The great thing about Christmas is that you can ask for gifts that you probably wouldn’t buy yourself. I saw this Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit – Unlocked palette on several beauty blogs and put it on my list. Luckily Santa managed to get one. I am not sure if it is available now as it was limited edition.
What attracted me to this particular palette was the variety within it. There are two face finishing powders, a bronzer, two blushers and a highlighter so it is a great way to try out several items from the brand which is known predominantly for its powder finishing products.
I had never heard of the brand until a shop assistant came up to me in John Lewis a few years ago and tried one of their primers on the back of my hand. It was lovely and smooth. I asked her how much it was and she quoted a price around £50 without even blinking. I certainly did though, several times, then said my thank yous and scurried off. It is a very popular high-end, well, luxury brand and comes out with some groundbreaking formulas at equally groundbreaking prices.
This blog could well have been a beauty blog as I love make-up. I have been trying to perfect the art for years. Still trying, still making mistakes. I first dabbled in make-up when I was really young, trying on my mum’s lipsticks and found an ancient pot of blue eyeshadow in among some makeup at the back of a cupboard in my parents’ bedroom. I have a feeling it was made by Yardley, it had a bee on the lid but I cannot find any reference for this. I don’t think I ever tried it on but would frequently visit the cupboard where it lived and gaze at it lovingly.
Later I got a free eyeshadow on a teen magazine and it all started there. I spent hours in my bedroom trying it on with my finger. First the silver and then the blue side. I was very sparing with it and tried to wear it outside the house but always got stopped by my parents and told to wash it off. Even in those days I would spend birthday money on make-up and when I was allowed to go out wearing it, would do so with pride.
These days make-up still means a lot to me. I probably spend more time thinking about and applying it in the morning than I do about what I am wearing. I certainly spend a lot of money on it. To me, make-up is a bit of a comfort blanket. I feel secure wearing it. It is something to hide behind, it can hide your true feelings but also enhance your mood and make you feel more confident. Very occasionally, I will go down the road to a shop with nothing on my face and I feel so insecure and insignificant. On the other hand there is nothing more empowering than a red lip. Frightening really, that something so relatively innocuous as make-up can have such a profound effect.
My New Year’s resolution, as always, is to wear more lipstick. Happy New Year.
Hourglass makeup is available HERE.