Hourglass Modernist Eyeshadow Palette in Exposure - review and swatches

My beautiful best friends gifted me with two of the Hourglass Modernist Palettes for my birthday - Exposure and Graphite. Up for review today is Exposure. Exposure is the purple toned palette of the bunch. It features five shades which can be used in combination to create a purple eye look. Three out of the five shades are purple in tone. This palette can be purchased from Mecca Cosmetica, Maxima and Mecca Online for $85. Hourglass describes this palette as the "plums" of the bunch.

(Just a comparison with the size - top is the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush palette, bottom is the Eyeshadow Palette in Exposure).

Hourglass describes these palettes as "an artist-inspired eyeshadow palette with seamless colour transitions offering effortless blending in a single pan. The innovative multi-press, three-dimensional design, combined with a fine, creamy consistency, introduces a new level of control for blending and picking up pigment. Available in 7 curated colour palettes".

The only issue I really have with these palettes (and all Modernist Eyeshadow Palettes) is that there are no shade names. Of course, when you look at these palettes and how the shades are set up and intertwined, they are absolutely gorgeous. I just like to have a name for the shadow. 

Exposure #1 is a shimmery beige, and described as a champagne. This shadow swatches beautifully and can be used as an allover lid shade or as an inner corner highlight or brow bone highlight. 

Exposure #2 is an aubergine. This shadow has a matte finish. I tend to find shadows with a matte finish are usually harder to blend, but this shadow blends absolutely beautifully. 

Exposure #3 is a metallic bronze gold. Such a nice inclusion in this palette and allows the wearer to mix things up. This is the star shade in this palette for me (I'm a diehard for bronze golds), and it is very pigmented. 

Exposure #4 is a blackened plum. This shadow has a pearl sheen. 

Exposure #5 is a more cool-toned dusty mauve. This has a shimmery finish.  

Hourglass states the following for each of the Modernist Eyeshadow Palettes:

- Complementary colours for base, crease, and eyeliner allow for endless customised looks with one palette

- Artist-inspired palettes feature a range of finishes, from matte to metallic, for countless combinators, from subtle to dramatic

- Unique sculptural design provides superior control for picking up and blending pigment

- Each shade and finish is specifically calibrated to work with the other formulas within the palette

- The finely-milled, creamy formula - the first of its kind - is exceptionally soft, long wearing and crease-resistant 

- Shimmer shades may be applied wet for more dramatic colour

This is definitely a luxury eyeshadow palette. For makeup loving friends that you may have, this is a great gift, or if you want to buy yourself a present. It is a pricey palette, and you can get a lot more shadows in other brands for much cheaper, but looking at this palette in my makeup collection makes me extremely happy. I like the combination of the five shadows in this palette, and in Graphite as well. Next time you're in Mecca (or wherever you may be able to purchase Hourglass) take a look at the palettes and swatch them. I don't think you'll be disappointed. 

Thanks for reading,

X

September Favourites

The Body Shop Vitamin E Face Mist

This has been my go to face setting spray for the last month or so. This is a hydrating mist for the face. I don't know if it makes my makeup last any longer due to the fact that I have used setting sprays every time I've done my makeup for the last 2-3 years, but it is a nice hydrating mist and my skin loves it. I haven't tried much from The Body Shop to be honest, but I am quite excited to do so in the future. 

bareMinerals Prime Time Foundation Primer
A couple of months ago, I purchased the bareMinerals set of powder foundation in the lightest shade. This included a small sample of the bareMinerals Prime Time Primer. This primer is silicone based, and glides nicely over my skin. Silicone based primers are my favourite type of primers. It does not emphasise any dryness on my face and any makeup I apply on time blends nicely.

Chanel Coco Madmesoille EDP
This perfume was a gift for my birthday, and is an absolutely gorgeous scent. I've never really been into Chanel, but this scent is beautiful. It is a very feminine scent.

Hourglass Mood Exposure Blush
I purchased the limited edition Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush palette last year, and I have used this blush a lot (it is the last shade in the palette). It's such a nice, natural shade. I definitely prefer it more in the winter months (love my corals in the spring and summer), but this blush does have a significant dent in it and  I can see myself reaching pan quite soon.

theBalm Mary-Lou Manizer 
The last month or so, I have really been into highlighting. This highlighting powder is one of the more extreme highlighters that I own, but it is absolutely gorgeous. Mine shattered after I first purchased it so it has been put back together with a bit of rubbing alcohol, but I definitely recommend this highlighting powder. One of my favourites.

Too Faced Cocoa Powder Foundation in Light 
My boyfriend actually purchased this for me. This is the only powder foundation I have used that doesn't emphasise my dry skin. It goes on smooth and lasts great. I think I have found my holy grail powder. This works great on top of a foundation/BB/CC cream or by itself. I will go more in depth in my review of this powder which should be up in the coming weeks.

(L to R: Hourglass Mood Exposure Blush, theBalm Mary-Lou Manizer, Too Faced Cocoa Powder Foundation in Light)

And those are my favourites for this month!

X

Current Favourites

It has been a while since I've done a Favourites post, so I thought I'd combine the last couple of months. I have been experimenting with new products as of lately, and these are the products that have stood out to me from the last couple of months:

Josie Maran Cosmetics Argan Illuminiser 
Where has this product been all my life? I picked this up from Mecca a couple of months ago, and I love to mix it in with face products for an allover luminosity (it works especially well with the bareMinerals Complexion Rescue). The only downside to this product, when used mixed with base products, is once the makeup does wear off throughout the day, glitter does remain on your face. For a night out, however, this is a great product. You can apply it all over your face before foundation as an illuminating base.

