Illamasqua • Rich Liquid foundation • Liquid

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red77tube on 1/16/2011 9:31:00 AM more reviews by red77tube

Age: 25-29   Skin: Normal, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Green    

I love Illamaqua products but this foundation doesn't hit the mark with me. I purchased it without trying it on (big mistake) because I loved the colour (115 -a very pale colour) that appeard to be yellow-toned. I'm always on the look-out for foundations with a lot of yellow-tone in them because A) I have fair skin with a massive amount of yellow tone in it and B) my face has redness to the cheeks and nose so I need a very yellow base to cancel it. So yeah, was excited about the colour and I'm a bit of a 'chancer', thinking 'how bad can it be'. Well, for me, this foundation was so bad that I've worn it one time and that's it.

My problems with this product are that it emphasises any dryness you may have, revealing dry patches you never even knew existed and for me, the colour turned out to be rather pale peach, it looked like I was wearing a mask, the colour was that off and the consistency was that thick. The colour issue I won;t hold again the product, but the formula seems odd to me, since it's a 'rich' liquid, I would have expected it to glide over any slight dryness and hydrate it. I think this foundation needs to take a lesson from Laura Mercier Moisturizing Foundation, because it's a rather full coverage product but doesn't look like a mask on your face or emphasise dryness.

Despite this product failing to be wonderful, I have found a use for it, I'm mixing the tiniest amount into my Mac Face and Body in C1 to lightening it a bit, and it's working ok when mixed with another foundation.

I really want this product to work on its own, so I'm going to experiment with apply it with tools (brushes, sponges) or cutting it with moisturizer to thin it out. The colour is way off for me, but if any of these techniques work, I would possibly consider buying it again in a different shade if they offer one that has more yellow tones or perhaps try their 'Light Liquid' Foundation instead after testing before buying!!!

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*TOP REVIEWER* Selenite on 1/15/2011 2:37:00 AM more reviews by Selenite

Age: 30-35   Skin: Oily   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Hazel    

After watching Gossmakeupartist's tutorial on this months ago, I finally tried it out. Compared to the finish, wear, and coverage, I'm not seeing a big difference from my FACE Atelier or MUFE HD foundations which also are great if expensive and pro-friendly. Perhaps this one is a big more matte and natural but I'm still not seeing anything terribly special.

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Jonnycarter on 12/12/2010 2:17:00 PM more reviews by Jonnycarter

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Very Oily, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Other    

I bought this foundation for times when i want a more full coverage and dramatic look.When i first applied this foundation i noticed that it takes slightly more effort to blend the foundation into your skin and i'd recommend the mac 187 duo fibre foundation brush for application.The consistency is very rich and the coverage is infact full.After wearing the foundation for the full day i noticed that it doesnt really move around and as it has a slightly matt finish it lasted longer before any touch ups.I have tried mixing this foundation with others such as clinique superbalanced,Even better & Mac mineralize skin finish (for a more radiant look).I do find that it is very versatile to mix with other foundations.As the consistency is so rich i dont need to use any concealer at all when i use it.
In my opinion i would say this foundation is really good but only if you want a dramatic and full coverage look and dont mind spending a little more time blending it in to your skin.
The shade i purchased was RF115(Very light with neutral undertones)
I found also that Illamasqua has alot of variety of colours with their foundations which is great! :)

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*TOP REVIEWER* Phanatical28 on 11/23/2010 11:30:00 AM more reviews by Phanatical28

Age: 19-24   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Brown, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Green    

Illamasqua Rich Liquid Foundation is a lifesaver! I use 135 (I'm MAC NC20-25 for reference) and it matches perfectly. Don't be terrified by how tiny the tube is in person - a little bitty squeeze is all you need, and it does a fantastic job! I also use Make Up For Ever HD Foundation in 117, and Illamasqua covers more heavily for $6USD less! But I do love and use both equally. Compared to MUFE HD, it is more of a dewy finish, which I like. It lasts and lasts through hot, humid days/nights, clubbing, and all in between and looks amazing in photographs.

