Hourglass Brilliant Nude & Incandescent Electra Ambient Strobe Lighting Blushes Reviews, Photos, Swatches
Brilliant Nude
Hourglass Brilliant Nude Ambient Strobe Lighting Blush ($38.00 for 0.15 oz.) is a soft peach with warm undertones and a luminous sheen–glowing but not overtly shimmery. The standalone version ended up looking a few shades lighter than the one I have in a palette, due to the difference in marbling, so it may be lighter or darker depending on the particular pan. It just barely shows up on my skin tone–more like a gently warming highlighter–but would be an easy, everyday kind of color on fairer complexions. The texture was soft, finely-milled, and very blendable, though just a smidgen dusty in the pan. It had medium, buildable pigmentation (up to semi-opaque) that wore well for eight hours on me.
The Ambient Strobe Lighting Powder is designed to have the “illuminating effects” of their Strobe Lighting Powder with “vivid cheek colors.” The formula features “buildable color” with a “natural-looking, radiant finish.” The texture of the powder is very, very silky and finely-milled, which can result in noticeable powder that gets kicked up in the pan, though they apply beautifully to the skin and never look dry or dusty actually applied (which is where it counts!). One of the things I have noticed over the years is that the depth of color can vary dramatically depending on the marbling of the powders; some have more of the “Strobe” shade and others have more of the “blush” shade.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Suqqu Yawakouki (05) (P, $34.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Warm (Winter 2016) Highlighter (LE, $60.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- By Terry Tropical Sunset #4 (LE, ) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- Chanel Tweed Beige (140) (P, $45.00) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Sephora Secretive (19) (P, $14.00) is darker (90% similar).
- Viseart Bronze #1 (PiP, ) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Chanel Light (P, $58.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- By Terry Savannah Love #2 (LE, ) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Surratt Beauty Coup de Genie (P, $32.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- Clinique Sorbet Pop (LE, $21.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$38.00/0.15 oz. - $253.33 Per Ounce
The Ambient Strobe Lighting Powder is designed to have the “illuminating effects” of their Strobe Lighting Powder with “vivid cheek colors.” The formula features “buildable color” with a “natural-looking, radiant finish.” The texture of the powder is very, very silky and finely-milled, which can result in noticeable powder that gets kicked up in the pan, though they apply beautifully to the skin and never look dry or dusty actually applied (which is where it counts!). One of the things I have noticed over the years is that the depth of color can vary dramatically depending on the marbling of the powders; some have more of the “Strobe” shade and others have more of the “blush” shade. They last between seven and eight hours on me typically.
Browse all of our Hourglass Ambient Strobe Lighting Blush swatches.
Ingredients
Ingredients: Mica, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Boron Nitride, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Octyldodecanol, Silica, Dimethicone, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Alumina, Water/Aqua, Benzoic Acid, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Dehydroacetic Acid, Diamond Powder, Ethylhexylglycerin, Laureth-7, Phenoxyethanol, Polyacrylamide, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Sorbic Acid, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Tin Oxide, Trimethylsiloxysilicate. May Contain (+/-): Red 7 Lake (Ci 15850), Carmine (Ci 75470), Ultramarines (Ci 77007), Bismuth Oxychloride (Ci 77163), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499), Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891).
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
Look Using this Product
Brilliant Nude
PiPPermanent in Palette. $38.00.
Incandescent Electra
Hourglass Incandescent Electra Ambient Strobe Lighting Blush ($38.00 for 0.15 oz.) is a brighter pop of pink-coral with warm undertones and a luminous sheen. Again, the standalone version ran lighter and wasn’t quite as bright as the one I have in a palette, and it wasn’t a pigmentation issue but a genuine difference in the amount of highlight vs. blush in the marbling. It had medium, buildable color payoff that took two to three layers for nearly opaque coverage. The powder felt smooth to the touch, silky and finely-milled but didn’t kick up lots of powder in the pan either. This shade started to fade after eight hours of wear.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Sephora Heated (P, $14.00) is less shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
- Charlotte Tilbury Seductive Beauty (Cheek Swish) (LE, $40.00) is warmer (95% similar).
- Chanel Sunkiss Ribbon (LE, $70.00) is more shimmery, cooler (95% similar).
- Clinique Melon Pop (P, $21.00) is cooler (95% similar).
