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We’ve Tried Every Hourglass Product—These 8 Are the Best of the Best
Since its inception in 2004, the best Hourglass products have redefined luxury beauty with innovative, vegan, and cruelty-free formulas wrapped in covetable packaging. Hourglass is the kind of quiet-luxury brand that says “We make fabulous products” without trying too hard. After all, sometimes all you really need is a solid undereye concealer and a cream blush to bring out your natural features. As an added bonus, behind the sleek brown and gold exteriors are thoughtful ingredients(hyaluronic acid and squalane) that nourish your skin, instead of working against it. (No breakout-causing formulas here!)
Our Top Hourglass Products
For the past 11 years, Allure editors have tested just about every variation of its formulas, and at this point, we know what’s worth the hype. We vividly remember the original launch of Veil Fluid Makeup (RIP) and continue to use today’s suite of Veil essentials, including the Veil Hydrating Skin Tint (hint, hint—it made this list). Of course, Hourglass goes beyond base products; we’ve also put their stay-all-day eyeliners and plumping cheek tints to the test and, spoiler, we’re fans. Without further ado, discover the best Hourglass products that have all been thoroughly tried, tested, and praised by Allure editors.
Hydrating Hero: Hourglass Veil Hydrating Skin Tint
Why we love it: Summer is peak skin tint season, and Hourglass’s Hydrating Skin Tint didn’t win a 2023 Best of Beauty Award for no reason. It gives that fresh, dewy finish perfect for natural glam, but what really sets it apart is the ingredient lineup. Meadowfoam seed oil nourishes and supports the skin barrier, hyaluronic acid and rambutan boost hydration levels, and plant-based squalane locks in moisture. The theme here is major moisture, so if you’re a dry-skin girly looking for a plumping tint with skin-care benefits, this one is it.
“I’m not big on foundation for everyday. Every one I try feels like a mask on my skin that I can’t wait to wash off, so there is no way I could commit to wearing it five days a week. I typically reserve base makeup for days when I have to be on TV or at an event. This skin tint feels more like a face lotion—in fact, I often apply it with just my hands. The coverage is very light. However, it’s enough to make people think I did something to get a natural glow.” —Jessica Cruel, editor in chief
- Key ingredients: meadowfoam seed oil, squalane, hyaluronic acid
- Shades: 20
Brush Up: Hourglass Soft Glow Foundation Brush
Why we love it: This 2022 Allure Best of Beauty Award winner is still one of our editors’ all-time favorites for the smoothest foundation application. It’s designed to mimic the control of your fingertips for a natural finish, and the vegan fiber technology ensures your base never goes on streaky. The bristles have a slight angle so you can really get into those hard-to-reach nooks and crannies, like the undereyes and inner corners, for precise application that looks smooth as butter. Even when we forget to wash it regularly (guilty!), it still delivers solid results.
“I was never a brush person for foundation or concealer (loyal makeup sponge girl over here), but that changed the second I tried this one. It’s small enough to get into every corner but still glides across your face effortlessly, unlike other tiny brushes that take forever. I use it for both foundation and concealer, so it kills two birds with one stone.” —Lily Wohlner, commerce writer
- Bristle type: synthetic
- Intended use: liquid and cream foundation
Cheek Mate: Hourglass Unreal Liquid Blush
Why we love it: Hourglass’s Unreal Liquid Blush gives skin a natural flush with a little extra lift. The texture is light and serum-like, packed with hyaluronic acid for a hit of hydration that sinks in fast and wears all day sans streaks or fading. This liquid blush also includes white lupin seed extract, which firms and plumps the skin upon contact for a super smooth effect. The dropper lets you control how bold you want to go: one or two drops for a soft tint, or a few more if you’re looking to make a statement. This 2024 Best of Beauty winner is blendable, buildable, and leaves your cheeks looking fresh—like you just got back from a beach vacay.
“There are, in my opinion, two intertwined ‘best parts’ of this blush: the sheer formula and the unique packaging. It comes in seven shades and, as promised by the press release, this stuff is truly buildable. The first swipe of color goes on so sheer that it truly looks like I just stepped out into the sun for a minute and got a little flushed. By swipe two, the color is much more concentrated. There’s no question that I’m wearing blush, but it still blends seamlessly into the rest of my makeup.” —Kara McGrath, content director
“I was taken aback by how pigmented this formula is. I wore the blush to work and an event later in the day, and by the time I got home, I could still see the pretty purple tint, though it had faded a little. If you really want the color to stay vibrant all day, topping it with a powder blush is your best bet.” —Annie Blay-Tettey, associate beauty editor
- Finish: dewy
- Key ingredients: hyaluronic acid, white lupin seed extract
- Shades: 7
Plump It Up: Hourglass Phantom Volumizing Glossy Balm
Why we love it: This glossy balm, another Best of Beauty winner (seeing a pattern yet?), gives lips a hit of moisture, shine, and just enough color to look like you tried without putting in effort. The Phantom Volumizing Glossy Balm plumps without the burn (no spicy sting here!)—just a subtle cooling, refreshing effect from a touch of menthol. The formula is balanced with nourishing oils and emollients (like argan, mango seed, and avocado oils), so your lips stay soft and smooth, never sticky. We’re also fans of the twist-up pen because it makes reapplying easy and keeps the applicator mess-free. It’s the kind of staple you’ll find floating around in our purses at all times.
