Women of color should never shy away from choosing high-end makeup brands because, after doing their homework, they will realize that because of the quality of the products, they use less. The biggest challenge has always been finding brands that offer a wider variety of foundation color choices. To further challenge the brand, those foundations required the perfect undertones. I discovered that Hourglass has stepped up to that challenge and has created a range that answers the challenge.
According to industry estimates, beauty brands make $300 billion from our community, with some beauty companies refusing to make an effort to create products that address our unique needs. Thankfully, again, Hourglass is not that brand. Hourglass beauty products are vegan and cruelty-free, which is already a bonus for the environment. In making products clean this brand is redefining luxury cosmetics through innovative formulas, cutting-edge performance, and covetable packaging. I was also attracted to their cruelty-free commitment and stance against animal testing. Further, they donate 1% of annual profits from hourglasscosmetics.com to their partner, the Nonhuman Rights Projects, a U.S. organization that works to secure fundamental rights for animals.
Since 2017, the Unlocked Collection has supported the Nonhuman Rights Project’s mission of unlocking the cages of wild animals in captivity. Hourglass donates 5% of annual profits from Unlocked products to the NhRP’s efforts to secure fundamental rights for animals.
Continuing its commitment to animal welfare, Hourglass created the industry’s first-ever vegan replacement for carmine. Confession Lipstick in Red 0 features a patent-pending vegan ingredient that replaces the industry’s go-to red pigment produced from crushed female insects. With nearly 70,000 female insects used to create one pound of the crimson dye traditionally used in cosmetics, Red 0 is a groundbreaking product that symbolizes our commitment to animal welfare: zero animal byproducts, zero animals harmed.
All this and Hourglass delivers high-end products that work, and like many women of color, my hue changes with the season, meaning I have four different color foundations, and Hourglass has a range of 32 shades with solid undertone options. It’s a weightless liquid foundation formula that delivers a 16-hour medium stay with a buildable coverage resulting in a natural, soft glow finish. The key word here is “glow,” inspired by the iconic Ambient Lighting Collection.
The long-wearing formula is infused with blurring spheres that provide:
- A light-diffusing effect.
- Minimizing the look of imperfections for skin that looks smooth and even.
- Glowing in any light.
The fluid texture is easily blendable, essential in achieving a flawless second-skin finish for a complexion that looks seamless and bright.
I can’t stress the importance of skin preparation, including using a moisturizer and primer. Because of the quality of the Hourglass products, you need a pea-sized foundation placed at the center of the face and then blended outward using the Ambient Soft Glow Foundation Brush, designed to reach under the eye with ease. Pro makeup artists suggest that you use a small amount at a time to achieve that flawless build coverage. When targeting smaller areas where more coverage is needed, I recommend that you use their Nº 8 Large Concealer Brush or Vanish Seamless Finish Concealer Brush to tap into the skin gently.
The Ambient Lighting Collection includes an array of finishing powders, blushes, bronzers, strobe highlighters, bestselling Ambient Lighting Palettes, and limited-edition holiday edits. Using groundbreaking Photoluminescent Technology, the powders capture, diffuse, and soften surrounding light to blur imperfections and refine the skin’s appearance. Ambient Soft Glow Foundation is designed to pair seamlessly with the powders for a naturally luminous complexion.