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Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette

October 16, 2013

Hourglass’s latest release is the new Ambient Lighting Palette ($58 for 0.35 oz/9.9g, limited-edition). It’s a travel-sized trio of Ambient Lighting Powders in Dim Light, Incandescent Light (new) and Radiant Light. The trio also comes with a small sample of their Mineral Veil Primer (see review here). Hourglass says this palette is just like having your own personal lighting technician. I couldn’t describe this better.  Being a huge fan of Luminous Light, I was very excited about the release of this palette.
I love everything about this palette. The pans are smaller than the regular Ambient Lighting Powders but large enough to easily dip a fluffy brush into to apply to the face. It’s perfect for travel and arrived just at the right time for me. I brought it with me on my recent trip. It was the only highlighter I brought which was perfect because it provided three options in one palette. I wore this every evening out and felt it gave that perfect glow by mixing the three shades.

The Ambient Lighting Palette featured below:

Here you can see how they glow in the sunlight, colors left to right: Dim, Incandescent and Radiant

Here you can see the softness of the powders:

The three shades:

Dim Light is an existing shade in the regular full-sized line but is new to me. It’s described as a neutral peach beige and is supposed to blur imperfections and highlight the skin. I think the effect will vary depending on your skintone. I am a bit too tan to wear this all over as a setting powder, but it makes an amazing under-eye highlight and over the cheeks blending color. There is a subtle luminous quality – but very subtle. If you’re afraid of any kind of shimmer – this is the highlighter for you.

Incandescent Light is a new shade and currently only available in this palette. It’s a pearlescent pearly color. In the pan it resembles Luminous Light (my holy grail highlighter, see review here) however Incandescent Light is slightly paler in color and not as shimmery. Luminous Light by comparison is almost peachy when swatched next to Incandescent Light.

Radiant Light is another existing shade which I also own. It’s the sheerest bronze powder I have that adds a warm golden glow without being brownish like a traditional bronzer. It has tiny gold sparkle particles but doesn’t look glittery.

The application tips are endless with this palette. I wear Chanel B30, NARS Groenland Tinted Moisturizer, Dolce and Gabbana Warm 100 Powder Foundation and Tom Ford Foundation Stick #5 and I used all three shades every time I’ve worn it to date. My favorite way:
  • Use Dim Light as a soft dusting powder in the center of the face and on the cheeks to blend out edges of your blush or bronzer.
  • Use Incandescent Light as an all over highlight on the eyes, top of cheek bones.
  • Apply Radiant Light directly on the cheeks or as a contour along outer edges in a 3 shape to add warmth and a soft glow, also works well to add warmth to the eyes by dusting a soft layer over your shadows and blending very softly
 Swatches:

Comparisons to Luminous Light:

Size comparison to MAC and Armani Blushes. It fit perfectly in my travel case:
I highly recommend this palette. The price is higher than the individual sizes (and slightly more expensive per oz) but this is a great way to try three shades in one palette rather than purchasing individual colors. If you’re more a fan of shimmery highlighters you may find this too subtle but I do find the shimmer is visible enough on the skin to be able to tell that there is a glow.

SUGGESTED RETAIL PRICE: USD $58 | CAD $67
AVAILABLE AT: Sephora, Sephora.com, Barneys New York (beauty bag event until the 19th), Bergdorf Goodman and Space NK

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Hourglass Cosmetics

Hourglass Cosmetics Polly Osmond for Christian Siriano’s Spring 2014 Collection

September 9, 2013

Fall has just arrived but we’re already seeing spring 2014 collections and looks on the runways. Makeup artist Polly Osmond for Hourglass created the look for Christian Siriano’s spring 2014 collection. The Inspiration: Siriano was inspired by a recent trip to Isla Mujeres on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, and the destination’s exuberant color palette. The look created focused on luminous skin, pale lids and orange coral lips. “It’s beachy, breezy and with a pop of color on the lips,” says Osmond. “I wanted to create a diffusion of texture, color and light. It’s how your skin would look at a tropical sunset. There’s a new Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette coming out for spring which I’m dying to get a sneak peek at. For more looks and beauty inspiration, follow Hourglass Cosmetics on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

GET THE LOOK

SKIN: Prep skin with Hourglass No. 28 Primer Serum, infused with botanical oils, and follow with Hourglass Illusion Tinted Moisturizer for a luminous complexion. Conceal any dark circles or imperfections with Hourglass Hidden Corrective Concealer.

CHEEKS: To create a multi-dimensional glow, apply all three shades from Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette (NEW, coming out soon) to the cheeks using a circular motion. Dab Hourglass No. 28 Primer Serum onto the apples of the cheeks for a hint of tropical sheen.

EYES: Apply the Incandescent shade from Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette (NEW, coming out soon) all over the lids. Follow with the shimmering Shell shade from Hourglass Vol. 6 Eye Shadow Palette, applied to the inner corner of eyes. Use the same shade to create a diffused liner along the top and bottom of the lash lines. Finish with a coat of Hourglass Film Noir Full Spectrum Mascara.

