Opportunities abound for clever wordplay with the name of these new Ambient Lighting Blushes by Hourglass.
Think about it…
You [Ambient Lighting Blush] light up my life.
These Ambient Lighting Blushes are turning me on!
Stealing the spotlight this spring? These six new Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blushes, yea!
Unfortunately, however, because 1) my brain cells are moving at the speed of belly button lint today, and 2) I feel slightly less creative than an amoeba, I am unable to partake of said wordplay.
Instead, this is the best I can do: issue a grave warning…
DO NOT get within five feet of these things — don’t do it! — unless you plan to bring at least one of them home right then and there, because these things are more charming than the Borg, and by that I mean that resistance is futile.
Because only half of my neurons are firing today (if that), I was going to say that these blushes melt into my skin like butter, but then I thought, “Good grief, Karen! Is that the best you can do?”
No, I think not.
Picture this: your work crush grabs you by the shoulders when no one is looking, presses you up against a file cabinet, kisses you squarely on the mouth, and then quietly, nonchalantly, walks away without saying a word.
That — that right there. That natural flush on your cheeks? That’s the kind of flush these Ambient Lighting Blushes can create.
So, what are they, and how do they work?
Well, I’m glad you asked. 🙂
They’re a new line of powder blushes arriving next month, and, essentially, they combine existing Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder shades with cheek colors, creating blush/highlighter hybrids pressed into lovely marbled pans.
The shades…
- Radiant Magenta combines a golden fuchsia blush with Radiant Light Ambient Powder for a summery glow.
- Etherial Glow fuses Ethereal Light Ambient Powder with a cool pink blush for a luminous, moonlit effect.
- Mood Exposure brightens cheeks by pairing a soft plum blush with Mood Light Ambient Powder.
- Dim Infusion blends Dim Light Ambient Powder with a coral blush to add warmth to cheeks.
- Diffused Heat marries a vibrant poppy blush with Diffused Light Ambient Powder for a subtle halo effect.
- Luminous Flush softly illuminates cheeks with a candlelit glow by combining a champagne rose blush and Luminous Light Ambient Powder.
After wearing and testing two of the six, Radiant Magenta and Diffused Heat, I’ve already come to the conclusion that I’m definitely going to need the other shades in my life.
These blushes may not look very pigmented in a swatch, but start buffing a layer on your cheeks, and you quickly see just how much pigment the pans really contain.
One layer is all it takes for a soft, radiant flush — and that’s while using a fan brush, which lays down less color than a regular blush brush.
It takes such a small amount.
And cooler still? Unlike highly pigmented traditional blushes, these are much easier to blend. Incorporating the Ambient Powders into each pan seems to strike terror into harsh lines, and it also offers you extra leeway during application.
I think the look is similar to what I get when I layer a matte blush on top of a highlighter — that same sort of radiant, natural luminescence and dimensionality — but in this case it’s from the Ambient Powders peeking through the blush.
If/when you try any of these on, look into a mirror if you can, and turn your head to see your cheeks from different angles. That’s when you can really see the impact of the added Ambient Powders. Very pretty, and very cool.
More on the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blushes…
- The blushes are handmade in Italy, so no two pans look alike, and weren’t tested on animals.
- They’re free of parabens, talc, fragrances, nanoparticles (again with the Borg!) and gluten.
- Can be worn with the Ambient Powders for even more glow.
- Hourglass implemented something they call “Photoluminescent Technology” to create an airy, lightweight powder with optically transparent, color-amplifying particles.
Seriously, these blushes totally deserve a ’90s-style raise the roof move. They’re so remarkably flexible, too. You could do a light flush one day, then a bolder cheek the next. Simply apply an extra layer, or swap out your fan or skunk brush for a basic blush brush.
