26 January 2012

Merle Norman | The Hussy Collection | Fragrance & Age Defying Lip Color Review


" Hussy " *giggles* I'd be lying if I said that the word Hussy didn't make me giggle every time I hear it.  So you can imagine how intrigued I was to learn about Merle Norman's newest collection, Hussy. The meaning behind the feisty collection actually tells a story different from what one might imagine. Merle Norman's nephew J.B. Nethercutt and avid car collector wanted to purchase a 1934 Packard from it's owner John Hussey which was one of only five that existed, but he refused to sell it.  Later J.B. found an abandoned one and bought it. He restored it to it's original condition and painted it a rich, unique red paint color which he named "Hussy" in honor of John Hussey. 

In celebration of its 80th anniversary, Merle Norman recently launched The Hussy Collection, inspired by the award winning car. The collection features an alluring fragrance, a selection of six red lipcolors and an exclusive OPI nail lacquer. 

Hussy Eau de Parfum
A seductive, sophisticated blend of exotic florals, aromatic fruits and sensual amber notes that create an alluring scent like no other. Dressed in a sleek, bold red package reminiscent of the world-renowned automobile for which this unforgettable fragrance is named.

- Top Notes: Bitter Orange, Raspberry, Neroli, Ripe Strawberry, Fresh Lemon
- Mid Notes: Orange Blossom, jasmine, Gardenia, Tuberose, Peony Petals
- Base Notes: Honey, Patchouli, Sweet Amber, Sandalwood, Musk 


Merle Norman Age Deying Lipcolor in "Hussy"
Available in matte and shimmer shades, this smoothing lip color with an exclusive age-defying complex increases moisture retention and helps diminish the appearance of fine lines while providing full color coverage.

The Hussy Collection was created with Color Travel Pigment technology. The multi-layered pigments allow the color to have many dimensions. With Hussy, lips are a rich red at first glance, but change subtly in undertone depending on the viewing angle with shades of rust, gold, orange, pink and blue.



Glow: I'll start with the fragrance, I really love the packaging. The bottle is elegantly designed and what I didn't show in my photos is that the fragrance bottle can actually sit in the base of the box included which makes a great display. The scent is very pleasant. I'm very much a fan of soft scents and this fragrance has sort of a floral yet soft musk smell. I got about 6-7 hours of wear out of it throughout my day which is pretty darn good! On to the Age Defying Lipcolor, the packaging is nothing overly extravagant just a simple silver, mirrored like tube. It's also super lightweight which I love! I like that the logo is embossed into the lipstick as well. The lipstick is super shimmery and I was a bit curious at how the pigment would deliver because I've tried lipstick's that look shimmery but don't translate that when you put it on. But to my surprise there was actually a hint of shimmer when I applied the lipstick on my lips. Its highly pigmented and provides great moisture, I didn't experience any drying out.

Glare: Not really a con but I did notice that the lipstick translates as more of a red'ish/orange tone on my lips whereas it appears more of a deeper red in the tube. This is probably because of the Color Travel Pigment technology that I mentioned above. My lips are a bit darker than my skin-tone so that may have an affect on the color variation as well.

Would I Recommend It? Yes, I would. I love the fragrance as well as the lipstick. Although Hussy is a small collection, I like that they have a variety of lipsticks to choose from; mattes, shimmers, creams and also  lip liners, fragrance and even an OPI polish designed specifically for this collection!

Where To Buy: The fragrance retails for $60 and the Age Defying Lipcolor is $15. The Hussy Collection is currently available at select retailers nationwide. To purchase or find a location near you, or to learn more please visit merlenorman.com


Product(s) in this post were provided for post consideration. Read our disclosure policy here

1 comment

  1. A very well done article. Merle Norman Cosmetics has been around for over eighty years and is still made in the U.S.A. I've been using Merle Norman makeup and skin care for close to six years now and my friends and family say I look younger than ever.

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