Hourglass Nº 28 Primer Serum Review

 Hourglass, Primer, Skin care  9 Responses »
May 152012
 

Hourglass Nº 28 Primer Serum ($65) is a best-in-class primer for dry skin. According to Hourglass, the “28″ in the name refers to the key ingredients in the primer, which includes 14 essential oils, 10 lipid-rich plant oils, and 4 vitamins. I’m no stranger to using rich and essential oils on my skin, having used Rodin’s legendary Olio Lusso for the past year whenever my skin feels dry and in need of nourishment. I’ve finally learned that even my combo-oily skin can benefit from the caring properties that well-chosen oils can bring.

Unlike Olio Lusso, Hourglass Nº 28 Primer Serum is a true primer intended to act as a hydrating base for foundation. In my opinion, the ideal user for this product has dry (or combo-to-dry) skin, and is concerned about anti-aging because the treatment properties are an important part of this treatment. The scent is light and pleasant, to my mind it seems like a slight floral with a touch of sandalwood. I find the scent far more pleasant and unobtrusive compared to Olio Lusso. I didn’t notice the scent after about 1/2 hour after application (and that’s being generous).

The product applies as a sheer liquid. With this product, you do not need very much to get a velvety base–I used at most three little droplets. It absorbs quickly. My liquid foundation applies like a dream over it, giving me a very smoothly textured base. I used Nars Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30++, as well as Burberry’s liquid and Chanel’s Perfection Lumiere.  These foundations lasted all day. I was surprised to find that my skin did not feel “oily” in any way–rather, the finish was more velvety. Truly a “best in class” primer.

Using so little, I can see that this bottle is going to last a very long time. Note that, according to Hourglass, the Nº 28 Primer Serum can be used as a night treatment and even to put on the ends of your hair as a conditioning treatment.

Some of you may be wondering how this compares to another of my favorite primer, Burberry Fresh Glow Luminious Fluid Base.  These really do serve two different purposes.  The Burberry is intended to add a glowy highlighter to the skin, but not to add any skincare properties. On the other hand, the Hourglass is completely sheer (no added glowy bits), but is intended to treat and moisturize. I really love both for different reasons, and I think you can see that those with dryer skin types (or those who live in dryer climates) are really going to love the moisturizing benefits of Hourglass Nº 28. And (because I know your wondering)–no breakouts from the Hourglass primer. Trust me, it’s always a concern.

Bottom line: Loved this best in class primer.

Ingredient list (from Sephora.com): Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Ethylhexyl Cocoate, Dimethiconol, Phenyl Trimethicone, Ceramide 3, Sphingolipids, Jojoba (Simmondsia Chinensis) Oil, Rose Hips Seed Oil, Evening Primrose Oil, Sweet Almond (Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis) Oil, Green Tea (Camellia Sinensis) Oil, Olive (Olea Europaea) Oil, Hazelnut (Corylus Americana) Oil, Borage (Borago Officinalis) Seed Oil, Kukui (Aleurites Moluccana) Nut Oil, Cherry (Prunus Avium) Pit Oil, Tocopherol, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Linoleate, Panthenyl Triacetate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Ascorbic Acid, Octyldodecanol, Dioctyl Succinate, Peg-8, Tridecyl Stearate, Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Tridecyl Trimellitate, Lithospermum Officinale Root Extract, Octyldodecyl Myristate, Citric Acid, Lavender (Lavandula Angustifolia) Oil, Geranium (Geranium Maculatum) Oil, Rose Geranium (Pelargonium Roseum) Oil, Vanilla (Vanilla Planifolia) Oil, Clove (Eugenia Caryophyllus) Oil, Orange (Citrus Aurantium Dulcis) Peel Oil, Petitgrain (Citrus Reticulata) Oil, Amyris (Amyris Balsamifera) Oil, Benzoin Siam Absolute, Lemon (Citrus Medica Limonum) Peel Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Oil, Rosemary (Rosmarinus Officinalis) Leaf Oil, Bois De Rose (Aniba Rosaeodora) Oil, Cedar (Thuja Occidentalis) Leaf Oil, Ylang Ylang (Cananga Odorata) Oil.

Hourglass Nº 28 Primer Serum was sent to Cafe Makeup without charge for consideration for review.

Burberry Makeover and Foundation Update

 Blush, Burberry, Eyeshadow, Foundation, Highlighter, Lipstick, Primer  31 Responses »
Jul 302011
 

About a week ago, I went to the Burberry Beauty counter at Nordstrom San Francisco Centre for an event, and had one of the best makeovers of my life.  I wanted to record the products used and update you on my experiences with the Burberry Sheer Luminous Foundation (swatches of all shades here).

