««Press Sample»»
I know there have been some of you that have expressed interest recently in trying some products from Hourglass. Well I know of 2 great ways, and one of them is this Best of Hourglass set. This 4-piece collection features the cream-of-the-crop picks from the Hourglass range, covering everything from lips to lashes to skin. It includes: a full-sized Veil Mineral Primer (the smaller 0.33 oz. size), a deluxe sample-sized N°28 Primer Serum (0.16 oz.), a full-sized Film Noir Full Spectrum Mascara in Onyx (0.35 oz.), and a full-sized Extreme Sheen High Shine Lip Gloss in Ignite (0.24 oz.). I think they’re all great products and really give you an idea of the type of quality products that you can expect from this brand.
First off: Veil Mineral Primer. I know this is a “HG” primer for many of you so I have always wanted to get my hands on this bad boy–not least of all because I have terribly oily skin and could really use a new primer.The product has a light, lotion-y consistency. If doesn’t feel too slick or silicone-y, which I really like. It smoothed out my face, filled in my pores nicely, and kept my skin matte for a little over 2 hours, which is definitely not bad (I’d usually have to blot after an hour). It also doesn’t break me out and has natural SPF thanks to the titanium dioxide and iron oxide content. It does leave a very slight cast to the skin but nothing more than your average sunscreen and with a little powder or base, you’ll be good to go.
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On to the new(ish) N°28 Primer Serum. It’s packaged in a little mini glass-tube with a top that has a paddle/spatula-esque attachment. The product itself is a pinkish-clear color and has the consistency of a syrupy oil. The primer contains a mix of 14 essential oils and 10 lipid-rich plant oils. It does have a scent to it and I think it’s one of those that people will either love or hate. The scent is quite nice and herbal-y, in my opinion. You do get a bit of rosemary, lavender, and eucalyptus in there; the clove also stands out to me. It does dissipate within a minute.
For being on the thicker side, this primer absorbs quite quickly! It feels incredibly silky and glides across the skin. Once it’s been absorbed, your skin is left feeling like velvet–there’s really no other way to describe it. It’s also surprisingly ungreasy–as a matter of fact, once it’s been completely absorbed, there’s no residue of any kind left on the skin. It just feels soft and hydrated. My makeup (I tested it with both liquid and powder) goes on smoothly and blends beautifully. This primer actually kept my skin shine-free for longer than the Veil Mineral Primer–something that I was not expecting! Remember people, I have very oily skin! I didn’t have to blot for over 3 hours, which is unheard of for me! This primer is a dream come true and I will definitely be repurchasing a full-size!
The Film Noir Full Spectrum Mascara is a long, slender tube in the typical gunmetal-bronze hue that Hourglass favors. The wand is fittingly hourglass-shaped; it may be hard to tell in the photo below, but the middle of the wand does slope inward. The bristles are nylon, I believe, but are on the short side (just the way I like them) and are spaced quite closely together. They are incredibly effective at grabbing every. single. dinky little hair. It even makes my bottom lashes look good, and I have never used a mascara that could make those puny little things look half-decent.
This mascara gives me perfectly coated, darkened, separated, and beefed up lashes. Another thing I like is that the wand is never goopy and covered in globs of product–every single time I pull out the wand, it’s coated in just the right amount of product. The formula is fabulous too! It’s perfect–not too wet or dry and on the thicker side. It doesn’t leave my lashes feeling crispy and holds a curl perfectly. This stuff is amazing and, as much as I hate to admit it, worth every penny (sorry CoverGirl Lash Blast–you may have just been replaced!).
Lastly, we have the Extreme Sheen High Shine Lip Gloss in Ignite. Ignite is described as a “rose beige shimmer”–it’s a gorgeous caramely-pink shade with gold shimmer and even has a light, sweet caramel-y scent to it. It’s one of those shades that doesn’t add much color but just makes your lips look better–as in prettier, fuller, shinier, and happier. The touch of pink in it really does make a huge difference–it makes my lips look like they’re just really that pink and pretty! Ignite has the perfect, medium consistency that has enough stick to it to help it stay put for 4 hours without breaking a sweat but not enough stick to where you’re relegated to nose-breathing really loudly because you can’t pry your lips apart. 
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If you’ve been dying to try some basic pieces from Hourglass’ line, I highly recommend you start with this set. It’s a great set for the value and contains really amazing, high-quality products that you will love!
»»Pricing: $59/4 pieces (Veil Mineral Primer=0.33 fl. oz. [10 ml.], Film Noir Full Spectrum Mascara=0.35 oz. [10 g.], Extreme Sheen High Shine Lip Gloss=0.24 oz. [7 g.], N°28 Primer Serum=0.16 fl. oz. [5 ml.])
»»Availability: Zuneta.com (though marked up to $94.82), and Hourglasscosmetics.com *Sephora sold out before I could post this review–apologies!
»»Recommended for: anyone who’s been curious about trying Hourglass
»»Overall Rating: A
…oh, so you wanted to know the other great way to try some Hourglass products for yourself? Well, I just happen to know of someone who may or may not be hosting a new Hourglass giveaway. 
Ok ok, I’ll stop For the latest (and second to last) giveaway in my 1-year blogaversary celebration, one lucky reader will receive: one Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer + N°28 Primer Serum Duo (0.33 oz. and 0.16 oz. respectively, which are the same sizes as the ones reviewed above), and two Hourglass Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipsticks–one in Canvas and one in Rose. I have previously reviewed these shades here, which is why I chose them for this giveaway. I think they will flatter a variety of skintones and are very wearable shades–they’ll be perfect for spring or anytime of the year!
The total value of the 3 items in this giveaway is $80.00.
To enter, please leave a comment below about anything at all. What spring beauty collections have caught your eye so far? Do you use a face primer everyday and if so, what is your favorite? Is there a beauty brand that you have not yet tried but are dying to? Please make sure to fill in the email field in the comment box so I know how to get a hold of you!
To earn extra entries, you can follow my blog via email, Bloglovin, or HelloCotton. Each counts for 1 entry and you can do all 3 if you like! To make it easier for me, please let me know in your comment how you follow me.
For another entry, follow me on twitter (@TheBeautySample)
For another entry, “Like” my Facebook page (here)
For yet another entry, you can tweet about this giveaway. The only guidelines are: you must include my twitter handle (@TheBeautySample) and you must link back to this post (you can use www.tinyurl.com to help shorten the link if you need to).
The contest starts today, January 15th, and ends next Tuesday, January 22th at 11:59 PM PST. The following day, I will use a random number generator to randomly select a winner. I will email/DM via Twitter the winner and they will have 48-hours to respond, after which time I will be forced to choose a new winner. You must be at least 18 years of age to enter. This giveaway is open worldwide! There is no purchase necessary. Each eligible participant can enter a total of 7 times, but 7 entries are not required.
Disclaimer: the product(s) featured in this post were provided to The Beauty Sample free of charge by the manufacturer/PR for review purposes only. Regardless of how the product was obtained, my priority is to you, my readers, and I will always give you my honest opinion.
