Price: $45 CAD
Size: 0.15 Oz
Shade: Incandescent Electra
PACKAGING
The packaging for the blush is very similar to the highlighters – the only differences are the colour of the finishing which is gold instead of bronze and the size is a little smaller. For more on the packaging you can refer to my previous review on the highlighters. Overall, the packaging is beautiful and functional – though you should be careful as it can get scratched when thrown into a makeup bag.
PRODUCT
The blush is a marbled combination of a blush and highlighter and they come in 7 different tones. The powder blush is extremely fine and soft making blending smooth and effortless. The blush has shimmer and glitter which give you that highlighting effect which looks natural and beautiful on the skin. At first I was worried about having the highlighter sit on the mid to lower part of my check (which would be highlighting too much) – however I found it to not be an issue. Some of the shades are not as pigmented as others so swatching in the store is recomended. However, the pigmentation is buildable but I would recommend that you be careful as it could look overly glittery turning you into a disco ball. Overall the blush is a great 2-in-1 product that gives a naturally flush glow to the skin with little to no effort, it also lasts for the majority of my day (I would not call it a long lasting product).
SHADES
INCANDESCENT ELECTRA
The shade I purchased is Incandescent Electra which is a peach tone with a champagne highlighter tone. The blush runs a little on the light side especially for my medium toned skin so I do layer it with a plain blush underneath to bring out the colour. However, there are other colours available that do show up better for example, Diffused Heat and Radiant Magenta. But besides the pigmentation the colour and look is very flattering on my skin and looks natural. Overall, this blush is easily one of my favourite especially because its quick and easy and looks great for everyday makeup.
* Side note: because the product is marbled each one is different – some may have more blush and some may have more highlighter marbling – it really varies.
– SL.
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**Links to the product is provided above if you wish to purchase it. Simply CLICK on the image of the respective item.
Price: $70 CAD
Size: 0.116 oz/shade
Includes Shade: Dim Light, Incandescent Light, & Radiant Light
Continuing with the highlighter series I decided to pull this palette out to do a review. When I first started to blog I already wrote a review on this product but in the single version so here’s an ‘updated’ review and my thoughts on the extra shades.
PACKAGING
In classic Hourglass fashion the packaging is very luxurious looking and feeling. The palette comes in pretty much the same style of packaging as the single powders with the reflective finished plastic. The closure and material are sturdy and solid making it travel friendly- and like last time I have personally travelled with this palette and have had no issues with it breaking or opening. The clasp clicks into place and is easy to open. Overall, the packaging looks great and feels great, in addition it also is travel friendly with a decent mirror on the inside.
PRODUCT
This palette consists of 3 shades which I will review individually below. The powders are very soft and fine allowing them to apply smoothly and blend easily. The texture is amazing and feels barely there which is perfect for anyone who dislikes using powder. Also as I mentioned before, highlighters will either help you hide imperfections or it could bring out imperfections in the skin (so use them carefully) – I found that this highlighter did not do that as much in comparison to others. This makes it a great introductory highlighter to try, especially because the powders also give a very natural glow to the skin helping it look fresh and healthy. Finally, the powders wear very well comfortably throughout the day and lasted me a full day at work with little fading. Overall, yes the powders are on the higher end but the texture and quality are worth it. Also I found myself using very little and have had the product for almost over a year now and have barely made a dent so it will definitely last you a while.
SHADES (left to right)
DIM LIGHT
First is Dim Light which is the shade I reviewed last time. It is a neutral peach beige which blends well into my yellow toned skin. For this shade it depends on your skin tone as it works best for a medium to dark skin tone – it looks extremely subtle and gives you a naturally light highlight. Unfortunately, if you are on the lighter end it may come of a little dark for your skin and I would not recommend you to use it as a highlight – maybe more as a setting powder. This shade is also a little hard to describe look wise but I would say it looks like a mix of a shimmer and matte kind of powder but does not come off chalky. There are no glitters so a plus for those who do not like glitter particles in their products. Lastly, the product gives more of a blurring effect than a light bouncing highlighting effect.
