A while back I wrote about tinted moisturizers, which are a great solution for a light, breathable way to improve your complexion, particularly in the summertime months.  At the first hint of turning warm, I picked up Hard Candy's answer to the tinted moisturizer, their Hint Tint.

From the Hard Candy website: "This is the newer version of the ever popular Hint Tint. This ultra-sheer, oil-free tinted moisturizer gives just a hint of tint to even out skin tone, plus it provides protection against those nasty UV-A and UV-B rays. Contains physical sun-blocking ingredients, but zero chemical sunscreens, so it won’t irritate sensitive skin."

My Experience:  I have a ton of terrific things to say about this product, but I do want to lodge a complaint about the lack of sunscreen in this product.  I really can't bring myself to wear this outside during sunny daylight hours without knowing that it will provide the protection of at least an SPF 15 sunscreen.  So I end up wearing moisturizer with sunscreen under this moisturizer, and that kind of defeats the purpose. 

OK, now that I've got that off my chest, this is really a terrific product.  I have tried several different foundations and this actually lasts much longer than any of them.  I like the color on my face, and I like how even my skin tone looks.  It blends really nicely, but it is so sheer that it is really natural looking.    It even does a decent job of covering up my undereye circles.  I haven't quite decided about the smell, but "Sugar Cookie" is quite apropos.  On one hand, it smells delicious, but on the other hand, I am not sure I like walking around smelling like a Yankee Candle.    As for its moisturizing properties, I find that my skin stays pretty well moisturized throughout the day when I am wearing this, almost moist to the touch.  That's fantastic for my ultra-dry skin, but if you're skin is oily, it might be too much for you.

Overall, I think it is an excellent product, but the lack of sunscreen really bothers me to the point that I am hesitant to recommend it to you for all your tinted moisturizer needs.

Retail Price: $16.50 (HardCandy.com)

Rating:

What They Say: "You know how some lip glosses taste so good that you keep licking your lips just to taste them? Sweet Spot is that kind of gloss. With an addictive orange blossom flavor, Sweet Spot glosses are sheer and shiny – just the right dose of color and sparkle. The squeeze tubes are outfitted with a special slanted tip so you can apply directly to your sweet little lips. They’re all printed with super-cute mod floral graphics and have 60’s flower power names. Wear them alone or layer with our other glosses for custom effects. Tasty!"

Alissa's Experience: Like most girls, I buy and apply lip gloss in mass quantities. The first thing I noticed about these tube were the size. They're huge! There's definitely enough gloss to last until I get sick of the color.

My favorite shade is Hippie Chick, a color that would probably look good on just about anyone. It's a very sheer, slightly shimmery peach that enhances my natural lip color without really changing it, perfect for an everyday gloss. All of the shades I tried were very subtle in color, but a couple had sparkles (which I wouldn't recommend for those over the age of 13).

These glosses are very smooth and not at all sticky. They actually feel very nice, not like those ones that dry out your lips after a few minutes. The staying power isn't any better or worse than other lip glosses, but the delicious sweet scent lasted just long enough to keep me happy. Besides the cute mod style packaging there isn't really anything spectacular or different about Sweet Spot gloss. Still, I'm pretty sure this one will be in my purse for a long while to come.

Retail Price: $11.00 (at hardcandy.com or go here to find a retail location near you)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "This giant pot of lip gloss celebrates 10 years of Hard Candy beauty. Pretty, neutral pink shade has a touch of shimmer and is topped with a jeweled Hard Candy heart. The perfect collectable at an amazing value!"

Jen's Experience: I thought this stuff was lip balm the first few weeks I used it. It makes my lips feel so moisturized for such a long time, that you don't expect it to be mere gloss. But what a terrific gloss this is. The description has it right -- it's pretty and it's neutral enough that I wear it all the time, at work and on the town. It's such a large container, I've barely made a dent. The best part about it though is the way it tastes. Cotton Candy. Yum!

I am not normally a fan of glosses that come in pots, but hey, a long-lasting gloss that calms my sugar-cravings? A must-have in my purse!

Retail Price: $10.00 (HardCandy.com)

Rating:

What They Say: "A creamy-smooth, portable powder that leaves skin looking polished to perfection, yet glowing and natural. Classic Hard Candy mirrored compact has heart sponge applicator and features a white matte finish so you can tell the difference between the lip and eye quads in your purse."

Jen's Experience: I know that they dewy look is still popular, but I say, there's something to be said for skin that looks clear and healthy but isn't all shiny. There are many Saturdays that I skip the foundation and just apply my moisturizer (with SPF!) and some powder and go out for the day. Even though I haven't applied a bunch of layers, I still want to look great. That's where Hard Candy's Complexion Perfection comes in. I put it on over my moisturizer, and it provides great coverage and a nice golden glow, which hides all my little imperfections and makes my skin look healthy and warm. I have had a little bit of a problem with the blending, but I also think I went a shade too dark. Next time, I am going for the Sugar Cookie, which is the same shade as my Hard Candy Hint Tint. I have little to complain about though; I just take one extra look, blend out the edges, and I have great looking skin for hours.

One more plus? The great container is small enough to fit in most of my tiny purses, so I can carry it from work to out on the town with no trouble at all.

Retail Price: $15.00 (HardCandy.com)

Rating:

I got this to wear to a formal wedding on top of some Dior lipstick.  It is a wonderful duo, and I use this whenever I want to look extra snazzy and polished.

What They Say: "Ultra glossy, crystal clear formula for a super shiny look. Perfect over anything with a hint of tingly peppermint. All in a convenient little tube."

My Experience: I absolutely love this product.  Not just because it smells good (although that always gets bonus points from me).  Not just because it tingles when you put it on even over lipstick (although tingling is a sign to me that something is working.  Yes, I know that it's just menthol.)  No, I love it because it makes my lips look really three-dimensional in a glossy sort of way.  I can't explain it.  It just makes lips look perfect.  And it makes your lipstick last for hours.

Tips:  It is really sticky.  You will want to avoid kissing people on the cheek and stuff like that when you are wearing it.

Rating: , only because of its extreme stickiness

Reviewed By: Jen