Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit -- Ghost Palette ($80)
Maria, breathe. Don't break into "how the heck is this palette worth $80?" or "why was this even created?" straight away. Well, sorry, just did. #sorrynotsorry Now, let's go back a little bit here. I never owned an Hourglass highlighter/blush/bronzer. I have only tried the primer and two different foundations-- all of which underwhelmed me significantly. But I still wanted to try Hourglass' cult products, and of course, jumped on the opportunity when they released this Ghost palette. First up, packaging. Lovely plastic. Are you freaking kidding me? See-through plastic for $80? Are you honestly playing with me here? Then, let us go into the actual content. The finishing powders/highlighter are all so similar in colour that my skin literally doesn't see a difference. Further more, I like to get "more bang for my buck" in the highlighter department. Yes, I know they are supposed to be more subtle, but I didn't know they would be THAT subtle. Laura Mercier wins ANY day. I use the three left shades (finishing powders/highlighter) when I blend blush, bronzer and contour together. For that purpose, it works well, but not for that price. Now, the right side. The top blush is okay for my skin, while the middle one is a bit dark and doesn't really "fit" into the softer colour scheme. The bronzer at the bottom -- there is a bronzer?? Don't use it, but maybe I will. Don't know. Overall, underwhelmed again. For that price, I was expecting something out of this world. There are SO many great palettes that don't even cost half of this one, so buying this is completely unnecessary unless you want to put a "tick" next to "owning an Hourglass complexion palette". Well, I put my tick now, first and last time.
Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer
This rather expensive primer comes in 3 sizes (you already see where I am going with this). To test, I bought the smallest size-- the travel size. It is of white serum-y consistency, with a pump. Leaves a silky touch finish upon application. Pros: I guess it does it's job by priming the face? It doesn't ruin my foundation. Cons: price! I personally didn't see how it outperforms Smashbox' primers on my skin. For such an expensive product, you really want to see a big difference to other alternative cheaper products, but unfortunately, I did not. Would recommend? Well, if you have extra money to spend on a primer, sure, go for it. However, I personally don't see much of a point in this "investment". Good product, but overpriced. Buy the smallest size first and see if you are wowed.
Product review:
Hourglass Vanish Seamless Foundation Stick ($46) in Alabaster
Who... Created... This??? I really want to meet that person. Anyway, before we get into WHY I want to meet the creator, let us first go into the promises.
"A revolutionary foundation stick with the coverage of a concealer, the fluidity of a liquid, and the weightlessness of a powder in a longwearing waterproof formula for undetectable full coverage. The unprecedented concentration of pigment in this foundation provides maximum coverage with minimum product, concealing all discoloration and imperfections for flawless skin with a seamless finish".
Indeed, this stick is revolutionary. I believe revolutions can start from how bad this product is. Let me dissect it for you:
"Fluidity of a liquid": I didn't know that bricks had so much fluidity
"Undetectable" full coverage: well, if you are blind, then definitely undetectable, otherwise, you will even see it from a distance
"Full coverage": oh please, that's not full coverage. You can achieve full coverage, sure, but you will look like an old lady with a lot of makeup on.
"Weightless of a powder": well, if you don't feel anything, then yes. Otherwise, you will feel like your face is suffocating.
"Long-wearing": until you touch it for the first time, so about a minute or two.
Furthermore: Transferrability: excellent Sinking into pores and fine lines: excellent Wet feel: excellent Cakiness: excellent Want of wanting to take it off: immediate I don't want to turn into Liam Neeson, so he better find that creator himself.