Illamasqua Intense Lipgloss in Hermetic

Hello all!

I'm really excited to finally show you a product that I love and have had for a few months now... It's Hermetic, one of Illamasqua's Intense Lipglosses. This one was released in the Fall, but it looks like it's sticking around for awhile, since it's still available through Sephora's website even though the Spring line has been launched. Illamasqua's Intense Lipglosses are intensely pigmented, opaque glosses with lots of shine; you don't need much product to get a nice opaque coating, so adding more only dials up the shine; likewise, a thin coat gives a unique satin finish. These are tacky without being sticky; not my favorite gloss texture, but it seems to be how they get this formula to stay put forever, stay really shiny, and go on opaque with such a modest amount of product. These come in a squeeze tube with a molded applicator tip- once again, I sound like I'm beating a dead horse, but I really, really prefer tubes with wands, I find it hard to get a nice precise application with these, which is especially important with such a dark color! Hermetic is an almost metallic looking blackened burgundy. You can find these glosses through Illamasqua's website, or at Sephora's website; they come with .2 ounces of product and are $20.

Illamasqua Intense Lipgloss in Hermetic

Hermetic's applicator tip

Swatch of Illamasqua's Hermetic

Wearing Hermetic on my lips, no flash

Close up of my lips with Hermetic, no flash

Illamasqua's Hermetic, with flash

Illamasqua's Intense Lipgloss in Hermetic, flash

Rating: 7 out of 10

I really love this color, and it's so much fun to wear, but there's enough about it that is frustrating to me that I can't give it a full 10/10. First off, the applicator is really unprecise, especially for such a dark, opaque color, so I always have to go back in and do some damage control. I feel like an applicator wand would significantly improve application. Also, I dislike how tacky this feels on my mouth; I can get past it because it is worth the inconvenience for the color, but it does keep this from being a go-to gloss, since I have to be careful of getting my hair in it or getting fuzz stuck in it (don't ask, this happens to me! I have cats...) This being said, I appreciate the bold color with the metallic finish, and I love that such a small amount of product yields full, opaque color. This also looks great mixed with clear or shimmery gloss for a different finish, or with just a small amount of product rubbed around for a stained effect! If you've not tried Illamasqua, the entire line is pretty bold and there are some really neat shades; this is a great example of this!