Best Things in Beauty

samedi 19 mai 2012

Hourglass Extreme Sheen Lipgloss in Siren.

the Hourglass Extreme Sheen Lipgloss (3.6g, £ 21) formula is one of my favourites and the shade Siren just so unique and exciting that i could never have passed it up. i was lemming for it ever since it was featured on Temptalia. even though i knew that i would not wear this shade very often - let's face it, my normal everyday life just won't be anywhere nearly as extravagant as this lipgloss needs it - i had to buy it when i had the chance to since this product is just too thrilling.
so it was part of one of my zuneta.com orders a few months ago.
i was surprised to receive the old packaging version (classic clear tube, metallic cap and brush applicator) instead of the revamped tube leaning on Hourglass' Prodigy Lipglosses, but it was totally fine for me since it's just the packaging that's different but not the content. most definitely a bold colour like this doesn't sell that well that they went through their existing stock before the repackaging.
Siren is an intense red (arterial-blood-red) with stunning metallic finish and a slight copper duochrome at some angles. it has a rather thin formula and applies evenly, there is a vanilla/crème brulée scent to it. the texture feels refined and lightweight, it's not too sticky. it's highly pigmented and almost opaque with one coat. i planned to wear it over a red lipstick, but the final look is not too different since Siren is already amazing on its own. the metallic effect is purely stunning, it's like you've dipped your lips into red chrome and then put a gloss over it. it's really glowing.
the formula wears about 4-5 hours on me and feels very hydrating. after the glossy sheen has faded, the lips are still covered in a metallic shimmering coat of red, like a semi-sheer lipstick.
i have never seen a gloss like this before, it's really unrivalled.
i received so many comments and compliments on my lips everytime i was wearing this, it's a fabulous colour for evening-/nighttime-going out. if a plain red lip has become too ordinary and boring for you, Hourglass Siren is what you need!

i have reviewed two other beautiful Hourglass Extreme Sheen Lipglosses before: Fortune and Lush.

pics shot with the compact camera:

my bare lips as comparison

blotted

and again, shot with the DSLR:

nekkid lips

blotted

shy - daring

Libellés : brand: HOURGLASS, lips, look, swatches

lundi 20 juin 2011

Hourglass Extreme Sheen Lipgloss in Lush

the other shade of Hourglass Extreme Sheen Lipgloss i recently ordered at Ludwig Beck Munich is named Lush (read my review of Fortune here). i called up the counter when i heard that they will sell off their stock on these glosses due to re-packaging with 50% off. now they cost 11€ instead of 23€.
i think the new packaging resembles the Hourglass Prodigy lipglosses but in a long and stretched version. i don't know if the formula or colours will be changed, though.
this old packaging contains 3.6g and has a brush applicator. the brush is rather stiff but smooth at the tip and applies the product very well, if it's not so thin in texture, making application of metallic finishes a bit harder because it's easy to get a streaky result.
but since Lush has a shimmery finish, i don't experience any problem with the applicator at all. it's a peachy coral with gold shimmer which initially looks quite bright, brighter than in the tube, but easily sheers out to a light finish. it brightens up my lips a little bit and makes them look quite full and provides a soft glossy effect. the gold shimmer is really beautiful. i like that it feels smooth and very light and is non-sticky but the downside of course is the rather short wearing time (about 2h without eating&drinking but a lot of chit chat ;)). it's very moisturizing and leaves my lips soft and plump. oh, and i haven't mentioned the intense vanilla-caramel-scent which makes me think of fudge and crème brulée and caramel macchiato hmmmm.....
this is a neat summer gloss which i will wear a lot this year.

this is how it looks worn

comparison

i thought it could look like MAC Love Nectar Lipglass, but Love Nectar is still more sheer and subtle on the lips and has more of a colourful shimmer instead of base colour and gold shimmer.