I agree that it can look cakey, accentuate dry patches, or just look "too much," but I've found a quick spritz of MAC Fix+ eliminates that. I first moisturize, then prime (usually with Smashbox Photo Finish), apply, let it set a bit, and then spritz it and it looks flawless. It may be a bit heavy for me for constant, daily use, but overall it's a wonderful product, and will last for ages given the pin-sized drops needed for full effect. Make sure to shake it really well before each application too.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Fibergash6 on 11/18/2010 10:35:00 AM more reviews by Fibergash6

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Medium, Cool   Hair: Red, Wavy   Eyes: Green    

Argh, I love illamasqua but this foundation was a huge fail for me. I could not find an exact color match for one, 210 was too light, and 233 was too dark. I'm nw30 for reference. But the worst part was, how it made my skin look. Dry, old, and wrinkly. It accentuated drypatches I didn't even know I had. The coverage is nice, but it makes my face look nasty. I really do love illamasqua, but this is one of the worst foundations I have ever tried. This is one of those foundations you HAVE to sample before you buy. I think it would work best for oily skin people, but the color selection is terrible, so be sure to sample it before you buy.

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Cottz on 11/17/2010 5:26:00 PM more reviews by Cottz

Age: 19-24   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Blue    

Im a MUA and use alot of illamasqua products, (a) becuase i get 40% dicount and (b) because of this foundation. I photographs amazingly and I use it as my own foundation aswel.. Im a mix of RF100,133 and 140. It can look patchy if the base is not correct,I personally moisturise then prime (Illamasqua Matt Prime) and then set with MAC's blot powder in light.. I can work all day and go out that night just touching up with the blot powder, stuff is amazing I cannot rave enough about it.

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LizziBizzi on 11/9/2010 6:25:00 AM more reviews by LizziBizzi

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Cool   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

I'm currently trailing foundations for my wedding, and after reading/watching several blog and YouTube reviews, I decided this could be a good option. Estee Lauder Double Wear is my HG, but the SPF in it gives serious ghost face, so it's not going to be appropriate for wedding photographs. In Rich Liquid, I may have found my perfect wedding foundation.

It doesn't have the staying power of Double Wear, but, let's face it, little does. It still lasts well though (will tackle a full work day with no probs), and I personally have no issues with it transferring on to clothes etc. (I set it with a tiny bit of powder). I also have no application problems. I use a flat-topped kabuki style brush and it buffs on perfectly. Perhaps using primer helps - I use Illamasqua Gleam Cream, MUFE HD Primer or The Body Shop's Vit C Skin Reviver, depending on my mood and which is closest!

I've heard some people say that this foundation is much too heavy for everyday, but I don't agree with this. I like full-coverage foundations and, even though this gives more coverage than Double Wear, it gives a natural finish and feels a bit lighter on the skin. I barely need concealer when I wear it. If I do feel I need a bit of extra coverage, on a blemish for example, I just use a little extra foundation, applied with a concealer brush.

Another major plus point from my point of view is that it photographs beautifully. I personally find the Illamasqua salespeople (at the Belfast counter, anyway) to be at the more helpful and knowledgeable end of the spectrum, so if you're near a counter you should get matched well. However, I know there are gaps in the colour spectrum of this. I'm lucky that I found a match, but I know sometimes people have to blend a couple of shades together to match their skintone, which obviously makes it a bit on the pricey side.

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*TOP REVIEWER* wunverdoll on 11/2/2010 7:31:00 PM more reviews by wunverdoll

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Blond, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Green    

This foundation has amazing converage, covers pratically every flaw. It is true you do have to exfoliate and moisterise well or it will look patchy, however it also has the worst lasting power ever. It came off on the clothes, my phone, everything and after a few hours my skin was a greasy mess of foundation and by the end of the day my skin was patchy and there was no foundation left on my skin. Would I buy this again? Absolutely not and only because of the fact is has no staying power whatsoever.

