Illamasqua Maneater Lipstick

Finding the perfect red shade, whether for lips or nails, can turn into a lifelong hunt. Well, maybe nothing so dramatic, but this is a colour that can either elicit spasms of envy from those around you, or cries of fear. Ok, maybe the last part was a touch dramatic as well – but suffice it to say that beauty lovers the world over are always on the lookout for that.perfect.red.

Maneater (how empowering does that sound?) from Illamasqua (don’t you just love saying this name?) is guaranteed to make an impact. I can personally vouch for that.

Illamasqua – Maneater Lipstick

Illamasqua – Maneater Lipstick, ingredients

Illamasqua – Maneater Lipstick

Maneater (CAN $24.00) – Part of Illamasqua’s permanent range, Maneater is a richly pigmented red hue that leans neither too warm (orange based) or cool (blue based), but falling perfectly between the two, in a matte formula. I can’t even begin to describe how colour saturated this shade is and while the finish is matte, it’s not moisture-sucking at all – but neither does it hydrate. Wear time is incredibly long, breezing through the 8 hour mark and even lasting fairly well (without the dreaded lipstick ring) through both drinking and eating, although you’ll definitely need to touch up at that point. What makes Maneater truly stand out, is the finish which resembles plush velvet – luxurious, luscious, and decadent.

Illamasqua – Maneater Lipstick

Illamasqua – Maneater Lipstick swatch

Illamasqua – Maneater Lipstick

Historically, whenever I’ve wanted to feel über-sexy, empowered, dramatic, or just simply noticed, my go-to has always been a vibrant red lip. With the plethora of shade variances and finishes to choose from, I’ve learned through experience that not all “red lip moments” are created equal and it’s nice to have options: gloss or stain is great for those who don’t want to commit to the full deal, and even in lipstick format there are offshoots – from satin, shimmery, or shiny finishes (and don’t even get me started on the degrees of red. Oy). For bonafide presence, however, nothing says RED like Maneater does – this is not a shade for the weak-willed, but rather one that will leave people begging for mercy. Or at least want to know what lipstick shade you’re wearing.

Illamasqua products can be purchased through The Bay & Sephora (Canada) – find more information via: