| Review | Hourglass Cosmetics Phantom Volumizing Glossy Balm

| Review | Hourglass Cosmetics Phantom Volumizing Glossy Balm

I'm kind of a glossy lip fiend. I love a juicy and plump lip. Maybe it's the '90s girl in me but the glossier the better but it has to be comfortable! No thick sticky glosses for me and the biggest appeal of this formula is the convenient stick format. I appreciate a formula that is effortless to apply and use. These balmy gloss formulas have been increasing in popularity among many brands recently and I was very interested to see the Hourglass take on this formula. 

The Hourglass Cosmetics Phantom Volumizing Glossy Balm retails for $35.00 USD and is available at Sephora and other retailers. This lip formula is housed in a reflective gold plastic pen-like packaging. The product twists up from the bottom portion and clicks up a very small portion at a time. Be aware that once you click the product up, it doesn't go down! Be careful not to twist it up too high because it will not go down. The reflective packaging is pretty and looks very luxurious. The issue with the packaging is that it attracts fingerprints like crazy but most people may not be bothered by this. I personally like this kind of format for a gloss because it is so convenient and easy for reapplication because you don't really need a mirror at all. 

SHADES 

This formula currently comes in eight different shades, ranging from a nude to a deep purple. These shades are designed to be fairly universal and I would say that's true since the shades are pretty sheer. I went with the following shades. 

Trace - This shade is a light, warm, and translucent brown nude shade. 

Trace on the lips with lip liner

Mist - This shade is a translucent, warm, light pink.

Mist on the lips with lip liner

Lucid - This shade is a translucent warm coral shade. 

Lucid on the lips with lip liner

Swatches from left to right: Trace, Mist, Lucid

Swatches from left to right: Trace, Mist, Lucid

FORMULA

This formula feels slick, smooth, and instantly cooling on the lips. When I first applied this glossy balm, I immediately noticed the slick and smooth texture of this formula. It makes my lips have a nice balmy slip to them that doesn't feel greasy but it makes my lips feel very smooth and cushiony. I love the way this feels on the lips, it feels very luxurious. The formula is very thin and doesn't feel sticky at all and it fills in the lines on the lips. It really makes your lips look and feel smoother and plumper but with very little product. 

After a minute or so, you can feel this cool minty tingle on the lips. The sensation is not irritating or strong, it just feels cool and refreshing. This formula also feels very hydrating. You don't need to prep the lips to use this product because of the nourishing balm properties. It feels so nourishing and luxurious from the start! It also glides over any texture and lines on the lips, making the lips look more youthful, fuller, and plumper without any actual plumping. The hydration lasts long after the gloss has worn off, which I really appreciate. It makes it feel more like a lip treatment, which considering the cost makes it a very good thing. 

The pigment is sheer hence, the "gloss balm" name. Most glosses and balms are sheer, this formula is no different. While sheer, it still offers a significant tint to the lips and can be layered a bit for a bit more of a noticeable color. I do highly recommend using a lip liner underneath these because they lean on the sheer side and they don't provide definition to the lips. Also, with a lip liner, your lip will look fuller and juicier. 

Given the ultra-silky and comfortable formula, don't expect this product to last long on the lips. This product will disappear within the hour if you eat or drink anything. It's so light and thin that transfers immediately to anything that touches it. I would expect it to wear about an hour or so if you aren't eating and drinking but realistically, most people eat and drink regularly throughout the day. The nice thing about this formula and the stick format is that you can easily reapply the product without a mirror and still achieve a beautiful result! 

COMPARABLE PRODUCTS 

Over the past few years, this formula has become wildly popular and many brands have come out with something similar. Here is a quick little overview of these popular formulas and how they compare to the Hourglass one. 

