I think we should start a petition to promote ice cream ? as a legitimate dinner option. Because why not? It’s got protein and…calcium. It’s totally real food.
Thanks, Hourglass, for giving me an ice cream ? craving. All I can see when I look at these new bronzers and blushes from Hourglass is ribbons of caramel in rich chocolate. Mmm…
A new line of Hourglass blushes and two new shades of bronzer
Hourglass has some new things for summer, yay! This is epic news for me because they’re one of my all-time favorite high-end brands. Their products are pricey, but they work amazingly well, and they’re BEAUTIFUL. The brand carries things that you just can’t find anywhere else (like the Ambient Lighting Blushes and their Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation Sticks).
Now there’s a new line of super shimmery blushes (although we have seen them in a palette before) called the Ambient Strobe Lighting Blushes, which are $38 each and available in four shades, and two new $50 shades of Ambient Lighting Bronzer, bringing the new total up to four.
Remember the Hourglass Ambient Strobe Lighting Blush Palette from Holiday 2016?
Hourglass released an LE blush palette over the holidays that had three of the four Ambient Strobe Lighting Blushes (it didn’t have Iridescent Flash), but that was just a teaser, because now the singles are available in the permanent line, woo-hoo!
And there are four of them
There’s deep amber Brilliant Nude, soft lilac Euphoric Fusion, vivid magenta Iridescent Flash and cool peach Incandescent Electra. Each one has a powder blush swirled with an Hourglass Ambient Strobe Lighting Powder, which is the brand’s super shiny highlighter.
Incandescent Electra was previously available in the Ambient Lighting Blush family, but I think it was discontinued. I haven’t been able to find it, but this new Strobe version is slightly pinker and lighter than the non-Strobe version.
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush vs. Hourglass Ambient Strobe Lighting Blush
Because of the names, it’s a little confusing, but the Ambient Strobe Lighting Blushes are completely different than the Ambient Lighting Blushes. The Strobes are the shinier, more glittery, more blingy option.
I’ve loved the Ambient Lighting Blushes and have worn them for years. Frankly, I find their subtlety thrilling, LOL. Which I know is weird to say, but it’s what makes them so special. They look good in any situation — whether outdoors in direct sunlight or indoors under florescent lights.
Basically, no matter where you are or what you’re doing, you’ll have gorgeous cheeks bathed in a candlelight glow, and the finish doesn’t make my pores look bigger.
Now, I think the Ambient Strobe Lighting Blushes are better as “going-out” blushes, or as accent blushes, than they are as everyday blushes. Still, the shine is fabulously flattering. If you’re headed to dinner, a bar or a club, the shimmer will look fab in dim light.
For daytime, though, for me, if I’m just wearing one of these blushes on my cheeks, it’s a little too much shimmer, but hey, if you regularly rock an intense high-beam highlight on the daily, you might love it.
I definitely like these Strobe versions, too, but I’ll mostly use them as accents, like, layered atop another blush on the apple of my cheeks for an extra pop of shine and color.
The Ambient Strobes are just as long-wearing, pigmented and easy to blend as the non-Strobes, but they look completely different (more party-ready) on my skin.
If you’re a lighter lovely, check out the two new bronzer shades
With these two new additions, that brings the total to four. Now there’s a neutral bronzed nude called Luminous Bronze Light and a cool bronze called Radiant Bronze Light.
Diffused is the cooler-toned option, and it has a kiss of barely-there yellow pearl. On my skin, it almost looks matte, whereas Nude Bronze is warmer, has golden pearl, and it’s more intense.
I think that both of them will work wonders on light and medium skin.
Apply them with a big, fluffy face brush
I have to be real — when Hourglass first released their bronzers back in 2015, I liked them…but I didn’t love them the way I do now, because it took me a looooong time to figure out that I needed to apply them very conservatively with a big, fluffy face brush.
The bronzers are so pigmented that if you use a small, dense brush head with them or have a heavy hand, you’ll end up with muddy, orange, overly shiny cheeks.
The secret? Lightly sweep them on your skin with a large brush head. I can’t stress this enough!
Availability
All four new blushes and both new bronzer shades are available now online in the Hourglass permanent line (sephora.com and hourglasscosmetics.com). They’re also coming May 5th to Sephora stores and Hourglass counters.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
I’m usually a cream blush girl due to drier skin but both the regular Ambient Lighting blushes and the Ambient Lighting Strobe blushes are so pretty on the skin and in the pan.
Hey Chelsea,
If you haven’t already, you’ve gotta check out the Kjaer Weis cream blushes. They’re really great!
The packaging is so gorgeous! I really want one!
Once again, you’ve read my mind: I was loading up my Sephora cart and decided to come see what you had to say about a good blush, as I’m tired of NARS Orgasm. I still love it, but between my natural paleness and being sick a lot lately, I look like the extra who was too realistic to put in Twilight. (“No, sorry, you make the vampires look like they just got back from Aruba.”) It might be time for a fresh look, lol.
So I’m thinking these aren’t for me, unless by making your skin “more party ready” you mean ready for a ‘take the nieces to Target and Hobby Lobby’ party. 😉 I’ll definitely check out the regular Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blushes, though.
Aww, Suzanne. I remember you mentioning feeling under the weather. I hope you get better soon.
SO, NARS Orgasm. It’s a classic, but sometimes it’s fun to switch it up. I think from the regular Ambient Lighting Blush line, you might like Dim Infusion or Ethereal Glow would work.
How’s settling into the new house coming along?
Ethereal Glow is in my Sephora cart right now, along with a ridiculous number of other things. (I’m very proud to have limited myself to only four shades of Amuse Bouche.) 😉
The new house is going well; my craft/sewing room/office is nearly complete, which makes me feel 100 times more settled. My biggest on-going drama is lighting for my makeup vanity.
Even the original powders are borderline too shimmery for me, I guess the Strobing blushes will not go into my cart.
I guess other things will go in your cart then, LOL!
Oh my goodness. These are SO tempting. I always get sucked in by Hourglass and their pretty products! 😀
Hi Kelly,
Yes! What products do you love from them?
Iridescent Flash is so pretty on you <3 <3
Thank you, Eesha! Do any of these shades speak to you?
Hourglass always has the most lovely swirls. 🙂 I do love the finish of their Ambient Powders, too, but haven’t tried any more of their products since the powders broke me out every time. Luckily these strobe finishes are just a bit too glitzy for me so I’m not tempted away from my beloved Malice. 🙂
Malice is the BEST color. I still love it and am obsessed with it even after all these years!
Have you hit pan yet?!
These are pretty but I would probably use as a highlighter mostly. Glad you gave us a comparison between the two types of Ambient blushes as I was wondering about these. I love the Diffused Heat Ambient blush I have so I ordered Radiant Magenta during the VIB sale. Wish the coral shades were deeper, too light for me. Nice review!
Thanks, Denise. I’m happy that you found this review helpful.
Radiant Magenta is a beautiful shade and one I wear often. I hope it works out for you!
Hey Karen,
Brilliant nude is amazing. My skin tone is very similar to yours so I was wondering how that would show up, did you had to build it up a lot ?
I am totally obsessed with these new blushes and bronzers. I don’t wear them for an everyday look because I find them too shimmery but oh my, they are beautiful. Especially the packaging:)
Love your blog!