A Simply Beautiful Makeup Trend

If you don’t like heavy makeup, then you’ll be happy to hear that a simple, clean face with bright lips is the beauty trend of the season, according to Carisa Janes, founder/CEO of Hourglass Cosmetics. She points to the recent Golden Globes, where many stars, such as Jessica Alba, showed off a more natural glow instead of a dramatic look.

Alba’s makeup was by Hourglass, a luxurious Venice, Calif.-based beauty brand launched in 2004 without use of any parabens, animal-testing or gluten.

“I felt like something was missing in the market, and I wanted to create a luxury line for the modern woman,” says Janes during a visit to Hawaii last week for Hourglass events at Sephora. “I have very sensitive skin, and I had acne (as a teenager and an adult) and needed something that covered. But I also wanted anti-aging, I wanted SPF, I didn’t want fragrance in my foundation, and I wanted something simple.”

So Janes created makeup that was not only beautiful, but also good for you. For example, the No. 28 Primer Serum is infused with 14 essential oils, a blend of 10 lipid-rich plant oils and enriched with four skin-rejuvenating vitamins (A, B5, C and E) — making it the perfect potion for hydrating and anti-aging.

There also are the Immaculate Liquid Powder Foundation for those with oily skin, and the new Ambient Lighting Powder, which is a finishing powder that captures, diffuses and softens surrounding light with groundbreaking photoluminescent technology.

To get Alba’s look: Prep skin with Hourglass No. 28 Primer Serum, followed by Hourglass Illusion Tinted Moisturizer in Sand. Then use Hourglass Hidden Corrective Concealer in Warm under the eyes, down the bridge of the nose and fanned out in the center of the forehead to create dimension. Finish the skin with Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Radiant Light. For her cheeks, the bronze shade from Hourglass Illume Creme-to-Powder Bronzer Duo in Sunset was used to contour, followed with the blush shade on the apples of the cheeks.

For eyes, apply Hourglass Film Noir Kohl Eye Pencil in Espresso to the outer corners and smudge it with a brush. Then apply Hourglass Superficial Waterproof Bronzer in the crease of the eyes and the gold shade from Hourglass Visionaire Eye Shadow Duo in Dune on the lids. Her lashes are coated with Hourglass Film Noir Full Spectrum Mascara, and her brows are amplified with Hourglass Arch Sculpting Brow Pencil in Soft Brunette. On her lips is Hourglass Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick in Riviera.