Illamasqua • Excite • Blush

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cbk821 on 5/30/2013 11:59:00 AM more reviews by cbk821

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

I've been using this exact blush for over a year now. Ever since I first found it, I haven't been able to find another blush that quite 'does it' for me (color and brightness, wise). For me, however, the blush color ONLY looks awesome when my skin is fully covered in a foundation. So that means, unless I have gone through a complete makeup routine (concealer, foundation, etc.), I don't use the blush at all, because it just looks orangey on my naturally oily, imperfect complexion. But not to take away from the awesomeness of this product: whenever I go out, especially to a party, this is my go-to blush. It's vibrant, stays on pretty well (eventually fades after a sweaty night, but that can't be helped...), and stands out. With a fully makeup-ed face, this is absolutely the best blush out there. Makes you look like a porcelain doll.

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PaintInkChick on 5/30/2013 11:26:00 AM more reviews by PaintInkChick

Age: 36-43   Skin: Normal, Dark, Warm   Hair: Black, Kinky, Coarse   Eyes: Green    

I got this blush earlier this year & was "Excited" to try it & add another Orange to my collection. I was very disapointed. This blush is described as "Vibrant Coral" and is a matte. When I first swatched it,it seems to be dry & ashy feeling and the color was anything but Vibrant. For reference I'm Nc45-50 & now summer I can swing a Nw43. Once applied it wasn't anything special,you could tell I slighty had on blush...but it wasn't giving me the lit from within,or natural glow as my other Oranges. It did wear a times & had some staying power though,but did fade. Like Mac,Nars & although these are very pigmented this blush was not and did nothing for me.I actually won't call this one pigmented at all! I'm not sure if it was this color or if this particular one came from a bad batch. So as of now no bueno to a repurchase,unless I can actually swatch irl!.

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Poofers on 10/27/2012 1:58:00 PM more reviews by Poofers

Age: 30-35   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Hazel    

I am in love with Illamasqua blushes! Excite was my second one (Panic being my first). What phenomenal quality! Incredible pigmentation, I literally tap my stipling brush ONCE onto the product and that's all I need. Excite gives my cheeks a soft warmth of tangerine. Looks great when I have cool tones on my eyes (like dark purples). Go easy on application, apply in layers because it can get clownish quick! But so perfect when applied right. Worth every penny, so little product is used it will last.

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PremierT on 9/24/2012 12:53:00 PM more reviews by PremierT

Age: 25-29   Skin: Oily, Dark, Neutral   Hair: Brown, Relaxed, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

This looks alarmingly orange in the pan and you have to be very careful with application or it will look alarmingly organgey on your face. For a matte blush its not too powdery and layers/blends very smoothly. With careful application the colour becomes a rich deep peach on my NC43 skin. It looks just perfect - its not at all ashy, brightens my entire face but is not too bright to wear to the office or in winter. It lasts all day on my oily skin without oxidising or needing to touch up which are both major pluses.

Considering the cost (£18) the packaging feels cheap and there is very little product only 4.5 grams. But few brands do such rich matte blushes that aren't ashy so this still gets 4 lippies.

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efkeller on 8/29/2012 10:14:00 AM more reviews by efkeller

Age: 30-35   Skin: Normal, Fair, Warm   Hair: Blond, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Green    

This is my first Illamasqua product and I am very pleased with it. I was looking for a peachy/apricot blush and was going back and forth between this and NARS Gilda. This came in a little bit cheaper than NARS and I read so many great reviews that I decided to go with this.

I find that this blush is SUPER pigmented and I have to lightly tap my brush into the product, tap off excess, and then brush some off on my hand before I can apply it to my cheeks. It's a lot of work for a blush, and I imagine it would be less work for darker skin tones, but I really love the touch of peach that I can achieve if I work the product right! Too much, however, can give a sunburnt look. I'm a neutral leaning NW20 btw.

I don't think I will ever need to repurchase this shade, since I use so little at a time. But I am definitely interested in trying more Illamasqua products!

