In case you missed it: Lara Worthington started a beauty brand. As of September 22nd, the Australian model, philanthropist, and former reality TV star has added entrepreneur to her already stacked CV with OMMAGE, a luxury, vegan, and cruelty-free brand that is, for now, a limited three-piece collection. With the motto "Beauty by design," this brand is as much about packaging, aesthetics, and sculptural design as it is about creating products that work and enhance the skin and one's features. "OMMAGE began with a simple idea: that beauty can start with the object itself," Lara Worthington says. "I wanted to create sculptural pieces that feel as good in the hand as they do on the face."

I know what you're thinking: we're in the age of celebrity beauty brands. From Hailey Bieber's industry-shaping Rhode to Selena Gomez's Rare Beauty, backed by a mission around mental health and self-acceptance, to Jennifer Lawrence's new haircare brand mes°, it can be tricky to tell what's worth investing in versus what's popular mostly because of the founder's status. That's where we come in.

Ahead, my honest review of Lara Worthington's OMMAGE.

My Skin:

I've said it once (10+ times), and I'll say it again: my skin is as dry as they come. Because of that, I reach for makeup products that offer formulas packed with ingredients that might actually hydrate my skin.

Now, for my makeup ethos: despite being a beauty editor, I'm a lazy makeup girl. I want products that are easy to apply and that don't require that much thought. At the same time, I, of course, still want to look amazing and put together after my ideally less-than-10-minute routine. So, my makeup routine tends to consist of a foundation, a little concealer, a liquid blush, a lip gloss (sometimes paired with lip liner), mascara depending on the vibe, and, more so lately, highlighter wherever I can put it (under my eyes lately!) because my goal is to look as glowy as physically possible. Listed out, that admittedly sounds like a lot, but can be done in 5-10 minutes, trust me.

The Products:

As of now, OMMAGE is quite limited and consists of the following: First Base, a buildable tinted cream; Lip Coat, a hydrating lipstick; and the Buffer Brush, a sculptural, aesthetically pleasing brush that's easy to throw in your bag and take on the go. Both the tinted cream and lipstick are formulated with nourishing ingredients, including calendula to calm and vitamin E to protect in the former, and castor seed oil and botanical waxes to nourish in the latter.

The Results:

Photo: Bianca Asare

I applied First Base in the shade 'press' (it comes in an airless pump jar, which always fills me with joy) with the Buffer Brush first, then with my hands, to see which application process I prefer. In both cases, I found that the product glided on easily, and achieving an even, well-spread complexion was easy. The finish was a bit more matte-leaning than what I usually look for in my skin tints and foundations (I'm a dry-skinned girl, and glow is always the priority!). However, I appreciated how just a little bit of product made my skin look more even while looking like I wasn't wearing any makeup at all.

OMMAGE First Base

$44 at violet Grey

OMMAGE Buffer Brush

$36 at violet Grey
Photo: Bianca Asare

I first tried the Lip Coat in the shade "Pressed Grapes," a deep berry color that's dark and rich, but still bright. The lipstick glided on like butter, offered a distinct flush of color, and stayed on even after many sips of the matcha latte I had on deck. This color made me feel chic and sophisticated, and I'll throw it in my bag for dinners and nights out to come.

Photo: Bianca Asare

Then, I tried the Lip Coat in the shade 'Razor Soft,' a dusty rose that felt sweet, feminine, and light. The color feels romantic, even romcom-coded, and subtle, offering what could pass as a natural flush. I'll reach for this for a day out, when I want to look put together but not overly made up.

OMMAGE Lip Coat

$34 at violet grey

Worth It?

First Base is on the market for $44, in line with similar offerings from brands like Armani Beauty, m.ph by Mary Phillips, and Hourglass—so, with that said, and with the convenient airless pump packaging in mind, it's worth trying out, especially if you're someone (like me) who prefers a sheer, light coverage one day and medium coverage the next. The Lip Coat rings in at $34, comparable to lipsticks by Tom Ford Beauty, Bobbi Brown, Lancôme, Charlotte Tilbury, and Patrick Ta. Its highly pigmented finish and hydrating ingredients make the price so worth it—and the fun red packaging is just the cherry on top. As for the Buffer Brush, which goes for $36 and is close in price to those of Merit, Makeup By Mario, and Danessa Myricks (the one that it's most comparable to in terms of design), the compact nature, the way it works with liquids, creams, and powders, and the way that architectural shape feels good in the hand make it so worth it.

TL;DR:

Australian model, philanthropist, and former reality TV star launched a beauty brand, with the initial lineup including a skin tint, a lipstick, and a compact, sculptural brush. The skin tint is easy to apply, buildable, and perfect for those who love a sheer, light finish on one day and medium coverage the next. The lipstick offers a generous dose of pigment while leaving the lips soft and nourished. The beautifully designed brush feels as good in the hand as it does on the face, and works with liquids, creams, and powders.