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Details & care
What it is: This breakthrough liquid powder foundation absorbs oil, camouflages imperfections and delivers a long-lasting, velvet matte finish to your skin.
Who it's for: Anyone with oily or blemish-prone skin who wants buildable medium-to-full coverage and a velvet matte finish.
What it does: This revolutionary formula works throughout the day to control oil and has been shown to reduce the appearance of blemishes, pores and acne scars for naturally matte, complexion-perfecting coverage that lasts. It transforms from a liquid to a powder and dries down instantly to a finish that never looks dry, dull or cakey. Advanced kaolinite clay works continuously throughout the day to control oil that can lead to blemishes, while drawing out impurities to keep skin clear. In a recent study, it was shown to absorb 75% of its weight in oil while maintaining moisture in the skin. Due to its unparalleled oil control, it eliminates the need for powder, blotting papers or constant touch-ups throughout the day. Phytostem edelweiss, an active derived from a rare alpine plant rich in antioxidants, has been observed to smooth the skin, nourish the complexion and protect from free radicals while oxygenating solvents deliver oxygen to the skin to help clear pores.
How to use: Prep your skin with a primer. Shake the tube and squeeze the product onto the back of your hand. Using a foundation brush or kabuki brush, load the product onto the brush evenly. Using circular strokes, apply and buff the product into your face, loading your brush as needed. Work quickly in small sections, as it immediately transforms from a liquid to a powder as you blend. Sponge application is not recommended.
- 1 oz.
- Paraben-free; phthalate-free; gluten-free; fragrance-free; synthetic dye-free
- Nonacnegenic
- Vegan
- Not tested on animals
- Made in the USA
- Item #5381997
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HOURGLASS
Innovative beauty brand HOURGLASS was founded in 2004 when industry veteran Carisa Janes sought to transform high-end cosmetics. Today, HOURGLASS is known for combining science, beauty and luxury in its breakthrough formulations, technological innovations and complexion products with groundbreaking active ingredients to create the most flawless finish possible.
Most helpful positive review
Apr 19, 2017
Great for oily/acne prone skin!
Original packaging was pump bottle. There were complaints about the pump getting stuck and drying up since it is a clay formula after all. This squeeze tube will definitely solve that! Anyways... its my fave since I have oily combo/acne prone skin!
About me: 20 years old, oily/combo acne prone skin (super oily in t-zone and front facing of cheeks, dry around mouth area, and will breakout if I use anything will oil in it), I have fair Asian skin with neutral undertone (not pinkish, yet not yellowish either) so I use this in the shade Shell. I actually own all of the Hourglass foundations, but this is one of my faves!
My uses/routine: I am on Retin A, so my skin is sometimes very dry. I don't use this during my peeling phases (happens 1-2 a month), instead I'll use the Hyaluronic Skin Tint all over during those dry flakey periods.
When I'm not usually dry or flakey, I will use this foundation on my oily t-zone areas, and then use the Hyaluronic Skin Tint on my dry areas (my mouth and sides of my cheeks), reason being is this foundation will literally cling to any dry patches you have, I'm serious!
Prepping: Make sure your face is well exfoliated and moisturized, or else this will not look pretty. If you have dry skin, forget it! This is seriously for the oily/shiny people out there, I'm talking you get oily in like the first hour after applying usual makeup. Also use a primer before this, I prefer their primer.
Best applied with: HOURGLASS KABUKI BRUSH! Their Kabuki brush is specially made for this foundation, I'm serious. DON'T use a beauty blender/sponge, or even finger tips with this. It dries very fast and you can't use a wet sponge to apply this, it'll look splotchy. Use their kabuki brush, working in fast circular motions, then stipple over again on any blemishes/marks. Work fast as it is a liquid to powder formula. You don't necessarily need a setting powder unless you start to see shine, WHICH I HIGHLY DOUBT YOU WILL.
JackieYosh
15found this helpful
Most helpful critical review
Oct 3, 2017
Incentivized review
Ashy in a bottle
I wanted to love this foundation. I have combination skin and got the color golden amber. It blended beautifully and wore very well. Unfortunately the base of the make up has a grey color that made me look casket sharp and ashy. If you're darker than medium tan this isn't the formula for you. Their stick foundation doesn't have the same problem.
Zoopath
1found this helpful
5 stars
60%
4 stars
18%
3 stars
13%
2 stars
6%
1 star
2%
Sort by Most Helpful
JackieYosh
Apr 19, 2017
Great for oily/acne prone skin!
