Hourglass Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation Stick, my review

Hourglass Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation is the first foundation stick I’ve used. To be honest, I almost feel bad telling you about this product. Because, let me put this straight: it’s a gem! Unfortunately, it also has a major flaw…

Last month, when I went into my first North American Sephora store in Montreal, I prepared a wish-list of products to try to reduce the risk of me losing it once I was here (so many temptations everywhere!!!). This foundation was not on the list, so it was part of the collateral damage. (Obviously, I lost it in there, the choice is just way too insane!)

But honestly, if I made some mistakes in my big crazy cosmetics shopping (which I will probably have the opportunity to talk about later here), the Hourglass Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation Stick was definitely not one of them! smile

Hourglass Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation Stick, presentation:

What the brand says about it:

“A revolutionary foundation stick with the coverage of a concealer, the fluidity of a liquid, and the weightlessness of a powder in a long-wearing waterproof formula for undetectable full coverage.
The unprecedented concentration of pigment in this foundation provides maximum coverage with minimum product, concealing all discoloration and imperfections for flawless skin with a seamless finish.”

In summary, a foundation that gives a good coverage without being cakey. And before trying these, I thought all foundation sticks were very obvious on the skin. Probably because those I remember using in beauty school were meant more for stage makeup.
This is quite surprisingly lightweight and considering its stick format, it’s super convenient and easy to use, which is always a plus!

It has a satin finish, and initially, I wondered if I would not end up with a super greasy skin after a few hours (my skin is on the oilier side). However, Hourglass describes the Vanish foundation as waterproof and long-lasting, so I thought it could perhaps be a good one to try. In Dubai, the temperatures are still high, so I definitely need a foundation that doesn’t melt above 30 degrees! wink

It comes in 26 shades (!) and it retails for $46.

Hourglass Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation Stick, my test and thoughts:

– Formula and texture:

I was expecting a fairly dense texture, a “waxy” texture, like a concealer stick but it’s really not the case at all. It’s very creamy and it glides easily on the skin when applied, without leaving a greasy effect.

– Color Range:

A very wide choice with 26 shades. They go from the lightest (the first is called Blanc to give you an idea ;) ) to the darkest, with many choices in the undertones (cool, neutral or warm), which is ideal to choose the closest color to your natural skin tone (undertones can really make a big difference, I guarantee! For example, in my case, I definitely have to choose a neutral or warm undertone otherwise I look like Miss Piggy right away right away).
I have the color Warm Ivory, which was perfect for me early September but which will be probably a little bit too golden for me this winter. I still manage to use it now, but I will probably need a lighter shade this winter.

– Scent: 

It’s fragrance-free.

– Packaging:

A very nice metallized plastic packaging, with a very elegant design. The stick of foundation is shaped as a triangle, and it’s perfect for a super precise application!

– Application: 

It took me a little while to try different application techniques (I tried several methods and also differing amounts of product) but once I found my favorite way to apply it, it was perfect!
I first applied it with my finger tips, and I liked it. It’s easy and it blends very well into the skin.
Then I tried with my favorite sponge, the Beauty Blender, and the result was quite nice. But to be honest, I find that it takes to much time to apply.
And finally, and it became my favorite method, I used my big foundation brush by Marc Jacobs and it was perfect! The finish is flawless in less than 30 seconds!

Regarding the right amount of product to use: this also took me a little while to figure it out. It’s very easy to put too much! The coverage is pretty high, so if you want a natural effect I would definitely advise not to put too much.
Generally, I apply 1 swipe on my nose, 1 swipe on every cheek, 1 on my forehead, 1 on my chin and that’s it. You don’t need  to draw war paint all over your face like some American YouTubers (and Dutch) like to do!

Also, I noticed that the finish stays prettier longer when I apply less. Applied in big quantities, it looks gorgeous during the first 2 hours and after, it tends to emphasize the skin texture. Whereas if I apply less, it really stays pretty all day.

– Pigmentation and coverage:

You can feel that the coverage is super high immediately after you applied it but it’s really a buildable product.
I would definitely call it a medium to full coverage though. I personally don’t use it as a concealer in my under eyes area, because I prefer to use products with different colors in order to correct my dark circles, but it works very well to correct my spots when I have some! wink

– Finish:

The finish on the skin is very nice and quite natural. It’s a satin finish, and it really blurs the pores. As I have oily skin, I always powder with a transparent loose powder to set it but even with the powder, it remains very luminous.
Regarding the feeling on the skin, I can barely feel it, the texture is super lightweight and comfortable. I wasn’t expecting it at all, considering its stick format and coverage! It was a very good surprise. smile

– Lasting Power: 

The lasting power is pretty good. After a few hours, it’s a little shinier in my T-Zone, obviously, but I would still describe it as long-lasting.
Recently, I spent a lot of time outdoors, and it’s more than 35 degrees at the moment in Dubai, to visit non air-conditioned apartments. (I’m in the process of moving) In the evening, my foundation was still there, it didn’t melt and separate! (I had these kind of experiences with other high coverage foundations)

– Value For Money:

This is its biggest flaw: it’s very pricy. The amount of product you get is not huge (7.2 g, it’s definitely less than similar products with the same format) (to compare, the MUFE HD Foundation Stick is 12g for $43).
So even if you don’t need to use a lot of product, $46 for this weight is still very expensive.

Finally, here are the swatches:

As you can see in the picture, it’s quite high coverage initially but it blends on the skin very easily. Warm Ivory is a little bit too yellow compared to the color of my forearm but it blends well with my skin face, especially when I have a little tan.

And on me:

On my lips, it’s the NARS Velvet Lip Glide in the shade Bound. wink

So, in summary:

[wprs-pros][wprs-cons]

I really, really like this foundation, especially applied with my Marc Jacobs foundation brush, such an ideal combo! (The brush Hourglass released at the same time that this foundation looks very similar, actually)
However, the price is quite ridiculous in my opinion, and I don’t think it will last very long either, considering the amount of product you get…

The Hourglass Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation Stick is available on the Hourglass website (for $46) and also the Sephora website.

And you, are you tempted by this Hourglass Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation Stick? Do you use foundation sticks in your makeup routine? Which one is your favorite?

Photo credit: bonnie-garner.com