for. Evidentally so does Mizz Worthy as she is holding a completely awesome competition in which, as the brands tag line suggests, you create and your alter ego. SWEET!

My inspiraition was, funnily enough, a pair of black dangly earrings that have been lying in a drawer for AGES. I was thinking about the fact that they are quite gothic with a glamourous edge...which i guess if you look at my pale skin and black hair, is a natural progression for me. I wanted to actually use the earring in my 'look' but didnt want to just wear them so i started thinking about indian culture and how they use jewellry as facial adornment. By hooking one of the earrings into my hairline it hung perfectly in the middle of my forehead and i had the stimulous for my alter ego: gothic bollywood.

In contrast to the stunning jewellry, Indian make up seems to be incredibly chic and understated...I guess with adornments so elabourate there is little need for dramatic make up. Even wedding make up wasnt as dramatic as i had expected...the only drama tends to be focused across the top of the brows...and on the hands. Bingo.

So this is what i came up with:

I dusted some white eye shadow all over my face to pale me out...doesnt take much trying to be honest. I decided that in reference to the dramatic brow art that is commonplace in indian wedding make up, id bring the drama in a different way:by thinkening and darkening my brows. Then I just did a black smokey eye and blunted off the edges my using masking tape to create a definite edge. Traditional henna paisley designs inspired the pattern under the eye using liquid eye liner while nude lips made sure the focus was on the eyes.Im not entirely happy with this. The black liquid liner that i used for the bulk of the design doesnt look quite as even as it does in the flesh and i definitely think i can create something better for the contest...but this is my starting point.

Heres what i used.

FACE

Lily Lolo foundation in Porcelain + Bourjois eye shadow in 90 Blanc Diaphane

EYES

MAC Silver ring all over the eye lid

MAC carbon in crease and outer V and in eyebrows

Rimmel Exaggerate Eye Liner (also used to create paisley design below eye)

Boirjois Blanc Diaphane under the brow arch

Barry M Kohl Pencil in 30 White as a brow arch definer

LIPS

Loreal Infallible Concealer in 01 Vanilla