There have been quite a few new launches from Hourglass over the past months and I have a roundup review today. They have some complexion products for the face in their Veil Lineup, a new Ambient Lighting Blush Palette (Nordstrom exclusive), and a new mascara. Items reviewed today:
- Ambient Lighting Blush Palette ($65, Nordstrom Anniversary Beauty Exclusive)
- Veil Translucent Setting Powder ($46)
- Veil Powder Brush ($64, double ended)
- Veil Retouching Fluid in Natural ($34)
- Caution Extreme Lash Mascara ($29)
Up first is a look at the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Ambient Lighting Blush Palette. This has one new shade Surreal Glow and two repeats in Luminous Flush and Mood Exposure. Surreal Glow is the new color which is a soft light peachy pink glow which was actually in the Hourglass Holiday 2016 Surreal Light Palette. Each powder is hand made so no two are identical and colors can be the slightest bit different depending on how much color you get in each swirl. The Surreal Glow in my Nordstrom Palette is slightly deeper than the one I have in the Surreal Light Palette. If you’re an Hourglass fan there’s a high chance you already own 2 of the blush colors. I wish they would launch palettes with all new shades, but I do like these for their convenience, especially for travel.
Swatches:
Swatch comparisons below to a few colors from two previous Hourglass palettes in Holiday 2017 Ambient Lighting Edit Volume 3 and Surreal Light Holiday 2016. I also found one close dupe with is the MAC Mineralized Skinfinish in Nuanced (reviewed here). The difference being Nuanced is a lot more shimmery and frosty so it’s more dramatic and won’t quite give you the same effect. Color-wise it’s the closest one I have.
Next are the Veil Product additions including the Veil Translucent Setting Powder, Veil Powder Brush and Veil Retouching Fluid in Natural. Their Veil Mineral Primer has been a long-time best seller for them. It’s an oil-free version so best used with oil-free foundations. Earlier in the spring they launched a few additions.
The Veil Translucent Setting Powder is an excellent translucent setting powder that doesn’t add any white cast to the skin and sets the face in a very natural way. On me it keeps makeup staying set all day without any cakey look. Texture is ultra fine and it does have a very subtle blurring effect to smooth out pores. It’s talc-free, invisible on the skin and has no flash back. The Veil Powder Brush is a double-ended brush that is loose and fluffy. I really love the way it feels on the skin and it performs really well. I use the larger side for loose or pressed setting powders and the smaller one is perfect for their blushes. It’s not quite as matte as the Marc Jacobs Coconut Setting Powder. The Hourglass one also has a lighter weight feel compared to Laura Mercier’s Translucent Setting Powder. All three are excellent, I cannot pick a favorite but I’m really pleased with the way the new Veil Translucent Setting Powder has performed.
The Veil Retouching Fluid is the best thing I’ve tried to highlight and enhance complexion. It has just the right amount of pigment and sheerness to apply under eyes, between brows upwards and anywhere you want to brighten the skin. Most of us use concealer to highlight and brighten. A good blending technique with a damp beautyblender will do the trick to smooth everything out, but in my opinion I think most of the concealers are too opaque to apply on wide areas of the face. I still do it occasionally when my foundation doesn’t have enough coverage, but in the Florida heat layers on layers of makeup are prone to caking eventually. For this formula the color Natural is my best match. It cancels out redness but in a natural way. It doesn’t cake or crease. It’s easy to touch up mid-day on top of your makeup and blend.
I swatched all the colors in store, sorry for the poor lighting quality but I took this in the mall with my iPhone, but I hope this helps as a reference for the color range. I feel like the gaps in between each color are fairly decent. The pigment is sheer and quite forgiving so I think you can easily find a match.
Swatch comparisons to Laura Mercier Flawless Fusion Concealers in 3C, 3N and 3W (all shades swatched here), NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Custard, Macadamia and Ginger, Urban Decay All Nighter Concealer in Med-Light Neutral and Medium Neutral
Look wearing:
- Base: Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer all over the face
- Foundation: Bobbi Brown Skin Longwear Foundation in Warm Natural 4.5 (I’ve gone up a shade deeper since my review here)
- Highlight/Under Eyes: Hourglass Veil Retouching Fluid in Natural
- Powder: Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder
- Cheeks: Hourglass Surreal Glow + Luminous Flush mixed
- Eyeshadow: Tom Ford Eyeshadow Quad in Nude Dip
- Mascara: Hourglass Caution Extreme Lash
- Lips: Hourglass Confession Slip Lipstick in I Lust For (more colors reviewed here)
Last but not least is their new Caution Extreme Lash Mascara. I think it’s very good but it’s not my favorite as I cannot get it to consistently hold the curl. What it does do is give volume, intense color, and dramatic lashes. It stays on all day with zero smudging in my experience. It has lasted on multiple tests through Florida humidity, a swim in the ocean and an afternoon at the beach. It really looks amazing when it works! The holding the curl issue isn’t always working for me but so many mascaras don’t hold the curl for me. My solution is to sometimes layer different formulas for added volume and lasting power. A lot of you have messaged me saying you use this trick all the time! Right now my top two favorites are still the L’oreal Lash Paradise Waterproof and Tom Ford Waterproof Extreme. If I layer this new Hourglass mascara with the L’Oreal it works like a charm 100%.
Overall some nice additions and a few things to consider as beauty staples. The Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush Palette is a Nordstrom exclusive, but all other items can also be found at Sephora, Beautylish, and Hourglass Cosmetics. If you’re looking for minis to try Sephora has a few options with a Mini Caution Extreme Lash Mascara and a Veil Prime and Set Mini Duo available. Have you tried these yet? What did you think?