- Marc Jacobs Beauty Lines & Last Night (502) (P, $42.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Tarte Shimmering (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Make Up For Ever B302 (P, $23.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Warm (Winter 2016) Blush (LE, $60.00) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- NARS Bowery (LE, $30.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Essence Pretty Peach (P, $5.99) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$38.00/0.15 oz. - $253.33 Per Ounce
The Ambient Strobe Lighting Powder is designed to have the “illuminating effects” of their Strobe Lighting Powder with “vivid cheek colors.” The formula features “buildable color” with a “natural-looking, radiant finish.” The texture of the powder is very, very silky and finely-milled, which can result in noticeable powder that gets kicked up in the pan, though they apply beautifully to the skin and never look dry or dusty actually applied (which is where it counts!). One of the things I have noticed over the years is that the depth of color can vary dramatically depending on the marbling of the powders; some have more of the “Strobe” shade and others have more of the “blush” shade. They last between seven and eight hours on me typically.
Browse all of our Hourglass Ambient Strobe Lighting Blush swatches.
Ingredients
Ingredients: Mica, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Boron Nitride, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Octyldodecanol, Silica, Dimethicone, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Alumina, Water/Aqua, Benzoic Acid, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Dehydroacetic Acid, Diamond Powder, Ethylhexylglycerin, Laureth-7, Phenoxyethanol, Polyacrylamide, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Sorbic Acid, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Tin Oxide, Trimethylsiloxysilicate. May Contain (+/-): Red 7 Lake (Ci 15850), Carmine (Ci 75470), Ultramarines (Ci 77007), Bismuth Oxychloride (Ci 77163), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499), Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891).
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
These are turning out prettier than I expected. I do like me a pink coral and Brilliant Nude could actually be used as a subtle bronzer/blush hybrid on lighter skin.
Oh, yes, Brilliant Nude could be that slightly warming, luminous sunkissed effect for lighter complexions!
Ohhh Brilliant Nude is beautiful! Might need to jump on it before the Sephora sale ends. 😛
It is a lovely shade!
Yeah, those are way lighter than my pans in the palette!
Yeah, just looking at the marbling shows how different the % of lighter/darker shades there are!
Incandescent Electra looks interesting! Need to check my stash for dupes, but looks like it could be great for Monday mornings, very brightening!
It would be! 🙂
That look with the Brilliant Nude blush and Nude Dip eyes is really lovely on you — so pretty and natural!
I had one of the original ambient blushes from Hourglass and never quite fell in love (though I did use it up) so I wasn’t sure if I would repurchase, but this one is calling me …
Incandescent Electra is a really lovely and fresh shade! It gives a healthy cheeks sort of glow.
But… Brilliant Nude, which barely shows up on you, would absolutely disappear on me! I do agree with you that it will probably look quite nice on very fair folks, though.
I love the second one. It would look so hot with a juicy/glossy hot pink/pink coral lip, and a golden brown eye!!! ?.
The first one I like, but it doesn’t inspire the same strong feelings as the second, brighter blush.
I’ll have to put aside some cash and pick up the second, brighter blush before the end of summer!!!
Wait! I just went to peek at the dupes, and I saw Deep Throat is listed as a 95% dupe. Which I have, and have hit pan on. Hmmm.
I’ll have to seriously think and swatch these side by side!
what would be good shade for NC37/NC40 complexion?? They look so pretty but not sure which one to to get….
Iridescent Flash and Incandescent Electra are the richer and more pigmented shades!
Brilliant nude looks gorgeous, but if it’s too light for you Christine, it’s definitely too light for me 🙁
These finally arrived in the U.K. In palette form not stand alone yet. I bought one online, but went in store to exchange because of the strobe part of the blush was more then the pigmentation. I find that it goes on patchy, needs a lot of blending. Then fades patchy. I also find it doesn’t last as long as the original non-strobing blushes. It sounds like the stand alone are better, not sure if I would bother. I think I would rather get a shade that I don’t have from the original formula. Also I think MAC warm soul is a good dupe for Brillant Nude.
Brilliant Nude is aptly named! I’m afraid it wouldn’t show up much on my complexion, though.
Christine, thank you for the reviews. Is this incandescent electra similar to the original ambient lighting blush in incandescent electra?
You can compare any two products I’ve swatched in the Swatch Gallery! The form is also right on this page, too.
Incandescent Electra is gorgeous! Coral blushes are my thing, and I need this….