In the Effortless Makeup category, Hourglass’s new Aura collection ranks among one of my favorites for spring.
It’s like the brand has their fingers on the pulse of lazy girls like moi. The Aura Sheer Cheek Stains and Sheer Lip Stains are designed for ease of use. No brushes are required with Aura’s portable, pen-style applicators. Twisting the bottom of each one dispenses product through the sponge tip applicator at the other end, and it makes these sheer, buildable liquid stains practically foolproof to use.
For full details on the Hourglass Aura Collection, peep Can I Read Your Hourglass Aura? The Hourglass Aura Collection for Spring 2011.
The Aura Sheer Cheek Stains ($45) and Aura Sheer Lip Stains ($26) sink quickly into my skin, but there’s still a window of drying time (about a minute or so) in which I’m able to blend out any harsh edges with my fingers if I need to.
Hourglass Aura Sheer Cheek Stain and Sheer Lip Stain in Flush
If the zombies were coming and I had to make for the hills, I’d grab both the Cheek and Lip Stains in Flush, the reddish pink shade I’m wearing here, a few jars of Nutella, a pocket knife, my wedding pictures and Tabs.
Because I’d be able to apply the stains without a mirror (they’re that easy), I’d be able to evade the walking dead without having to sacrifice my look. 🙂
Hourglass Aura Sheer Cheek Stain in Flush, $45
This sheer liquid stain feels a lot like Benefit’s Posietint to me. It’s runny, but still has some weight to it. I’ve worn it on bare skin, atop foundation and even on top of powder, and in every case it stays put, lasting throughout the day. It also layers well, too, so I’m able to crank up the color when I want a bolder cheek. I LOVE the convenience, but dagnabbit that $45 hurts.
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A-
Hourglass Aura Lip Stain in Flush, $26
You know how some matte lipsticks can look thick and flat on ye olde pucker? This unscented, unflavored stain delivers a lightweight matte look to my lips (don’t you hate when lip stains leave some areas darker than others?), and the formula’s non-drying to boot. It’s also easy to build up in layers but, unfortunately, doesn’t last nearly as long as the cheek stain does (nooo!). I get about two hours from it if I’m lucky. Not bad, but for $26, it’s not great either. I give it a little extra credit for convenience, because the packaging makes quick touch-ups a snap.
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B+
Hourglass Aura Sheer Lip Stain in Flush
Hourglass Aura Sheer Cheek Stain in Flush
Swatches on NC35 skin from left: Aura Sheer Cheek Stain in Flush (unblended), Aura Sheer Cheek Stain in Flush (blended), Aura Sheer Lip Stain in Flush (unblended) and Aura Sheer Lip Stain in Flush (blended)
Aura Sheer Lip Stain in Flush
Aura Sheer Cheek Stain in Flush on cheeks and Aura Sheer Lip Stain in Flush on lips
The Hourglass Aura Collection launches this spring at Sephora (in stores and online) and Barneys New York. I haven’t spotted them online or at my nearby Sephora store yet, but I’ll let you know when I do. 🙂
Weather or not…
Is anyone else totally over this drab, dreary weather?
The early morning view out my window
I wish we were all here instead:
Somewhere on Eastern Oahu, Hawaii
Spring needs to hurry up already. Come on, what’s the holdup!?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
i’m always a bit weary of stains because i feel like they’re not foolproof. but these look really lovely 🙂
as for the weather, i’m not minding ours too much. it hasn’t been raining and we’re getting a bit of snow (which I always enjoy). but what i’m sick of though, is the lack of sunshine. it makes it so hard to photograph anything for my blog because i don’t have nice lighting.
Totally want to be on that beach instead of in the snow here!
Love that cheek stain-but $45 US probably means fifty-something here even though our dollar is at par with yours. I rally hate how Sephora and cosmetic companies gouge us sometimes.
But it sure looks pretty on you! And it would be a great zombie apocalypse item that’s for sure.You can stuff them in your pocket leaving more room in your backpack for nutella!
The cheek stain looks fantastic!
