We Tried The New, Must-Have Hourglass Liquid Blush

EMILY'S HOURGLASS UNREAL LIQUID BLUSH REVIEW

• Skin tone: Light to medium with olive undertones

• Shade reviewed: Hourglass Unreal Liquid Blush, £38.00 in Vision

Blush is a key part of my everyday routine. Whilst I tend to use cream or stick formulas, I do love powder blush in the winter to layer on top. Essentially, I love blush in every form – so when I heard that Hourglass was launching a liquid blush, I had to give it a go!

I’ll start by saying that this blush is super pigmented, a little goes a long way. I found the best way to apply it was to dispense a tiny amount of product onto the back of my hand and then using the new Hourglass No. 15 Blush Brush, £48.00 to pick up the product, tap off any excess and apply it to the cheeks. Having said that, it blended beautifully! It didn’t leave any streak or brush marks and melted beautifully into the skin. The finish was lovely – neither matte nor super dewy, just the perfect amount of sheen for a healthy flush of colour. It had great staying power too, even in the city heat. I wore it on a night out and it stayed put all night and helped me look fresh!

I found my shade of choice to be the perfect terracotta pink, great for darker or olive skin tones – although I can imagine it would look beautiful on a paler complexion too. The blush now lives in my everyday makeup bag along with the new blush brush, which I also can’t recommend enough.

YASMIN'S HOURGLASS UNREAL LIQUID BLUSH REVIEW

• Skin tone: Light to medium with olive undertones

• Shade reviewed: Hourglass Unreal Liquid Blush, £38.00 in Future

I use blush every single day and always opt for liquid blushes – I find them easier to blend and more natural looking. However, if I’ve got a long day ahead of me, I’ll add a touch of powder blush on top to make sure the colour lasts all day.

When it came to trying out this blush, I used my fingers (I always do with liquid formulas) – it was so easy and quick to apply. It blended out like a dream and took me seconds to do.

I found the formula silky and lightweight – it sat perfectly on top of my makeup and didn't feel heavy or cakey in the slightest. I brought with me on my holiday to Greece and, despite the hot weather and my oily skin, it lasted and looked so good. I don't tend to touch up my makeup, so I was very happy about this!

If you love a natural finish and dewy glow, this blush is for you. It’s very buildable, and the amount of colour you get is impressive – which is why I would recommend squeezing out the product onto your hand first rather than applying it straight to your cheeks.

STEPHANIE'S HOURGLASS UNREAL LIQUID BLUSH REVIEW

• Skin tone: Light with pink undertones

• Shade reviewed: Hourglass Unreal Liquid Blush, £38.00 in Scene

My makeup routine is, for the most part, fairly minimal – but blush will always be a part of it! I use both liquid and powder formulas, but generally prefer liquid blushes – so I just had to try Hourglass’ latest launch.

As expected, Hourglass did not disappoint! I put some on the back of my hand and used my fingers to apply. I found the very light texture really easy to apply and blend – and the finish was really natural looking. It’s very pigmented – I always use my fingers to apply liquid blush, and I’d say this formula lends itself especially well to that kind of application. I put the product on the back of my hand and gently tapped it across my cheeks.

The blush lasted all day, and I’ve been consistently reaching out for it since it landed on my desk. It’s fair to say I’ve absolutely been loving it, and I think anyone who likes a buildable liquid blush will too.

REBECCA’S HOURGLASS UNREAL LIQUID BLUSH REVIEW

• Skin tone: Light medium

• Shade reviewed: Hourglass Unreal Liquid Blush, £38.00 in Whim

I am a self-confessed blush fanatic and huge fan of the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blushes, so you can imagine how excited I was to test this new blush. But while I’ve used many cream blushes, this is the most liquid formula I’ve ever tried.

The first thing I noticed was how pigmented it was. I would really advise putting a small drop on the back of your hand and using this like a paint palette! I would dab it from there with my fingers onto the apples of my cheeks, my cheekbones and a little dash on the bridge of my nose if I was feeling fancy. I also liked blending it out with a brush on the back of my hand first and then dabbing the brush onto my cheeks for the colour to be less intense.

The formula itself was very lightweight, almost watery, but super comfortable. It also stays put even though it’s easy to remove. I did layer powder blush to make sure my makeup look lasted all day, but I’m confident it would last on an evening out without any topping up.

As long as I didn’t use too much product, I found it really easy to blend. I’m more used to cream and stick formulas, so felt like this required a little more effort. Having said that, the results definitely paid off – I loved how it looked. I went on holiday with my sister and she (unsuccessfully) tried to steal it from my makeup bag – that’s when I knew it was a keeper! I might even have to treat myself to more shades…

VANESSA'S HOURGLASS UNREAL LIQUID BLUSH REVIEW

• Skin tone: Light olive

• Shade reviewed: Hourglass Unreal Liquid Blush, £38.00 in Craft

A girl can never have too many blushes, so of course I had to give this Hourglass blush a go. I love all things Hourglass – the brand’s palettes are pretty much a staple in my daily makeup routine – so I was excited to try a liquid formula from the brand for a change!

Firstly, I love the design of this blush, it’s so unique – you have to shake the little bottle beforehand and then push the bottom of it to get product out. I applied it straight onto my face, and made sure not to go overboard. I blended it out with my brush and was impressed with how pigmented it was – I love a blush that packs a punch so this is right up my alley. Texture wise, it felt very smooth, and it blended out perfectly. I found it very easy to use, and I don’t think you’d need to be a liquid blush fiend to get great results.

Despite having oily skin, I love liquid blushes – but because makeup sometimes doesn’t last long on me I will always layer with a blush powder. I did use this blush without powder to test its endurance and I’m happy to say that overall it lasted well throughout the day. There were times when it would fade off, but that was on full-on days when I had a lot going on – and when you deal with oily skin durability is never a given!

To sum up, it was love at first swipe. I’ve been using it almost every day for the past few weeks and not just because I was testing it for this review – I have a feeling I’m going to keep reaching out for it!

THE VERDICT

The results are clear – Hourglass Unreal Liquid Blush has been a big hit with the team, with Yasmin even referring to it as “probably my favourite liquid blush I've ever used.”

The Pros: Everyone was pleased with the finish, colour payoff, durability and ease when it came to blending it, and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to those who love blush.

The Cons: Emily pointed out that first timers fight not find this product the easiest to use. “I think it might be more suited to people who are already experienced with liquid and cream blush,” she says. “Unless you’re happy to apply it straight it to the face, the applicator isn’t necessarily ‘on the go’ friendly. I would recommend taking the time to apply it.” Vanessa also thinks the dewiness could be tricky for oilier skin types. “Don’t get me wrong, I loved it – but I had a few days in the sun where it didn’t last as much as I would have liked it to. It hasn’t put me off though, I still love it!”

MORE FROM HOURGLASS

Hourglass is celebrated for many of its base products – including the powder blushes, bronzers and Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette, £68.00. We think these will pair beautifully with the new blush! Additionally, if you’re after a dewy, natural base, Hourglass Veil Hydrating Skin Tint, £49.00 is a must-try.

Then, as we mentioned, there’s the one and only Hourglass Unlocked Instant Extensions Mascara, £32.00 – the name really does say it all. Then of course, there is the famous Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder, £50.00 to not only keep your makeup in place all day, but also to create an incredible skin-blurring effect. For lips, the Hourglass Shape and Sculpt Lip Liner, £30.00 are a perfect match for both the Hourglass Unlocked Soft Matte Lipstick, £37.00 and iconic Hourglass Phantom Volumizing Glossy Balm, £36.00.