INTERVIEW WITH CARISSA JANES OF HOURGLASS

On founding Hourglass…

I founded Hourglass in 2004 because I saw a gap in the market for a luxury brand that fused innovation with purpose. As a lover of animals, I envisioned creating high-performing products with transformative results that left no living being harmed.

On her earliest memory of makeup…

I’ve had an interest in makeup for as long as I can remember. As a child, I would watch my mother do her beauty routine, mesmerized by the transformation. With a smoky eye and a swipe of lipstick, she became a completely different woman. Because of that, makeup has always held a sort of magical power in my mind. When I was a teenager, my mom took me to the Chanel counter for my first makeup application with a woman named Victoria. It was simple—just some powder, light eye makeup, and lip gloss. But it's an experience I’ll never forget.

On the best beauty advice, she has received…

Wear sunscreen every day, no matter the season—and don’t forget your neck!

On fashion versus beauty…

I studied fashion in Parsons School of Design in New York and have seen a ton of overlap within the two industries—creativity, self-expression, craftsmanship, and the desire to be constantly evolving and reinventing. I would say the biggest difference in beauty and skincare is the level of science and testing involved. A product has to be safe, stable, and perform as you say it will on a massive range of people, so there’s a lot at stake.

On innovation…

We’ve always been a purpose-driven brand, with a focus on creating beautiful, high-performance products. I think the initiatives we’ve launched since becoming fully vegan and venturing more into sustainable packaging–were natural next steps. We have a core mission to protect animal welfare and create positive change for the world around us and that keeps us inspired.

And inspiration…

I’m inspired by everything from art and technology to places such as Venice, California, Tokyo, and Stockholm to the women in my family who taught me to love and appreciate makeup. One of my mother’s best-kept beauty secrets was to use pink lightbulbs in the house because they created the most flattering light. That was the inspiration behind our best-selling Ambient Lighting Powders.

On creating a cruelty brand…

As our brand grew from the early days in 2004, we re-examined what it meant to truly be cruelty-free. 80% of our line was already vegan to begin with, but how could we call ourselves cruelty-free if we still used animal-derived ingredients? Our new definition of cruelty-free is inclusive of no animal ingredients and no animals harmed at any point in the production process. We reformulated the remainder of our products and became fully vegan at the end of 2020. Our brand ethos has also evolved towards making wider positive change. We’re looking towards sustainable packaging as our next steps and already have some exciting launches in the works.

On tips for making our daily beauty routine more sustainable…

Overall, I would say to consider your purchasing power. Consumers vote with their wallets, and you can express your values through the things you buy, whether it’s a vegan red lipstick or a jacket made from sustainable materials. As for your routine, I always recommend our Confession Lipsticks to friends as a luxurious option that is also sustainable. The packaging is refillable, so you can purchase one of the sleek, gold applicators and simply add in replacement shades when you want to switch it up. Even that small choice to invest in something reusable makes a difference.

On her skincare philosophy…

Less is more. I love that our Equilibrium Day Ritual is just 3 steps—Rebalancing Cream Cleanser, Restoring Essence, Day Fluid SPF 30—and you’re out the door. As for makeup, I always prefer a more natural look on myself, and I love effortless, undone hair. Skincare will continue to be a key focus for us in 2021 as we expand our unique skincare offerings and continue to utilize our proprietary Cell Balancing Complex™—which is a powerful blend of youth lipids that rebalances, restores, and renews the skin barrier—across a wider range of products.

On her top tips for long lasting makeup…

A good setting powder and setting spray go a long way! Our Veil line offers two products that work amazingly for this, and the best part is that they’re super lightweight. The Veil Translucent Setting Powder is finely-milled to blur pores with soft-focus, light-reflecting particles that give your skin a naturally flawless finish, and the Veil Soft Focus Setting Spray is the perfect top-off. The mist is ultra-fine and hydrating. It’s like adding a soft-focus lens to your skin while making makeup last all day!

On the importance of working with a charity partner…

As the only civil rights organization in the U.S. working to secure fundamental rights for animals, the Nonhuman Rights Project is very dear to my heart and our partnership with them as been a natural fit from day one. As part of our mission, we donate 1% of annual profits from our site and 5% of annual profits from all Unlocked ™ products to support NhRP’s cause.

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