5 things you might not need but are really nice to have around…
- A bag of delicious Bali’s Best Green Tea Latte Candies. I sucked on six of these, which are like green tea-flavored Werther’s Originals hard candies, while doing this post!
- A surfboard (because it’s a reminder of summer)
- Boys
- Fresh-cut flowers
- An excellent makeup primer
Regarding No. 5, have you met my new primer crush, Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer SPF 15 ($52)? It’s an oil-free liquid primer from Hourglass’s permanent line, and let me tell ya — it’s quite the charmer!
While it’s not a brand new product, Veil is new to me. I only recently got to know it well while visiting and staying with family over the past few days, when I was doing my makeup early in the mornings and needed something to help my looks last from dawn till dusk. This month, that something was Veil.
Before I settled on Veil, though, I tried a number of other primers from MAC, Make Up For Ever, Smashbox and Cover FX over the month or so since Thanksgiving. Veil’s been my favorite so far.
A lot of primers feel thick and heavy to me, like they’re smothering my combination dry/oily/acne-prone skin, but lightweight Veil quickly absorbs and doesn’t feel like it’s just sitting on the top layers of skin like a lake of pore-suffocating product. It also hasn’t caused any breakouts, near as I can tell, and I’ve heard from other girls who love it specifically for this reason.
Hourglass designed Veil to do more than increase the wear time of makeup. It also absorbs excess oil, softens the appearance of fine lines and pores, and provides some protection from sun damage through the addition of naturally-derived zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. And the company managed to do all that without the use of parabens, synthetic fragrances or dyes, sulfates or phthalates.
Bravo. 🙂
I think Veil does everything it’s designed to do really, really well, but even so, I don’t rely on it as my sole source of sun protection (it’s rated SPF 15). With Veil, the MAC Studio Sculpt Foundation and Tarte Agent Provocateur Powder combination I’ve been wearing a lot lately looks far fresher longer when I apply the two of them on top of a layer of Veil, and I feel like my pores and fine lines don’t look as obvious, either. As for oil, Veil’s appetite for it is insatiable. It sucks oil up on my forehead, nose and chin, dramatically reducing the shine.
Too bad the stuff costs so much… Fifty-two dollars is a lot for a 1-ounce bottle of anything, but on the plus side, I find that I only have to use about half a pump per day, and at that rate I’m guessing the bottle should last at least 4-6 months.
Sephora also sells a smaller, 0.33-ounce travel size for $17, which might be a better option if you’re curious and would like to give it a try. I don’t have any plans for New Year’s Eve yet, but if I do stay up to watch the ball drop, at least I know that Veil won’t let me down. 🙂
PRICE: $52 for a full-size 1-ounce bottle; $17 for a 0.33-ounce travel-size bottle
AVAILABILITY: Available now at Sephora stores and also online
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A (an A+ if it was $25 instead of $52)
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
I’ve been looking for a good makeup primer, I just got makeup for ever’s hd primer for Christmas, and think it helps my makeup last longer and smooths over some areas, but now yOuve tempted me to grab a sample of this from sephora! My skin used to be oily with dry patches sometimes around pimples, and is very very acne prone. Currently it’s freaking me out and being on the dry side, flakey and all! Something I’ve never experienced before… Oh why can it never just be normal!!
This primer sounds like itd be great for oily/ combo skin, how does it smooth over dryer areas?
Hi Adrienne, I have combination skin that is mostly oily with some flake-prone spots on my cheek and chin. But my flakiness has vanished with regular use of Clarins HydraQuench moisturizer. It’s oil free and keeps my fussy skin well moisturized. There are different formulas to choose from – Cooling Creme-Gel (I use it in Summer and Spring), Cream, Cream with SPF 15 (I use in Autumn and Winter), Lotion with SPF 15 (I use for gong to the gym).
Just curious Karen..how would you rate the Hourglass primer compared to Laura Mercier’s oil free one?
I love this primer too! I went looking for a new primer last month and the Sephora SA pumped some into a trial container. It lasted me practically a month!