Veil Translucent Setting Powder, Retouching Fluid, Veil Brush and Caution Mascara provided for review.
I can’t wait to purchase the Veil Translucent Setting Powder!,
Great post!
http://www.artistakay.com
It’s a good one!
I really wanted to buy the blush palette in the sale, but ultimately decided against it because I already use the classic Ambient Light shades for blushes. Still going back and forth on it – your photos make me crave, they’re so much more beautiful than the official marketing photos!
When I first saw the Veil Retouching Fluid I immediately thought of Charlotte Tilbury’s Hollywood Flawless Filter – how do the two compare? I recently started using CT’s Flawless Filter as a primer; I wonder if the Veil Retouching Fluid can be used that way as well?
The Veil setting powder definitely melts into a satin finish after a few hours. I do still prefer to use the Ambient Lighting powders for anywhere but my nose (even though they’re not “setting powders” they work well for me), but my skin is pulling very dry. It has the most luxe packaging, which shouldn’t be such a point in its favor but who can resist such beauty!
I wholeheartedly agree with Naomi’s point about the product images/swatches on your website often being superior in quality to the brand’s official marketing images- a big thank you for them!
Thank you both Naomi and Neha xoxo
Hi Naomi, the Hourglass Veil Retouching Fluid doesn’t have any shimmer so I’d say it’s more like a traditional concealer-highlighter in the sense it brightens the skin with a cream finish. The Charlotte Tilbury is glowy with shimmer.
I don’t see myself using the Hourglass as a primer as it’s a LOT smaller in size and think it would get used up in no time if I did!
HTH 🙂
Ah, that’s what Hourglass meant by ‘brightening’! Thank you for the clarification:) I’ll stick with the CT Flawless Filter then. I do have Hourglass’ 28 oils primer in my cart; I hardly see it reviewed and I plan on trying it.
Their blush formulas are so lovely!! Really want to grab one of their palettes! x
Millie | http://www.bymillie.co.uk
Their blush formulas are so lovely!! Really want to grab one of their palettes! x
Millie | http://www.bymillie.co.uk
Thanks for the reviews. I wanted to get the mascara, but after your review, I decided against it. The veil retouching fluid looks like a winner, I might have to get it.
There’s a mini size of the mascara if you were interested. I feel like most mascaras don’t work for me and yet if you look online at Sephora it has an overwhelming positive yes from reviews.
Thanks. I did receive a mini my Sephora order, so I will give it a try. I am picky with mascara and like brown better than black as I find black mascara too harsh for me (red haired with pale skin). My favorite is the Lancome Définicils (love the thin brush, that fact that it does not clump and stays on pretty much all say, and the brown is beautiful).
I have one of the blush palettes already so I’ll skip that, but I’ve been eyeing the Veil powder since it came out.
Yay!
I have one of the blush palettes already so I’ll skip that, but I’ve been eyeing the Veil powder since it came out.
Your swatches and description of the blush palette are so much better than on the Nordstrom site. I’m so tempted because I always regretted not getting the previous blush palette, but do I need more blushes…no 🙁 I absolutely love the mineral veil setting powder – the best powder I’ve used because it doesn’t dry out my maturing skin. I don’t have an issue with eyelash curl so I’ll try the mascara when I finish what I have, it I prefer brown mascara over black for day to day. The way you use the retouch fluid sounds good but it’s pretty expensive. I might need to try it in store. Thanks for your review.
Awww thank you! Yes definitely try the fluid in store if you can.
The blush palette is absolutely stunning! 💞
Arianna | Southernbf.blogspot.com
I have and absolutely love the Veil powder. It’s the best loose powder I’ve ever used (and kind to dry, aging skin). It gives a beautiful glow without shimmer or glitter–how do they do that–and it makes me look 10 years younger. I get compliments every time I use it. The Retouch has captured my attention–it seems like it would be a very useful product for those moment when you look in the mirror and say “Aaack! When did that happen!?!” I have a blush in Mood Exposure and love it, but don’t feel a need for a palette. Thanks for another super review, and thanks to Naomi and Neha for praising the quality of your photos! Yours are about the only swatches I rely on if I have to buy something unseen (I’ve been burned by too many others). They’re the most accurate around, and I’d love having TBLB as a resource for that reason alone (although there are many, many others).
YAY!!! Yes the powder is really quite good. Thank you for your support over the years, it means so much to me xoxo
You’re so very welcome! You can’t imagine how valuable and helpful I find your reviews and swatches. Thank you for doing what you do. xoxo
I love that blush palette!
xx
http://www.thedecemberdame.com
Need to try this mascara and the veil retouching fluid looks amazing. If you haven’t tried their eyebrow mascara – you must. Its my favorite! Obsessed with their blush brushes as well!
I have! I use their brow products all the time – they’re so good!
That palette looks so beautiful but I really don’t think I need another blush palette from Hourglass. It’s definitely tempting though!
Jae
http://www.allthatjae.com
Same, I still did it lol.
When you layer the mascara with Lash Paradise, do you put on Lash Paradise first and then this or the other way around?
Mood Exposure is pretty! I keep putting that palette in and taking it out of my cart. If it sells out, I won’t have to make the decision (like with the Tom Ford set).
I have the Veil Setting Powder. I agree with you. It’s very good. I was thinking of trying the mascara but I may not get it after your review. I need my mascara to hold curl. It’s nice to have an honest review.
I previously bought the Too Faced BTS mascara based on hyped up reviews and was disappointed. It did look nice when initially applied but the curl dropped and there was smudging.
I am surprised that the Lash Paradise mascara is one that you like. Maybe I will give that a go.
That mascara is on my wish list! I do wish that Hourglass would come up with a 3 pan palette of blush, bronzer and face powder soon