Hourglass

FOTD: Khaki and Copper Tones for a Zoom Call

June 24th, 2020 by Karen 21 Comments

Wore this look on a Zoom call with a beauty brand yesterday (it was Urban Decay to talk about their latest Naked palette, for the nosey noodles who were wondering!), and in classic K-dawg fashion I banged it out in 15 minutes before it started because that’s how I roll.

And, um…Connor also had a social distancing playdate at the park shortly before the call was scheduled to start, and we made it back home by the skin of our teeth, ha ha ha! Whenever I’m pressed for time but want to look gussied up, I always fall back on smokey eyes and nude lips. This khaki and copper version relies on just two products.

I paired the eyes with peach lips and cheeks because EASY. PEASY.

I’m also wearing a little more base makeup than I have been lately because I knew that “makeup people” (air quotes) were going to be present, so if there were ever a time to load up on a little more concealer, this was it.

Since we’re on the topic of quick looks, what’s your default medium-impact makeup look when you’re pressed for time?

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Shelter-In-Place Face of the Day: Soft Peach, Rose and Buttery Brown Tones

April 7th, 2020 by Karen 11 Comments

Ya know, seeing as how I spend every waking moment right now at home or somewhere within close proximity outside, and I can technically wear any kind of makeup I want, since my boss (the coywolf) is easygoing regarding the corporate dress code, you’d think I’d be all over runway-ready glossy red lids and lips and ’80s-style striped blush on my cheekbones…

My makeup situation is nowhere near this exciting at the moment…

But, alas, absolutely nothing exciting has been happening ’round these parts.

To be honest, I haven’t felt like wearing much makeup, and when I have worn makeup, I’ve only been able to muster enough to energy to do the yooj barely-there base and watercolor neutrals — a.k.a. my makeup safe place.

For now, I’m not gonna fight it. I’m just going to go with the shelter-in-place flow, and keep wearing what makes me feel good until I feel like pushing the envelope. So, today I wore peach and rose tones on my lids, lips and cheeks, with a Duchess of Sussex-caliber barely there base.

Are you still wearing makeup (or dressing up, doing your hair, etc.) at home? Inquiring bored beauty-loving minds want to know.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

The New Hourglass Unreal High Shine Volumizing Lip Gloss: Swatches of Canvas, Child, Provoke, Prose, Fever and Horizon

May 3rd, 2019 by Karen 8 Comments

hourglass unreal high shine volumizing lip gloss 2 — Five of 18 new Hourglass Unreal Volumizing Lip Glosses ($30)

Quick take

I’m not completely sold on the plumping…because I don’t really see it, but if you don’t mind the $30, check out these new glosses. I think they’re pretty. They’re also borderline moisturizing, highly pigmented, super smooth and easy to apply. Canvas is my favorite. It’s the perfect “just throw it in your purse and forget about it” color. You can see them all now at Sephora and the Hourglass website.

Even though Tabs will always be “the people’s cat” — that scrappy ragamuffin who strutted and clawed his way off the mean streets of Mill Valley — I’ll always remember his edgy fashion sense and impeccable style.

The fashion gods didn’t simply sculpt his glorious tum-tum from Carrera marble. They also imbued him with the gift of sight and the ability to recognize quality high-end makeup, like these tubes of Hourglass plumping gloss.

They’re from the new Hourglass Unreal High Shine Volumizing Lip Gloss line, which just launched today.

