I just discovered Hourglass cosmetics (eyeshadow duos and the opaque rouge liquid lipsticks) and I'm super amazed by the quality and longevity that both have offered me. I find it to be such an underrated brand. What cosmetic brands you feel that are superb but have yet received fair recognition?
I just got an eyeshadow duo from hourglass and I'm in love! I also got the highlighter and bronzer duo as a contour kit & I love the highlighter. It doesn't add any color to your skin, just a subtle sheen. Not like the benefit highlighters that all have undertones of pink or brown.
Underrated Brands: OCC, Hourglass, Inglot and Illamasqua... SUPER underrated although Hourglass has a high price point as does Illamasqua with them you get your money's worth.
I picked it up while I was in London, for about 6 quid. ( 7 or 8 dollars, I think)
I have used it in some of my pictures, including my profile picture.
The thing is, I just don't know why I haven't at least HEARD of it before, the colours are so beautiful! This is a mini palette with some really beautiful nudes, it's perfect for if you want a neutral look, but personally I use it for a neutral smokey look all the time. The colours aren't THAT pigmented, the lighter colours are subtle, but so beautiful. The darker colours,"cinnamon" and "coffee" are obviously much more pigmented, as they are used to deepen the crease and really give that smokey effect. Also, the bronze colour is so amazing, I really love it. All in all, I really am glad I picked this up, I had never heard of "active cosmetics" before, now I might check out other products by them.
@Jacqueline M. Annabelle....I wish they sold it here in the states. @Aferdita...those shades sound delish...especially coffee ( I have yet to find that perfect brown that doesn't have so much red undertones to it). @Viv H. I looked up Catrice...oh my word!!!! The colors are beautiful and I WANT. @Raisa...yes Illamasqua is definitely running under the radar.@Ipek...you must pick up the Lip Rouge that they just released from Hourglass...that stuff is no joke and it will not budge.I think overall the reason why these awesome brands are so underrated is due to distribution. They aren't carried in a lot of places so they don't get the exposure that some of the more popular brands receive. As long as they keep putting out great products I'm sure they will gain further attention and we'll see them in more locations. :)
I agree with hard candy! I agree to the distribution thing... I'm pretty sure they only carry it in walmarts. I feel that may be another reason, maybe a lot of people are iffy on trying these because they're "drug store" brands. Maybe! =)
You're so right! The brand is so under rated. I love Hourglasses Liquid Lipsticks!!!! There my go to's. But I find myself always going to Urban Decay or Makeup Forever. Great brands!
Hard Candy used to be sold in department stores only until WalMart bought the rights to it. I dont use it bit ive played around with it in the store its actually pretty good haha. Illamasqua and OCC for sure on the underrated list!!
Hard Candy has gone through a lot. I don't remember who owned them first, but their big thing was nail polish, then came eyeshadow quads, which I loved. Then they were bought by Urban Decay and went from being sold in department stores to Sephora too. I can't remember for sure but I think it was around 2007 they just stopped making products. They had a great perfume I LOVED. Then they were bought by a company that just bought the name/logo and put it in Wal Mart. Hard Candy now doesn't even compare to what it was years ago. Every time I see it I shed a tear for the colors and great products that I miss... I got my first eyeshadow quad in '96 or '97, called Techno, and so wish I could replace it. :(
@Susan: I remember when Hard Candy was at Sephora, when they were owned by Urban Decay. One of the first HC anything I bought (and one of my first Sephora purchases) was a baby blue nail polish that was lovely (I think it may've been the infamous Sky?). They're now owned by the same company that owns Accessorize in the UK; the packaging is quite similar, and I think they have similar products.
I'm probably going to start trouble but I'm going to say Lime Crime. Yeah there was controversy long ago but people are afraid of the brand.
They have the most beautiful palettes now, the lipsticks are amazing, colored liners are perfect, lovely nail polishes too. Everything I've tried is just wonderful! The matte pastel themed palette has some of the most perfect matte shadows I've ever tried. And I will say the primer is the BEST makeup product I own.
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Aug 15, 2012
Shelley W.
I just discovered Hourglass cosmetics (eyeshadow duos and the opaque rouge liquid lipsticks) and I'm super amazed by the quality and longevity that both have offered me. I find it to be such an underrated brand. What cosmetic brands you feel that are superb but have yet received fair recognition?
Aug 15, 2012
Ipek C.
I just got an eyeshadow duo from hourglass and I'm in love! I also got the highlighter and bronzer duo as a contour kit & I love the highlighter. It doesn't add any color to your skin, just a subtle sheen. Not like the benefit highlighters that all have undertones of pink or brown.
Aug 15, 2012
Raisa J.
Underrated Brands: OCC, Hourglass, Inglot and Illamasqua... SUPER underrated although Hourglass has a high price point as does Illamasqua with them you get your money's worth.
Aug 15, 2012
Aferdita N.
I have never seen or heard ANYONE talk about this: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Active-Cosm...
I picked it up while I was in London, for about 6 quid. ( 7 or 8 dollars, I think)
I have used it in some of my pictures, including my profile picture.
