Hourglass Aura Cheek Stain in Rouge

I couldn't wait to try the new Hourglass Cheek Stains and put an order in at the beginning of this week. I wasted no time in trying it out when it arrived. In actual fact, the day the order arrived I couldn't wait to try both of my new blushers so I went around wearing Becca Turkish Rose on one side and Hourglass Rouge on the other. Shameful really but you know, it was all in the name of research.

I'm worn Rouge a couple of times this week and think I've tested it enough to share my initial impressions. I really like the design of these sticks. Once primed, you can use the material applicator to apply colour directly to the cheeks. I've tended to dot it on with the applicator on to the apple of my cheeks and then used my fingers to blend it out and up towards my temples. The stain has a nice texture, it's a slightly viscous liquid so has a light gel/cream feel rather than being a runny liquid. There's room for manouver too as it doesn't sink straight in. I used to have a Body Shop cheek and lip stain and that dried so quickly it was difficult to achieve anything approaching a natural flush.

The colour is a sheer pinky red. Calling it Rouge could be slightly off-putting as it suggests something darker but I find this does give a natural rosy flush and it isn't as purple hued as other cheek stains I've tried. The colour lasts very well. It's still been there when I've taken my makeup at the end of the day. I also find it works equally well whether applied to bare skin or over foundation.

The Aura cheek stain comes in two other colours: Flush, a sheer red and Petal, a sheer corally pink. I think that Petal looks very pretty and I think it would look great on more tanned skin. Hourglass also released three lip stains, Petal, Flush and Scarlet. It's possible these could double as cheek stains also but I wasn't really tempted by the prospect of a lip stain. My lips are frequently dry and I think a stain can really highlight flaws if your lips aren't in perfect condition.

This is definitely another winner for me from Hourglass. I hear there are palettes coming soon and I'm really looking forward to trying these. You can see more details here from the Adrienne Vittadini Fall 2011 show. The Aura cheek stains cost £32 each, the lip stains are less expensive at £19 and both are available from Zuneta who ship worldwide.

Edit:
List of Ingredients
WATER, CYCLOPENTASILOXANE, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, GLYCERIN, DIPHENYLSILOXY PHENYL TRIMETHICONE, PEG-10 DIMITHICONE, DIMETHICONE, NEOPENTYL GLYCOL DICAPRATE, NEOPENTYL GLYCOL DIETHYLHEXANOATE, POLYMETHYL METHACRYLATE, SORBITAN SESQUIISO-STEARATE, DISTEARDIMONIUM HECTORITE, TOCOPHEROL, DIMETHICONE/VINYL DIMETHICONE CROSSPOLYMER, DIISOSTEARYL MALATE, SODIUM CHLORIDE, SODIUM CITRATE, BARIUM SULFATE, PHENOXYETHANOL, METHYLPARABEN, PROPYLPARABEN. May contain: IRON OXIDES (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), MICA (CI 77019), TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891), ULTRAMARINES (CI 77007), RED 30 (CI 73360).