Hourglass Fall 2018 Ambient Lighting Blush Palette Review & Swatches
Fall 2018
Hourglass Fall 2018 Ambient Lighting Blush Palette ($65.00 for 0.33 oz.) contains three, warm-toned blushes–peach, coral, and mauve–that have a subtle, natural-to-luminous finish. The marbling effect found in the formula can result in variation in color between versions, but all three seemed to have more of the lighter portions that ended up in lighter colors compared to the permanent versions I’ve reviewed in the past. I’m curious if readers who picked one up have noticed theirs are lighter as well. Other than the color difference, the quality was the same–soft, smooth, blendable, and easy to work with. FYI, there’s about $76.00 worth of Ambient Lighting Blush in the palette.
Fall 2018
LELimited Edition. $65.00.
Surreal Glow
Surreal Glow is a soft peach with subtle, warm orange undertones and a satin finish. It had medium, buildable color payoff that applied evenly to bare skin and blended out with minimal effort. The powder had a soft, velvety texture that wasn’t too soft or too firmly pressed in the pan, and it wasn’t too thin. It lasted for just over eight hours on me before I noticed any signs of wear. While this shade is exclusive to the palette, it has been released before (in the 2016 holiday palette), though it was slightly pinker to my eye but the version in this palette had a better texture.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Kevyn Aucoin Sahara (P, $54.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- NARS Silent Nude (LE, $30.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Kevyn Aucoin Sahara (P, $54.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Make Up For Ever B304 (P, $23.00) is darker (90% similar).
- Kevyn Aucoin Sahara (P, $54.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- By Terry Savannah Love #4 (LE, ) is lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- Benefit Georgia (2020) (P, $29.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- Clinique Sorbet Pop (LE, $21.00) is more shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
- Glossier Dusk (P, $18.00) is darker, glossier (85% similar).
- Zoeva CR040 (P, ) is lighter, brighter (85% similar).
Formula Overview
$40.00/0.15 oz. - $266.67 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to have “depth and dimension” unlike traditional blush, be “lightweight and airy,” and have the “perfect balance of pigment and powder.” Hourglass says it uses “an advanced ‘miscelare’ technique,” which means to mix in Italian (per Sephora) and is how the marbled effect is achieved. The blush is also supposed to have “buildable color.” It does bring to mind the concept of a lot of baked formulas on the market, but I think the texture is softer and more finely-milled than most.
The texture is very soft and delicate; it feels exactly like the Ambient Lighting Powders. In an all-over powder, I don’t mind what can sometimes veer on powderiness, but in a blush, it can be easy to overload color onto the blush and then onto the skin. I wish it was slightly firmer or less powdery, which would minimize waste and make it more foolproof to apply.
Browse all of our Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush swatches.
Ingredients
Mica, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Boron Nitride, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Octyldodecanol; Benzoic Acid, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Dehydroacetic Acid, Diamond Powder, Dimethicone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Laureth-7, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Phenoxyethanol, Polyacrylamide, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Potassium Sorbate, Silica, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Sorbic Acid, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Tin Oxide, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, May Contain: (+/-): Red 7 Lake (CI 15850), Red 40 Lake (CI 16035), 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.
Surreal Glow
LELimited Edition. $40.00.
Luminous Flush
Luminous Flush is a soft pink with warm undertones and a luminous sheen. It had semi-opaque pigmentation, which was buildable to full coverage with a second layer. The consistency was soft, slightly dusty in the pan, and easy to blend out, so it could also be applied with a lighter hand for less coverage,t oo. It wore well for eight and a half hours on me before fading a touch.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- NARS Bumpy Ride (P, $30.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- MAC I'll Hold My Breath #2 (LE, ) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Charlotte Tilbury Seductive Beauty (Cheek Pop) (LE, $40.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Patrick Ta She's Passionate (P, $32.00) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Hourglass Diffused Heat (P, $40.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Dior My Lady (003) (LE, $60.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- LORAC Dance 'Til Dawn Blush #2 (LE, ) is lighter, brighter (90% similar).
- ColourPop Count Me In (P, $8.00) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Guerlain Pink Me Up (P, $52.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- NYX Summer Peach (DC, $5.00) is cooler (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$40.00/0.15 oz. - $266.67 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to have “depth and dimension” unlike traditional blush, be “lightweight and airy,” and have the “perfect balance of pigment and powder.” Hourglass says it uses “an advanced ‘miscelare’ technique,” which means to mix in Italian (per Sephora) and is how the marbled effect is achieved. The blush is also supposed to have “buildable color.” It does bring to mind the concept of a lot of baked formulas on the market, but I think the texture is softer and more finely-milled than most.
The texture is very soft and delicate; it feels exactly like the Ambient Lighting Powders. In an all-over powder, I don’t mind what can sometimes veer on powderiness, but in a blush, it can be easy to overload color onto the blush and then onto the skin. I wish it was slightly firmer or less powdery, which would minimize waste and make it more foolproof to apply.
