My Honest Review of American Makeup Brand Holme Beauty. Here’s my Top Picks
These products are so multi dimensional and forgiving.
Everything feels thought through and the way they transform the skin is amazing.
The quality feels and performs as high end and the cost per ml is *amazing* value.
Beyond that, Hilary’s honesty is so refreshing.
I love her ethos about community building and supporting women.
A total gem, and I had the privilege of being in one of her famous master classes at a showcase.
There’s a huge focus on customer education, not ripping them off, and creating a genuine community.
It’s in their brand DNA to #backyourbeauty
PS: Formulating and creating makeup in the land of Aus is not cheap- so I think the below offerings will really shock you.
Setting Spray
$55/100ml
A wonderful experience and formula.
It’s not a thin watery mist- it’s a juicy, plumping texture that has some body to it, which helps it make makeup stay and not smudge.
Honestly, glow in a bottle.
I love sprays like this, the shimmer is extremely fine and doesn’t show as glitter on the skin.
The dimension to it isn’t just bronze or gold, there’s different colours and tones through it if you look *super* closely which help how flattering it looks on the skin.
A divine product. Very well thought out.
Completely unique to the brand, in my opinion.
I had a MAC one that had a similar vibe, and I loved (and emptied!) it- but after using the Holme Beauty one, I’ve never looked back.
Also, scented (lightly) to finish the experience off.
Base Primer
$70/40ml
I use shade “Bang” for all over the face & shade “Boom” for bronzing.
A huge 40ml (take note of the $/ml compared to other brands)- this honestly could be a skin tint, primer, under glow product or subtle highlighter.
It isn’t coating or suffocating on the skin and blends seamlessly.
Also, easily applies on top of powder (yea!!!) and doesn’t pill at all.
This might be in a similar family to the CT flawless filter but it’s got much more staying powder and longevity in it.
Blurs texture and lines wonderfully.
The hero is the jojoba oil that is technically a wax, so helps control oil but doesn’t let your makeup break apart or separate throughout the day.
It has an amazing ability to flex, too, so no settling into fine lines!
I went to link the shade I’m wearing, “Phoebe” and it’s currently sold out.
No kidding! This launch was deeply special, each shade connected to a woman that inspired Hilary.
My favourite shade, Gemma, a Baby Pink that’s juicy as anything, is intensely pigmented so isn’t for the faint of blush heart- but the other shades are at that perfect “chuck on in the morning” pigment level that you can’t go wrong with.
There are light reflecting particles that help smooth the skin and give it a lit from within glow that doesn’t feel oily or heavy.
Bonus points? “Jojoba Seed Oil, Vitamin E, Hilurlip (an active complex containing Hyaluronic Acid and Tri-Peptide 1 at its full claim level of 2%), Glycerine, and Kakadu Plum Seed Extract.”
$38
I love the shade “Drip”. I’m a gloss girl through and through.
This is a wonderful.
The glitter is not sharp or gritty (thank gosh).
Packed with HA at proven %, Shea butter and jojoba, it’s completely non sticky and nourishing on the lips.
I find the tint to this one is pigmented enough to not bother with a lipstick underneath.
Also has a refreshing “subtle hit of Peppermint Oil, refreshing the mouth without impacting palate.”
Empowder Duette
$79.00 / 13g
With the higher price point of this powder, came a higher level of scrutiny.
I’m very passionate about recommending high performing products, and if they don’t live up to their price point they get moved aside very quickly.
The price point merited a comparison (below) with my other high-end luxury powders- including my holy grail ByTerry HA pressed powder ($89/ 7.5g) and the viral Charlotte Tilbury Setting powder ($73/10g).
Record scratch!!! SHOCK. HORROR.
Not only does it completely beat them in terms of pick up / performance / seamlessness, it’s almost double the size of my ByTerry HG and still more affordable.
Were these ever going to be affordable options? No- they’re luxury.
However- the price comparison is stark and worth listening to.
You also get two shades to work with with the Empowder Duette, which can be used by themselves or mixed.
Holme Beauty $6.10/1g
ByTerry $11.85/1g
Charlotte Tilbury $7.30/1g
$37/1.65g
I could do an entire write up on these.
Not too creamy, not too firm.
Easy to apply crisp lines- with a huge focus on inclusion for packaging: squared off pencils, easier to hold, sharpen, and they don’t run away from you when you put them on their side.
I’ve included a swatch video below.
There’s More
I’ve covered the products I’ve had the privilege to test, try and reuse again and again.
There are other products in the Holme Beauty line that I haven’t had the opportunity to test or that don’t fall into the holy grail category as the above do.
I do know however that supporting Holme is so much deeper than makeup, as reflected in their education focus and masterclass program.