BROWS: Brush a small amount of Hourglass No. 28 Primer Serum onto brows to create definition and a little shine.

LIPS: Prep lips earlier with Hourglass No. 28 Lip Treatment Oil for superior hydration. Apply Hourglass Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick in Muse, an orange coral shade, to the lips. Create a diffused pout by softening the outline of the lips with a lip brush.


Follow the beauty look book via Twitter | Instagram | Bloglovin
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Hourglass N° 28 Lip Treatment Oil and Jo Malone Vitamin E Lip Conditioner

August 2, 2013

My two favorite lip treatments right now are Hourglass N° 28 Lip Treatment Oil ($42 for 0.25 oz) and Jo Malone Vitamin E Lip Conditioner ($25 for 0.52 oz.). When it comes to trying new lip balms I tend to get a little nervous. I have sensitive lips and some lip treatments cause either numbing or allergic reactions (such as Kiehls and many of the drugstore brands). The ones with a plumping factor are usually a no-go for me. Some make my lips feel more dried out than moisturized (like La Mer) I also prefer lip treatments that are in squeeze tubes rather than pots or twist up sticks.  

Hourglass N° 28 Lip Treatment Oil was sent as a press sample. I was actually able to try it in store before I received my sample. The finish and texture is smooth and shiny. The lip treatment is infused with 14 different oils: Bois De Rose,
Lavender, Geranium, Petitgrain, Lemon, Rosemary, Vanilla, Clove, Amyris,
Orange, Ylang Ylang, Eucalyptus, Cedar, and Rose Geranium. It also contains
lipid-rich plant oils that include Hazelnut, Kukui Nut, Rose Hip,
Borage, Olive, Green Tea, Cherry Pit, Sweet Almond, Jojoba, and Evening
Primrose, and is fortified with vitamins A, B5, C, and E.
The product is designed to provide deep hydration while reducing the appearance of depth in wrinkles. I did notice it smoothed out the lips but the look result was like most other clear lip glosses and lip balms. The shine and moisture smoothed out the wrinkles. There is a soft soothing herbal scent to the Hourglass Lip Treatment Oil. It’s a like a spa for the lips. My favorite part is the texture. It’s a medium-thick texture which adheres well to the lips. There’s not too much slip that it feels greasy like some lip balms do, but it’s not too thick. I’ve been using this one to two times per week, usually in the evenings to help hydrate the lips. The packaging is quite unique. There is a beveled gold-plated tip that dispenses the product easily without any mess. The tube is compact enough to store in your makeup bag and easy to travel with. (Full ingredient list on Sephora.com)

above on the nails, YSL Prune Minimale No. 07
______________ 

Jo Malone Vitamin E Lip Conditioner is a tried and true staple. This has a smooth texture that makes the lips feel well moisturized and soft. There is a soft scent to it which is hard to describe but it’s very gentle and soft, almost honey-like but not quite. It has a calming quality and a very luxurious feel. The black sleek tube has a cap that twists on well so it doesn’t leak. I can’t rave enough about this one. I’ve gone through many tubes. (Full ingredient list below.)

 on the nails Chanel Paradoxal

If you have sensitive lips and are looking for something luxurious and soothing for normal to dry lips, I’d recommend both of these. I personally prefer the Jo Malone for the scent and price, but the Hourglass is nice as a weekly treatment.

Hourglass Cosmetics can be found at Barneys New York, Bergdorf Goodman, Sephora, Space NK and Hourglasscosmetics.com. I purchased my Jo Malone can be found at Nordstrom.

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Highlighters Hourglass Cosmetics

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder – Luminous Light

February 4, 2013
Hourglass has released a series of beautiful finishing powders designed to emulate various lighting effects. There are six shades of their new Ambient Lighting Powder ($45 each for 0.35 oz/10 g, currently available online at Sephora.com). According to Hourglass, the Ambient Lighting Powders are not your typical highlighting powder. These powders have “photoluminescent technology that refracts light, creates transparent coverage and renders the skin gorgeously radiant.”
I received Luminous Light (a champagne glow) from Hourglass and have been playing with this for a few weeks now. Luminous Light was designed to give a candlelight glow to the face and this fits the product perfectly. It’s a stunning champagne pearl with a slight pinkish tint that gives THE prettiest natural glow. The application instructions on the box recommended that you use their Ambient Powder Brush ($35) and dust the powder all over the face. I’ve been using my regular blush and powder brushes to test which have worked quite well. Given the glowy nature of the product, I found it best used as a highlighter (rather than all over). I’ve used it numerous ways, under and over blush, mixed with a powder bronzer, over a contour powder or over a cream bronzer.  The formula is soft and the color-intensity has just the right balance of pigment and softness to make the entire face glow. It melds into your skin and illuminates the face (rather than sitting on it or emphasizing pores like some highlighters can).

