Hourglass

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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Crazy About Creams! Hourglass Illume Sheer Color Trio in Sunset

January 16th, 2019 by Karen 23 Comments

hourglass illume sunset trio — OH, HAI, GORGEOUS!

This month I am CRAZY ABOUT CREAMS. Stay tuned for some of my favorite cream makeup products all throughout January.

First, happy hump day to ya. Second, here are a couple fun facts about the $62 Hourglass Illume Trio in Sunset (you know, to get you ready for Makeup Final Jeopardy!).

Like the name implies, it’s a trio. It has a cream bronzer, a blush and a highlighter, and the first time it launched was back in 2010 (my gosh, have I really been writing about makeup that long?). Back then, it was only a duo, and it was $40 instead of $62. It came with just a cream blush and a bronzer in some fun-kay packaging. It had a different logo and this huge swivel mirror that you could turn 360 degrees around.

hourglass illume sunset trio swatches — The trio on medium tan, warm skin. For reference, I’m an NC42 in MAC.

The new version looks totally different on the outside (no more cray-cray mirror), and now that it’s a trio, it also comes with the cream highlighter.

Quality-wise, I think the trio is just as good as the O.G. duo, and yes, I still have one of the original duos because I am Marie Kondo’s freakin’ nightmare, and I’ve kept it around ~~because I’m a hoarder~~.

What can I say? I don’t use it anymore…although I probably could. It doesn’t smell or look funny (which is my totally unscientific way of determining if I need to throw something out).

hourglass illume sunset trio k — Cheeeeeeeks!

Anyway, the colors in the current trio version are similar to the colors in the O.G. one. You get the same medium peach blush and warm golden bronze, but now you also get a pearly golden beige highlighter.
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Sephora VIB Sale Recommendations: Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette

November 5th, 2018 by Karen 11 Comments

hourglass ambient lighting palette vib sale — One of my greatest Hourglass loves (and one of the things I use the most from the entire line)

Even MOAR ideas!! On the off chance that you haven’t already heard, there’s a Sephora VIB sale this month! To give you some ideas, I’m highlighting some of my favorite makeup that you can find at Sephora this week.

I’ve been the proud, happy owner of this highlighting palette ever since the first time it came out in 2013, and I lurve it just as much today as I did five years ago.

The Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette is $62 at full price, a.k.a. HELLA EXPENSIVE, but the Sephora VIB discount kicks it down to $49.60, which is a teensy bit easier on the wallet.

Whenever someone near or above 30 asks me for a highlighter recommendation, this palette, along with MAC Hush, are the first two things that come to mind.

Why?

Well, each of the three face powders in the Ambient Lighting Palette has a lovely opalescent glow…

Hmm, let me rephrase that, because I don’t know if “opalescent” is quite the right term. Basically, I think the finish is unlike anything else out there. Opal, or pearl, would indicate some obvious shine, and the Ambient powders aren’t even close to shiny. They’re a velvety pearl, if that makes any sense, because while you can can definitely see light bouncing off your skin when you wear them on your upper cheekbones or down the bridge of your nose, they’re nowhere close to shimmery or frosty or shiny.

It’s the subtlest of glows (here are some swatches). You might not even be able to tell at first that there’s something there, but when you look closely…there is!

From sephora.com…

What it is:
A palette featuring three shades of Ambient Lighting Powder, the high-tech, soft-focus finishing powder that recreates the most exquisitely flattering types of light.

What it does:
Ambient Lighting Powder is a groundbreaking collection of finishing powders that capture, diffuse, and soften the way light reflects on skin. Unlike traditional powders, which merely cloak imperfections, Ambient Lighting Powder utilizes photoluminescent technology to filter out harsh light and refine the appearance of the complexion. The powders deliver a multidimensional luminescence to every skin tone, making it appear softer and lit from within. The finishing powders enhance skin in any type of light, including flash photography. With three universal shades available in the Ambient palette, you can create any desired effect.

What it is formulated WITHOUT:
– Parabens

What else you need to know:
This palette includes Incandescent Light, a shade exclusive to this palette, and two existing shades, Dim Light and Radiant Light. This product is free of talc, gluten, fragrance, and nano particles.

“I learned early on how different types of light can truly flatter the complexion. Growing up, my mother had pink light bulbs in all of the lamps throughout the house. She loved pink light because it was the softest and most flattering, and she always wanted to look good. I used this concept of lighting in Ambient Lighting Powder.”

— Carisa Janes, Hourglass Founder

Hourglass products are 100 percent cruelty-free.

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