For the makeover (products used)

Base:

  • Burberry Fresh Glow Luminous Fluid Base as a primer (reviewed here)
  • Burberry Sheer Luminous Fluid Foundation No. 6
Face:
  • Burberry Light Glow Blush in Earthy (review forthcoming) as a contour
  • Burberry Light Glow in Tangerine (review forthcoming) on upper cheekbones as a blush
  • Burberry Fresh Glow Luminous Fluid Base around eyes, nose bridge and chin as a highlighter
  • Burberry Fresh Luminous Powder (forehead only)
Eyes:
  • Burberry Sheer Eyeshadow in Rosewood (reviewed here) as an lid wash and lightly under the lower lashline
  • Burberry Sheer Eyeshadow in Midnight Black (not pictured) as a liner
  • Burberry Sheer Midnight Brown (reviewed here) in the crease and outer corner
  • Burberry Sheer Eyeshadow in Pearl White (review forthcoming) heavily in the inner corner and lightly on the browbone
Lips:
  • Burberry Lip Cover in Nude Rose (review forthcoming)(reviewed here at The Beauty Look Book)

For the foundation update, I’ve been using Burberry’s Sheer Luminous Foundation for about a year.  I’ve finished one entirely (No. 5, my original color), and just repurchased a bottle in No. 6.

Burberry foundation is my go-to whenever I want a typical foundation that doesn’t affect my skin, looks polished and can be applied very quickly.  The U.S. labeling does not reflect this (the U.S. FDA is slow to recognize certain ingredients as sunscreens), but there are some physical sunscreen ingredients in it (I supplement with a sunscreen) (ingredient list is here).  It never clogs, it never irritates, and in many ways I prefer it to the former Chanel Tient Innocence.

When I was getting my makeover, the artist told me something that almost made me drop my nonfat decaf latte.  He said that it could be used as a heavy cover foundation.  Given that the name of the foundation includes the word “Sheer,” I had to know more.

As a former Armani specialist, he explained the Armani technique for applying foundation.  Having had an excellent foundation makeover at an Armani counter in Harvey Nichols/London years before, we were already speaking the same language.  Essentially, to start one brushes the foundation on very sheerly.  Second, one takes the brush and builds coverage only where needed.  Third, you do a quick finger-swipe to remove brush marks. He was right, of course.  This is a highly buildable foundation.  It didn’t look cakey at all–it looked just like…skin. He explained that he had been persuaded to work for Burberry Beauty based solely on his experience with their foundation.  It’s that good.

I hope that you find this little sketchbook helpful.  I’ll post reviews of the products that I haven’t reviewed yet as soon as I can.

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Burberry Fresh Glow Luminous Fluid Base

 Burberry, Highlighter, Primer  37 Responses »
Jul 202011
 

Burberry Beauty has just released Fresh Glow Luminous Fluid Base ($48/ 1 oz.), a product that has a sheer pearl effect that adds luminosity, smoothes the skin’s surface and feels weightless.

Fresh Glow is packaged in the same heavy, luxurious container as Burberry’s Sheer Foundation (reviewed here). However, rather than opaque color, Fresh Glow has a slight pink tint that goes onto the skin almost clear, leaving a very subtle and natural glow.

Swatches, applied sheered out on the left, and heavier on the right:

You do not see many primer reviews on Cafe Makeup.  This is because I’m not a huge primer fan.  On a typical day, I wear a serum, a day moisturizer, sunscreen and foundation.  Enough.  When I went to Nordstrom for a makeover, I was determined not to buy it.

However, I found that, like many Burberry Beauty items, Fresh Glow is a “best in class” product.  It is remarkably light–I do not feel like I am wearing anything.  I’m told that is made with a rose derivative that infuses your skin with Vitamin C, which as you know is an antioxidant that helps repair damage caused by free radicals.  So not only does Fresh Glow make my skin look immediately fresher, it has the added benefit of Vitamin C to improve my skin throughout the day.

Once again, Burberry’s uncompromising standard proved me wrong.  This is the primer to end all primers–that is, the one for people who hate primers.  My skin looks much better with Fresh Glow.  I get compliments.  Liz got compliments.  Great looking skin makes an enormous difference.

Here are some application tips:

  • Fresh Glow can be applied lightly as a primer under foundation.  A single pump gives me enough for my entire face.  I let it settle for a minute before applying your foundation.  Because I did not want to destroy the glow that the product gave my skin, I used powder on my forehead only (which tends to get dewy mid-day).
  • Fresh Glow can be worn alone.  It gives a subtle sheen to the skin.  Keep in mind, this product is quite sheer, so you will not get any coverage if you wear it this way.
  • You can also wear Fresh Glow as a fluid highlighter over foundation.  During my makeover, we used Fresh Glow first under my foundation, then added a touch on the upper cheek, bridge of nose and chin.  It gave a subtle touch of light to these areas.  The effect is not as strong as many liquid highlighters (such as Rouge Bunny Rouge’s Sea of Tranquility (reviewed here).  In keeping with Burberry Beauty’s aesthetic, the effect is more natural, like skin– discernible, youthful, and glowing.
Here is the ingredient list.  I don’t see any products ending in the suffix “-cone,” but I’m not a chemist and so I cannot swear that this is silicon-free.  It certainly doesn’t feel silicon-ish (click to enlarge).
Bottom line:  Absolutely fabulous. (available at Nordstrom).
This post contains affiliate links (for more information, see About Cafe Makeup).