As I write this, I’m trying to remember the last time I wore a proper foundation. With the non-stop heatwave that was this summer, I pretty much ditched base products all together and opted to show off my sun-kissed skin, enhancing it with a little bronzer and cream blush. When it’s hot, the idea of wearing a foundation all day felt almost oppressive but now as summer winds down I’m looking for a soft introduction back to bases to subtly enhance my complexion as all the summer glow slowly drains away. Enter Hourglass’s new Ambient Soft Glow Foundation.
There’s no doubt, Hourglass are a brand known for their glow. Their Ambient Lighting Powder set the standard for setting powders that kept makeup in place, but are luminising rather than matte and cakey. Even the brand’s high coverage offering, the Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation Stick, is blurring without being heavy. And while glow is a term that is immediately appealing as a consumer, for me and my oily T-zone with foundations it strikes fear that the glow is going to highlight my oiliness, which is why I prefer sticking to more matte or satin formulas. Luckily, the finish of this foundation is a crowd-pleaser and it comes in 32 shades across three undertones.
While this foundation isn’t matte, it isn’t dewy either—I would classify it as satin finish, with the glow coming from the soft-focus pigments. These pigments create a luminous, blurred effect which evens your skin tone and can be built up without looking caked-on, just gently perfected. Kind of like you’ve swiped the Instagram Paris filter over your face.
The formula is transfer-proof and water-resistant, however my T-zone did need powdering down after four hours so if you’re oily like me, be sure to prime and set to avoid unwanted shine breaking through, although if you have dry skin, you’ll love the texture as it’s comfortable to wear and doesn’t feel like it’s sitting on the skin. The formula is also non-comedogenic so you don’t have to worry if you have skin prone to break-outs, it won’t exacerbate them. For application, I preferred a buffing brush to really blend in. I found when I tried applying it with a damp beauty sponge it made it too sheer and it sucked up a lot of the product.
One thing I would say is that this formula doesn’t really give max coverage, even when you build up a couple of layers. I have a bit of pigmentation from spots and it really didn’t cover them, so a concealer is very much still needed for that. But if you’re looking for a soft, all-over glow post-summer this is a perfect pick.
