Hourglass cosmetics review: Luxury makeup that's difficult to fault
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With a loyal following and a reputation for elegant, high-performing makeup, Hourglass is one of the beauty industry's most talked-about luxury brands.
Some beauty brands are brilliant at one thing. Hourglass seems to be brilliant at pretty much everything. From glowing complexion products to lip colour, eye makeup and mascara, every product I've tried has reinforced why the brand has built such a loyal following.
It might be the beautifully designed packaging that catches your eye first. With its sleek metallic finishes and unmistakably high-end feel, Hourglass products certainly look the part. But they're far more than just something to admire. The textures feel luxurious, the products are intuitive to use and, crucially, they deliver the kind of polished results that keep you reaching for them long after the novelty of a new purchase has worn off.
The Curator Eyeshadow Palette, £67, perfectly sums up the brand's approach. Instead of filling a compact with shades you'll never use, Hourglass has created a beautifully crafted refillable palette. The shadows feel silky, blend effortlessly and deliver rich pigment with very little fallout.
Whether you're creating a subtle daytime look or building intensity for the evening, they layer seamlessly and have real staying power.
The compact is a little golden box of joy and only reinforces the feeling that this is a product designed to last. I tried Idealist - a collection of flattering rosy neutrals that brighten the eyes without looking overly made up. The palette contains pearlescent pink shimmer, soft coral satin, rose gold shimmer and a matte rosewood shade - and it’s gone straight to the top of favourite palette list.
For lashes, the Instant Extensions Mascara is another winner. The formula coats every lash individually to add noticeable length and definition without clumping, flaking or smudging. It stays put all day before sliding away easily with warm water, making removal refreshingly fuss-free. At £34 it’s worth every penny.
Hourglass's Shape & Sculpt Lip Liner, £30, is another product that feels far more luxurious than your average pencil. The creamy formula glides on without dragging, making it easy to define the lips with precision while creating a fuller-looking shape. It looks great worn alone but also provides the perfect base beneath lipstick or gloss, helping colour stay put for longer without feathering.
The Unreal Liquid Blush is adorable and a makeup bag must have. A tiny dot is enough to create a healthy, radiant flush that melts into the skin rather than sitting on top of it. The lightweight formula blends in seconds, giving cheeks a fresh, luminous finish that looks naturally healthy instead of overly made up. This £38 blush comes in seven colours.
I've also been using the Phantom Volumizing Glossy Balm, £36, and if glossy lips are your thing you’re in for a treat. You get the shine of a gloss and the comfort of a balm and it leaves lips looking noticeably fuller and smoother without the sticky texture that often comes with high-shine formulas. The finish is glossy but sophisticated, while the nourishing formula keeps lips feeling soft and hydrated long after the initial shine has faded.
These hero products strengthen what I've already discovered through previous reviews. Earlier this year I was wowed by Hourglass's liquid highlighters, which delivered a natural, lit-from-within glow that enhanced the skin without obvious shimmer or glitter. More recently, the Phantom Blur Balm range made it to my dressing table, combining the comfort of a nourishing lip balm with the soft-focus finish of a matte lipstick, while avoiding the dryness that's so often associated with matte lip colour.
Hourglass products may be considered an investment for some but time and again they justify the price. Across every category I've tested, the attention to detail, premium textures and effortlessly polished results make this one of the most consistently impressive luxury makeup brands on the market.