Product Review -- Hourglass Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation Stick

As big a fan of Hourglass Cosmetics as I am, I've never had much like with their foundations.

I love the finish and coverage of the Veil Fluid Makeup, but the lightest shade is too dark and yellow for my fair skin.

The Immaculate Liquid Powder Foundation offers a good shade match for me, but the formula is mattifying so I can only use it during the summer months.

So when I heard that they were coming out with the Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation Sticks, I was hopeful that it would finally be the foundation option that would work for me without any qualifications.

In recent years, I've kind of fallen in love with foundation sticks. They're just so quick and easy to use that they're perfect for days when you're in a hurry.

However, I've discovered that not all foundation sticks are created equal.

Some settle in pores for an unattractive look. Others are so greasy that they disappear within a few hours. And then there are those that are too dry and don't blend out easily.

I was hoping that the Vanish Seamless Finish would sidestep most, if not all, of those pitfalls.

The stick comes in the same sort of dark bronze-y brown metallic packaging that most of Hourglass's products do. The foundation stick actually features a triangular shape so it's easier to navigate the contours of your face, which means the packaging has a triangular shape too.

Hourglass Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation Stick

Hourglass Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation Stick in Blanc

The foundation has the ideal consistency -- it's creamy so it blends easily into the skin, but it's not so greasy that it's going to slide off your face or disappear in a matter of hours. 

Hourglass markets it as a full coverage foundation that can double as a concealer -- I think that's pushing it a bit. The foundation seems more medium coverage to me, and darker spots may require a little extra concealer to cover up. 

Still, you want to be careful not to apply too much of the foundation or it can look cakey and settle in pores and fine lines. 

Blending it well is key -- when I first applied it, I thought it looked awful ... so I blended for another 30 seconds or so and like magic, it looked pretty much flawless. 

(FYI -- I swiped the product on my skin directly from the stick and then used a kabuki brush to blend it in.)

Its finish isn't quite matte, but it's not dewy either. I guess I'd call it semi-matte or natural.

All I know is that it made my skin look beautiful -- and I don't say that about many foundations.

I purchased the foundation in the lightest shade, Blanc, which is meant for very fair skin with cool undertones, and it's a near perfect match for my porcelain skin. The shade range is pretty large (26 shades, I believe) so I think there should be a match for many people.

Hourglass Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation Stick in Blanc

My skin just looks so bright and smooth and ... beautiful with this foundation.  So I'm pretty much in love.

The only issue I have with the Vanish Seamless Finish is that you only get 0.25 ounces of product and it costs $46.

That's a lot of money for so little product.

As a result, this is probably going to be my special occasion foundation.

But if money wasn't an issue, I would wear this stuff every damn day.

I definitely recommend checking it out if you like stick foundations (and feel like splurging).

You can find the foundation at Sephora or on the Hourglass website.

Have you tried the Hourglass Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation Stick? What is your favorite stick foundation?