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Entries in Hourglass Cosmetics (4)

Monday
Mar072011

FAVOURITE | New forever beauty products in 2010

 

PLENTY OF people in the beauty world don't have forever beauty products. Why would we when a huge chunk of the job is trying everything out that comes to market?

Rarely have I bought something over and over again. If ever. Honestly, whether they'll tell you or not, the beauty folk often call in what they use or if they're so backlogged with reviewing stuff (ahem, my default state), then they beg off new products, already so mired in countless products they have to use.

Usually, I use whatever's on hand, whatever I am trialing that day/week/month. Maybe it's not like that in real life. I guess there's some sense of brand loyalty but it's hard to develop a taste for one thing when you've got 20 on the docket to try.

Here are a few from 2010 for which I'll be happy to plunk down cash when they run low or wear out.

 

Alpha-H

I'm all over this brand like white on rice. In 2010, Glyolic Acid has changed my 30-something skin for the better. The range is described as Glycolic based Anti-Ageing. They should add acne-fighting and Rosacea-styming to that description too. Gorgeous stuff. The Essential Hydrating Cream, Liquid Gold Intensive Night Repair Serum and the Daily Essential Moisturiser all get my humble blogger stamp of approval. Particularly the first two... packed with Vitamin A, Vitamin E,  Glycolic 14%, Niacinamide, Licorice Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5...  

 

Hourglass Femme Rouge

I rocked this shiz on the Vail ski slopes over the Christmas holiday in the brilliant berry Nocturnal. Why not? It was moisturising, stayed on, has rich pigment, the tube's refillable, it's got none of the nasties that are found in many lipsticks and, well, I was in the mood for a bit of glamour wherever I could find it as I didn't have the full ski bunny outfit. Instead, I wore my mother-in-law's 1970s ski pants that were almost a foot too short, a second-hand pastel camo coat from my sister and a helmet. If it can withstand the weather and wear of skiing and make anyone dressed as mad as I was feel glamorous, it's a keeper.

 

L'Occitane Peony Lip and Cheek Water

Has cut down my every day routine by a huge chunk of time. Swipe a bit onto my cheeks after I put on my RMS un-Cover Up in 22, once across the lips before blotting it with a finger, wiggle some mascara into my eyelashes or pile a bit of bright lipstick on the stain that's created a nice base and I'm good to go. It's super light, easy to blend before it sets (unlike many lip and cheek stains), has a natural, lovely peachy-pink colour and -- the real kicker -- makes me actually look like a refreshed, younger version of myself.

 

Alexa Rudolfo Bois Nu Candle

Just take the lid off and your entire house smells amazing. Light the sucker and it'll last for hours. Clean burning, long burn time, beautiful (and re-usable) glass containers with gorgeously heavy lids. I have two in a small one bedroom place and that's all I need. The scent is slightly musky but not overbearing. It smells expensive.

Oral-B Professional Care SmartSeries 5000 Electric Toothbrush

This one has taken some getting used to. As in, I can't mindlessly run it across my teeth for a few seconds before going to bed. You have to individually brush each tooth with the round, rotating brush head, like the dental hygenist does. The rubbery nubs and bristles are seriously whitening too and there's a timer so you know when you've done two minutes. My smiles loads brighter than it was before and my dentist is so much happier to see me than he was at the end of 2009. 

[Can't find a pick of the brush online. Boo.]

Babyliss Hair Brush

I still have to cut knots out of my hair. True story. It gets so tangled and matted during the winter when I have a scarf or collar rubbing against it all day. Often times I would just tuck it under on itself and leave it, like a giant dreadlock, until warm days. Conditioner was no match for it and even my favourite brush -- the one I've had for EIGHT years, my Marilyn -- couldn't make any but a superficial difference. Enter the Babyliss brush... a combo of boar bristles and spikey plastic ones that massage my scalp and instantly fix my mop. I dragged it through  my hair and had tamed the previously un-tamable mess in less than 30 seconds. My hard has been looking sleek since (also thanks in part to at Vidal Sassoon). I'm still trying to find a voltage converter to use my Root Boost, but I bet it would have made the 2010 list if I could've used it.

