Spotlight: Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powders

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powders 

If you've read my January Favorites post, you'll know that I have really been enjoying the new Ambient Lighting Powders by Hourglass. With six beautiful colors to choose from, you may be wondering which is right for you. Luckily, Hourglass put out something for everyone!  While I don't have all six, I do have five of them. Some of you have been asking to see swatches, so I thought I'd include swatches, better descriptions and which brushes I prefer for application.

Here is a closer look at the shades I have:

 From left to right: Ethereal (white), Diffused (yellow), Luminous (champagne), Mood (lavender), Radiant (golden beige with shimmer) - Above with flash, below without.

 These were somewhat difficult to swatch because the shades are sheer. They are not highlighting powders, but rather meant to be worn allover the face as a setting powder. Therefore, they are not heavily pigmented like an eyeshadow, but rather bathe the face in a sheer cloak of light. 

Ethereal Light is a sheer opalescent, cool white powder. This is ideal for those with very fair skin and is meant to mimic a moonlit glow.  If used on a darker skin tone, it could work as a subtle highlighter rather than a setting powder.

Diffused Light seems to be the best match for my skin tone. It's a soft warm pale yellow which is great for those who wish to neutralize any redness in their skin. This is my favorite of the ambient powders because I feel like it really has some corrective properties in addition to setting my makeup.

Luminous Light is a champagne shade that will work best on those with a medium skin tone. However, I feel that of all of the shades available, this one is probably the most universal. Keep in mind the finger swatches are deceiving, because when applied with a brush, you get a light sheer effect, not the concentrated one seen in the photo below. I felt it was important to show a more concentrated version, to give you a better idea of the colors. This does appear to have some super fine shimmers in it, but the shimmer is undetectable on the face. Luminous creates the illusion of a candlelit glow on the face.

Mood Light is a sheer lavender/pink. Don't be scared of the word lavender. It's very light, and creates a brightening effect on the face. This is best for those who suffer from a dull or lackluster complexion. If you are looking to use some of the powders together, this one also looks pretty over a cream or powder blush just on the cheekbones. I also like this dusted lightly on the eyelids for a more awake appearance.

Radiant Light is a good choice for those with darker medium complexions to deep skin tones. This is the powder I reach for when I am going for a super bronzed look. I love this over a bronzer or self-tanned skin dusted lightly along the perimeter of the face. This really enhances deeper skin tones beautifully, and for those with lighter skin, it can help enhance the appearance of a faux tan.  This is the only powder with real noticeable shimmer in the pan and in the swatches. However once applied to the face, the shimmer is so subtle, it creates more of a satin finish than anything, but certainly does not look like glitter on the face by any stretch of the imagination. This is a very warm toned powder and the most pigmented of the ones I have.

Dim Light (not pictured) is a mix of warm and cool tones. It is a neutral peachy beige powder that I didn't purchase because I simply feel it would be too dark for my complexion and I don't think I would get much use out of it. However I am very happy that Hourglass Cosmetics included shades for everyone. It is rare that brands take all skin tones into account, so I commend them for doing so.

Now that you know the available shades, you are probably wondering how to apply this beautiful powder! I did purchase the Ambient Powder Brush (sold separately) which comes in a convenient pouch to carry in your purse without it getting dusty or damaged. I originally thought this powder would work with any large powder brush. However, I've had these for a few months now, and find they apply best with a flat brush that allows you to paint the product on rather than using a buffing type motion. 

These are the brushes that I have found work well to apply these powders:

 Pictured Above: OCC (Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics) Large Powder Brush

 Pictured Above: Cozzette S125 Oval Powder Brush

 Pictured Above: Purely Pro Cosmetics Vegan Brush - Large Pointed Face

 Pictured Above: Everyday Minerals Kuuki Brush

 Pictured Above: Eco Tools Tapered Blush Brush

 Pictured Above: Hourglass Ambient Powder Brush

I am not saying you have to run out and buy one of the brushes I've mentioned. However, I do feel this product is best applied with a flatter brush rather than a round bronzer type brush to get the full effect of the product. I tried to include brushes in every price range as I realize the powders are a bit of a splurge, and adding the cost of the brush is not feasible for everyone. 

The texture of these powders are amazing. They are finely milled, not chalky at all, and just blend so smoothly. These powders are housed in a mirrored gunmetal-like compact, which is the signature packaging of Hourglass Cosmetics. They come with a warning that they are fragile, but I am pretty clumsy and haven't had any mishaps yet (knock on wood). These miraculous powders have the ability to control shine, yet add luminosity, a task not easily mastered by any other makeup product in my arsenal. These are not highlighters, so if that's what you are looking for you may want to try another product. Like all Hourglass products, the price tag can be a bit of a shock at first. However, I think these are a worthy investment. If you are going to splurge on one makeup product this season, this should be it. These are unique, they do what they claim to, and most importantly, they really help you look your best. I am in love with these and really happy I purchased them. 

