I opened up this week’s blog posts with a hefty tome didn’t I? (Did you read it? Was my effort wasted? LOL!) Well, let’s lighten things up with, hopefully, an easier going focus subject – the new Hourglass Scattered Light Glitter Eyeshadow.
The most common reason why older, or more matured women, may not want to wear glitter or shimmery eyeshadow, is because shimmer and glitter may settle into the fine lines around the eyes, and that does not look good. Age has nothing to do with it, the condition of the skin around your eyes do.
Personally, I do wear shimmer shadows still, and I’m practically over the hill! :D So, it was opportune therefore to give the new Hourglass Scattered Glitter Eyeshadow a go. If you love shimmer (not so much glitter) you will love these!
Hourglass calls this a glitter eyeshadow. However, unlike most glitter eyeshadows, the texture is so fine that it isn’t obnoxious at all. It comes in a pressed form, which reminds me very much of the Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill shadows. Hourglass says that it is a hybrid cream formula, but it really does feel just like the product is tightly pressed.
The size is quite small, which was a little disconcerting at first. But then, this is a glitter product, so it won’t be one you will use daily, nor very often. It is one that you will use as an accent, or to top over your eyeshadow. But if you are adventurous, you will be like me, and use it all on its own! :D
And really, it works!
The colour I have is Reflect which is a pretty rose gold shade. In the swatches above, on left is just one swipe straight from the tub, using my fingers. You can see just how metallic it is, without looking too frosty. On right, I have layered it, to show that even when you build it up for impact, you do not get uncomfortable chunks of glitter everywhere. It looks more metallic, but not chunky.
I find that the best way to use the Hourglass Scattered Light Glitter Eyeshadow is with your fingers. I tried using a brush, but it does not pick up product very well. Perhaps if you use a damp brush it will work better, and it will also likely give a more foiled, metallic effect. I personally do not go for that look so I did not try.
I do like the pearlescent effect that these shadows give. It is a little fancy for everyday makeup of course, but it is a very fun product for an evening look. The colour Reflect is, on my skin, a rather warm, rosy champagne. I only wore it on its own, on bare lids below.
I did layer it quite a bit so it shows up better for the photos. In real life therefore, it is quite shiny, but not a blingy-glitter, if you get what I mean. It still looks smooth, just shimmery. If I were to just use it for myself, I’d just use a light wash, blended with my fingers all over the lid. This way, the shimmer is reduced, but your lids have a lovely pearly glow.
Other products used: Hourglass Vanish Foundation Stick, Nars Soft Matte Concealer, Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Diffused Light, Hourglass Ambient Blush in Radiant Magenta, Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow palette, Chanel Signature Liquid Eyeliner, Innisfree Auto Eyebrow Pencil, Bobbi Brown Crushed Lip in Bitten
It doesn’t look terribly obnoxious does it? :D I just paired it with a black eyeliner. If you want to up the fancy quotient, smudge a deeper colour along the upper lashline, and blend it out into the crease. This gives the look more punch.
You can also just use this as an accent, over your existing eyeshadow. A tiny bit, blended in the middle of your lid for a 3D effect, or a tiny bit in the inner corner to open up the eyes. Really, it is up to you :)
I do, however, like how it looks worn on its own. It has a fun, clean look, that surprises due to the shimmer, and I like that :) I did not experience any fallout nor any settling into any lines. I am quite fortunate not to have very lined lids, and my skin is generally quite dry so most shadows stay put without problems.
There are 5 shades in total – Smoke (Taupe), Aura (Pink), Reflect (Rosy Champagne), Foil (Gold) and Blaze (Copper). I have to say that Smoke looks pretty, and I imagine, would make a killer shiny smokey eye :)
IN A NUTSHELL
The Hourglass Scattered Light Glitter Eyeshadow is a small range of cream hybrid finely milled glitter eyeshadow. I do not find them to be chunky or obnoxious, and in fact, can be smoothened out to a lovely pearlescent shimmer on skin. You can use them on their own, or to top over your existing eyeshadow for impact. The texture feels just like pressed powder eyeshadow, and the best way to pick up product is with your fingers. Lightly dab on for a more glitter effect, or gently buff with your finger for a more pearly effect. I do not experience fall out nor settling, but as I’ve explained, I do not have particularly lined skin around my eyes. If you like shimmer eyeshadow, then these are very pretty indeed!
PROS: Fine milled and feels comfortable on skin, Not chunky, No fall out nor settling into lines, Easy to use either on its own or over existing eyeshadow for impact
CONS: Pricey
WHO WILL LIKE THIS: Anyone who likes using shiny eyeshadows
PRICE: RM140 | US$29 | £26
WHERE TO BUY: Sephora stores (selected) or online, Cult Beauty, SpaceNK, Net-A-Porter
Does this Hourglass Scattered Light eyeshadow intrigue you? Do you wear glitter or shimmer eyeshadow?
I used to hate age-appropriate matte shadow, but have since learnt to embrace it. But I do still like a touch of shine around my eyes. I think it helps “lift” it a little and not make it look flatter than the rest of my face already is LOL! :D You? Team shimmer and shine or no shine?
Paris B
I think it looks lovely on you. I’ve been a fan of shimmery eye shadow since my younger days and am still in love with it. On the contrary, I don’t quite appreciate matt ones. They don’t seem to do anything to my eyes like making them pop. But it’s just personal preference.
Good that you can take cream-based eye shadow. These when used against my not-too-dry eyelids can cause melting/fading along the crease. So I’ll likely stay with powdered ones. :)
Haha that’s my gripe with matte shadows too. Where’s the colour?! :D But I’ve learnt to appreciate it, as a base or blending colour, and then I use a little shimmer on top, to help the colour pop a little. Have you tried the cream shadows like the Laura Mercier Caviar Stick shadow or the Bobbi Brown Longlasting Cream Stick shadows? Those I find tend to be a little drier, but still creamy so they don’t settle as much into the crease :)