HOURGLASS HOLIDAY 26: WHERE FINE JEWELRY MEETS THE ART OF LIGHT

For years now, beauty obsessives the world over have started dreaming about the annual holiday collection from Hourglass Cosmetics well before the season kicks in – and I’m one of them.
At the heart of the near-cultlike obsession is the Ambient Lighting Edit Unlocked Collection palette offering: instantly collectable and absolutely gorgeous, as well as filled with all you need for a lit-from-within-glow all year round. And as every year features limited-edition metal cases - such as animal themes or designer collaborations – you will always need more than one!

A creative collaboration in motion
All of which brings me to this year’s superlative offering, which I was introduced to over a beautiful lunch with the team from LA and Sydney at Tāmaki Makaurau’s Hotel Britomart – a location as chic as the iconic brand.
For this holiday season, Hourglass unveiled a celebration of craftsmanship, where the innovation behind its iconic Ambient Lighting Powders meets the refined world of fine jewellery design via a collaboration with acclaimed French jewellery designer, Lauren Rubinski.
The limited-edition offering is inspired by the universal symbolism of love, hope, luck, and protection, and the creative partnership was born from a shared commitment to exceptional design, meticulous detail, and beauty as an art form. Together, Hourglass and Rubinski have effortlessly transformed beauty into collectible keepsakes, bringing her signature motifs from pendant to palette.
“With this year’s collection, we're proud to continue our tradition of celebrating female creatives through a collaboration with French jewellery designer Lauren Rubinski,” says Carisa Janes, Founder and President of Hourglass Cosmetics of the collection.
“Known for uniting French elegance with Italian craftsmanship, Lauren’s work reflects the same balance of heritage and modernity that defines Hourglass. Her creations celebrate individuality, passion, and authenticity - a shared belief that beauty is a form of personal expression.”

 

Both brands are also crafted in Italy, which makes for an even greater synergy. Each Ambient Lighting powder is individually handcrafted using Hourglass' signature Miscelare Technique, an intricate process that blends pigment and light to create uniquely marbled powders. No two powders are exactly alike, making every palette a one-of-a-kind expression of artistry. The result is a collection that bridges two creative worlds: the detail of fine jewellery and the innovation of beauty.

The finer details
The limited-edition Ambient Lighting Edit Unlocked Collection features four distinctive designs inspired by Lauren Rubinski's signature jewellery pendants. They are:

WISH Inspired by the four-leaf clover, a symbol of luck, happiness, and protection, Wish captures the optimism of possibility through soft rose tones, radiant apricot hues, and luminous champagne light.

HOPE Featuring a heart-shaped key, Hope symbolizes confidence, new beginnings, and infinite possibility. A harmonious blend of rose, plum, champagne, and bronze tones creates a multidimensional glow that feels both radiant and empowering.

LUCK This embodies symbolism of an upside-down horseshoe - pouring luck onto others, transforming it into a true good luck charm meant to be shared. Rich berry, plum, and bronze tones create a warm, lit-from-within luminosity.

LOVE Available exclusively at Sephora and HourglassCosmetics.com, Love is adorned with a heart charm celebrating connection and affection. Vibrant corals, pinks, and rose tones pair with luminous pearl highlights for an endlessly radiant glow.

And as part of Hourglass' ongoing commitment to animal welfare, the brand will donate 5% of net profits from the Ambient Lighting Edit Unlocked Collection to the Nonhuman Rights Project, supporting its work to secure fundamental rights for animals. Like all Hourglass products, the collection is vegan and cruelty-free.

 

The perfect gifts to self, and to those you love
Beyond the palettes, the Holiday Collection includes a curated assortment of luxury gifting essentials, including limited-edition Ambient Lighting Edit Brush II designs, a Vegan Leather Makeup Bag inspired by Lauren Rubinski's charms, The Travel Brush Set, and The Bestsellers Set featuring Hourglass icons for the ultimate holiday glow.

The Hourglass 2026 Holiday Collection is available now at HourglassCosmetics.com, and global retailers.