Review: Hourglass Vanish Flash Highlighting Sticks - Swatches of the 3 Palest Shades

From left to right: Rose Gold Flash, Gold Flash, Champagne Flash

I'm a huge Hourglass fan and have been for years. However, I have been trucking along just fine with the ambient lighting powders as a highlighting option from them, but these new Vanish Flash Highlighting Sticks appealed to my current love of cream products. I chose the 3 shades that I thought would work best on my pale skin - Champagne Flash, Gold Flash and Rose Gold Flash.

Upon first swatching them, I anticipated a bit creamier and more emollient texture that would easily blend but may stay tacky on the skin. Surprisingly these have a much drier feel than many of my other cream highlighting products. They remind me of the Fenty Beauty Match Stix that I love to use (my favorite shade is Yacht Life). Even though it feels more dry to the touch, it does apply and blend easily without feeling like it's removing or moving around my foundation.

Left to right: Champagne Flash, Gold Flash and Rose Gold Flash

I like to stripe it directly onto my cheekbones and then blend out with my fingers or a stiff synthetic foundation brush. Once it is sheered out and blended, it looks stunning! It gives the illusion of fresh, glowy skin rather than a makeup highlighter. My favorite shade to use is Champagne Flash, with Gold Flash coming in second and Rose Gold Flash third. For those with oily skin, this would be a great option since it is not too dewy/tacky and dries down. To anyone that has drier skin like myself, I prefer to apply it to either bare (well hydrated) skin or on top of a liquid/cream foundation (stay away from applying over powder).

Again Hourglass impresses me and leaves my skin looking better than ever!  

*pr samples included

Shop more Hourglass products I use regularly:

Laura Mercier Face Illuminator Powders - All Shades with Swatches

Frankly, I hardly even care how these perform, because look at HOW PRETTY THEY ARE! Ok, I do care about how they wear but it's easy to get distracted by the pattern and shiny finish of these Laura Mercier Face Illuminator Powders. Beware though because these are not for the subtle highlight fans - each gives a strong shimmer and major glow. 

The two that work the best for my pale skin are Addiction and Indiscretion. Each are pale enough to give a highlight but the golden undertone makes it more appealing and warm on the skin. Devotion is icy with a silver undertone that is beautiful on my skin, but would only be suitable for evening. For those that are extremely fair with pink undertones, I can imagine this would look beautiful - almost ice princess-like. Basically it is a highlighter for Elsa from Frozen. LOL Seduction is the one I was most drawn to simply because I love a beautiful bronze, but it is wayyyyy too dark to be a highlight on me. That being said, I have been wearing it as a lid color and adore how it looks. For those with deeper skin tones, I can see this giving the cheeks a gorgeous sheen. It may not be a strong highlight, but it will make the face glow.

The pigmentation is strong on Addiction, Seduction and Indiscretion with minimal chunkiness or fall out, however Devotion was the only exception. I needed to swipe 5-6 times to get the below swatch, however with a brush it applies a lot smoother on the skin. It is still chunkier than the other shades, but on the skin it gives the same finish. For those with oily skin, I would make sure that you are wearing a matte foundation (this one I adore) or base (I wear this SPF as a primer because it's mattifying and amazing) because any additional oil will immediately be enhanced by these powders. I made sure to keep it just on my cheekbones away from the center of my face or cheeks because I can turn into an instant discoball.

Though these are some of the boldest highlighters I have ever tried, I think the formula is also one of the best. The shimmer looks like a cream product when on the skin, and doesn't have a powdery finish. If you are a highlighter junky, I think this is a must have to add to your collection. Maybe not all four, but definitely one, perhaps even two.

*pr samples included

Have you tried these? What are your thoughts?

Shop more of my highlighter recommendations:

Urban Decay Summer 2016 Beach Bronzers and After Glow Highlighters with Swatches

I haven't even fully finished checking out all the spring beauty collections, and now we are onto summer! LOL. There are a few that have begun trickling out (I already picked up this stunner and this palette which will both be on the blog shortly!), but Urban Decay's summer launches are one of the first ones I've had the chance to play with. I already reviewed the Naked Skin Hybrid Complexion Perfectors here (full swatches of every color), and was thoroughly impressed, The remainders of the launch are fun highlighting and bronzing products that become a necessity when the weather gets warmer. A beach glow (or at least faking one in my case) is a summer essential.