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varmintrifle on 10/27/2010 4:15:00 PM more reviews by varmintrifle

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Black, Straight   Eyes: Blue    

I bought RF 105, but I didn't buy it to use as foundation on its own (it's almost straight-up white that leans pink) but to thicken and lighten the shade of my Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer (in Porcelain, which is slightly too dark for me). So basically, to get something between a tinted moisturizer and foundation, only a lighter shade than any tinted moisturizer I've ever tried, so the perfect color for me. I mix a 1:5 ratio on the back of my hand (you can use a palette if you're one of those people) and apply the blend with a stippling brush, focusing on the center of my face and blending out from there. I recommend using a smoothing primer first and keeping your face well-moisturized and dusting with finishing or mattefying powder after, to prevent flakes from showing up. I use so little product that this tube will probably expire before half of it is gone. It is very thick and provides extremely high coverage, but it's nice to be able to use this with tinted moisturizer and adjust it the ratio needed to match my pallor year-round.

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Nonfiction on 10/7/2010 10:06:00 PM more reviews by Nonfiction

Age: 36-43   Skin: Very Dry, Dark   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

Illamasqua, Rich Liquid Foundation #325

What a pleasant surprise! I ordered this product online from Sephora . I am absolutely thrilled with the texture and color. I applied moisturizer and then placed a small amount on the back of my hand, then dabbed the product on my trouble spots. It is full coverage, so you do NOT –Not need very much. It is very matte and looks light on my dark chocolate skin. I normally wear MAC Studio Sculpt, NC 50 or Nars in Trinidad. I cannot believe this product works for me. I was worried because the ads are dark and a bit scary; I wanted a few products for everyday use---not vamp/after 5 PM. However, you can certainly take it there by applying more for a dramatic look. The blush and lip gloss is fantastic! I look forward to trying the eye-shadow on my next order.

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artofcontradiction on 8/14/2010 1:52:00 PM more reviews by artofcontradiction

Age: 30-35   Skin: Very Dry, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Green    

I just tried a tester of this product. I am very pleased and intend to buy it online as the shop had run out of the shade I wanted.

I have just discovered the brand and the foundation. I am looking for total coverage for acne scars and I think correctly applied this is looking like a very good solution.

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*TOP REVIEWER* rastaxcore on 7/16/2010 5:21:00 PM more reviews by rastaxcore

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair, Cool   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

UPDATE 9/5: I have gotten much better results from using half my regular moisturizer, zero primer and smoothing a small amount of this over my skin with my fingers. It doesn't settle into pores nearly as badly, and I know that defies all logic but it's been my experience. This tube is seriously going to last forever. It feels kinda sticky and smells sweet going on but as long as you set it with something it will "meld" in and seem a lot more natural.

If you're getting bad results from this product chances are it's wrong for your skin or you're not using it correctly. This is a HIGH PIGMENT liquid foundation, meaning that if there are any dry or flaky patches, it's going to highlight them and look like Spanish stucco. Use a good face scrub, moisturizer AND primer, I like Sephora smoothing primer. Put away the foundation brush -- this needs the heat of your hands to blend, otherwise it's just going to look uneven and cakey. If you're a germophobe you're in luck since you have to wash your hands after handling this anyway, it's very full coverage. I use MUFE HD powder to set this and MAC Coygirl blush, it gives a really nice porcelain doll look that I have not been able to get with other liquid foundations. I wouldn't wear this during the day as any makeup melts off in my climate but for winter or people in colder/dryer areas, I could see this being used on its own. I will still repurchase when I run out.

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Mizumi on 7/9/2010 12:54:00 PM more reviews by Mizumi

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Combination, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Blond, Relaxed, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

I've been rather reluctant to write my review even though I've been using it as my go-to foundation for 7 months. Mostly because my skin is just so insanely wierd and I just don't get it.. haha But I feel like I can give this my honest toughts now.

