Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Hourglass Nº 28 Primer Serum Review

 Press Sample (Affiliate Links)

Hourglass is one of those truly rare companies that generates one exquisite product after another. They have the uncanny ability to create masterpieces out of a genre of products that people often give little thought to. For me this most assuredly rings true with their primers. Primers are products that I seldom ever thought about-- yet alone used with any degree of regularity. In fact, it wasn't until I tried their Veil Primer that I realized that using a primer might not be such a bad idea since Veil had proven to me to be so great that it was the primer against which all other primers should be judged. This was a closed argument for me until Hourglass outdid themselves by creating their peerless Hourglass Nº 28 Primer Serum.

Hourglass describes it as, 

An ultra-hydrating, nutrient-rich primer and serum infused with 28 beneficial ingredients to nurture your skin as it prepares it for flawless makeup. This silky, lightweight oil blend glides on and is quickly absorbed to hydrate the skin and refine the appearance of visible pores. Skin is instantly transformed, appears younger and more luminous.

This serum nurtures skin with a blend of rejuvenating ingredients including 14 essentials oils (lavender, geranium, rose geranium, vanilla, clove, orange peel, amyris, lemon peel, petitgrain, eucalyptus, rosemary leaf, bois de rose, cedar leaf, ylang ylang), 10 lipid-rich plant oils (jojoba, rose hips seed, evening primrose, hazelnut, borage seed, kukui nut, sweet almond, green tea, olive, and cherry pit), and four vitamins (A, B5, C, and E).

Details:
• Contains 14 essential oils to soften the complexion: Bois de Rose, Lavender, Geranium, Petitgrain, Lemon, Rosemary, Vanilla, Clove, Amyris, Orange, Ylang Ylang, Eucalyptus, Cedar and Rose Geranium

• Contains a blend of 10 lipid-rich plant oils to help hydrate the skins underlying layers: Hazelnut, Kukui Nut, Rose Hip, Borage, Olive, Green Tea, Cherry Pit, Sweet Almond, Jojoba and Evening Primrose

• Enriched with 4 skin-rejuvenating vitamins to condition the complexion: A, B5, C and E

• Suitable for all skin types

• Formula repels water

• Free of parabens, phthalates, sulfates, synthetic dyes and vegan-friendly

Apply one pump of No. 28 Primer Serum before or after moisturizer and before makeup. No. 28 can be worn at night as a treatment and can be applied to hair to seal split ends. 
My experience: Hourglass Nº 28 Primer Serum is the most decadent primer on the market in my opinion. It is a deeply hydrating nutrient rich primer that spreads across the skin with great ease, and feels unbelievably silky to the touch. Skin becomes velvety smooth, richly hydrated, and appears poreless. Furthermore, skin is left with an unprecedented luminosity that one does not experience in a mere primer. Nº 28 Primer Serum is truly the perfect marriage of high quality skincare ingredients counterbalanced by finishing product ingredients. What is most surprising, and unheard of in the realm of primers, is the fact that the treatment ingredients make such a pronounced difference in the efficacy of the product. I immediately noted that my skin looked amazing at the end of the day after I removed all traces of makeup. What an ingenious idea to conceive of a primer that is also a skincare serum. The truly extraordinary feat was actually making this brilliant idea work, and trust me when I say that it really works! I have never tried anything like it.

Not only is my combination skin ultra happy with Nº 28 Primer Serum, but even my oilier t-zone appears happier and more balanced when I use this product. The end result is that my skin looks smoother, more supple, more hydrated, more luminous, and nearly poreless! It has the rare distinction of being a complexion perfector as both a cosmetic and skincare product. Do I mean to say that it will permanently reduce the size of your pores and whisk away all "imperfections"? Of course not, but the combination of skincare and finishing ingredients makes this primer one that works overtime and gives real and tangible results. It has a very slightly herbal scent that is punctuated by the faint aroma of the lavender coming through-- this makes applying it what many might consider a ritualistic aromatherapeutic experience to be savored (and I am one of them), but the scent does quickly dissipate soon after it sinks in. It also does wonders for dry hands-- leaving them soft, silky and hydrated.
Ingredients: Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Ethylhexyl Cocoate, Dimethiconol, Phenyl Trimethicone, Ceramide 3, Sphingolipids, Jojoba (Simmondsia Chinensis) Oil, Rose Hips Seed Oil, Evening Primrose Oil, Sweet Almond (Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis) Oil, Green Tea (Camellia Sinensis) Oil, Olive (Olea Europaea) Oil, Hazelnut (Corylus Americana) Oil, Borage (Borago Officinalis) Seed Oil, Kukui (Aleurites Moluccana) Nut Oil, Cherry (Prunus Avium) Pit Oil, Tocopherol, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Linoleate, Panthenyl Triacetate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Ascorbic Acid, Octyldodecanol, Dioctyl Succinate, Peg-8, Tridecyl Stearate, Neopentyl Glycol, Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Tridecyl Trimellitate, Lithospermum Officinale, Root Extract, Octyldodecyl Myristate, Citric Acid, Lavender (Lavandula Angustifolia) Oil, Geranium (Geranium Maculatum) Oil, Rose Geranium (Pelargonium Roseum) Oil, Vanilla (Vanilla Planifolia) Oil, Clove (Eugenia Caryophyllus) Oil, Orange (Citrus Aurantium Dulcis) Peel Oil, Petitgrain (Citrus Reticulata) Oil, Amyris (Amyris Balsamifera) Oil, Benzoin Siam Absolute, Lemon (Citrus Medica Limonum) Peel Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Oil, Rosemary (Rosmarinus Officinalis) Leaf Oil, Bois De Rose (Aniba Rosaeodora) Oil, Cedar (Thuja Occidentalis) Leaf Oil, Ylang Ylang (Cananga Odorata) Oil.
Overall assessment: Hourglass Nº 28 Primer Serum is hands down the best primer that I have ever tried. Runner up, Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer! Some people even use them together. Bottom line for me, the two best primers on the market are made by Hourglass.

