Kaitlin K.

I have tried almost every department store brand of foundation that claims to be amazing for oily skin. It doesn't matter the brand, how expensive or how wild the claims, they have never worked for me. It's gotten to the point where I've been wary of spending over a certain amount on trying a new foundation because more often than not, the bottle sits mostly-full in my desk because it just didn't work.

So when my favorite Sephora staff recommended Hourglass Immaculate to me, I was a little afraid because of the price tag. At $55, it's certainly an investment. I figured I'd give it a try on a leap of faith.

It's been about four months and I've never been happier with a foundation. Instead of looking like an oil slick or like I'm not wearing any foundation whatsoever, I have now achieved the lovely state of "dewy." Instead of having to reapply my makeup throughout the day, I can simply blot on my more oily areas (mainly my nose and chin) and continue on with my day. I don't have to angst about whether or not my skin looks disgusting all day.

PROS:
• Easy-to-apply with a brush. The box recommends against using a sponge because of the liquid-to-powder nature of the formula. It has a somewhat thin, paint-like consistency that's super-easy to blend;
• The coverage is very buildable. Because it's a powder-like finish, you can add more product to the areas that need it without looking like a birthday cake;
• As I mentioned before, my oil problems are not nearly as intense as they were before;
• A little bit of foundation goes a lonnnng ways, making it feel more worth the price.

CONS:
• It's very expensive. $55 a bottle is nothing to laugh at.
• The plunger on the bottle is notoriously terrible. Mine has never worked and many reviewers online say similar things. For me, this isn't a big deal, I just open the bottle, swipe my brush along the rim and do it like that. But I can understand how it'd be annoying.
• It's VERY sheer upon first application (but buildable). This is a con if your skin isn't very clear already, so if you have bad acne or dark spots that you want to cover, this might not be for you.

NOTES:
• Some of the shades seem a little yellow at first (mine does) but it blends very nicely to suit your skintone
• You need to wear less primer than you normally would with this foundation, because otherwise it can look a little flaky if you slather on primer. (This has the added benefit of making your primer last longer!)
• You can also use less loose powder to set it since it turns to powder upon drying.

I wish it weren't as expensive, but I'm actually still on my first bottle of it, so it seems to last a long time. It's a great product that I love and it's truly transformed my makeup wearing experience.

This is my absolute favourite liquid eyeliner. I've been using it for years and adore it. Everything about it is designed perfectly from the tip to the handle--it's easy to hold, the perfect size, and easy to control. Best of all, the formula stays put for a long, long time, but is easy to wipe off and doesn't stain the skin like other liquid liners I've tried. I have it in several colours and use it practically every day.

It goes on with a peculiarly flakey consistency and doesn't last throughout the day. You have to use a *lot* of product in order to build up an intensity that really looks acceptable, and by then, a lot of it has come off. I'd try another brand.

Trash is pretty drying, given the colour and amount of pigment in it. However, it looks gorgeous either on its own or applied over other colours (especially a nice, hydrating red--it adds beautiful dimension). I've yet to find a gold lipstick I love as much.

This left my skin feeling tight and drawn, which I thought it meant it was working. Not so much, unfortunately. After an hour or so, my skin was as slick as if I weren't wearing any primer at all. It might work for some, but for me, I'll stick to another primer.

A really great powder to set your foundation, especially if you have oily skin. I continue to use it even when using liquid foundation, because it really does make a nice finish no matter your skin type.

I used this for years and switched back to liquid foundation because I just couldn't fall in love with this. It didn't cover well for me, and it didn't help my oily skin enough to warrant using it. I can see why people love it, but if you have combination skin, it can look cakey after a few hours. The look at the outset was very smooth, but after a day at the office, I felt like I was wearing a load of caked powder on my face.

I have oily lids, and this primer did nothing for me. After an hour or two, my eyeshadow had already settled into my crease. I switched back to the Urban Decay Primer Potion, because this one just didn't do it for me whatsoever.

If you have very dry skin and are concerned about having a little SPF on your face, then this is great. However, if your skin is the least bit oily, this makes your skin feel rather greasy and doesn't provide that great of finish. I would have to reapply my foundation after a few hours while using this foundation. If you're oily, pass this one up.

I really liked this from a primer aspect--it did seem to make a bit of difference in my oily skin and I liked the correction factor. However, it made me break out immediately, just like Smashbox's primer did. If you have acne prone or sensitive skin, try another one.