If you end up picking one of these up, I'd love to hear about it! Drop me a comment in the box below. As always, comments are approved individually, so don't worry if you don't see your comment right away. 

All products and brushes seen in this post were purchased by me. I never accept money in exchange for writing a review. As always, all products seen in this post are cruelty-free!

The Balm Cosmetics - Yes, they really are CF!

This is a bit different than my normal posts, but I think it is an important one. I know that when contacting companies about their cruelty free status, sometimes they don’t get back to us, or their reply is confusing. I have contacted The Balm on two separate occasions, and both times they got back to me promptly and with an answer that I feel is pretty clear. It is my belief that they do not test on animals. I believe that each person has to make her own decision about how they want to read into company’s replies to these types of inquiries.  I decided to post the exact wording of their response to my inquiry so that you can decide for yourself.  I have removed the name of the woman who replied for privacy purposes. 

This e-mail was sent to me today at 1:34PM:

Hi Liza,

I can tell you for certain that theBalm does NOT have an office in China, and we do not have any vendors in China that sell our products. Our site ships internationally, including to China, but they are not tested on animals here or in any other country. I hope this clears everything up. Please let me know if you have any more questions.

[Name Removed for confidentiality]

theBalm

Here is another message I received from them on January 20^th of this year:

-------- Original message --------
Subject:RE: Product question
From:The Balm Info <info@thebalm.com>
[My personal email address removed for privacy]

Hi Liza,

Thanks for your email. We do not test our products on animals.

Suppliers of raw materials used in our products certified that they have not been tested on animals since December 31, 1990 and our products have not been tested on animals.

Thanks for sending us your information, we will definitely check out your blog!

Thanks,

[Name Removed for confidentiality]

 

January Favorites

January Favorites

If you follow me on Pinterest you've probably seen my board of January favorites. I decided to write this post to go into a little more detail about why some of these things are my favorites.  To narrow it down, I only included makeup items in this post, but if you are interested in seeing brushes that made the cut too, you can view my Pinterest boards under MakeupMatters1. 

These were my top 5 favorite makeup items during the month of January:

#1. Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powders: These setting powders really take your makeup look up a notch, making your face look as though it is always in the perfect lighting. I've worn one of these nearly every day since I purchased them. When I first got these, I thought they were highlighting powders. However, they truly work as an allover setting powder when used with a flat brush. I have never really seen a product like this before. It's unique and does exactly what it claims. Plus, these work on every skin tone, as they come in multiple shades. 

 Pictured Above: Diffused Light is a soft, warm pale yellow. This is great for neutralizing any redness

Pictured Above: Ethereal Light is a sheer opalescent, cool white powder.  This mimics a moonlit glow.

Pictured Above: Luminous Light is a champagne pearl powder that creates a candlelit glow

#2. Stila All You Need Is Love Cheek Palette: This blush palette contains four universally flattering shades that can be used individually or swirled together to create the perfect flush. I picked this up on my first trip to Ulta Beauty, and I'm really glad I did. This is the perfect blush for Spring, and even though there is still snow on the ground, I've been using this as my transition into the next season. I think it's just perfect in every way. It's compact, portable and very pretty both in the palette and on the cheek bones. 

#3. Too Faced The Secret To No Makeup Makeup Fresh & Flawless Face Palette: The "no makeup look" is a must for Spring. Mastering it is really easy with this palette. However, if you can't figure out how to use it, Too Faced cleverly inserted a How-To Glamour Guide which shows you three different looks you can achieve with the palette. I found myself using the Luminize portion of this palette quite a bit last month. 

While this may not work for all skin tones, it worked perfectly for mine.  You get a bronzing veil, concealer, cream & powder blush, luminizer and brightener.

#4. The Balm Shady Lady Vol. 2: This is not a new palette, but for some reason, it's new to me. I must have been living under a rock to not have discovered these awesome eyeshadows sooner!  The Balm really wins in the eyeshadow department in terms of texture and pigmentation. This palette gives you 9 buttery shades ranging from light to dark plus a full sized mirror. Favorites in the palette include Bossy Bobby and Insane Jane. 