Tester feedback from McGrath
“The Glossy Balm has been a favorite for me since it first launched a few years ago. It’s truly the perfect combination of a balm and a lipstick: extremely hydrating with a sheer (but buildable) wash of color. As with most glossy lip products, this won’t last all day—but it feels so nice, so I don’t mind reapplying.” —Kara McGrath, content director
Key ingredients: menthyl lactate, conditioning complex
Shades: 20
The Instant Eraser: Hourglass Vanish Concealer
Why we love it: Hourglass’s Best of Beauty-winning Vanish Concealer delivers full coverage that instantly hides blemishes, brightens dark circles, and evens out your skin without feeling thick or heavy. We love that a little goes a long way: Just a dab on a blemish or a swipe under the eyes is enough to make your skin look naturally airbrushed, thanks to the formula’s light-reflecting powders, which help blur pores and fine lines. And the best part? It’s waterproof, so whether you’re out and about on a hot day or tearing it up at a wedding, this concealer stays put.
Tester feedback from senior director of audience development Lexi Herrick
“This is a fabulous full-coverage concealer. It glides on so evenly and blends without negating any of the coverage. It does wonders for my dark circles, and I love keeping it in my purse at all times for on-the-go touch-ups.” —Lexi Herrick, senior director of audience development
- Coverage: full
- Finish: natural
- Key ingredients: squalane, cica
- Available shades: 32
Length for Days: Hourglass Unlocked Instant Extensions Mascara
Why we love it: We’re big fans of tubing mascaras because of how easy they are to remove, but in our experience, they can sometimes fall short in the lengthening department. Hourglass’s Unlocked Instant Extensions Mascara is the exception with a seriously dramatic formula that stretches each lash for a long, fluttery, and fanned-out effect that’s earned our editors more than a few compliments. While some tubing mascaras smudge at the first sign of moisture, this one holds up all day and only comes off when you want it to: with a little warm water and a washcloth or cleansing balm.
“I have the most stubborn lashes: They’re short, straight, thick, and refuse to hold a curl. I also have super sensitive eyes and rarely find a mascara that doesn’t make my eyeballs sting or get watery immediately after application. The Hourglass Unlocked mascara is absolutely heaven-sent for me—it, as the name suggests, makes it appear like I instantly have lash extensions, but even better for me is how it wears. It’s weightless, comfortable, and does not budge—until you want it to. This is the easiest mascara I’ve ever taken off. It slips (truly slips, like silk!) off with water!” —Shanna Shipin, shopping director
Sheer Brilliance: Hourglass Vanish Airbrush Pressed Powder
Why we love it: Subtle plug, but this Airbrush Pressed Powder pairs perfectly with the skin tint above. Whether you’re wearing a more full-coverage foundation or something sheer, it instantly cuts shine and leaves your skin looking smooth and soft. The formula is super finely-milled, so it blends in without leaving behind any white cast. Like the rest of Hourglass’s base lineup, it’s made with light-reflecting powders that blur the look of pores, fine lines, and texture. We’ve tried it with both a sponge and a brush, and either way, it sets makeup beautifully while keeping skin matte (but not flat) for hours.
“My skin runs on the oily side, so at a certain point, I accepted that no matter how glowy I prefer to be, if I want my makeup to survive the day, I need a little dusting of powder around my T-zone and forehead. I carry this mini compact of pressed powder around in my bag, and it truly saves the day when my makeup starts to slip and slide. It’s not fully mattifying, so your skin still looks luminous and natural while wearing it, but it helps bring me back to dewy when I’m teetering on the edge of full-on greasy. I love the powder puff it comes with in a pinch, but when I want an even more invisible finish, I’ll lightly roll on a layer of powder using a pointed fluffy brush, and no one’s the wiser.”—Sarah Hoffman, commerce producer
- Formulation: pressed powder
- Shades: 6
- Finish: airbrushed
Bottom Line: Hourglass Voyeur Waterproof Gel Eyeliner
Why we love it: Another 2022 Allure Best of Beauty winner, the Voyeur Waterproof Gel Eyeliner is a go-to for anyone who wants to make their eyes look more awake without committing to a super sharp liquid liner look (though you can totally use it to create a spicy cat-eye). What sets this gel eyeliner apart is how blendable it is: It’s creamy, soft, and easy to smudge out, but once it sets, it stays.
We’ve been putting it to the test for the past few summers to see if the waterproof claim holds up in hot NYC weather. Every time we come home from the office, it’s still right where we applied it, sans fading or smudging. It comes in five shades, including a fun sparkly one, so you can pick the tone that will make your eyes stand out.
Tester feedback from Wohlner
“I have light brown eyes, and I’m always on the hunt for a purple-toned eyeliner that leans more brown—something that’s not super obvious but still brings out the hazel in my eyes. The chestnut shade of this twist-up liner is exactly that. It has subtle maroon undertones that bring out my light brown eyes without looking overdone. And I have to mention the blendable formula. I use it for everything from a soft, smudgy look to a tight, thin line that makes my eyes look a little more awake. It’s a do-it-all product I now can’t finish my makeup without.” —Lily Wohlner, commerce writer
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