The packaging is the first thing that will lure you in with the Beached Bronzers. The palm trees on the compact are so adorable. There are two shades - Sun-Kissed and Bronzed which differ only slightly in tone, but have a similar texture and finish. For those that prefer a bronzer without much shimmer, these would be a great option. They are not completely matte, but have a slight glow that give some radiance when on the skin. I swatched them quite heavily on my arm below but they are easy to sheer out for those with fair skin, or build up for a more intense application. They do fall closer to the bronzey/orange part of the spectrum rather than bronzey/brown, but surprisingly they both look quite natural and fresh when on the skin. I don't mind a slightly warmer bronzer because if a bronzer is too brown, it can make my skin look dirty. Not cute. These are finely milled and blend easily, leaving my cheeks looking healthy rather than ooompa loompa-like. The bronzer struggle, right? Finding that perfect balance is crucial.

The After Glow Highlighters were the most fun to play with out of the collection. The texture is very smooth and leave quite a strong glow on the cheeks. Sin was my favorite to use as a traditional highlighter, while Fireball looked great layered over a matte blush to give my cheeks a bit of shine. The shimmer was manageable in the way that it could be added delicately for a just a hint of a glow, or stippled on to give a high watt shine. Aura was the only shade that took me a bit too far out of my comfort zone. I feel this shade would be fun in a makeup artist's kit but it was not a shade I would wear regularly. That being said, if  you prefer more pink cheek colors, I could see this being a gorgeous shade to overlay on top of a matte pale pink cheek.

The entire Urban Decay summer 2016 collection is more complexion based, but I feel that is what the focus is typically during the warmer months.  A smokey eye at the beach is not as feasible, ya know? (though I will not fault you for feeling it necessary #doyou)

Shop the entire summer 2016 Urban Decay collection:

Review: Hourglass Ambient Strobe Powders + Anastasia Beverly Hills Glow Kits with Swatches on Fair Skin

Strobing or highlighting or whatever new name they will come up with next - there is no shortage of powders these days to add a shine, shimmer or glow to the skin. As someone with oily skin, I used to shy away from anything that would add additional shine for fear I would end up looking like a greasy disco ball. But as I have said before, the formulations of highlighters nowadays is light years ahead of what it was even a few years ago. There are a ton that I use and love (read back on a few of my faves here), but recently these two have gotten a ton of buzz. The new Hourglass Ambient Strobe powders are a further addition to the ever popular (and personal favorite) Ambient Lighting powder range, and the new Anastasia Beverly Hills Glow Kits offer intense shimmer powders in one easy to travel-with compact.

1. Hourglass Ambient Strobe Powders - As with so many Hourglass products that launch, there is a ton of buzz followed by a wide range of opinions on their performance. I've said before that I drink the Hourglass Kool-Aid, but that doesn't mean I blindly like anything they produce. I can definitely understand why many people had differing thoughts on these powders since they deliver such soft and understated results. I do think that for those that want a strong and intense strobe or highlight, these will not be for you. As you can see from my below swatches, they are a sheer powder with just a hint of color. It was not sunny this day so you can't see the shimmer, but it is definitely there. There is slight glitter, but for me it was understated and blended into my skin right away. Incandescent is my favorite shade and gives the most subtle highlight that I can wear daily, while Brilliant provided the strongest contrast. Iridescent and Euphoric looked a tad more bronzy on my skintone and if I was wearing the right matte foundation and primer, looked beautiful dusted on the cheeks and cheekbones. The formula and texture of the powder is what I have come to know and love from Hourglass - it's finely milled and looks undetectable on the skin. These are a win in my book, but I don't think it's necessary to buy all 4. I would recommend (if you prefer a more subtle strobe) picking out your favorite shade or two to add to your collection. But then again, if you hoard makeup like myself, just go ahead and purchase all 4 because you know you want to. Ha!

2. Anastasia Beverly Hills Glow Kit in Gleam - Anastasia Beverly Hills has quickly become one of those brands that has the pigmentation and quality to qualify as a makeup artist brand first and foremost. But yet the colors and performance of the products make it desirable to the masses who want to wear the products for everyday. However, there is nothing subtle about the brand and that is again the case with these Glow Kits - high watt shine in the most stunning shades of bronze, rose-gold and champagne. These are a makeup artist's dream and a kit must-have for photo shoots since they will give an unforgettable highlight. To adapt them for everyday may be a bit harder since the pay-off is so intense, however as someone who has mastered the light-handed technique I can make almost anything work for any occasion. Mimosa and Starburst looked stunning dusted on the cheeks themselves, while Crushed Pearl gave me cheekbones like never before. Hard Candy was the most unique shade of them all and became one of my favorite colors to wear on my eyes. Whoops. Frankly no one ever said the products had to be used exclusively for the cheeks, so I went rogue and used them on the eyes. It has a duochrome effect that I love as a single wash of color to the lids. I do think, as with almost the entire Anastasia range, this glow kit can be used on most if not all skin tones. The warm undertones of each shade make it appealing to so many and if you are looking for a highlighter that packs a serious glowy punch, then I advise you to pick this up immediately. You will find yourself mixing the colors to create your own shades which is half the fun of wearing makeup, amiright?