#5. Balm Jovi Rockstar Face Palette: Another winner from The Balm, this creatively named palette includes a nice variety of matte, shimmer and glitter eyeshadows, a blush, luminizer and two cream colors that can be used on lips and cheeks. The bottom of the palette opens up to reveal suggestions for what colors to wear together to create a specific look. If the adorable packaging doesn't win you over, the smooth texture of the shadows and blush inside will.

All of the products in this post were purchased by me. I hope you enjoyed this look at my January favorites. If you would like to see me post my favorites every month, let me know in the comments below. I am also happy to do a more detailed review of any of the products seen here, or a tutorial if you'd like to see one.

What products did you reach for most in January?

Spotlight: Beautiful Creatures Eyeshadow Palette

Beautiful Creatures 

Tonight is the Oscars, so I thought I would show you a really incredible eyeshadow palette inspired by the film Beautiful Creatures. I have a lot of eyeshadow palettes, so it kind of takes a lot for me to get excited by a new one. However, this palette has really blown me away. It excites me because it is the first product I've used from the brand Purminerals. Every eyeshadow in the palette is pigmented and blends well.  All of the colors are well thought out and relate to each other well to create a variety of looks. The palette itself has the name of the film in swirly letters that help make a simple cardboard design something a little bit more special. You get a good sized mirror, and they even give you a mini gloss and full sized black eyeliner as an added bonus. 

 I purchased this palette at Ulta, but I kept the box specifically for this post. As you can see the artwork is really cool and the letters on the outside of the box are raised making this a box I really don't think I can stand to throw away! 

The back of the box shows you the colors inside as well as the names for each shade. You get eight highly pigmented blendable shadows, six of which are shimmery, one matte and one satin finish. The lip gloss is a very sheer pink and the liner is basic black, which is always handy to have. The back of the package also features the cruelty-free bunny logo.

Aside from being an awesome value ($39.00), the eyeshadows are simply amazing. I can't say enough good things about these eyeshadows. Using these shadows reminds me of the first time I used an Urban Decay eyeshadow, because I was very surprised at how pigmented, smooth and easily they blended. I personally did not experience any fallout from the shadows, but I have a lot of experience working with shimmery shades, so used the proper brushes, and always pat the shadows onto the lids rather than use a sweeping motion.

Another thing I really like about this palette, is they sort of divided the shadows into 2 quads for you. This makes it really easy if you are someone that has trouble deciding which colors to use together. You can easily do a 4 color eyeshadow look by simply using the four shades suggested on the back of the box, or four shades next to each other in the palette itself. While you can create a variety of looks, only limited by your imagination, the palette lends itself to two obvious looks; neutral daytime and smokey evening.

 Above are swatches with flash, below without.

From left to right (above): Forbidden (Taupe), Supernatural (Nude), Siren (Moss), Spellbound (Neutral-satin), Fate (Mushroom), Fantasy (Violet), Secret (matte Pink), Cursed (Plum)


I purchased this palette strictly for the eyeshadow. I consider the liner and gloss to just be an added bonus. I haven't really tested the liner for wear, but it seems to be a nice smooth black eyeliner. The gloss is very sheer (which it's supposed to be) but not sticky at all. 

Gloss in Lust (sheer Pink), Liner in Black Magic (Charcoal Black)

 Here is a look using the Spellbound, Fantasy, Secret and Cursed:

This is a limited edition palette, so I recommend you pick it up before it's gone. 

I honestly can see myself hitting pan on this so I may have to buy another as backup!  

Tarte Cosmetics Spring 2013

Tarte Cosmetics - Spring 2013 

 

As you may know from previous posts of mine, I love makeup from Tarte Cosmetics.  It's a brand I have used for a long time, and each season they come out with new products that always seem to impress me. While the snow is still melting outside, all I can think about is Spring!  For me, Spring makeup is all about fresh clean looking skin, dewy cheeks and garden inspired shadows. Needless to say, Tarte hit the nail on the head with this collection, and I am simply in love. 

Here is the line up:

• Beauty & The Box Clay Eyeshadow Quad in Secret Garden
• BB Tinted Treatment 12-hour Primer 
• Cheek Stain in Awakening 

I purchased Tarte's BB Tinted Treatment 12-hour Primer in my shade (Fair), but also cashed in my VIB  points at Sephora to get the sampler set so that I could swatch all of the shades for you.  This BB cream/primer hybrid glides smoothly over the skin helping to create a smooth perfected appearance. Fair is the perfect match to my skin, and seems to be consistent with the color matching across their foundation line.This product contains broad spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen, and functions well on it's own, but works best under makeup as a primer with added coverage. It's oil-free, yet moisturizing making it a product that works well for all skin types. I was able to completely skip moisturizer when using this product, and my skin felt hydrated all day without ever getting oily.