Thoughts and first impressions…

Not to worry. If you’re a fan of the Hourglass Extreme Sheen glosses, I believe Hourglass is still keeping them around. I don’t think they’re being phased out (which is always my first thought when new things are released).
Some of the Unreal High Shine shades are similar to the Extreme Sheens (Child, Canvas, Ignite and Icon).
The medium-weight formula doesn’t feel sticky. The texture reminds me a lot of the Chanel Glossimers.
I feel a slight (not painful) tingle when I apply them, but the tingle disappears within a few minutes.
They taste and smells faintly of mint for about five minutes.
They are CRAZY, STUPID OPAQUE (!), which you might think would make them tricky to apply, since full-on glosses will often slip beyond your natural natural lip lines, but these are actually easy to apply. They go on smoothly (the paddle-shaped applicator is fool-proof) without settling into vertical lip lines or breaking the boundary around my lips.
Wear time is from 2-3 hours.
Also, I don’t find these drying at all. I’d almost call them moisturizing!
Are they volumizing? Eh…I can’t tell. Maybe a little. Regardless, I like the way they look.

hourglass unreal high shine volumizing lip gloss — The paddle-shaped applicator makes it easy to hug corners.

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Product Spotlight: Hourglass Lip Oil in Cameo

March 29th, 2019 by Karen 10 Comments

hourglass cameo swatch — Hourglass No. 28 Lip Oil in Cameo

Remember when Marky Mark had his Funky Bunch? Well, if I were rolling with my girls, and we all were wearing Hourglass Lip Oil in Cameo, we’d be known as Bougie Bouge and the Bougie Bunch, because this tiny tube costs $49! — which is REDONK. But if you’re feeling fancy, it’s good stuff, especially if your lips are flaky and dry.

I’ve been a fan of No. 28 Lip Oil since day one (back when it was a “steal” at just $42). I’ve had a tube on my nightstand for years, and while I’ve never liked the price (I always buy mine during the Sephora VIB sale), I know that when my lips are past the point of no return, I can slick the O.G. clear No. 28 on my lips before bed (it smells and tastes a little like rosemary), and when I wake up the next morning, everything’s copacetic.

Hourglass recently added tinted versions of No. 28 to the line, and the stand-out for me is the rose shade called Cameo.

Absolutely gorgeous.

My lips are pretty pigmented, so lightly tinted products are hit or miss for me, but Cameo looks like a perfect MLBB shade. (Side note: Isn’t Cameo also an ’80s band?? So many music references in this post…)

Cameo is shiny, but it isn’t thick or goopy. It’s also gloriously moisturizing. If you want plump and juicy rosy lips — and you’re feeling Bougie Bouge! — this is it.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. TGIF! 🤗

New Hourglass Vanish Seamless Finish Liquid Foundation (And a Book Review of Lilac Girls!)

February 27th, 2019 by Karen 24 Comments

hourglass vanish seamless liquid — The newest foundation in the Hourglass line: Vanish Seamless Finish Liquid Foundation ($56). I wear the shade Beige.

If you were wondering if new Vanish Seamless Finish Liquid Foundation by Hourglass is just as good as their B.O.M.B. Vanish Stick Foundation…well, sorry to bum you out, babe, but the stick is so much better.

I know. I was also hoping for a new go-to liquid version of Vanish with the same “Oh, I forgot I’m wearing makeup!” super power.

hourglass vanish beige swatch — Swatch of Beige. (I’m an NC42 in MAC.)

I wanted the stick’s same medium-to-full coverage and satiny finish, but importantly, I wanted the eeeeease. With the stick, you just draw a few stripes and blend with whatever you can grab first — a buffing brush, a sponge, your fingers, a cat’s paw… It’s like a minute, tops.

The liquid version, though? Bah, so complicated! The liquid has intensely concentrated pigment, and it’s like an airtight alibi (it completely covers its tracks, ha ha), but the finish settles into pores and fine lines if you use more than a drop or two.

hourglass vanish seamless before — Before: No makeup and a smile with my sidekick.

hourglass vanish seamless after — And after! I’m wearing Beige without any setting powder (just the foundation), because I felt like it looked kinda heavy already on its own. Eyes: MAC Art Library Nude Model palette and It Cosmetics Superhero Mascara. Cheeks: Hourglass Ambient Blush in Brilliant Nude. Lips: MAC Matte Lipstick in Down to An Art.

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