*pr samples included

Have you tried either of these products? What are your thoughts?

Shop more of my highlighter recommendations:

Some Anastasia Discoveries

I know it's been a bit since my last post, but if you follow me on Instagram you know I recently had spine surgery so  I took some time off to recover. I am slowly beginning to get back on my feet, so I can finally get around to publishing posts on a ton of products I have been testing lately. Anastasia Beverly Hills has always been a brow brand for me (this product from them is one of my favorite brow products), but I have slowly been testing out other items from the line and have been quite impressed with the quality. There has been quite a bit of buzz about these illuminators (and after going on quite a highlighter kick - read this post to see some that I have been loving recently), I was anxious to try these. And later in the post, I will talk about my other discovery from the brand.

1. Anastasia Beverly Hills Illuminators in So Hollywood, Peach Nectar and Riviera - As one who does a more natural look with my makeup, highlighters and illuminators were not always products that I reached for since they tend to be more dramatic or suitable for evening looks. But over the years, the formulas have gotten better and I really enjoy incorporating them into my looks (even daytime ones) more frequently. These Anastasia Illuminators are definitely on the bolder end of the highlighting spectrum, so I need to be extremely light-handed compared to some other ones in my collection. That being said, they give such a gorgeous sheen on the skin that they have been too good not to add in. So Hollywood is the one I wear the most out of all three, but Peach Nectar comes in at a close second because of how warm it can make my cheeks look. I like to use So Hollywood more directly on my cheekbones, but Peach Nectar and Riviera look nice dusted lightly over the cheeks. And Riviera is unlike any highlighter I have seen because of it's slightly plum (well it looks plum to me) undertone which is so unique. For those that have a weakness for highlighters, I think these are going to be hard to pass up with their high watt shine and how well they blend into the skin without looking too powdery.

2. Anastasia Beverly Hill Liquid Lipstick - As a lover of lipsticks, especially full coverage matte formulas, I have loved the liquid lipstick trend that has taken over. Being more of a makeup artist brand, I had heard that the Anastasia Liquid Lipstick formula is quite remarkable with amazing staying power. And I can tell you first hand that after swatching each of these colors, it took quite a good cleansing oil and concealer between each shade to ensure the prior color was fully removed. This formula is not for those that want something sheer and easy to just throw on and go, since these are truly full coverage and with certain shades do require a bit more maintenance and precision to apply.  

Top left: Blush, top right: Sorbet, bottom left: Candy Apple, bottom right: Sad Girl

The pale shades Blush and Sorbet were easy to apply and I thought that Sorbet was the most stunning peach shade perfect for a bronzey smoky eye. Candy Apple was surprisingly less intense than I imagined and looks beautiful as a daytime shade. I already knew that Sad Girl was going to require more patience to apply since the formula is so pigmented, so I dabbed it on with the applicator and then used a lip brush to apply. While I wanted to give a sense of the true color in the swatch, since this post, I have worn Sad Girl a few times because I adore it and use a nude lip liner first to prime the lips (I typically reach for this in Pillow Talk) and find that it applies much easier with that nude liner applied first. And I did not skimp on the amount I applied either because I wanted each shade to really read as true as it could on camera, and was shocked as how comfortable such a bold formula felt on the lips. It does still have some slip to it so those who shy away from dry matte lip colors may enjoy these. They definitely stain the lips and have intense staying power, but I did notice that the darker shades needed to be touched up during the day once as opposed to the paler shades. But using a nude lip liner as a base helped solved that issue, and the color wore much more evenly throughout the day. The shade range is so vast that it is nearly impossible not to find a color to fit every taste.

*pr samples included

3 Highlighters I'm Loving Right Now

I've been on the fence about highlighters for a long time. They are not something I gravitated towards because of my oily skin. Anything exceptionally shiny was not my friend. However, over the years the formulations have become better and surprisingly my skin has become less oily this year so I am able to wear highlighters without looking like a greaseball. Here are three that I have been using regularly and loving:

1. Tom Ford Moodlight - I pick and choose my Tom Ford items selectively. I know many people love the Tom Ford brand, but it's hit or miss with me. I swatched this highlighter/illuminating duo in store and fell in love immediately. The shimmer was just enough to create a beautiful glow, and both shades wore beautifully on my skin. The deeper shade wears well as a bronzer for me, while the opal shade is perfect for a subtle cheekbone highlight. I have actually worn this during the day to work and it is natural enough to enhance but not distract. This Tom Ford gem is definitely a hit for me.

