It’s no secret that Hourglass is one of my all-time favourite makeup brands of all time. Despite having a full beauty cupboard full of makeup products at my disposal, when you look at the products that have made it into my everyday makeup at home, Hourglass is the MVP of my makeup bag. The Phantom Glossy Balms? A modern icon. The Vanish Airbrush Concealer? No other concealer compares. You get the idea: anything Hourglass launches, I just know it’s going to be good.
So, when I heard that Hourglass was launching the Phantom Blur Balms (£36), a blurring, matte version of the original Phantom Glossy Balms, I could barely contain my excitement.
Hourglass Phantom Blur Balms
Pros
- Delivers a soft, blurred lip look in one swipe
- Matte finish, but also hydrating
- Luxurious, sensorial texture
- Lightweight and non-drying
Cons
- Not for those who want a glossy finish (the Phantom Glossy Balms are for you)
The Formula
If you’ve been trying to recreate that blurred lip look popularised by celebrity makeup artist Nina Park, then you can put your lip liners down. This blurring balm delivers a blurred, soft-focus lip in one swipe. What’s genius about it is that it has the soft-matte finish that mimics the natural texture of your lips, yet it feels exactly like a hydrating lip balm on the lips. It’s hydrating and comfortable to wear, with a flexible slip when you smack your lips—unlike many matte lipsticks that cling and feel drying to wear.
The beauty of them is that they can be applied lightly for a wash of colour, layered up for more intensity or paired with your lip liner if you want a more defined look.
The Shades
I have two shades of the Phantom Blur Balms (there are currently five very wearable, natural-looking shades in the edit), and they’ve both taken up permanent residencies in my makeup bag and my handbag. Echo, a soft, neutral pink, has been my everyday go-to, whereas Whisper has a pinky mauve tone that I’ve been leaning towards more so for summer. I’ll definitely be picking up some of the deeper shades for next season. Honestly? I can’t imagine my makeup bag without these since trying them.
Echo
Whisper
Shop the Shades:
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