$65.00 for 1 oz. Available from Hourglass, Barneys New York, Sephora and SpaceNK (Affiliate links).

$22.00 for .33oz. Available from Barneys New York, Sephora, & SpaceNK.
Press Sample. All views expressed are categorically my own.
Copyright © 2014 www.lolassecretbeautyblog.com All Rights Reserved.

14 comments:

  1. I'm in love with this stuff - ever since I started taking accutane it's the only thing that can make foundation go on and still be decent-looking!

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    1. Happy New Year, niccigilland! Isn't this the most divine primer/serum?! I am so in love with this stuff -- it just continually amazes me. I am not at all surprised that you are in love with this stuff-- accutane can certainly take its toll-- if anything would be up for the task of making your foundation look great- it would certainly be No. 28!!!!!!!! Thanks for taking the time to stop by and leave a comment! :-)

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  2. This sounds amazing. I think I'm definitely going to try Hourglassproducts as I've heard so many good things about them. Great review.

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    1. Hi Obsessive Blonde! Happy New Year to you! I am certain that you will fall madly in love with Hourglass products-- they generate one winner after another! I'm glad that you liked my review! :-)

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  3. This is a FANTASTIC primer for dry skin. Love how it felt, how it made my foundation (any of them) glide on and look just amazing.... UNTIL I turned Oompa Loompa Orange : ( I've read on a few other reviews that this does happen to some of us (glad to find I was not the only one). But, it you have no issue with oxidation, then this is the BEST primer to use, hands down.

    BTW: Happy New Year, my friend! : )

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    1. Hi 3bDiva! Happy New Year!!!!!! It is a wonderful primer, but wow-- it actually oxidized on you?! I wonder what ingredient(s) are causing oxidation? I haven't had that happen-- knock on wood! xoxo

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  4. I know, I know... scary, isn't it? In fact, I have a small bottle of it and I try it under every foundation I purchase just in case it works!! What amazes me is often, I can place it on and watch my face darken... it happens that quickly depending on what moisturizer and/or sunscreen I'm using. In the end, this is a chemical reaction between products because on perfect bare skin, it stays clear. *sigh*

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    1. I wonder what combination of ingredients are the cause. That is such a bummer!!!!! Certainly on a great skin day one could wear No. 28 all by itself, but not to be able to use it with a foundation or TM because it will oxidize is such a bummer! However, if sunscreens are causing this reaction as well-- then it is even more problematic since it's not worth forgoing a sunscreen. You might contact Hourglass to ask them if there is something that can be done to prevent this. <3

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  5. I have a small size of this and I really like it, but I'm never sure how to wear it as a primer. Under moisturizer? On top of moisturizer but under SPF? Instead of moisturizer?

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    1. I have tried it before and after my moisturizer, and it worked great both ways. I always apply it before my sunscreen and makeup though. They suggest using it before or after your moisturizer, but that you can also use it at night as a treatment serum. I personally don't use it instead of a moisturizer. Experiment a bit to see which way looks and feels better. I just love this stuff!!!! :-)

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  6. do you have any application tips? i've tried both primers from hourglass and oddly they seemed to enhance my pores :(

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    1. Hi Chia-Yi,

      I'm surprised to hear that both are emphasizing your pores :-(. Sometimes I like to warm No. 28 up in my hands before applying it-- then I rub it into my skin. Perhaps trying that method will have it sink in a bit better-- and perhaps that will help you avoid emphasizing your pores. I hope that you can get them to work for you-- they are such amazing primers!

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  7. hello!
    do you think works best with Vitalumiere rich moisture (Chanel) , teint vissionnaire (lancôme) or lingerie de peau (guerlain)?
    Thanks
    sara

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    1. Hi Sara! I actually don't have any of those foundations in my current rotation- so I can't speak from experience about how well each of them works with the No. 28 Primer Serum. I have tried it with many of my foundations and tinted moisturizers and have loved the way that it performs with them. You might try to get a sample of No. 28 to see how well it works for you with these foundations. I really love the way that it makes my skin look and feel-- it's unlike any other primer that I have tried!

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