Hourglass No 28 Primer Serum Review / Swatches

The super pricey Hourglass No 28 Primer Serum featured within my most recent Feel unique Haul, and I promised I’d dedicate a whole post to it once I’d put it through its paces. I’ve seen so much praise for the Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer but after trying the NYX Angel Veil Primer which is supposedly a brilliant dupe, I just didn’t love the formula or finish so I’ve never tried it for myself. The Hourglass No 28 Primer Serum £62 popped up on my primer radar after watching a Kathleen Lights video where she really raved about it and described it as being perfect for those with Sahara dry skin which is definitely me, and said it’s for those that have tried every primer under the sun but nothing is hydrating enough.

My makeup always looks relatively OK when first applied, but within a hour my dry patches start to become more obvious and horrible and it’s something I’m really self conscious about as it detracts from any of my other makeup. I seem to really like the products which Kathleen does and although this is the priciest primer I’ve ever tried, I couldn’t wait to report back as I’m in love with it even though I’ve tried desperately to find faults as I didn’t want to become obsessed with a £62 primer, but alas I am.

“A primer and serum in one infused with 28 beneficial ingredients to nourish and prepare your skin for a flawless makeup application. The silky, lightweight oil blend glides on, absorbs to prime the skin and hydrates the complexion. 

 Innovative dual-purpose product nourishes the skin and prepares it for a flawless makeup application.
• Sensorial botanical blend glides on, absorbs into the skin and creates a refined and retexturized surface for makeup.
• Softens the appearance of fines lines and wrinkles and extends the durability of your foundation.
• The formula repels water, so that makeup stays looking fresh.
• Contains 28 beneficial ingredients to nourish the complexion. The number 28 refers to:
– 14 essential oils that soften the complexion: bois de rose, lavender, geranium, petitgrain, lemon, rosemary, vanilla, clove, amyris, orange, ylang ylang, eucalyptus, cedar and rose geranium
– 10 lipid-rich plant oils that help to hydrate the skin’s underlying layers: hazelnut, kukui nut, rose hip, borage, olive, green tea, cherry pit, sweet almond, jojoba and evening primrose
– 4 nourishing vitamins that condition the complexion: A, B5, C and E.
• The luxurious formulation can also be used as a serum at night, or on hair to seal split ends.“

How impressive is the Hourglass No 28 Primer Serum product description?! I always like to give the claims a brand makes within my post so it saves you having to search for more product information, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many claims for a makeup primer before.

I have the full size 30ml bottle, but they do a travel size 8ml for £24 which I know is tiny, but it allows you to fully try the formula to see what you think without splashing out for the full size which I really appreciate as there’s nothing worse than spending mega bucks on a full size product to then discover you hate it or it breaks you out.

I have super dry skin so I’m naturally drawn to any product which claims to hydrate or nourish the skin which is why I knew I had to try this primer although there’s no way I’m using a £62 primer on my dry ends.

The packaging is stunning just like any Hourglass product, with a frosted weighty glass bottle and a brown metallic lid and pump. The primer itself is a light pink colour which applies like a slightly thickened serum rather than a primer which I guess is why this product is so effective and so expensive.

It’s a makeup and skincare hybrid offering you real skin benefits whilst also enhancing your makeup, with a brilliant pump allowing you full control on how much you dispense which is something you need with a £62 primer. The primer has only one tiny negative for me and that’s the scent, it’s quite a strong herbal scent which only lasts for ten seconds max but I just don’t like it but as it doesn’t linger it’s not a deal breaker for me as it ticks every other box for me.

The Hourglass No 28 Primer Serum feels like a primer, an oil and a serum all in one and smooths into the skin easily leaving a lovely dewy finish. Hourglass recommend waiting two minutes after application for it to absorb and it leaves my skin looking and feeling very silky and dewy just how it does after applying my skincare.

Through trial and error I’ve found that I only need around a twenty pence sized amount per use but I sometimes just use a tiny amount just on my dry patches and use a more affordable primer for the rest of my face to try and make it last for as long as possible. I really don’t know how it does it, but when using this primer my dry patches are almost non-existent and their uneven texture really is refined like the claims.

I wouldn’t use this primer for my no-makeup makeup days as I’d rather save it for when I’m wearing a full face of foundation so I get the best results but I’ve never tried a primer quite like this before. It makes my skin look even, smooth, flawless and dewy and also allows me to be a bit more varied in which foundations I can use as I’d normally only be able to wear dewy more radiant foundations as they’re less likely to cling to dry patches. I can use pretty much any foundation finish I want when using the Hourglass No 28 Primer Serum underneath as it preps my skin perfectly so I feel like it’s giving me a lot more choice in which products I can use.

There’s no doubt the price is very high so I’d recommend testing instore before purchasing even if you just apply some to the back of your hand and then apply some foundation over the top so you can see the amazing finish for yourself. I’m always very wary of saying “I really recommend this” when a product isn’t affordable as it is more of an investment than say a £7 Revolution Pro primer, but the results speak for themselves and without a doubt, the Hourglass No 28 Primer Serum is the best primer I have ever used.

Have you tried either of the Hourglass foundation primers before?

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