I was matched by this cool guy working their Selfridges counter in London while there on my first trip to London (meeting a fellow make up man is always nice). I do believe I was matched to RF120, and it was perfect for my pale skin. People who says it's hard to blend must be doing something really wrong with really wrong brushes. This blends like a dream on my uneven skin with Everyday Minerals flat top brush (that brush is king!) And covers most of my flaws. It looks perfect. However the staying power is not up there with Double Wear and Clarins Everlasting. But I guess it's okey.

To conclude I'm not sure if I'll be buying this again, For one this will probably last for 12 months more if used regularly and I'm content that I will have found something better before that, I'll be getting Face Atelier's Ultra very soon, big hopes for that one.

However I really do recomend this to people with not very oily skin!

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*TOP REVIEWER* mrsmalfoy on 6/19/2010 8:11:00 PM more reviews by mrsmalfoy

Age: 19-24   Skin: Acne-prone, Dark   Hair: Black, Relaxed, Medium   Eyes: Black    

This is definitely one of the best foundations I've tried.

A note about the name of the product: I find it quite misleading to call this product a RICH liquid. For me, "rich" implies moisturising and while this product isn't actually drying, it can emphasise existing dryness and doesn't hydrate skin at all.

Others have already talked about coverage, but WOW, this is a really intensely pigmented product. I didn't need very much to cover my whole face, and it conceals everything. The makeup artist applied under my eyes to conceal shadows, but I doubt I will be doing that as it has a tendency to emphasise fine lines in the area.

I use this over the Matt Primer, and I really love the finish it gives my skin. I didn't find it too heavy or mannequin-like, although I guess if you applied a lot, it would look a bit unnatural. It also photographs gorgeously. The colour selection is fantastic, too. I took off one lippie because it can be quite unforgiving if you've not moisturised well.

South Indian, MAC NC45-50, Bobbi Brown Golden, DDD/GGG, Illamasqua Rich Liquid Foundation in RF240, oily skin

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*TOP REVIEWER* wagashi on 6/5/2010 11:49:00 AM more reviews by wagashi

Age: 25-29   Skin: Oily, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Green    

After having great success with the Katie blush from this brand (favorite blush ever), I naturally started eyeballing everything else they make. I've been having issues with redness and uneven skintone lately so I've been looking for a good fuller coverage foundation that won't melt off my oily skin. I liked that they have both pinkish and yellowish shades (albeit all pale shades -- very little for darker girls), since I'm more yellow and get severely disappointed when I find there are only pink toned colors in a certain type of foundation. Anyway. I found that 140 was perfect for my slightly darker summer complexion (I hope I'm not tanning) so I bought it. For $30 you get a lot of product (compared to $40 for MUFE HD and others). This foundation is very full coverage and looks beautiful -- not too matte and not too dewy -- when applied. Being a professional makeup brand, I hoped that the staying power would be equal to the coverage. Sadly, I was disappointed. I wear sunglasses almost every time I go outside during the day to protect the skin around my eyes (and also to look like a badass), and the first time I took them off all the foundation where my sunglasses had touched was gone, leaving red sunglass marks instead. And it only went downhill from there. I went out dancing and any place on my face that had been even slightly oily or sweated from the summer heat had melted off, except for my flakies (the kind you never know you have until it's too late), leaving an uneven skintone except for random patches of Illamasqua 140-colored flakies. I wanted to disappear by the end of the night. I rated this a 3 though because it does look beautiful when applied and I think if you have a perfect complexion and no sweat or oil glands this will be wonderful on you.