Here are swatches with flash (top) and without (bottom):

Shades: Fair, Light, Medium and Tan

To help achieve the glowy look so popular for Spring, Tarte has added a new color to their cheek stain line called Awakening. This blush is described as a glowy nude with pink undertones. On my skin, it created the perfect natural looking flush. The finish is dewy, which is great for those with dry skin. This product is a stain, which means you never have to worry about it fading throughout the day.

To help achieve a natural look, you can emphasize your eyes with Tarte's Beauty & The Box Amazonian Clay Eyeshadow Quad in Secret Garden. This garden themed quad comes with four pigmented shimmery shades that blend well and compliment each other to create an effortless eye look.

 Pictured Above (from left to right): Sprout-shimmery pale gold, Goldenrod-shimmery antique gold, Fern-olive green with gold shimmer, Vine-a cool toned brown with gold shimmer

 I have a few of these boxed eyeshadows from Tarte, and I really love the packaging. Often when you get an eyeshadow quad, the outer boxed packaging that gets thrown away is pretty, but the the container that actually houses the shadows is often quite boring. Tarte does such a nice job of keeping the actual product packaging so pretty and feminine.  Although the box is a cardboard type packaging, I have thrown this in my purse and have never had it flip open on me. I just think this box screams SPRING!

I hope you enjoyed this peek at the Tate Cosmetics Spring 2013 line. If you have tried any of the new Tarte products, I would love to hear about it!

All products seen in this post were purchased by me, except for the VIB gift from Sephora mentioned above.

Liebster Award - Cruelty Free Edition

Liebster Award

Two of my friends from Twitter nominated me for a Liebster Award! Thank you Manuela from The Small Rabbit Hops and Catherine from Buying Cruelty-Free.

What's a Liebster Award? 

It’s like a chain of letters, with a difference : we share blogs that we love!
But it doesn’t mean there’s no rules!




Here they are :
1- Once nominated, you have to publish about it on your blog & of course, thank the person who nammed you by linking to his or her blog.
2- In your post, you have to tell us 11 facts about you.
3- You’ll also have to answer the 11 questions the person who nammed you left on his or her blog.
4- Choose 11 other bloggers with under 200 followers to nominate (not the person who nominated you), link to their blog and make sure you let them know they are nominated.
5- Choose 11 questions you want to be answered
6- The new nominees have to do the same, so the chain goes on!
Let’s begin!

11 Facts About Me:

1. I love horror movies!
2. I love animals.
3. I love makeup.
4. I love to sing.
5. I used to do "extra" work in TV and movies and was even in an episode of Law and Order Criminal Intent.
6. I've written 2 guest blog posts for PETA Living. 
7. My favorite color is purple. 
8. I live in Connecticut, but hate the cold. 
9. I've been a vegetarian for nearly 16 years. 
10. Aside from makeup, and spending time with my dogs, reading is my favorite thing to do.
11. I feel really thankful for how far I've come, and really hopeful about the future.   

 Here are my answers to Manuela’s questions:

1- I'm sure there is a question you wish I'd ask you. What is it & what's the answer to it ?

Hmmmm. I don't know haha. I'll have to come back to you.

2- What is your favorite Cruelty Free product ?
That's a tough question to answer because all of my products are cruelty-free. I think it changes a lot because I'm always testing new products, but right now I'm obsessed with my Josie Maran Infinity Cream.

3- For what reason did you start writing your blog ?
I actually just started it because I wanted a place to showcase some of the makeup looks I've done, and to help teach women different techniques. I continue to write it, because I love helping others learn from my experience with different products, and showing people that going cruelty-free does not mean sacrificing quality in terms of beauty products.

4- Who's your celebrity crush ?
Eminem
5- What is your favorite tv show and why ?
Dexter
6- What are your life projects ?
I want to write a book some day. I also want to continue helping to make the world a beautiful place.
7- What would be your travel dream  ? ( no budget limit!)
I'm not really into travel that much. I'm happy as long as I'm with my dogs.
8- If you could meet with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be ? And of course, why!
Kevyn Aucoin because he was such an amazing artist, I would have loved the chance to meet him and learn from him.
9- When you were a kid, what was the job you wanted to have as a grown up ?
I wanted to be a clown, because I wanted to make people laugh.
10- If you could travel time, what would you do ?
Hmmm, never thought about that. I don't know, I think things happen for a reason, so I probably wouldn't go back in time to change anything, but it would be interesting to see certain things for sure.
11- If you were in charge of the planet & had all the powers (let's say you're a dictator), how would you rule the world & what would be your laws ? Don't forget that with great power comes great responsability!

