Hourglass Veil Hydrating Skin Tint

Where I got it

In recent years, I have grown fond of hydrating foundations and sheer tints. Mattifying foundations and full-coverage are no longer what I look for in a foundation (well, I do have 1-2 really good demi-matte finish, full-coverage foundation that is non-drying) because they can accentuate my enlarged pores, fine lines, and texture; thus aging me. As I age, my skincare and makeup style and needs have changed. I still have combination skin, but no longer extra oily and my skin is loving the sebum my body produces and I have achieved a good balance. My skin now needs hydration and moisture, I prefer a hydrated and moisturised look instead of a flat, matte finish.

Within the last 3-4 years, I have tried a good number of skin tints and have had good experience with most of them. This one here by Hourglass was launched around mid-2023. I have not tried any foundations from Hourglass, so I had to go into my local Mecca to test out the shades. I tried shades 3, 4, and 5 and it looks like shade 4 was a good match despite it being described as light with cool undertones. I am usually either neutral or warm undertones, but shade 5 was a bit too yellow and shade 3 was a bit too light. Skin tints are sheer and flexible, therefore it should be very forgiving if it is not a perfect match. At Mecca, it was $89 and came in 18 shades.

What I got

This is the Hourglass Veil Hydrating Skin Tint (shade 4, 35ml). The below information is from hourglasscosmetics.com: A lightweight skin tint that instantly boosts skin’s moisture levels by 52% and provides all-day hydration for a dewy, healthy-looking glow. This formula melts instantly into the skin, providing comfortable all-day wear and a sheer veil of coverage to diffuse imperfections and even skin tone, while visibly plumping and smoothing the complexion. It’s formulated with 94% naturally–derived ingredients including hyaluronic acid to deeply hydrate and enhance skin’s radiance. Also infused with plant-based squalane, meadowfoam seed oil, and a rambutan blend, the formula instantly makes skin look and feel smoother while providing continuous nourishment throughout the day.  

KEY INGREDIENTS

• Meadowfoam Seed Oil: Replenishes with nourishing fatty acids to strengthen the skin moisture barrier.
• Hyaluronic Acid: Helps attract water to plump skin with hydration.
• Plant-Based Squalane: Provides protection against moisture loss to help retain skin’s natural radiance.
• Naturally Derived Rambutan Blend: Increases hydration to boost moisture levels over time.

How I find it

I bought this without reading up on other people’s reviews or first impressions, so this is my unbiased first impression of this skin tint. My first time using this, I used a moisturising sunscreen serum underneath that had a little bit of glow. I squeezed a small amount on the back of my hand (about the size of a green pea) and applied it to my face using the flat spatula method. It applies the skin tint in a sheer layer and then I blend it out with a foundation brush.  You can see how thin it is on my skin and the shade I have chosen looks acceptable.

Once blended out, it is a nice, even sheer coverage. It leaves my skin feeling and looking hydrated with a natural glow. As you can see below, I only have the skin tint and nothing else on my face. It doesn’t cover my dark circles or dark spots and acne scarring, but it gives my skin a light layer of coverage to even out my skin tone. For more coverage, this can be layered to a light-medium coverage.

Overall

This skin tint is not a long-wearing foundation, therefore would fade throughout the day and when you blow your nose, etc. If you want to prolong the wear of the skin tint, you could apply setting powder to set it. I would need to use a concealer to cover my dark circles because this skin tint does nothing for my dark circles. Touching up is easy, where I would blot any excess sebum and tint that has moved, and then apply the skin tint in a light patting motion (preferably with a cushion sponge or a damp beauty sponge).