Illamasqua is a brand that isn’t afraid to dance hypnotically to the beat of their own drum. And if they could sing, they’d flex their vocal prowess, dancing up and down as they also strut their funky falsetto.

You want to talk about out-of-the-box thinking? Illamasqua has it in spades, and they’re coming up with aces!

Every time I see promotional pictures from Illamasqua, I always admire the artistry and dynamic risk they take to be different.

Not all their looks are ones that you’d wear picking out a cantaloupe at the grocery store, but they’re always vibrant, memorable, and in-your-face, so I find them incredibly refreshing and inspiring. (Maybe wear them when you’re picking out kumquats.) 😉

I appreciate people who are shepherds instead of sheep.

For today’s post, I decided to share with you the Illamasqua Human Fundamentalism Spring Summer 2012 Collection Press Release & Promo Pictures sent to me by the company in case you haven’t seen them yet.

I’m curious to know what you think of the wild looks!

How cool is the geometric texture of the accessories that tie into the nail art? It’s statement jewelry with a funky Egyptian twist.

And because I know you want to see those talons up close, I zoomed in for a better look:

“If you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours.” What a weird saying! Hehe, but if you have pointy nails like this, please don’t scratch my back. Oww! 😉

Although blue lipstick isn’t something that I would wear outside except for Hallowe’en or on a dare, I really love the way it looks. (Wish I had the guts to sport it without feeling self-conscious.)

I like how there are so many different textures going on in this photo – the crimped hair, the twisted rope around the neck, the feathery shoulders, and the beaded front. It’s visually stimulating.

Illamasqua is killing me with another awesome lip colour that I’m too much of a bawk-bawk-bawk chicken to wear in public.

And did you notice the nails? It looks like they painted the underside of the nails turquoise. Here’s a closer look:

Haha, even her rooster matches her makeup! 😛

The more I see this gold-Egyptian look, the more I think that Illamasqua was trying to make a statement about modernity, history, and the bridge between them.

Again, cool lip colour that I’m too chicken to wear. And her eyebrows are sequined! Here’s a closer look:

I like the yellow she’s sporting on her nails – I think it looks great on her skin tone. It really pops and looks clean and fresh.

I once owned a pair of kicks in the 1980s that looked a little bit like the purple ones that the model is wearing. But mine were baby blue with white accents.

Hehe, and look at that boom box. It still makes me laugh thinking about how people back in the day would actually bring a boom box to the beach – it’s so big and clunky to carry!

Blue hair! It’s so crazy, and I love it. You know, when I was younger, I was really tempted to dye my hair blue. But I was too scared to go through with it. (Even now, though, I think that blue streaks contrasting against my dark hair would look neat, but, I’m still not ready to do it.)

Closer look at her sharp nails:

Haha, I think it’s funny how her beauty mark is white instead of the typical black.

She looks like a snow queen who rediscovered her makeup stash and became envious of the spring queen. 😉

Did you see the pair of hot red lips hidden among the flowers?

Look at all those accessories! I actually have a necklace that matches the spike ring. It’s one of my favourite necklaces to wear because it makes a bold statement.

You have to check out the nails up close:

Not sure what to say about this picture. It reminds me of Medieval Times. I’ve never been there. Have you?

Official press release sent to me by Illamasqua:

HUMAN FUNDAMENTALISM

An explosion of your alter ego, Human Fundamentalism is about becoming who you are and not what society tells you to be. Beauty isn’t about conformity but the fundamental human desire to express your inner beauty on the outside.

Rise above mainstream limitations and join our world where individuality is received with celebration not derision: break the mould to show strength not instability.

Embracing our glorious imperfections and showing the world we’re not ordinary but extraordinary is what Illamasqua stands for.

We’re beyond conformity, celebrating instead freedom of expression. We’re beyond hiding who we really are. We are not a religion, but the singular opposite.

We are Illamasqua.

“Human Fundamentalism is the unique spirit and fundamental human drive for individuality. It’s a belief, a movement and an emotion. A connection with the spirit of the age and its global motifs. You are your own human hybrid, a unique nomad of street cultures and global trends.” –  Alex Box, Illamasqua Creative Director.