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*TOP REVIEWER* haleyhay on 7/29/2012 4:24:00 PM more reviews by haleyhay

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Very Dry, Olive, Warm   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Green    

I really love this blush. I went into Sephora looking for a coral or orangey blush for my olive toned skin. To sum it up, it's gourgeous. Its color is very unique, I had a hard time finding exactly what I wanted, but this fits the bill. You have to apply it ever so lightly or you will look rather clownish. But when applied right, it looks perfect. I love the texture, it is soft but not so soft that when you put your brush to the pan you loose a bunch of the powder. This will last forever, I have had it for three months using it daily and it looks almost new. I also love the fact that it is matte with no shimmer, yet not flat either.Though note that I have very warm toned skin, I'm not sure how this would work for those with cooler tones.

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*TOP REVIEWER* journeyisthejoy1 on 1/30/2012 9:26:00 PM more reviews by journeyisthejoy1

Age: 25-29   Skin: Other   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

Pout Blossom Belle was my HG blush until it was discontinued. I got Excite and Lover in hopes that it would be a replacement. Cargo Laguna was close (traffic cone orange), but without the shimmer and tad of milkiness Blossom Belle has. At the very least, based on reviews, I thought Excite would be a dupe for Laguna. Unfortunately, Excite pulls more hot pink/red than orange IMHO. In fact, it reminds me much more of Pout Apricot Totty and NARS Exhibit A than Blossom Belle.

Lasting power wise, lasted full 8 hours layered over a cream blush (Stila Rouge Pot in Dahlia: another discontinued HG milky creamy orange). This is also how I wore Pout Blossom Belle, so I would venture to say the lasting power is the same.

However, I have broken out with about 4 pimples in the cheek area. Not sure if this is the culprit. Also for those also searching for a Pout Blossom Belle / Stila Dahlia dupe: Illmasqua Lover is close but a tad more pink...more of a milky peach pink instead of the milky peach orange I am looking for. BUT, it may be the closest I can get, provided it is not causing breakouts (which I have read on the boards, has been an issue).

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shel21282 on 12/29/2011 2:15:00 PM more reviews by shel21282

Age: 25-29   Skin: Dry, Dark, Warm   Hair: Brown, Curly, Coarse   Eyes: Brown    

Just got this blush at Sephora- had waited a few weeks as I would go to Sephora and look at it, put it on with the mini tester applicators and think it was too bright. I have tan skin (I'm half white & half black). Finally I bought it and I LOVE IT! The color is beautiful and once applied looks much more toned down than in the pan. I would caution fair skinned ladies that this color may be too bright and look clownish on them. However, the very first time I applied it with a brush I only lightly tapped my brush in the pan and it went on way to heavy. You only need a light (VERY LIGHT) dusting to get good color application. You need a good brush to apply this with as well- the spongy applicators pick up too much color and make it difficult to apply and blend. Price is high for a blush ($24) but no more than NARS blush. The pigmentation is much better than NARS blushes (and I love them too!). The color is so unique (no dupes that I can think of) that its worth trying if you have tan/golden/dark skin tone. Doubt I'll hit pan anytime soon but I will repurchase when I run out.

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mycatsagirl on 6/30/2011 11:50:00 PM more reviews by mycatsagirl

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair, Cool   Hair: Blond, Curly, Coarse   Eyes: Blue    

Excite is my HG blush. An amazing product and such a beautiful colour! Looking at it, you'd think it would only work on darker-skinned ladies since it's such an intense colour, but I'm pretty much as pale as they come and it's the nicest shade I've ever worn.

The colour is absolutely gorgeous. It doesn't look quite as orangey on as it does in the case, but it is still a VERY bright shade, not for the timid! It's extremely highly pigmented, so i literally just barely touch it with my blush brush and then blow off the excess before applying and it's still incredibly bright. This is awesome because it means it lasts AGES, since you barely have to use any. The brightness you get upon application will not last all day, but as it is such a beautiful, intense colour, you'll still have a gorgeous flush at the end of the day, and obviously, re-application is easy.

I also really like the packaging for this product. Unfortunately, I dropped the blush pretty hard, and the packaging broke a little but the blush did not crumble at all (a huge problem I've had with other powder blushes from other brands... I'm clumsy and drop everything!).

I've only tried one other Illamasqua blush before - "Chased". I only wore it once because the colour didn't work on me, but the formula was the exact same as the formula for Excite. Same pigmentation, though Excite is much brighter. So if you've enjoyed other Illamasqua blushes and would like an exciting, amazing peachy colour, DEFINITELY TRY THIS OUT!!!