INCANDESCENT LIGHT
Second is Incandescent Light which is unfortunately exclusive to the palette so it is not available in the single format. This shade is the lightest in the palette and is the shade that looks the most like a traditional highlighting powder. This shade looks white based in the pan but is more of a pale champagne tone which helps to blend seamlessly into your skin. It is a shimmer power with a light amount of glitter particles (nothing too overwhelming). However, because it has a champagne tone the highlighter may not work well for extremely fair skin types unless you prefer a warm highlight. On the plus side it worked well to reflect light in areas that I wanted to hide (dark under eyes) in photos. Finally, this shade works well for my skin tone as a highlighter but may not work out well for cooler skin tones and extremely fair skin types.
RADIANT LIGHT
Last shade in the palette is Radiant Light which is a golden beige toned highlighter. This shade is a lot like a glowy bronzer instead of a highlighter. Like the Incandescent Light it is a shimmer and glitter formula that is also not too overwhelming. It is great for achieving a sun kissed look especially for the summer time. Personally, I found myself using this shade the least out of the 3 as the other 2 looked best for my skin tone (both during my pale and tanned seasons). This shade also runs a little on the orange side so it makes it a little difficult to work with. Overall, it is still a beautiful shade but sits a little too much on the orange end for my light-medium skin tone – however it will give you a beautiful finish to a bronzed look.
OVERALL
This palette is a little on the pricey end however, if the shades all suite your skin tone and work well with the looks you are trying to achieve (natural glowy looks) then I would recommend it as quality and quantity are both decent . However, because the palette runs on the warmer and deeper side it is mainly best for medium to dark skin tones – as they may come off a little muddy looking on lighter skin tones. On the plus side if all the shades work for you it is a palette worth investing in as it will last you a while and above all give your skin an amazingly natural and healthy glow.
– SL.
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**Links to the product is provided above if you wish to purchase it. Simply CLICK on the image of the respective item.
I wanted to give a little intro on why I purchased this product because my review may or may not be slightly biased. I was initially looking for a bb cream style foundation that I could throw into my bag and apply to my face quickly before work. So I grabbed this product to try out for this purpose however, I have ended up returning it solely on the fact that it was not what I was looking for, not because it was not a good product.
INGREDIENT
Hyaluronic Acid: is an ingredient that is found in many hydrating skin care products. It is a molecule that is natural found in our skin and is known to hold onto moisture allowing the skin to remain hydrated.
PACKAGING
Packaging wise I would say I am 50/50 on it. The PROS regarding the packaging would be the tube style packaging that keeps the product sanitary and easy to squeeze out. It also has a luxurious looking cap that clicks well into place when closed – which is good if you are looking to throw this into your bag and do not want it to out. However, the CONS would be the tube’s material (I am being nitpicky) but it did not feel up to par with their other products and felt on the cheaper end. Also, the label on the tube was a sticker stuck on which could be a result of being sold in Canada and having to have English and French. But I would prefer to see the label officially printed straight onto the packaging especially if it is a $60 product.
PRODUCT
Simply put the product is great when used as a glowy and dewy foundation. It is meant to be a foundation that was formulated with hyaluronic acid to add a skin care element into the product. However, in my opinion was poorly marketed as a ‘tint’ giving me the feeling that it was going to be a ‘watery’ foundation or bb cream. The PROS of the product would be the light weight feeling when applied correctly and a subtle glowy and dewy finish. It gives the skin a nice healthy look when compared to matte finish products. The foundation does help to keep the skin hydrated however you would still need to apply your skincare routine. This is because it helps to maintain the hydration instead of provide hydration. I found that the best and in my opinion the only way to apply this product was in combination with a damp Beauty Blender. Also a plus would be the shade availability – it comes in a large spectrum which is rare for ‘tint’ or bb cream products. The CONS would be its thicker cream like consistency that makes the product hard to blend and spread with a brush or your fingers. The most unfortunate part is that it feels a little cakey if applied without a damp Beauty Blender which could lead to a greasy feeling as it does have a dewy finish. Also, the shade I picked up (which would be my fault) had a white undertone which does not match well with my skin as I am yellow undertoned. Lastly, the product though a creamy texture – has a sheer to light coverage and may not be favourable for those looking for a product have a medium to high coverage. Also, the product has a smell that I am also unsure about as it does not smell bad but it does not smell good. It reminds a little of older style makeup which some of you may or may not like.
OVERALL
The product is not a total disappointment however it is not a new favourite as I do have higher expectation for a product that is priced at $64. I will say that the finish is a beautiful natural dewy finish with a slight pearlescent look. It definitely gives the skin a beautiful glow that does not feel greasy or overwhelming (just remember to apply with a Beauty Blender). However, it is a little thick in consistency for my personal preference which does make the product hard to spread/blend without a damp sponge. I would recommend this product if you are looking for a foundation that keeps your skin hydrated especially through the winter months and only need a light to medium coverage.