Hourglass Lush - MAC Love Nectar

Libellés : brand: HOURGLASS, comparison, lips, swatches

mercredi 15 juin 2011

Hourglass Extreme Sheen Lipgloss in Fortune

recently i ordered some lipglosses by Hourglass at Ludwig Beck Munich since the Extreme Sheen glosses get sorted out there due to some package-changing or so and they are marked down 50% (thank you so much Cream for posting about it!!!). originally they cost 23€ but now only 11€ - awesome deal.
one of them i wanted for a long time since it reminded me of MAC's Nymphette which i like so much so i will show it to you first: it's one of their Extreme Sheen glosses in the colour Fortune.
it comes in a clear acrylic tube with a glossy blackened bronze metal cap and a brush applicator. it contains 3.6g. the gloss has a strong sweet scent like crème brulée, very vanilla/caramel-ly. Fortune is a medium candy pink with strong gold sheen and shimmer, applied it's very reflective and almost has a metallic finish that makes your lips look very dimensional and full. so it's different from MAC Nymphette, which is rather shimmery and not frosty. this is quite a strong effect, so i like to pair it with a soft neutral eye make up so it's not "too much".
the texture is surprisingly light and creamy although the colour and effect implemented a much thicker consistency to me. it feels smooth and soft on my lips and is pretty moisturising. it doesn't settle into my lip lines or bleeds out. because of the rather thin consistency, it's non-sticky but the staying power is not very good. it stays for about 2.5 hours on me.
i don't know exactly how they want to re-vamp the packaging (or if they also plan to reformulate it or if they want to get rid of this line completely), but i think a classic flocked doe foot applicator would handle the thin but reflective texture a lot better than a brush applicator (which in fact is not bad, but needs a bit more effort to get a completely even and streak-free finish).
it's a beautiful colour (that would look nice with warm skin tones), a lovely texture but i don't think i'd pay full price for it (but on the other side i always save up for eyeshadows, brushes and blushes :P).

this is how it looks worn:

comparison

Hourglass Fortune - MAC Nymphette

Libellés : brand: HOURGLASS, comparison, lips, swatches

mercredi 18 mai 2011

Hourglass Visionare Eye Shadow Duo - Suede

the Hourglass Visionare Eye Shadow Duo in Suede is the last of 3 duos i ordered from Ludwig Beck in Munich (Hautnah in den 5 Höfen), i just did a phone call to the Hourglass counter there.
it costs 28€ in germany, while if you'd order from the uk on zuneta.com, you'd have to pay around 33€ (Beck provides free delivery for germany on orders 50€+, zuneta ships to germany for free from 65£+).
it comes in a sleek glossy dark bronze compact with that slide-around mirror i have shown you few times before. it's really high quality and well made. it has a magnetic closure and a very nice little brush that's dense and soft and works well applying the colours. if it weren't that short i would use it on a regular basis for sure.
this is a very nude and neutral duo containing a neutral cream shade with multicolour shimmers which is a beautiful inner corner and brow bone hightlight and a light cool taupe with multicolour shimmer (but less than in the cream shade so it appears more satiny) and golden microglitter specks. the taupe looks cooler on my eyes than in the hand-swatch.
both shades are velvety soft and pigmented, they're both rather light in colour so it's not as apparent as with darker shades. they melt into my skin beautifully and blend out seamlessly. Hourglass shadows last all day on me without creasing, even without a primer.
this is a palette i can even grab without a thinking and apply without a mirror, they are beautiful everyday colours and very work appropriated. they give a subtle definition for a soft polished look, i like to wear them with a black winged liner so i can boost up the look anytime with a reddish lip.
the Hourglass eyeshadow duos are a great deal - you get 6g (!) of great eyeshadow for your money. so this combination i can wholeheartedly recommend if you search for a neutral duo for daily use and like subtle looks.

this is how the Suede duo looks applied: i used the taupe on the whole lid and the cream as inner corner and brow bone highlight and on the lower lashline as well.