Human Fundamentalism is a celebration of humanity’s connection with colour, where blinding flashes of kaleidoscopic pigment provides a sharp contrast to warmer tones, resulting in a saturated palette that catapults your alter ego to the next level of self-expression. Mix contrasting textures – including a myriad of matts, glorious creams and rich metallics… to express your true self. This is nonconformity at its most fundamental and at its unpredictable best.

“Human Fundamentalism to me is physical expression of your self-belief, sharing your opinions with colour that shape the narrative of your thoughts and inner self. It is a statement of conviction and colour confidence, it states, this is me and now see what I see, be tinted by how I express colour and behold an oblivion to social convention and constraints.” – David Horne, Illamasqua Director of New Product Development

Products

Powder Eye Shadow (£15.00)

An explosion of highly pigmented Powder Eye Shadows in six bold shades: Burst (Blue Green), Cancan (Lilac Purple), Pivot (Yellow Green), Vernau (Yellow Ochre) Obsidian (Rich Black), and Sex (Pure White). Intense and long-lasting the easily blendable shades express every aspect of your humanity.

Sealing Gel (£10.50)

A single drop of Sealing Gel turns any powder product into a water-resistant, colour-intense paste, perfect for adorning your face and body with bold tribal stripes, intricate gentle lines or bold geometric patterns of pigment. Use with Human Fundamentalism Powder Eye Shadows to unleash your artistic potential.

Palettes (£30.00)

Fundamental Palette – The Fundamental Palette is a playground for self-expression, created to allow you to experiment with contrasting textures, from glistening Liquid Metal in molten pewter to matt Cream Pigment in mint green. Coupled with two vibrant Powder Eye Shadows in Inception (Rich Violet) and Hype (Bold Yellow) this palette demands nonconformity.

Neutral Palette – Create sculpted highlights and stark contours anywhere on your face and body with these four fundamental Powder Eye Shadows. From new matt shades in Stealth (Creamy Buttermilk), Wolf (Chocolate Brown) and Vintage (Antiqued Gold) – a shade exclusive to this palette – to the accents of Obsidian (Rich Black), express your inner light and darkness in a rich riotous glamour.

Precision Ink (£17.00)

In pure white, our Precision Ink in Scribe is the ultimate anti-liner – subvert expectations and highlight the unconventional, creating white-lined eyes and white-out brows with Precision Ink’s super-fine tip. Waterproof and extremely long-lasting, Precision Ink also makes the perfect nail art pen! Just apply on top of any shade of Nail Varnish then seal with Illamasqua Top Coat.

Nail Varnish (£13.50)

New Nail Varnishes in Nomad (Bright Jade) and Stance (Bright Mauve) are fearlessly fresh and vibrant. High-gloss and packed with pigment, they are the most stunning shades of idiosyncrasy.

(Click here to see my Illamasqua Stance swatches & review!)

Lipstick (£15.50)

Dare to be you by choosing our vibrant new Lipstick shade, Apocalips (Bright Teal). This stunning turquoise blue shade speaks of uncompromising self-expression, the fundamental desire to stand out and a deep connection with the power of pure colour. However, if your alter ego manifests itself in the richest of reds, our deep scarlet Lipstick in Box [named after our Creative Director Alex Box, who designed it!] takes you way beyond conformity.

Skin Base Foundation Shade Au (£25) Limited Edition

When the world says blend in, we say stand out – Skin Base Foundation in Au [the chemical symbol for gold] contains micro flecks of subtle metallic shimmer combined with our cult BB cream-inspired foundation that smoothes, softens and conditions your skin. Mix with foundation for a subtle glow, underneath for a luminous glow, or go all out and transform yourself in to a gilded god or goddess.

Human Fundamentalism is available from March 15th 2012.

What do you think of Illamasqua’s promotional pictures? Would you wear (or have you worn) blue and purple lipsticks? Have you ever dyed your hair blue or another ‘crazy’ colour?