Here's a new Illamasqua on my radar (and in my stash)! It's called Boudicca, and it is, for now, a Bloomingdale's exclusive shade.



Illamasqua- Boudicca is a warm-toned red shimmer with a metallic, foil-like finish. The shimmer particles are tiny, tiny flakes and sometimes look gold, and sometimes appear sort of pink.


'What is a Boudicca?,' you might ask. Well:

Boudicca was the wife of Prasutagus, the ruler of the British Iceni tribe who led an uprising against the occupying forces of the Roman Empire. The Iceni were based in the region of Britain now called East Anglia. When the Romans settled in the south of England in 43 AD, they made an agreement with Prasutagus that he would be allowed to continue as ruler of the Iceni. However, when Prasutagus died, the Roman attitude to the Iceni people changed and Boudicca took up her role as the Warrior Queen. 

(taken straight from Bloomingdale's description.)

Artificial light, two coats:


Window-filtered daylight:



This is absolutely full to the brim with shimmer.

Outside, shade:



Sun:



So, I have to be honest, this type of warm red combined with the ultra-flashy finish doesn't read very young to me- or at least on me.  This is a gorgeous color, but for nail polish?  I'm not sure. There's something about it that's a little cheap? It might've helped to cut my nails down to nubs for this one.  As is, I thought my hands looked a little bitchy- not in a good way!

However, this is the kind of color I can see really liking on my toes...


Formula:  It's pigmented with a medium viscosity, leaning to the thick side, but glides onto the nail very nicely.  The second coat feels much thicker, but also goes on pretty effortlessly.  Very nice, and opaque in two coats!