Haven’t heard of this primer before…and I’m going to give it a shot when my current primer runs out. $52 doesn’t really sound that bad if a little goes a long way. They must have some kind of price-fixing agreement on it, though, because every single site I checked has that $52 price locked in stone. What’s up with that?
Cosmetic prices are set corporately nationwide. Look around — Hourglass isn’t the only brand like this 🙂
Did you hear the story about Gina Brooke getting this product for Madonna’s tour and falling in love with it?
To tell the truth, I can’t think of Hourglass products that I wouldn’t like.
As for NY, I am going to a party first and then going home to see my family! 🙂
PS. Karen, I know that you watch a lot of films… Maybe you can share your faves one day? I’d LOVE to read it. I am trying to write such post myself now…
I may have to check out the $17 version for fun, but honestly, I use Monistat’s Anti-Chafe Gel as a primer – it has the same ingredient as the other primers like Smashbox, but a tube costs under $7. I like to save my $$ for other beauty items. The Monistat might not work for you if you find Smashbox to be too heavy though.
I have been looking at this primer for a while now, trying to decide whether I should get it or not. Thank you for the review, Karen.
It’s out of stock on sephora.com 🙁
Maybe karen’s got that much influence over the cosmetic world! She suggests it, it goes flying off the shelves!
I keep hearing such great things about this! I’m going to have to try it out now.
Do you surf? I’d love to learn to surf!! It’s on my bucket list. 🙂
The Bare Escentuals Prime Time Foundation Primer is excellent as well, and Clinique’s Refining Lotion isn’t labelled a primer but its basically the same thing! Both don’t feel heavy, and I have acne prone / combination / sensitive / A MESS skin and I love these!
Wow, this sounds really good! I haven’t found a primer that I like , even a little. I’ll have to give this one a shot.
i ordered the mini size of this primer but havent used it yet. i think im going to start using this when the weather gets warm here again. im very curious, much more so now that you have reviewed it!
Hourglass tinted moisturizer is one of the best products vie ever used. EVER. What an incredible line.
Can someone please help me here please!!!! I use MAC Studio Sculpt just like Karen snd I love it, it looks great and it matches my skin perfectly, however, when I take a picture, my face looks completely white! I’ve tried different cameras and same thing happens. Please help me!
Love all the Bali’s tea candies!
I’ll have to try this! Here, it’s almost a sin if you don’t wear primer!
AHH! I’ve been trying out primers over christmas and settled on this one as well! I tried MAC, Chanel and Dior and this was by far the best for me. I have dry, sensitive skin that can get a bit of shine after hours out in the Australian summer heat. I just wanted something that would make my foundation last so that I could open presents, eat 5 courses of christmas lunch, play backyard cricket, polish off a bottle of champagne and still look a million dollars. And it worked! This stuff is fantastic.
P.S. $52 is luuuuxury. We’re paying $79 AUD which is about $82 USD. In-sane.
Hi karen!! thank you so much for this review! I’m new to hourglass cosmetics and have searched far and wide to find a review! I was wondering if you have any thoughts on the Tarte Illuminating Serum used as a primer? I am kind of torn between that and this Hourglass. One is all healthy with that organic Sephora sticker on it and the other says vegan. I just like things that aren’t tested on animals! I’ve been using the LM primer for years and just want something new…something better. Any advice or preferences between the two primer wise and skin care wise? Thanks soooo much!
Hi Kate,
I haven’t tried the Tarte Serum. I’ve been seriously stuck on Hourglass for the last few months, it’s that good! They have a new primer coming out that I’m planning to try…I’ll let you know if its good.
Thanks Karen!!!! =) I’m taking your word for it!!!! *Running out to buy it now!*
Hey Karen
This is my go to primer for my very finicky and oily skin. I’m wondering if you’ve tried their new one yet or if you’ve tried mac’s new prep and prime skin smoother, which is also supposed to be good for oily skin. I’m getting to the bottom of my bottle and wondering if i should buy the same or try something new.
is it silicone free?