Carisa Janes
Carisa Janes founded Hourglass in 2004 and turned it into the first major prestige colour cosmetics brand to certify 100% vegan and cruelty-free. Acquired by Unilever Prestige in 2017, with Janes remaining as CEO.
"Vegan and prestige are compatible — we proved it across the entire line."
— Carisa Janes
Janes founded Hourglass Cosmetics in 2004 with a focus on luxurious texture and architectural packaging.
In 2017 the brand was acquired by Unilever Prestige and shortly after became the first prestige cosmetics brand to certify 100% vegan and cruelty-free across its entire line — a multi-year reformulation effort. The Ambient Lighting Powder and Veil Mineral Primer are its category-defining products.
Prestige can be vegan without compromise — but it requires reformulation, not relabelling.
Animal-free pigments as the standard, not the exception.
- 2004Founds Hourglass Cosmetics
- 2017Acquired by Unilever Prestige; remains CEO
- 2020Hourglass becomes the first prestige cosmetics brand certified 100% vegan and cruelty-free
Hourglass Becomes First Prestige Brand to Go Fully Vegan
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