And because you won’t have to spend an eternity blending, you’ll have more time for more pressing things…like texting your BFF all day long or reminiscing about V.C. Andrews books in woven backpacks or playing M.A.S.H. (Mansion, Apartment, Shack, House). 🙂
PRICE: $35 for a 0.15-oz pan
AVAILABILITY: Coming February to Barneys New York, Bergdorf Goodman, Sephora, SpaceNK and hourglasscosmetics.com
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Karen! Why are you doing this to me?! I told myself of you liked these then I must have them too! Le Sigh…. Must place an order!
Hey Janelle,
You won’t regret it. You hardly need any for a beautiful flush, and the wear time is so great! 🙂 Trust me, you’ll love it!
Noooo, I’m trying to resist these and I’m failing so badly! They look hot hot hot! What I really love is how they have that subtle glow, it’s just about right, not too much. Radiant Magenta is calling my name! ^^
Hi Teri,
Radiant Magenta would look great on you! Do you currently wear/love any of the Ambient powders? You can wear them with these blushes!
They look amazing on you! Do you prefer diffused heat or radiant magenta?
Thank you for your review 🙂
They look stunning on you Karen!
Thanks Ankita!
They look fantastic. I’m trying so hard to resist buying them. Unfortunately most of them are sold out on sephora.com.
Hi Agata,
They should also be available soon hourglasscosmetics.com! I’d put you in either Dim Infusion or Luminous Flush. 🙂
They were available on hourglass website for like 2 hours and they sold out really quickly. Luminous Flush is actually the one I want the most 🙂
These look beautiful on you Karen! I’m really curious about these blushes, I can’t wait to go swatch them.
Ps – loving all the nerdy jokes. So good!!
LOL, thanks Natalie. Nerdy jokes rule!
I really wanted Diffused Heat! I will be saving up gift cards for it.
Yay, Rikki! I think you’ll love ’em.
Oh nooooo! I’m doomed! Diffudes Heat is calling meeeeee……..
You must answer the call, Icaria!
These are currently available at Sephora for VIB/Rouge members. My order of Mood Exposure shipped today and I am SO excited to try it. I think Diffused Heat is calling out for me, too.
Can’t wait to hear what you think of Mood Exposure, Mallory!
Why thank you for fuelling my lemming for these blushes Karen! It’ll be so hard for me to get my hands on them but I shall persevere! They look amazing on you 😀
Hi Paris,
I hope you can get your hands on one of these! They’re absolutely beautiful. Happy Monday!
So pretty! How do they compare to Becca mineral blushes? 😉
Hi Nika,
Great question! They both have a similar sort of vibe, but the Hourglass powder grains are finer and have a glow that’s more subtle.
Ooh — kissed up against a filing cabinet, indeed 😉 What a GLOW!
Right?! *fans self*
Oohhh these are SO PRETTY. I’ve had my eye on the Ambient powders for awhile, I may have to finally one of those and a blush so I can really glow!
Hi Kalli,
I think you’ll love both these and the Ambient Powders. Hourglass makes excellent powder products; you won’t be disappointed!
Soooo loving these. I want every. single. one. I am fair and cool toned so I will for sure get the Etherial Glow. Weeeeeee!
That one sounds super pretty, Erin! Ahhh…blush lust!
I totally get it! had to get this when sephora preview sale went online! Magenta was my pick 🙂
Great pick, Vineetha! I think it will look gorgeous on you.
I want these so bad!
They’re gorgeous, Nikki!
I know I definitely would want one of these but the two shades look so similar… I can’t decide which one I need more lol
Thanks Karen! Always love your take on things 🙂
x Rica
Hi Karen
Love the blush but dying to know what lip color you’re rocking!!
These seem so nice! I want to try it out.
I love this blush, I must get my hands on it! Looks very pretty on you 🙂
Xoxo
Lisa T
– beautybylisatxo.blogspot.com
I ordered Luminous Flush when I accidentally stumbled across them on the Sephora website…yay Rouge VIB! lol I’m excited to try the rest too, they look gorgeous on your skin.