The thing is, I just don't know why I haven't at least HEARD of it before, the colours are so beautiful! This is a mini palette with some really beautiful nudes, it's perfect for if you want a neutral look, but personally I use it for a neutral smokey look all the time. The colours aren't THAT pigmented, the lighter colours are subtle, but so beautiful. The darker colours,"cinnamon" and "coffee" are obviously much more pigmented, as they are used to deepen the crease and really give that smokey effect. Also, the bronze colour is so amazing, I really love it. All in all, I really am glad I picked this up, I had never heard of "active cosmetics" before, now I might check out other products by them.
Aug 15, 2012
Viv H.
Catrice
Aug 15, 2012
Jacqueline M.
Illamasqua for sure! Inglot.. Ben Nye. Even drugstore brands like Annabelle & Hard Candy! xxx
Aug 15, 2012
Erin T.
Inglot! Amazing quality & price. Plus the freedom system is an essential for every artist.
Aug 15, 2012
Shelley W.
@Jacqueline M. Annabelle....I wish they sold it here in the states. @Aferdita...those shades sound delish...especially coffee ( I have yet to find that perfect brown that doesn't have so much red undertones to it). @Viv H. I looked up Catrice...oh my word!!!! The colors are beautiful and I WANT. @Raisa...yes Illamasqua is definitely running under the radar.@Ipek...you must pick up the Lip Rouge that they just released from Hourglass...that stuff is no joke and it will not budge.I think overall the reason why these awesome brands are so underrated is due to distribution. They aren't carried in a lot of places so they don't get the exposure that some of the more popular brands receive. As long as they keep putting out great products I'm sure they will gain further attention and we'll see them in more locations. :)
Aug 15, 2012
Kristina A.
I agree with hard candy! I agree to the distribution thing... I'm pretty sure they only carry it in walmarts. I feel that may be another reason, maybe a lot of people are iffy on trying these because they're "drug store" brands. Maybe! =)
Aug 15, 2012
Kristina A.
None of that made sense at all! ^^^ lol but you get what I mean!
Aug 15, 2012
Tia B.
Cover FX and Cargo
Aug 15, 2012
Rose Make Up Artist R.
I agree with everything above may I also add Rituals Cosmetics to the list!
Aug 15, 2012
Shelly T.
Illamasqua is definitely underrated, IMO. I'll add Louise Young to the list, too.
Aug 16, 2012
Dena M.
You're so right! The brand is so under rated. I love Hourglasses Liquid Lipsticks!!!! There my go to's. But I find myself always going to Urban Decay or Makeup Forever. Great brands!
Aug 16, 2012
Laura D.
Cargo and Lorac.
Aug 17, 2012
Nadia N.
Illamasqua, INGLOT, Chanel, sugarpill
Aug 17, 2012
Tierra C.
OCC, Inglot, Illamasqua, ..... and i agree HardCandy is a good drugstore brand as well!
Aug 17, 2012
Amira A.
Hard Candy used to be sold in department stores only until WalMart bought the rights to it. I dont use it bit ive played around with it in the store its actually pretty good haha. Illamasqua and OCC for sure on the underrated list!!
Aug 17, 2012
Amira A.
But* hehe :)
Aug 17, 2012
Susan E.
Hard Candy has gone through a lot. I don't remember who owned them first, but their big thing was nail polish, then came eyeshadow quads, which I loved. Then they were bought by Urban Decay and went from being sold in department stores to Sephora too. I can't remember for sure but I think it was around 2007 they just stopped making products. They had a great perfume I LOVED. Then they were bought by a company that just bought the name/logo and put it in Wal Mart. Hard Candy now doesn't even compare to what it was years ago. Every time I see it I shed a tear for the colors and great products that I miss... I got my first eyeshadow quad in '96 or '97, called Techno, and so wish I could replace it. :(
Aug 17, 2012
Aferdita N.
@ Susan, I have never tried any Hard Candy products, that sure is a sad story : (
Aug 17, 2012
Dana M.
Face Atelier
Aug 17, 2012
Amanda H.
Pixi and NP Set (both are a bit pricey but well worth the price - they're sold at Target)
Aug 18, 2012
Shelly T.
@Susan: I remember when Hard Candy was at Sephora, when they were owned by Urban Decay. One of the first HC anything I bought (and one of my first Sephora purchases) was a baby blue nail polish that was lovely (I think it may've been the infamous Sky?). They're now owned by the same company that owns Accessorize in the UK; the packaging is quite similar, and I think they have similar products.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_C...) [caution: needs a lot of citations; take with a grain of salt]
If the Wiki article is accurate, one of the former owners now owns tokidoki.
Aug 18, 2012
Terra M.
I'm probably going to start trouble but I'm going to say Lime Crime. Yeah there was controversy long ago but people are afraid of the brand.
They have the most beautiful palettes now, the lipsticks are amazing, colored liners are perfect, lovely nail polishes too. Everything I've tried is just wonderful! The matte pastel themed palette has some of the most perfect matte shadows I've ever tried. And I will say the primer is the BEST makeup product I own.