I honestly wouldn't want that kind of responsibility! I just wish that people would be more kind to each other, but I don't think any law can really make that happen. 

Catherine's Questions
1. What inspired you to start your blog? Tell us the story of how your blog came to be.
 See above.
2. You’re going away for a month. You need to pack light so you just grab your essentials. What’s in your makeup/skincare bag?
Sunscreen is my number one thing. I love the one from Lavanilla. BB Cream, because it's a great multitasker. A good cleanser, eye makeup remover, q-tips, moisturizer, acne treatment, eye cream, waterproof mascara, A lip stain that could double as a cream blush, or cream blush that could work as a lip stain. Clear gloss. Pressed powder, blotting papers.  Yes, that's just the essentials.
3. Growing up, what did you want to be? What was your dream job?
See above 
4. What’s your favorite TV show?
See above 
5. If you could only wear one foundation for the rest of your life, which would it be?
Yikes, that's a tough one. It's a toss up between Hourglass Veil Fluid and Illamasqua Skin Base. 
6. What are your top three favorite makeup brushes?
Christopher Drummond Air Blender Brush, Bdellium Tools Green Bambu #776 blending brush, and IT Cosmetics Dual Ended Concealer/foundation brush 
7. On a typical day, how long do you spend on your beauty routine?
About an hour 
8. What’s your go-to everyday makeup look?
I don't really have one, I wear a different look every single day. However, I always try to have fresh luminous skin and highlight my eyes as much as possible. 
9. Same question but for hair – how do you usually wear your hair for everyday?
Either up in a bun, or down with my beach wave spray 
10. I’m a lip balm junkie, so I’m always interested to know – what’s your absolute favorite lip balm?
Nuance by Salma Hayek Rose Petal Hydrating Balm 

11. If you had to describe yourself in just five words, what words would you pick?
Adventurous,  caring, creative, fun, compassionate.

My 11 Questions:

1. What is your favorite cruelty-free makeup brand and why?
2. What's one beauty product you love that most people don't?
3. Tell us about your blog.
4. Who makes you smile?
5. What one makeup item do you have the most of?
6. What is your favorite synthetic makeup brush? 
7. Are you a makeup artist? If not, do you want to be one? 
8. What's the last good deed you did?
9. If you could change one thing about the world, what would it be? 
10. Holy grail skin care products; list your top 3.
11. What's the one product you will splurge on and maybe pay a little more for a higher end brand of? 

I tag....Anyone and everyone who is cruelty free, and or thinking about going cruelty free! I want to include everyone, because I love you all!  I normally don't allow people to link to their blog in my comments, but for this post I will! If you have a cruelty free beauty blog, post it in the comments below!  Just remember, each comment is approved individually, so don't be surprised if you don't see it right away.

I hope you are having a great night. Thanks for reading, and if you like what you read, please subscribe. xoxo - LIZA

International Giveaway! Makeup Geek

GIVEAWAY

Hello my faithful followers.  I am finally hosting a giveaway open to my international followers! I will ship anywhere in the world.  The prize:


I will personally choose some Makup Geek cosmetics for the winner from the Makeup Geek online store.

http://www.makeupgeek.com/store/


How to enter:

1. Subscirbe to my blog.
2. Leave a comment below stating which Makeup Geek product you would like to try.
3. Follow me on Twitter @MakeupMatters1
4. Send me an e-mail with your email address, or leave your Twitter handle in the comment box below: makeupmatters3@gmail.com  Please do not leave your personal email address in the comments. I just want to know how to contact you if you win!

Rules:

1. You must be 18 years of age or older.
2. By entering, you agree to the Terms & Conditions listed below.
3. Winner will be chosen on February 28, 2013

Terms & Conditions:
Winner will be notified by email, Twitter or this blog.  Winner must respond within 5 days, or a new winner will be chosen. All federal, state, local or international taxes associated with the prize are the sole responsibility of the winner.  By entering the giveaway through this blog, you release Liza Chung and Makeup Matters by LNC from any liability whatsoever, and waive any and all causes of action , related to any claims, costs, injuries, losses or damages of any kind arising out of or in connection with the giveaway or delivery, misdelivery or acceptance of any prize (including, without limitation, claims, costs, injuries, losses and damages related to personal injuries, death, damage to or destruction of prperty, right of publicity or privacy, defamation or portrayal in a false light, whether intentional or unintentional, whethero under a theory of contract, tort (including negligence), warranty or other theory.