I’m so glad to see that you’ve given these such a rave review! Diffused Heat is being delivered to me tomorrow and I absolutely cannot wait to use it! I’m also really interested in Mood Exposure.
karen how would you say the quality/lasting power of these blushes compare to nars or tarte amazonian clay?
If Karen says that these are must-haves then so be it. *opens Sephora and places order online. Hides in shame afterwards for caving in*
Karen: LOVE your swatches of the two Hourglass blushes. They are now must-haves on my wish list. Tabs modeling suggestions: high end jewelry, such as tennis bracelets that he can model as necklaces. He would look stellar!
Diffused Heat looks amazing on you. If I was a blush person between these and the new NARS collection, I’d be broke!
Too – Much – Pretty – Must – Shop!
Oh I’d DEFINITELY love to check these out! Both shades look absolutely stunning on you, and I think it’ll be all too easy to pick one or two that I want! It does make your skin look super smooth!
Radiant Magenta is one of the shades I have been eyeing! I can’t wait to see these in person!
These are so beautiful that I think I might cry. When I finally bought the Ambient powder trio, after wanting at least one shade for what seemed like forever, I found that they broke me out. I expect the same from the blushes which makes me very, very sad. 🙁
These look absolutely gorgeous and you! And that packaging, yum!
Karen, you look radiant and just gorgeous in these blushes! I can’t wait to swatch these for myself! I know I need Magenta. I’m not sure about what other one. Or two. Or all. I guess we’ll have to wait and see! 😉
I LOVE Diffused Heat but have heard that it is very glittery. Would you say that it is similar in this regard to Nars Super Orgasm? Or less glittery than Super Orgasm?
Hi Katherine,
I didn’t have any issue with excess glitter. There’s a small amount of fine gold glitter, but it’s very, very tiny. You can see it if you look closely at a hand swatch but not when it’s on the face. I don’t think it’s anything close to Super Orgasm. 🙂
How do these compare with Laura Gellar marbled blushes? Seems so enticing yet not original and I’d hate to spend if there’s no difference but would love to if there is a big difference! Please let me know! Stay beautiful! 🙂
These blushes look amazing on you!! 🙂
These look so gorgeous on you Karen!
I do kind of wish they’d made a couple that were a bit cooler toned though…
ugh I just bought Nars Orgasm and I love it, but that Diffused Heat is calling to me. I feel like everything Hourglass gets rave reviews. Maybe when I hit the pan with this current blush….
Hi Karen,
Thank you so much for your review!! Versatile, maybe…easy for you to say, they both look stunning on you! 🙂
I was wondering…I am cool-toned and very fair (01 in Guerlain foundations), what would you recommend for me? I already have a baby pink similar to Ethereal Glow, so I wanted something different. I cannot decide!!
These blushes are to die for. The first one looks incredible on you.
I am in trouble. I wanted the triple pan powder but by the time I finally decided to order it was sold out. I ended up with Dim LIght and I really like the powder. It’s funny because I put it on and can’t even tell I’m wearing it but I get so many compliments on how “good I look” – not my makeup, so it must be doing something even if it’s too subtle for me to pick up in my mirror.
When I saw they were doing blushes I cringed. I didn’t want to know. Now I do, thanks to you, and will have to pick up at least one to play with. I have to take a better look at the colors – I didn’t even check them out when I got the email LOL. I was protecting myself from me. 🙂
These blushes WILL be making it into my makeup collection, I am determined! They are too gorgeous to pass up!
Hey Karen – just wanted to say thank you so much for linking to our MASH how-to-play guide (I was checking referrals and you sent some of your readers our way). Your website and photography are beautiful, by the way!
Hi Karen! My all time favorite blush was Giorgio Armani sheer blush 10. How do you think these compare? I heard mood exposure was similar. I would love your input. I was not impressed with the new formulation of blushes for GA.