– SL.
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**Links to the product is provided above if you wish to purchase it. Simply CLICK on the image of the respective item.
For those who are Sephora VIB members – do not forget to take advantage of the 20% off going on until tomorrow !
I have decided to put a haul of some of the items i picked up at the store today, since the trek to the closest Sephora took a lot of energy out of me.
Above are only a few of the items I purchased, since some are still coming in the mail. I will list what they are below and if you have a preference on what item you would like to see a review on leave a comment below :) I will try my best to do reviews on them all.
PRODUCTS| left to right
NARS- Velvet Matte Lip Pencil (shade: Damned)
SEPHORA- Pro Full Coverage Airbrush #53
YSL- Touche Eclat Radiant Touch (shade: 2.5 Luminous Vanilla)
ANASTASIA- Brow Wiz (shade: Soft Brown)
BENEFIT- Cheeky Sweet Spot Box O’Blushes (contains: Dandelion, Bella Bamba, Sugarbomb, Watt’s Up!, Hoola, Coralista, Rock, brush)
BENEFIT- Gimme Brow (shade: light/medium)
TARTE- Clean Slate Poreless
TARTE- Skinny SmolderEYES Amazonian Clay Waterproof Liner (colour: Deep Amethyst)
HOURGLASS- 1.5mm Mechanical Gel Eye Liner (colour: Obsidian/ black)
— not pictured —
URBAN DECAY- B6 Vitamin-Infused Complexion Prep Spray
URBAN DECAY- Naked2 Basics
HOURGLASS- Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick (shade: Canvas)
TOO FACED- Better Than Sex Mascara (colour: Black)
ANASTASIA- Brow Enhancing Serum Advanced
ANASTASIA- Brow Gel (colour: Clear)
MAKE UP FOR EVER- HD Pressed Powder
Before there are any mean comments below about the amount I purchased- I would like to mention that I do make a list of items throughout the year that I save to purchase with the 20% off . Also these will hopefully last me the year or longer, and some of these items I do pick up for my mother but do try out first for review purposes.
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder
Price: $52 CAD (Sephora)
Formulated without: Parabens
Size: 0.35 Oz
Shade: Dim Light
PACKAGING
To start off, this packaging is beautifully made and looks very luxurious. I have had it for a while now and it has held up very well, I see no scratches and no sign of loosening in the hinges, clasp, or closure. I have also accidentally dropped mine and it did not even scratch or shatter the product. Though it is a steep price, they did give their best and it really shows through their packaging. This compact is definitely divine and one of my favourites
COLOUR (DIM LIGHT)
I opted for Dim Light which is neutral beige-peach since I wanted a subtle highlight that would blend in well into my skin tone. The point of this powder is to provide a balance between warm and cool tones in order to blur imperfections like dark circles. I apply this powder over my dark circles to deflect light in the area so that the dark appearance is less obvious. I do not like too much shimmer, so this was perfect for me as it provides more of a luminescence from within. The Dim Light is a great for those looking for light highlight that looks great in photos. If you are looking for a stronger highlight then this is not the option for you, but you should try the Ethereal Light powder.
PRODUCT
Love the powder! The Ambient Lighting Powders are created with such fine powders; they do not give off the powdered look when on the face. It feels light on the skin and does not suffocate my pores. This powder gives me an even complexion and it takes the focus away from my imperfections. In my opinion, though it was not a cheap product, they really are worth it! Also, because of the fine powder you do not require much to get the result you want. I have used this product everyday on my under eye area, and it does not even look like I put a dent into it. This powder will definitely last me a while. This is not so much a splurge product but a product to invest in. As for longevity, I have noticed that it lasts the full day, obviously it does not look as newly applied by the end of the day, but it definitely is still there.
OVERALL
I love the ambient lighting line and love my Dim Light powder! It has become one of my essential products for my everyday makeup. Though it was a little expensive it is worth it, because of its high quality product and packaging. I really recommend this product if you find the perfect amount of luminescence for you. Lastly, do not worry if you have sensitive skin, my mother (she has very sensitive skin) has tried this multiple times and has not found any irritation, this powder is not like any other highlighting powder which shimmers usually irritate sensitive skin types.
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