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Crazy About Creams! Hourglass Illume Sheer Color Trio in Sunset

by 23 Comments

hourglass illume sunset trio
OH, HAI, GORGEOUS!

This month I am CRAZY ABOUT CREAMS. Stay tuned for some of my favorite cream makeup products all throughout January.

First, happy hump day to ya. Second, here are a couple fun facts about the $62 Hourglass Illume Trio in Sunset (you know, to get you ready for Makeup Final Jeopardy!).

Like the name implies, it’s a trio. It has a cream bronzer, a blush and a highlighter, and the first time it launched was back in 2010 (my gosh, have I really been writing about makeup that long?). Back then, it was only a duo, and it was $40 instead of $62. It came with just a cream blush and a bronzer in some fun-kay packaging. It had a different logo and this huge swivel mirror that you could turn 360 degrees around.

hourglass illume sunset trio swatches
The trio on medium tan, warm skin. For reference, I’m an NC42 in MAC.

The new version looks totally different on the outside (no more cray-cray mirror), and now that it’s a trio, it also comes with the cream highlighter.

Quality-wise, I think the trio is just as good as the O.G. duo, and yes, I still have one of the original duos because I am Marie Kondo’s freakin’ nightmare, and I’ve kept it around because I’m a hoarder.

What can I say? I don’t use it anymore…although I probably could. It doesn’t smell or look funny (which is my totally unscientific way of determining if I need to throw something out).

hourglass illume sunset trio k
Cheeeeeeeks!

Anyway, the colors in the current trio version are similar to the colors in the O.G. one. You get the same medium peach blush and warm golden bronze, but now you also get a pearly golden beige highlighter.

You know, as pricey as Hourglass products are, the brand does flawless creams (see: their cream stick foundation, which is EPIC), and I love this trio for the same reasons I loved the original Sunset. First, the creams apply seamlessly and actually stay put. These aren’t the types of creams that just slide right off. And second, the bronzer isn’t muddy. Bonus: All three of the colors pull together effortlessly.

I love how natural my cheeks look when I wear this, and it really doesn’t matter what type of base coverage I’m rocking on any given day (sheer, medium, full, whatever!) or eyeshadows I’m wearing. These matte shades work with anything and everything.

When you feel these creams on your fingers, you’ll notice that they have a slightly thicker consistency than most cream blushes and bronzers (so they have more “teeth” than thinner products like the MAC Cream Colour Bases and the MAC Paint Pots), and that extra oomph helps them adhere closely to the skin.

Despite that, these creams still marvelously merge with whatever products you apply them on top of, so you don’t see any edges once you’ve blended them in. The creams have just the right amount of “fade” to them, and all it takes is a light dab using your fingers, a brush or sponge.

SO GOOD.

hourglass illume sunset trio packaging

Granted…for $62, this trio better be all that and a bag of TJ’s Cheese Crunchies! Thankfully, it totally is. I could wear this day in, day out and not be left wanting something else.

Oh, and if you happen to have the Ambient Lighting Powder in Mood (the light lavender shade), by the way, the Sunset trio looks GORGEOUS with a few sweeps of Mood dusted lightly on top of your upper cheekbones.

Welcome, Wednesday!

If it’s also raining where you are, be careful on the roads. Also, don’t forget to wear waterproof mascara today, which reminds me… I’m a little panicked because I think my favorite waterproof mascara, Urban Decay Cannonball, might have been discontinued… RUH-ROH! It’s out of stock in a lot of places, and Sephora says there’s only a few left.

Dang! Why are all the good things always phased out?!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. This is very tempting😬 The blush and bronzer look beautiful, it’s only two weeks into the new year and by no-buy is being seriously tested.

    Reply

    • How long is your no buy, Ewa? I wouldn’t worry about this one going away… It’s been in some form in the permanent line for 10 years now, so you can always come back to it. STICK TO YOUR GUNS! YOU CAN DO IT!

      Reply

  2. I am newly obsessed with Hourglass products. I just bought the Nude blush, I love the ambient lighting palette, and I tried a sample of the foundation stock and hot damn. I just bought something I didn’t need but wanted from sephora in order to get a sample of their new liquid foundation. Now I’m wondering if I need this! I’m starting to love wearing creams on my face in the winter months. Also Pixiwoo used this in a lot of their videos and I’m obsessed with them.

    Reply

    • Hi Jade,

      I mean, I’ve had it around for 10 years and I still love it. It’s definitely a solid performer in their line. If you haven’t already tried them the Girl Lip Stylos are lovely. So is the Lip Oil, which is $$$ but very effective. I stock up whenever there’s a Sephora VIB sale.

      Reply

      • Stylos are on my list, not sure about lip oils, I’ve tried the Burt’s Bee’s one and did not think it even did anything. Are the stylos moisturizing at all? I’m getting over a sinus infection from Thanksgiving and my lips are like a desert!

        Reply

        • I think they are, but it is pricey so if you’re not feeling it just skip it. I feel like if you’re gonna spend that kind of $$$ it should go toward something that really makes your heart beat, ya know?

          Sorry to hear about your sinus infection. I’ve had so many this fall/winter so I feel you! The only thing saving my skin is Fresh Seaberry Oil.

          Reply

  3. You look amazing in that picture! Not to bring attention to your grays because I know you are unsure about them but I think they look great. Like threads of silver through your hair! Super pretty!

    Reply

    • Thanks, Susan!

      The grays are so crazy at the moment (especially because they stick up at weird angles, especially in the front of my hairline) but I figure I might as well roll with them (for now, at least). 🙂

      Reply

  4. I’ve been eying this but assumed the colors wouldn’t work for me, especially that bronzer. (nc35)
    But they look marvelous on you Karen! Adding it to my list!

    Reply

    • Hi Amanda,

      Thank you! I’m wearing two shades of Chantecaille cream matte eyeshadow, Bee and Sylvie, with a little bit of the Hourglass highlighter tapped onto the brow bone and inner corner.

      Reply

  7. I rarely wear bronzer (sometimes it can make me look sunkissed but sometimes it looks weird with freckles) but this is right up my alley. I mostly do non-powder blushes and this is exactly the kind of color I go for, and I love highlighter too. I definitely don’t NEED this but it’s tempting.

    Reply

  9. I think this looks so naturally pretty on you! And your grays are coming in nice! I just watched a YouTube video on the struggles of growing out “glittery strand” highlights.

    Reply

    • Hi Diana,

      Thank you! So, re: grays. You’d think it would be easy growing them out (just sit there and let it happen, right?), but there’s some challenges. I’m at the point where it doesn’t look I’m doing it on purpose so I feel like I appear disheveled, like I missed my last few coloring appointments. AHH! Just gotta get through it. I think once it gets down to my cheeks it’ll be a little bit easier. That’s the hope, at least. 🙂

      Anyway, happy Thursday to you. One day more ’til the weekend!

      Reply

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