2. Becca Cosmetics Shimmer Skin Perfector in Champagne Pop - The buzz surrounding this product was almost deafening. I bought it online sight unseen, though I already knew it was going to be bold. Swatches are all over the internet so I knew what I was in for. This is definitely for evening since it gives a strong shimmer/glitter and looks very yellow on my skin. However, I can't deny that it is stunning. The texture is very smooth and can be worn on any skin tone which is wonderful. I probably will never hit pan on it but I'm glad I have it in my collection.

3. Cle de Peau Beaute Luminizing Powder in Delicate Pink -This highlighting powder is not new, but one that has been on my wish list for a long time. I'm excited that it's finally part of my collection as it is one of the most delicate yet magnificent highlighters in my collection. This particular shade has a pale pink undertone and because of that complements my skin tone perfectly. I have been enjoying it dusted on the tops of my cheekbones, but for the weekends have been adding it over top of my blush for an added glow. And as a packaging junkie, the compact that it comes in is just as pretty to look at as the powder itself. All in all, I predict it will become a favorite very quickly.

The swatches of all three compacts are above: Champagne Pop is on the far left, Cle de Peau Beaute is in the middle and Tom Ford Moodlight is on the far right.

*pr samples included

Do you have any of these highlighters? What are your thoughts? Leave me a comment below!

Shop other highlighting options: 

New In And Loving: Bluemercury M-61, Nest Fragrances, Guerlain and Laura Mercier

Some days I feel like I am just going to explode with excitement for products - it's like I am still 6 years old. Too much good stuff not to share my thoughts, and these few items are new to my collection but first impressions are already knocking my socks off. A little skincare, a little makeup and a little fragrance - a complete trifecta of products I am loving right now.

1. Nest Fragrances in the scents Paradise and Indigo* - If you follow my blog, you know I am a Nest fanatic. I love the candles and the personal fragrances (this one being a holy grail fragrance), and once again they hit a home run with their two newest fragrances Paradise and Indigo, now available at Sephora. Paradise smells exactly as the bottle looks - bright, vibrant and citrusy with notes of blood orange, white ginger and cedarwood. It's delicate and fresh for the summer. Indigo on the other hand was a bit darker, moodier but with a sweetness that I simply adore! Wild fig, bergamot, and black cardamom come together to create a scent that is as perfect for day as it is for night. Frankly, I keep them both side by side and do eenie meenie minie mo each morning to decide. I am the picture of sophistication. 

2. M-61 Power Glow Peel* - What happened to that top layer of skin? Oh, the M-61 Power Glow Peel took it away forever!!!! OMG! And what was left was baby soft, glowing, radiant, and gorgeous skin. People have been telling me on Instagram (over and over actually) that I need to try this product. Alright already! So I have. And welp.....it's awesome. Instagram was not lying to me. Formulated with salicylic and glycolic acid, these pads give a strong exfoliation, but surprisingly also help to calm and soothe. I would recommend starting with once a week to see how you do and then build up from there. But watch out, you may not be able to turn back. Your wallet has been warned. 

3. Guerlain Lingerie de Peau - I have a developed a love/hate relationship with this foundation. On one hand, it wears beautifully on the skin. Truly one of the most flawless foundations I have ever used on my face. That being said.....the only caveat is it oxidizes. Quite deeply I might add. But I was too in love with it to give up, so I decreased the amount I use (because a little can go a long way) and it has solved most of the problem. I don't use bronzer on the days I wear this so as not to add fuel (aka color) to the fire (aka my face). But I just can't quit the finish....so stunning. A satin like finish that makes my skin look like it has been airbrushed. And no pulling on dry patches, settling into fine lines or creeping into my pores. It knows better than that.

4. Laura Mercier Baked Eye Shadow Quad in Rendezvous in Monte Carlo* - Part of the new summer 2014 collection, this quad has been on my eyes almost every day since I received it. The colors blend so well together and they wear for-ev-er. Each shade can be worn dry or wet, though I prefer to wear the lighter shades dry and then wet the dark plum/brown shade to use as a liner. When done, I'm pretty sure my eyes look better than your eyes. (ok, ok, I know it's not a competition. sorry)

5. Laura Mercier Sheer Creme Glow* - Golden pink highlighted cheeks is on the menu for this summer. The finish of this new Laura Mercier summer 2014 cream blush is divine and looks gorgeous tapped on the cheekbones for glowing, fresh, 'I just woke up like this' skin. Yes, your summer self needs this. No, your cheekbones won't survive without it.

* press sample

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