Original packaging was pump bottle. There were complaints about the pump getting stuck and drying up since it is a clay formula after all. This squeeze tube will definitely solve that! Anyways... its my fave since I have oily combo/acne prone skin!
About me: 20 years old, oily/combo acne prone skin (super oily in t-zone and front facing of cheeks, dry around mouth area, and will breakout if I use anything will oil in it), I have fair Asian skin with neutral undertone (not pinkish, yet not yellowish either) so I use this in the shade Shell. I actually own all of the Hourglass foundations, but this is one of my faves!
My uses/routine: I am on Retin A, so my skin is sometimes very dry. I don't use this during my peeling phases (happens 1-2 a month), instead I'll use the Hyaluronic Skin Tint all over during those dry flakey periods.
When I'm not usually dry or flakey, I will use this foundation on my oily t-zone areas, and then use the Hyaluronic Skin Tint on my dry areas (my mouth and sides of my cheeks), reason being is this foundation will literally cling to any dry patches you have, I'm serious!
Prepping: Make sure your face is well exfoliated and moisturized, or else this will not look pretty. If you have dry skin, forget it! This is seriously for the oily/shiny people out there, I'm talking you get oily in like the first hour after applying usual makeup. Also use a primer before this, I prefer their primer.
Best applied with: HOURGLASS KABUKI BRUSH! Their Kabuki brush is specially made for this foundation, I'm serious. DON'T use a beauty blender/sponge, or even finger tips with this. It dries very fast and you can't use a wet sponge to apply this, it'll look splotchy. Use their kabuki brush, working in fast circular motions, then stipple over again on any blemishes/marks. Work fast as it is a liquid to powder formula. You don't necessarily need a setting powder unless you start to see shine, WHICH I HIGHLY DOUBT YOU WILL.
15found this helpful
petite509
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
June 27, 2017
Bring back glass bottle quality
First time when i tried this brand i absolutely love it. It was packaged in a glass bottle then. It stayed matifying all day and i had horrible oily skin where it would became oily after 2 hrs of make up. This new version of the flat bottle seemed ok but quality was not 100% the same as before. It seemed i need to apply more product and it does became oily at the end of the day after 8 hr work shift while the previous version in glass bottle would still looks good and matte on my T zone way after get home from work. Not Nordstrom fault but i would suggest you influence your vendor to bring back the quality they had previously offered. Therefore 3 out of 5 stars.
6found this helpful
Melly00
Verified purchase
Nov 12, 2019
Incentivized review
It is truly immaculate
This is hands down my favorite foundation of all time! I have oily/combo skin that is prone to breakouts and this is just perfect! It feels so lightweight and gives a light to medium coverage. Since this is a liquid to powder formula I prefer to apply this with a buffing brush. I use the Urban Decay Optical Blurring Brush and work one part of my face at a time. This really smooths out my large pores. I was afraid this was going to be too matte and cakey but it truly gives a natural matte skin finish. I don't even need to use a primer or setting powder. This one product does it all! This was my first introduction to the brand and now I'm addicted.
3found this helpful
merlaw
Verified purchase
July 30, 2019
Incentivized review
Great Foundation
Tried this on a whim based on other reviews. Even though I'm 62, I still have oily skin. I'm always looking for a foundation that will stay put and will not settle into fine lines. I have used and loved the Hourglass primer for years, so thought I would give this a try. This is great foundation, with just enough coverage. I used it with the new Hourglass powder, which I also love. I ordered the color based off the chart on line and the match to my skin tone is good (fair with red undertones), but I may go in for one other color to compare. Highly recommend this foundation, a little goes a long way.
3found this helpful
KTX19
Mar 18, 2018
Incentivized review
Not full coverage foundation
I really wanted to love this foundation. I was looking for a full coverage matte foundation and this was not it. It went on nicely, but it did not cover at all. I would say my first try it was light coverage, so if they consider it “buildable” you would definitely need to use a lot more. I tried applying this with a brush and then beauty blender. Both with sub-par results. If you are looking for a lightweight, buildable light-medium matte coverage, this would be a good option. I would not recommend for someone who is looking for full coverage (like me) to cover acne scars and melasma. I did love the ingredients, so I kept an additional star for that.
3found this helpful
mozartmom
Jan 26, 2021
meh....
I do like this formula, but sadly, at least for me, there's no shade that truly matches my skin. I'm quite pale /neutral and the pale shades are lacking or just 'off'. To pink, peach, or yellow - very unnatural. YMMV
2found this helpful