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itsjustme on 5/6/2010 2:04:00 PM more reviews by itsjustme

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Dark, Warm   Hair: Black, Kinky, Coarse   Eyes: Brown    

Packaging is amazing ...nice twist cap and squeezable tube which is sooooo important in these recessionista times. I want every last drop..! I am usually between MAC NW45-50 for reference but only in colour as I have really obvious yellow undertones so most of their foundations come out red on me in natural light(as they have red undertones). I was matched up with shade 325 by an amazing makeup artist which was perfect. 325 does have neutral undertones but was actually perfect under all LIGHTS- I tried department store, house light 30/ 40 WATTs, indoors with natural light and sun light before I laid down any money. With the under the sun test, the sun shone right through it and still looked amazingly natural. I think all black skins should opt for this foundation. I actually found I could have even gone darker to match my neck as the next shade down was perfect too. I have never had this with any foundation brand, it is usually 1 colour or nothing. I have combination skin so I do not have problems blending this at all specially in summer where my natural oils are always on my face so did not have problems blending. For reference, I also used the matt primer and did bout 2/3rds primer and 1/3rd foundation. You really should probably use more primer. I know most make up artists suggests 4 parts to 1 for everday wear with this however I like that made up look (afterall I spent 21 bucks on it, I want ppl to KNOW bout it.) I dot it onto my skin with MAC 187 and then i buffed like crazy till it felt dry and no longer tacky. The matt primer makes it go dry quicker as the matt primer has the effect of drying quickly for a smooth oil free finish. I honestly do have to say though if you use the matt primer with the foundation which is semi matte, you need some sort of highlighter, bronzer or illuminating cream as it covers skin and looks more opaque when matte so can make you look a bit dead.Not dry if you are oily but dead. I think I might mix in a touch of illuminating oil with this next time as well as primer. Finally It lasts long, I am so hot today and I just touched my face and it feels smooth, the makeup is not transfering and it gives this uniform look to the skin almost airbrushed. In winter I plan to use this with the satin primer (which I am frankly too scared to touch in this humid summer) as I love a dewy finish. Thank you MUA without you I woulda never tried this, I am very conservative with makeup and have been a loyalist prescriptive for 4 years but this ish is BETTER.
UPDATE- no more cheap foundation, only prescriptives was cheap but still delivered. This was too dark and made my skin look mudddy, had only 4 shades for dark skins and realise mine was just too dark for my face. My nice and complimentary mummy told me i looked grey. It such as shame as the coverage and finish is great but just wrong colour and undertone.

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deathproof on 4/24/2010 5:24:00 PM more reviews by deathproof

Age: 19-24   Skin: Other   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

Great packaging, great full coverage, nice scent. only problem is it's extremely drying so every single dry spot is highlighted and it ends up looking like a mask.

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tripoli on 3/30/2010 4:05:00 PM more reviews by tripoli

Age: 19-24   Skin: Normal   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

This stuff is just awful. I'm so disappointed because I had high hopes for this brand. :( I got 105, the off white shade, hoping it would be a less expensive alternative for my FACE Atelier zero minus (which I use for mixing with other foundations and highlighting my super pale skin). It is extremely chalky and powdery, and completely impossible to blend! When used to highlight, it looked as if I had smeared white chalk on my face. When mixed with my normally perfect MUFE HD foundation, it transformed it into a thick cakey mess - I looked older and way too made up. For now on I'll stick with zero minus, which has the same amount of coverage yet is silky and lightweight and looks completely natural.

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*TOP REVIEWER* user1988 on 2/22/2010 1:44:00 AM more reviews by user1988

Age: 19-24   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

Wow, this foundation made me look terrible. I used it for the first time today and while it looked okay under restroom light it looked absolutely terrible in natural light. This highlighted every flaw on my face, I was already late for my date but HAD to go back home to wash my face and apply my beloved NARS sheer glow foundation. I'm going to try it again soon when I have time since I was in a hurry today, but then again I had even less time when I reapplied NARS and that turned out great!

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tseluyu on 2/2/2010 9:30:00 AM more reviews by tseluyu

Age: 19-24   Skin: Normal, Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

This is the best foundation I have ever bought! Amazing coverage, beautiful consistency and an insane selection of shades. I'd like to rubbish all those reviews that state this foundation is difficult to apply - with the right brush and the right amount of moisturiser/primer this foundation is out of this world. Not so great if you have even slightly oily skin, but works amazingly with my dry skin. The bad reviews of this product are by people who can't apply it properly.

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