Wednesday
Jan192011

TRIED AND TESTED | Hourglass Femme Rouge Velvet Creme Lipstick

What > Femme Rouge Velvet Creme Lipstick from luxe LA mineral brand Hourglass in Nocturnal

True color > Lighter (in weight) than rendered online. A medium-deep berry mauve. Cool undertones. Gorgeous. Works day and night.

Texture > Super creamy with good pigment and just a hint of sheen on the finish.

Staying power > Last through an entire cup of coffee. Would need re-application during the day (although not at the frequency of a gloss or less-pigmented lipstick) because of the creamy texture.

Application technique > Apply once, blot well, and apply second coat by dabbing it on, fixing any errors or smudging out a bit with finger. No liner.

Wear > Super smooth. Lips feel moisturized, plumps. No dryness or caking, no tugging on the lip when applied.

**********

Plus > Texture, staying power for a cream lipstick, great pigment, luxuriously heavy metal case, they're refillable, perfume free.

Minus > Can't find full ingredient list online. Wouldn't call it 'light as air' as suggested on their site, but certainly not heavy, nor waxy.

Conclusion > A gorgeous cream lippie in brilliantly pigmented shades that feels more like Nuxe Reve de Miel than a lipstick.

Other reviews:

Hourglass Femme Rouge Velvet Creme Lipstick (£22/$30), available on Zuneta in the UK and Hourglass Online in the US.

Thursday
Mar182010

BEAUTY STALKER | Haute beauty buys

 

  1. CHANEL ROUGE COCO IN LA PAUSAIt’s the perfect soft coral for lips during this first flush of spring.
  2. ESTEE LAUDER BERLIN RED MIRROR COMPACT | Because we love art in our everyday life and we particularly like a little bit of  bauhaus in our bag. 
  3. LA MER THE CONCENTRATE | We weren’t La Mer converts until we this... and now we can’t get enough. Skin looks and feels amazing immediately. We want to stockpile. 
  4. JO MALONE VITAMIN E BODY BALM | Because it smells like honied heaven and leaves your skin non-greasy, supple and looking like it’s in soft focus. 
  5. CHANEL LE VERNIS IN PARTICULIEREBecause griege is the word in the nails right now and it actually looks fantastic (and fashion forward) on. And GINGER AND LIZ CAN YOU KEEP A SECRET | This teeny tiny label from the US with some spectacular colours to rival the likes of other cult brands.
  6. HOURGLASS PRODIGY LIPGLOSS | The wafter-thin packaging is slim enough to fit into the pocket of even the skinniest jeans and it’s packed with the best non-sticky, mineral gloss.
  7. MV ORGANICS HAND RESCUE | Tangerine-scented SOS with Rosehip and Calendula to heal even the most chapped hands and cuticles. [not pictured]
  8. RMS "UN" COVER-UP | A revelation in raw beauty, it has transformed and simplified makeup. Use it as a concealer or base and rub it in like a moisturiser for a completely toxin-free, raw beauty glow that looks more natural than no makeup.
  9. JONATHAN WARD CANDLE | Beautiful British candles with tons of essential oils and a clean burn. We love the Moss.
  10. NATURE BISSE C+C VITAMIN SCRUB | How we love a bit of citrus in the spring. It’s refreshing and exfoliating.  
  11. SKINCEUTICALS C E FERULIC | This stuff will visibly brighten the skin, in a one-two anti-aging punch. 
  12. NATURE GIRL I AM WAVE BATH SALTS | Because it’s the best way to soothe sore muscles from our new exercise routine and relax after a long day of work. 
  13. RICH HIPPIE KALACHAKRA | Limited-edition and far beyond my regular budget, I am reveling in the subtle citrus and floral fragrance this tiny bottle packs. It’s surprisingly synthetic free.
  14. ELLIS FAAS ELLIS RED | Because the colour is striking on every single person I’ve seen apply it to date. Pure genius.

SEE THE FULL PAGE BEAUTY STALKER HERE.