There’s so much right with the Illamasqua Vanitas Palette but also so much wrong. I’m always impressed with the historical references that Illamasqua translate so well into their products – the Vanitas collection is all about 17th Century still-life paintings. So think Girl With A Pearl Earring kind of art. The Dutch totally had this style of painting locked down in that period with intense and rich pigments – much of the still life art of that period used subjects that we’d never want on our walls now – skulls in a bowl of fruit with a side of dead rabbit sort of thing but it was an important time for experimenting with colour.
So, yes I get the lavish pigment and the rose gold surround. I can’t fault the intensity of pigment either that has been infused in a smooth, non dusty formula. BUT, the palette is cardboard and feels bumpy, with loose and wonky colours. It’s a great idea badly executed.
However, when you see the richness of the colours, maybe it’s forgivable. Actually, no, it isn’t – but it might not put you off as much as it might in a less exciting palette.
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See what I mean? The shades are a mix of sheen and matte with a common thread of intensity. There are so many looks out of one palette here so you can go delicate or go all out dramatic and anything in between.
At £44 though, the execution needs to be perfect and it’s not. The Illamasqua Vanitas Palette launches on 7th July.
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