Em Cosmetics Lip Cushion Tinted Lip Luminizer (full review) VS. Hourglass 

Price - $22.00 USD vs. $35.00 USD

Packaging - Twist up, long,  pen-like plastic packaging that does not twist back down, lightweight plastic tube vs. Twist up, long, pen-like plastic packaging that does not twist back down, lightweight plastic tube coated with exterior metal layer 

Shade Range - Currently at 8 shades and growing, contains more neurtal tones vs. Currently at 8 shades

Pigmentation - Medium-Sheer vs. Sheer

Texture - Light, bamly, and slick. Both are cushiony and bouncy on the lips but the Hourglass feels more nourishing but also, a lot thinner in texture. 

Finish - Both are medium glossiness 

Wear Time - 1-4 hours or wear, depending on shade vs. about 1 hour 

By Terry Hyaluronic Hydra-Balm (full review) VS. Hourglass 

Price - $38.00 USD vs. $35.00 USD

Packaging - Twist up that will twist back down, short, lipstick-like packaging made of lightweight plastic tube coated with exterior metal layer vs. Twist up, long, pen-like plastic packaging that does not twist back down, lightweight plastic tube coated with exterior metal layer 

Shade Range - Currently at 6 shades, contains more neurtal tones vs. Currently at 8 shades

Pigmentation - Medium pigment vs. Sheer

Texture - Both lip products are slick, hydrating, bamly, and nourishing 

Finish - Light glossiness vs. Medium glossiness 

Wear Time - 2-4 hours depending on shade vs. about 1 hour 

Charlotte Tilbury  HappiKiss Hydrating Lipstick Balms (full review) VS. Hourglass 

Price - $34.00 USD vs. $35.00 USD

Packaging - Twist up that does not twist back down, short, lipstick-like packaging made of lightweight plastic and feels cheap vs. Twist up, long, pen-like plastic packaging that does not twist back down, lightweight plastic tube coated with exterior metal layer 

Shade Range - Currently 8 permanent shades with occasional limited edition releases  vs. Currently at 8 shades

Pigment - Sheer to Rich translucent 

Texture - Smooth, slightly tacky, thicker balm texture vs. Much thinner texture, more silky, and more nourishing

Finish - Both are medium glossiness 

Wear Time - 1-4 hours vs. 1 hour 

Pat McGrath Lip Fetish Divinyl Lip Shine VS. Hourglass 

Price - $38.00 USD vs. $35.00 USD

Packaging - Twist up that will twist back down, short, lipstick-like packaging made of lightweight plastic tube coated with exterior metal layer vs. Twist up, long, pen-like plastic packaging that does not twist back down, lightweight plastic tube coated with exterior metal layer 

Shade Range - Currently 7 shades with occasional limited edition releases vs. Currently at 8 shades

Pigment - Medium-Sheer vs. Sheer

Texture - Smooth, creamy, balmy vs. Much thinner texture, more silky, more slick, and more nourishing

Finish - Lightly glossy vs. Medium glossiness

Wear Time - 2-5 hours vs.1 hour 

FINAL THOUGHTS 

I'm a little torn on how I feel about this product. On one hand, I absolutely love it! The formula is very luxurious, comfortable, and luscious. I love the way it feels on my lips and the way it makes my lips look. It makes my lips look so plump, full, and luscious! However, the formula really doesn't last long and I feel like it disappears rather quicky just from drinking some water. I wore this during a day out and I kept reapplying it because I was eating and drinking. I probably ate more this product than I had on my lips within the day I wore it. That being said, I do love the really nourishing formula and the way it makes my lips look. As far as a balm gloss goes, this formula really stands alone and is different enough from the others available on the market for me to feel justified in owning a few of them. They are quite expensive for a product that doesn't last very long but they really are lovely! I don't think everyone will agree that this product is worth the cost and I don't blame you. It is a ridiculous price to pay for a glossy lip color but I urge you to just try one out. I think you may just fall in love with the formula like I have and find them well worth the price! I'm definitely picking up some more shades myself because I'm loving this formula! 

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