It's a beautiful colour that leaves me looking flushed, like I just had an amazing work out, or like I've just had some great sex (haha). Somehow makes my whole face look brighter and healthier.

Anyway, to sum up - a-flippin-mazing! Have already bought twice and will 100% purchase again.

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Tamsins on 6/27/2011 2:18:00 PM more reviews by Tamsins

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair, Warm   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Green    

I couldn't get this to work on my skin tone (NW20), it was just way too much like hardwork. I had to use a really light hand and even then it was difficult to get it right. The quality of the blush was really good though and it lasted all day, so worth trying if you have a darker skin tone.

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nattomame on 5/11/2011 5:03:00 PM more reviews by nattomame

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Medium, Warm   Hair: Black, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

After using Nars blushes for several years, I got tired of sparkles on my face from their blushes. I was looking for a matte blush and a Sephora rep suggested Illamasqua in Excite. At first, I was pretty put off by the bright orange color, but once she put it on me I was sold! I have lightly tanned skin with golden undertones and the coral color really adds a healthy glow to my skin. I love that you can do a little bit of product for day or use more for night. Fantastic color!

And like the other reviewers said, Illamasqua makes blushes that are highly pigmented and finely milled. The product goes on smooth and doesn't break out my acne-prone checks. Plus, this blush stays on ALL DAY. I sweat a lot and the color doesn't budge. It is pretty pricey at $24, but it's totally worth it.

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MissLeanneBaybee on 7/21/2010 7:08:00 PM more reviews by MissLeanneBaybee

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Normal, Olive   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Other    

I absolutely love Excite.
I have olive skin and was looking for a coral blusher that i could wear on holiday, day or night.
Its got a real summery look to it when its on and is wearable in the day as well as at night, as i have just been putting it on lightly during the day.
Ohh I'm in love with it! :D
Its got a really light texture to it and when its on you cant feel that its there and it last all day literally.
I have been to work and did my makeup at 9am. Now its quarter past 6 and its still on!
So its brilliant for a night out as you wont need to keep re-applying it all night.
Cant wait to wear it on holidayy!! :D

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soniawonia on 6/1/2010 3:12:00 AM more reviews by soniawonia

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Olive   Hair: Black, Wavy   Eyes: Brown    

I love this color! This is a bright peachy, orange, coral. It's soooo beautiful. Works great with my NC40 skin. It's matte, pigmented, and super soft. It blends beautifully since It's so soft. My Sephora had this OOS for ages, with good reason! I had to order online. Lasts all day without fading.

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msred2u42 on 4/20/2010 3:17:00 PM more reviews by msred2u42

Age: 44-55   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Red, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

I just bought this blush when Sephora gave beauty insiders 15% off last week. I'm SO delighted that I got it. It is so pigmented, finely milled and a gorgeous shade. I actually had to tap my brush before I applied because of the intense pigment. I surely got what I paid for and can't wait to try a few more shades. A+++

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thatgirlwho on 2/28/2010 5:13:00 AM more reviews by thatgirlwho

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair, Cool   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Hazel    

This is the first Illamasqua products I've actually not liked. The MA recommended this for me when lover (a lighter peach) was out of stock. I've tried to apply this as lightly as I can but it just makes me look I have severe sunburn. If you are fair skinned like myself (I'm NW15) I suggest you pass on this shade. I hope I can return this as get the one I intended to buy originally.

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Sam1e on 10/8/2009 8:13:00 PM more reviews by Sam1e

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

So in the pan this looks totally bright orange! i was scared when the lovely MA suggested this colour for me, as i usually wear pink as im fair. But it looked actually quite a nice flush of peach on! All of there blushes are matte and the packaging is amazing. I would suggest giving them a go.

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*TOP REVIEWER* fashiongal on 8/4/2009 4:18:00 PM more reviews by fashiongal

Age: 44-55   Skin: Combination   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

Another pretty and very bright blush from Illamasqua. Looks orange in the pan - and it's matte, no shimmer. However, once applied it's more of a warm coral on me - not scary orange. Applies evenly, but very pigmented. Probably not the best color for cool toned ladies as it definitely is a warm color. I have quite a few orange blushes, but can't really think of a dupe for this one - most of the oranges I have are shimmery, more red, or burnt orange. Nice one to have in the arsenal :)

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