I love that lip stain! The color is gorgeous. hmm, weirdly the view out your window right now looks more appealing to me. I’m not crazy about rain, but I do like slightly cool weather.
I love the convenience of not having to use brushes for products. Those look great, if a bit pricey.
And, yes, SO ready for spring and the end of dreary, cold, wet weather!
Cheek stain = bingo dobber. 😀
The cheek stain is super pretty!!!! but i am confused whether this will work for oily skin???? n i agree with you Karen dat $45 hurts 🙁
Can the cheek stain double as a lip stain? Maybe it’ll last longer than the actual lip stain
That cheek stain is so beautiful!
both are so pretty and definately scream – SPRING! I may need to personally sample before diving in, but they are on my radar now……thanks!
As for the weather, we got 4.5 inches of snow overnight, and at 7mos pregnant now, I don’t drive in the stuff, so I called out from work. Everything now is about the baby, so SHE comes first, not them……
But, I do agree with you—-that picture of eastern Oahu looks like a picture I have here on my desk of a spot we stopped at on our honeymoon—it’s my own, personal Bali Hai…….I so desperately need to win Powerball or MegaMillions so that I can just move there permanently!!
These look awesome! I wish they were cheaper though 🙁
I am so so sick of being stuck in my house because of all the ice 🙁 so ready for spring!
They look great but are definitely on the pricey side. And I still got the creeps looking at the close up of the fuzzy lip applicator. 🙂
Gorgeous colors! And Karen, your hair looks great!
It snowed about 3 inches last night and it’s 20 degrees here in Ohio, so I would take foggy California weather over this any day! Although, Hawaii is still the best. I gotta start playing the lotto so I can buy a fancy house that I can migrate to in the winter. 🙂
Ah I’m kicking myself for not buying any Hourglass products when I was in Sephora last year. Perhaps this year then 🙂
The cheek stain looks nice – I’m slowly dipping my toes into the world of blush these days, previously I never wore any blush. Makes a world of difference 🙂 I’m wearing NARS Taj Mahal today – holy batman that is some crazy pigment.
29 degrees here in Houston when i left the house. global warming, i tell ya!
that cheek stain is beckoning me …. 🙂
Where did you get those awesome earrings???
I LOVE applicators like this! Revlon used to make an AMAZING lip gloss in a tube with a tip like this 🙁
It’s snowing a LOT outside right now. A lot. Practically a blizzard. And I hate it.
Also, I really like the lip stain. Very pretty.
Love love love! So super pretty, and I love me some bright pink, but yah….it’s really expensive! You look amazing in the pics though!
So I thought I’d report back about the Dermalogica Super Rich Repair…eh. It’s OK…it hasn’t done any wonders for my skin, but thus far it hasn’t broken me out. I’m gonna go back and find the name of that Clarins one you use….does that break you out at all?
The lipstain applicator with sponge tip looks awesome, actually. Going to keep an eye on my Sephora here for the Aura line.
Shame that lip stain doesn’t have great staying power. You’d think a ‘stain’ would do just that and last for hours! It would be a good price if it wasn’t for the staying power. I love the colour on you, Karen.
A really natural look – the lip stain and cheek stain work together to create a flattering and minimal image, although we continue to search for the lip stain that boasts both an amazing finish and longetivity.
I just now got to play with these at Sephora, and I am IN LOVE with the lip stain!!!!!! Petal was GORGEOUS. I didn’t even allow myself to play with the cheek stain because of the price tag…. phooey… but now I’m lusting after the stain, haha!
Thanks for the awesome review!!
Wow, just found out about Hourglass yesterday in Liberty (department store in London!) and the assistant put the aura cheekstain in ‘petal’ on me and WOW I love it! I am pretty pale and this colour was just right for me! I am going back tomorrow to purchase. I didn’t buy at the time as I wanted to see how well it lasted but it didn’t budge until I washed my face last night. I have a feeling I am going to spend a lot of money on this brand …..some of their eyeshadows look gorgeous too!!!! 🙂