Friends, it's time for a #realgirl moment. As many of you know, blogging is not my full time gig. Even though I would love to devote 8 hours of my day to all things beauty, I've got to be somewhat realistic about things like not defaulting on my mortgage. For now that means working full time and blogging in whatever other hours I can find. Most days I get up at 6 am, cram in an hour of blog work whilst chugging a cup of coffee, throw myself into the shower, and slap some makeup on before I hurriedly leave the house at 7:30. Sure I manage to make myself look presentable, but it's because I have an arsenal of products that I could probably apply with my eyes closed. On a weekday morning I am all about effortless, easy makeup. Which means that as much as I love a good matte liquid lip, ain't nobody got time for that.
At the same time, that doesn't mean I need to sacrifice luxury or feeling like a classy lady. At Generation Beauty LA I was able to take home a few shades of the latest lip launch from Hourglass, and I knew immediately we would be makeup besties. The Hourglass GIRL Lip Stylo is a hydrating, buildable lip color that reigns supreme in my no-fuss everyday makeup bag. With the perfect combination of sophistication and practicality, it's basically got #girlboss written all over it.
As much as I love this lip product (and we'll get into why in a second), I think I love the message behind it even more. With a slogan of "Four letters can change the world", the GIRL campaign is all about female empowerment. Every shade is named for various roles we may identify with, and inspires us as women to connect with and express our truest selves. Hourglass is also encouraging women to recognize, rather than compete with each other through the #girlforgood movement. I think this is SUCH a brilliant message, and love that through the power of lipstick Hourglass is getting an important conversation started.
Speaking of lipstick, let's get back to the product itself. Each Lip Stylo retails for $32 and is available in 20 shades. From bolds and brights, to classic red, to a healthy selection of nudes and pinks, there's a little something for every girl (or occasion). Formulated with shea butter, jojoba, mimosa, and sunflower seed oil, these Lip Stylos are intensely hydrating without compromising on pigmentation. They glide on effortlessly with a silky smooth texture and leave your lips with a fresh, glossy look.
The two shades I was able to try are Leader, a vivid fuchsia, and Influencer, a deep rosey nude. As you can see from the swatches above, even though these Lip Stylos aren't entirely opaque, they can be built up to a full-color finish. As with most creamy lip formulas, you probably aren't going to make it through an 8 hour day without touching these up a few times. Fortunately they tend to fade evenly and not leave your lips looking strange or patchy and are very quick and easy to reapply. The one thing I am a little dubious about is the precision tip. Sure at the start these lippies have a very fine point to work with, but over time you know this will wear away. I think the formula is such that a great deal of precision isn't necessary, and I'm not overly concerned about using this product for the long haul. I just don't buy in to that particular claim as a selling point.
Now, I know what you're thinking. $32 is a lot to shell out for a lipstick. Hourglass is definitely among the ranks of luxury brands like YSL, Charlotte Tilbury, and Tom Ford, so it's somewhat expected that you'll pay a premium for their products. As with other high-end brands, their packaging is exceptional, their formulas are top-notch, and you will (to an extent) pay for a name. Are their other great affordable options out there? Sure. But if you're looking to splurge and treat yourself to a beautiful, luxurious lip product, this is a solid choice.
Are you going to try the new Lip Stylos?
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