Illamasqua
Mid-Range“Makeup for the fearless and the theatrical.”
Illamasqua was founded in 2008 by British entrepreneur Julian Kynaston, who conceived the brand after a Gothic weekend in Whitby left him struck by the creativity of the people around him. Built as an explicit reaction against the natural, inoffensive makeup dominating counters at the time, Illamasqua positioned itself around self-expression, nightlife and alternative subculture, with Joseph Corré joining as co-owner in 2010.
The range is built for performance and pigment rather than subtlety: highly saturated Skin Base foundations, cream pigments, and bold lip and liner colours in shades that most mainstream brands avoid. It became a fixture in professional and drag makeup kits, and its Beyond Powder highlighters and Hydra Veil primer developed cult followings well beyond its original subculture audience.
Known For
Flagship Products
- Skin Base Foundation
- Beyond Powder Highlighter
- Hydra Veil Primer
- Antimatter Lipstick
Brand Philosophy
Makeup is not there to make you look acceptable — it is a tool for becoming whoever you decide to be that night.