For over a decade now, I've given advice on so many beauty-related things, including the makeup products that are worth the hype, the fragrances that get my husband's attention, fun beauty trends you most definitely don't want to skip, and secrets to achieving an effortless glow (just to name a few). So it should come as no surprise that I'm now sharing the Hourglass Ambient Soft Glow Foundation ($58) for its glow-inducing powers and buildable coverage.
But that's what you'd expect of the brand's most buzzed-about launch within the Ambient Lighting family, the makeup collection known for delivering that flawless, effortless glow everyone is after. This foundation does just that and more: It's formulated with blurring spheres and light-diffusing pigments to help soften the look of skin imperfections while minimizing the look of pores, lines, and wrinkles. It's also made with antioxidant-rich ingredients like vitamin E and white-tea extract, which give the formula its super-blendable, second-skin finish while protecting it against outside stressors and blue light induced free radicals. I'm not a foundation-every-day sort of girl, but I have to admit how impressed I am by the shade range (32 shades to be exact!), the lightweight formula, and how easy it is to blend into my skin, especially when I use the Ambient Soft Glow Foundation Brush ($47). My co-workers are equally as impressed and have thoughts. Keep scrolling for all of their takes.
Michaela Bushkin, Fashion Director, Branded Content
"I usually prefer liquid foundations, so I was excited to try this one from Hourglass. It's advertised as a medium-coverage product, but I found it leaned more toward full coverage. In the winter, I'd likely apply it as is, but for summer, I mixed in equal parts foundation and this complexion booster for a softer, glowier result. And pro tip: Application is best with a brush rather than a sponge."
Sarah Yang, Contributor
"This foundation literally looked like I had an Instagram filter on, and basically, that's all you need to know about it. But seriously, I love the natural, almost matte finish, which erased any shininess. I'm dealing with some hyperpigmentation (summer!), and it did a good job of evening out my skin tone. It concealed some of my redness, but I had to add some extra concealer to my nose since I'm looking like Rudolph these days. While I'm all about the dewy foundation right now, I would definitely reach for this one when I want a more matte (but not too matte) finish."
Erin Jahns, Beauty Director
"Let me just preface this by saying that for the first time in years, I finally feel like I have a couple of foundations (ahem, Kosas and Charlotte Tilbury) that I really love. So even though I love everything Hourglass makes, I wasn't super jazzed to test out something new. (You know the whole "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" thing.) But I have to say I'm super impressed with this foundation, and it fully lived up to all of the claims touted by the brand. I wore it for a full workday in my 90-degree apartment, and by the time I looked in the bathroom mirror at 5 p.m., it looked the same (if not better!) as it did in the morning. It blends easily, but where it really excels is how lightweight it feels and how airbrushed and filtered it makes your skin look. I'm shamelessly addicted to the Paris filter on IG, but when I posted a selfie wearing this foundation, I didn't even feel the need! Oh, and if you buy this foundation, I also highly recommend grabbing the Ambient Soft Glow Foundation Brush. It feels like velvet and is perhaps the best foundation brush I've ever used."
Shawna Hudson, Associate Beauty Editor
"I honestly really like the formula of this foundation, but I couldn't shade match to save my life! I got two different shades, and neither of them was quite right, but I digress. The dry-down of this formula is really nice and blends out really easily. I paired this with my Vanish Airbrush Concealer and loved how it looked! It's also a great foundation when you're in a hurry. I didn't have to spend much time blending—the formula just glides onto your face without getting stiff. It could have provided just a tad more coverage for me because I don't like to use a ton of product at once. But overall, it's pretty good, and you can build it up pretty well. Hourglass really does make amazing products (hello, Ambient Lighting Powder and Seamless Finish Foundation Stick), so once I get my shade right, I'll definitely be adding it to my rotation!"
Natalie Gray Herder, Editor, Branded Content
"Let me start by saying this is the first foundation I've gotten excited about in a while. For years, I've been rotating between the same tinted sunscreens and have avoided using a proper foundation. With one pump, I was able to achieve medium, natural-looking coverage that let my freckles shine through. Shade 3.5 was a bit yellow for my skin tone, but it blended seamlessly and looks almost undetectable. (Trust me. I checked every mirror before leaving the house.) It's also been 90°F in NYC, and my makeup stayed put. So far, this foundation is a winner in my book."
Caitie Schlisserman, Executive Director, Branded Content
"I'm not a huge foundation person and generally prefer lighter, dewier formulas, but I still really, really liked this. Even though it felt more full coverage to me, I was pleasantly surprised by the lightweight texture and how seamlessly it blended into my skin. I think it's a really good option to pull out to use for an event or a wedding because it would stay put all night long. Plus, I could mix in my favorite moisturizer to give it a lighter finish if I wanted. Options mean everything to me!"
This post was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.