Urban Decay Perversion Mascara
I received a small size of this in the Naked on the Run palette. I have been wearing this daily and it does something magical with my tiny lashes. Will definitely repurchase this one, even though I don't tend to spend too much on mascaras. I find Maybelline do great mascaras, but this one was a pleasant surprise.

Chi Chi Super CC Cream
I have been using this product on the daily. The coverage is light but buildable. I purchased this in the shade Light (I believe there is a Fair shade) and it is a pretty good match. Because it is a CC cream, this type of base product is great for dry skin. I have not had an issue with this one clinging onto dry patches. There is 50g of product in this tube. The standard for foundation is 30g, so the amount of product for the price is amazing.

bareMinerals Complexion Rescue
The coverage of this is much lighter than the Chi Chi CC Cream. I do find with super dry skin, this does cling a bit. With properly moisturised and primed skin, this is a great base product for everyday. There is 35g of product in here, which is an additional 5g than the standard amount of foundation. The colour range in Australia isn't as large as it is overseas, but if there is a shade that matches you, I would recommend checking it out. This product is advertised as a "tinted hydrating gel cream", so the coverage is just enough to even out my skin tone (my main concern is redness).

Too Faced Cocoa Contour Palette
This has quickly become a staple in my everyday makeup routine. The Light Cocoa shade in this palette (as you can see) is my absolute favourite under eye highlight powder I have tried to date. I've done a review of this palette here. The Medium Cocoa shade is a great contour shade for me, and I will definitely be experimenting with Dark Cocoa once the spring and summer time hits.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette
I love mixing the two lighter shades in the palette for a subtle highlight during the day. I know a lot of people love to use these powders to set under the eyes, but I find them too shimmery for that. As a subtle glow, though, these work well. I've done a review of this palette here.

And those are my current favourites! Thanks for reading,
X

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette - review and swatches

The Ambient Lighting Powders were (and probably still are) an extremely hyped up product on YouTube. For Christmas, a lovely friend of mine gifted this to me and I was super excited to try them out! (Yes, this post has been a long time coming).

The palette comes with three shades:

Dim Light - A neutral peach beige powder that blurs imperfections and highlights a radiant complexion with the perfect balance of warm and cool tone

Incandescent Light (this shade is exclusive to the palette, and of course is my favourite) - An opalescent pearl powder that brightens the complexion with a celestial glow

Radiant Light - A sun-kissed golden beige that enhances the overall complexion with believable, subtle warmth, and also extends a summer glow 

(L to R: Dim Light, Incandescent Light, Radiant Light)

I love to use Incandescent Light (middle) as a subtle highlight on my cheek, nose, cupid's bow, forehead. Dim Light (left) is great for under the eyes, and Radiant Light is a great topper on a bronzer in those summer months (unfortunately it is too dark for me to use allover). 

Strobing has become the next big makeup trend, and can definitely be achieved with a product like this. I would recommend picking up one of these palettes as opposed to a single shade (in Australia, a single shade costs $59). The palette comes with 3.3 grams of product per each shade, which is 1/3 the size of the full size product. But with this palette, you do get to try a few shades out, play with it, and then can commit to the full size product if the product works for you. In Australia, this palette retails for $76, and can be purchased from Mecca Cosmetica and Mecca Maxima. 

I think I will eventually purchase Etheral Light, another lighter of the shades from the Ambient Lighting collection. There are six shades in total available for purchase (two are included in this palette). 

Thanks for reading, and thank you Amanda for this wonderful present!

X 

February Favourites

It has been so long since I last did a Favourites post, that I am actually embarrassed. But alas, let us move on to my favourites for the month of February!

Bourjois 123 Perfect CC Cream in 31 Ivory
This has become my base of choice for the last couple of months, not just February. The only real main skin concern I have is redness in my face, and this base covers up beautifully. I'm sure this is available in Australia, but I picked mine up from ASOS a couple of months ago.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush Palette 
I will put up a review of this palette soon! But in particular, I have been loving the Mood Exposure (last shade in the palette). It is absolutely gorgeous and the colour lasts on my cheeks all day. The shade that comes out on your cheeks is so different to the shade in the pan (at least it is on my complexion).

Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette 
I have no clue if I've mentioned this palette on my blog as yet, but it is hands down one of my favourite palettes ever. I bought it a few weeks before Christmas, and since then, it has been my go-to palette. It is the perfect mix of shimmers and mattes. The Semi-Sweet palette has now come out to Australia, and I am contemplating purchasing it... But honestly, do I need more palettes? (probably).

My Burberry EDP
This perfume was a gift from my parents for Christmas. I've hardly touched the bottle as I think this is my first sophisticated, grown up scent. Only to be worn on special occasions, but I love the scent and would recommend it. To me, it is a very sophisticated scent.

MAC Runner Lipstick
This is from the Nasty Gal collection, and I absolutely adore this lipstick. It is a perfect shade for winter. It is a dark red, and described by MAC as a 'burgundy'. If you can still get your hands on this lipstick, I would highly recommend it.

And those were my favourites for the month of February! I'm glad summer is officially over now so we can move into the cooler months and I can experiment more with winter appropriate makeup looks!

X