What amazes me is how complex the pearl particles are. Depending on the angle you will sometimes see a straight champagne, other times more pearl, other times a hint of pink. I attribute the candlelight glow this product gives to the complexity and perfect blend of pigments. On the arm, Luminous Light swatches more pinkish but on the face it’s more neutral/flesh toned for me.

 

 

 

Swatched:

 

There are a number of champagne highlighters on the market. Luminous Light stands out to me because it adds a natural glow without looking too frosty. It has the perfect balance of glow and color to look mimic lighting effects. The lasting power was quite good – on me it lasted all day. Other highlighters pale in comparison – the difference is difficult to capture in photos or swatches, but I’ve included a few to help show the difference.

 

Below: Chanel Poudre Signée de Chanel, Mouche de Beauté, Bobbi Brown Beige Shimmer Brick, Estée Lauder Tom Pecheux Highlight, Laura Mercier Stardust.

 

I can’t wait to order more shades and the brush from Sephora – however I do want to try them in person. As of this past weekend I did not see any of the Ambient Powders or brush at my local Sephora, but I’ve been told they will arrive instore mid-February.

 

Here is the ingredient listing:

 

 

I’ve found my holy grail powder lighter in Hourglass Luminous Light. I haven’t tested or tried the other shades to compare but based on what I’ve seen I am impressed. Few products make it into the “this changed my life” category and the Ambient Lighting Powder from Hourglass has made it. It gives that perfect glow that I aim for with cream highlighters or liquid ones – but in powder form (the benefit is that this one lasts much better than liquids). I think everyone needs at least one in their collection. More information and insight on HourglassCosmetics.com and Sephora.com.
Have you tried the Ambient Lighting Powders? What shade did you try? Thoughts on the brush? Do I need it?
This review contains a product sent by PR without charge for review. This post also contains affiliate links. For more information please refer to the About/FAQ section.
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Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer SPF15

August 18, 2011

Over the years I’ve discovered a number of excellent foundation primers such as MAC Prep & Prime, Chanel Base Lumiere, Le Blanc de Chanel, Smashbox Photofinish, NARS (the original version) and Guerlain Meteorites Light-Diffusing Perfecting Primer. I’m always on the hunt for tips and tricks that will help me achieve that flawless foundation finish. Primers are often key to achieving a natural even look. Considering the fact that I have sensitive skin, I’ve had quite a bit success in finding good primers from numerous brands, however, few have managed to keep my makeup looking fresh all day from morning until late afternoon. I was recently sent a sample package from Hourglass and over the past week have been putting the Veil Mineral Primer to the test. The primer comes in 2 sizes at Sephora: 0.33 oz for $17 and a larger size of 1.00 oz for $52 (both with pump dispensers). I received the smaller size to sample. The product comes in a liquid formula with a white tint. The satiny finish is supposed to smooth out the appearance of your skin, absorb oil and minimize pores. From the swatch below you can see that the product lightened my skin slightly.

The Veil Mineral Primer is described as oil free, paraben free, fragrance free, nanoparticle free, gluten free, synthetic dye free, sulfate free, phthalate free, vegan and water resistant. The ingredient listing is shown below:

I’ve tested this for a few days and am very pleased with the results. The liquid fluid texture makes it easy to apply as it glides on flawlessly. I found one pump sufficient to cover the entire face which provides your skin with a smooth satiny canvas. I was surprised how the Veil Mineral Primer helped the application of the foundation to achieve a truly flawless finish. I love that the box had a few tips on how to apply this product – I found these extremely helpful.

I tried this primer several different ways:

Method 1: Apply like a regular primer all over the face (over Cle de Peau moisturizer & under Guerlain Lingerie de Peau foundation) – my foundation and powder lasted all day and looked just as fresh as when I first applied it, however this made my face look pale and pasty from the white cast of the primer

Method 2: Apply all over bare face (skip moisturizer and apply Guerlain Lingerie de Peau) – same result as above, but I believe you need a moisturizer, the finish really is so satiny that without moisturizer, I personally thought this felt too dry on my skin

Method 3: Mix 1/2 and 1/2 primer and foundation (tested with Guerlain & Chanel) – the result was less white, but my foundation was lightened by a tiny bit

Method 4: Mix 1 part primer to 2 parts foundation (tested with Guerlain & Chanel) – this was the best result for me and mixing a larger proportion of foundation to about a 1/2 pump of the primer and blending with a foundation brush gave a smooth velvety looking finish and helped my foundation/powder last all day

Overall I am thoroughly impressed by the performance of this primer. After several days of using this, no breakouts, no clogged pores, no irritation, no dryness or thick feeling finish. I can’t believe how well my foundation, powder and blush have been holding up in the summer humidity. I still need a touch up on the nose in the afternoon, but the Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer has helped make my makeup last longer than most primers. Have you tried this primer before? Thoughts? Application tips?
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