Browse all of our Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush swatches.
Ingredients
Mica, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Boron Nitride, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Octyldodecanol; Benzoic Acid, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Dehydroacetic Acid, Diamond Powder, Dimethicone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Laureth-7, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Phenoxyethanol, Polyacrylamide, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Potassium Sorbate, Silica, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Sorbic Acid, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Tin Oxide, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, May Contain: (+/-): Red 7 Lake (CI 15850), Red 40 Lake (CI 16035), 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
Luminous Flush
LELimited Edition. $40.00.
Mood Exposure
Mood Exposure is a soft, rosy mauve with warmer undertones and a luminous finish. The version in the palette seemed to be a little lighter and warmer than some I’ve seen in the past, but the marbleized effect has a tendency to result in more variation between individual products. The consistency was soft, smooth, and blendable with a smidgen of dustiness in the pan. It had medium, buildable pigmentation that stayed on well for eight and a hal fhours on me.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Kevyn Aucoin Capri (P, $58.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- MAC Corol #2 (LE, $24.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
- ColourPop I Need Space (DC, $12.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Strip Blush (-, ) is lighter (90% similar).
- Black Opal Hibiscus (P, $8.95) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Surratt Beauty La Vie En Rose (P, $32.00) is darker, cooler (85% similar).
- bareMinerals The Indecent Proposal (PiP, $22.00) is darker (85% similar).
- Hourglass Euphoric Fusion (P, $38.00) is more shimmery (85% similar).
- Too Faced Baby Love (P, $26.00) is cooler (85% similar).
- Cle de Peau Perfect Peach (P, $60.00) is lighter (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$40.00/0.15 oz. - $266.67 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to have “depth and dimension” unlike traditional blush, be “lightweight and airy,” and have the “perfect balance of pigment and powder.” Hourglass says it uses “an advanced ‘miscelare’ technique,” which means to mix in Italian (per Sephora) and is how the marbled effect is achieved. The blush is also supposed to have “buildable color.” It does bring to mind the concept of a lot of baked formulas on the market, but I think the texture is softer and more finely-milled than most.
The texture is very soft and delicate; it feels exactly like the Ambient Lighting Powders. In an all-over powder, I don’t mind what can sometimes veer on powderiness, but in a blush, it can be easy to overload color onto the blush and then onto the skin. I wish it was slightly firmer or less powdery, which would minimize waste and make it more foolproof to apply.
Browse all of our Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush swatches.
Ingredients
Mica, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Boron Nitride, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Octyldodecanol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Dimethicone, Sorbic Acid, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Phenoxyethanol, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Polyacrylamide, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Silica, Benzoic Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Laureth-7, Ethylhexylglycerin, Diamond Powder, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Alumina, Magnesium Oxide, Tocopherol, Tin Oxide, Red 7 Lake (Ci 15850), 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 really look so pretty on you. I am tempted.
Aw, thanks Janice!
Great colors.
They are pretty!
I really love Hourglass blushes but at least half of their shades are too light for me. I went to Nordstrom to swatch this palette and 2 shades looked very light swatched. Wonder if they look more pigmented on? They all look pretty on you. Would have loved to have a Hourglass blush palette.
They are definitely light, IMO, and seemed to be a lil’ lighter than my standalone pans (and there seemed to be more white veining).
They are VERY light – only the pink blush showed on my medium skintone so back it went 🙁
In my experience they’ve been too dark and really pigmented. The colored part is suuuuper pigmented but it’s kind of luck of the draw with the marbling.
This is a change for Hourglass. In past, most of their LE/Holiday palettes have had a negative value rather than offering a bit of extra product for a somewhat lower price. Nice to see that there’s $11 extra value rather than overcharging (by weight) an extra 10 or more bucks when compared with the products’ regular cost per ounce.
I think the trios have been decent (slight value) but it’s the larger palettes that seem to get squeezed.
This was a great way to try these blushes. I always wanted one of them but mood exposure was at the top of the list but sold out.
Oddly mood exposure looks more brownish on my skin. I’m into more nudish subtle blushes right now but trying them on my bare skin wasn’t impressive at all. Hopefully with foundation on they will look better.
I really find that Mood Exposure varies from pan to pan depending on how much veining you get 🙁
Interesting being wasn’t too bad in any of mine but I do find the shades quite light. Maybe in winter they’ll lookbetter?
Ya my mood exposure pulled warm too, maybe just oxidizes or blends in with the undertone of your foundation.
Janine, have you tried Charlotte Tilbury First Love?
Nope is it good?
Give it a try! It’s my go-to nude blush.
I haven’t tried much CT. I recently got the holly filter and was thinking of getting the kkw lipstick. And that new pillow talk palette is intriguing me.
Sorry Hollywood filter
These are so beautiful, really gorgeous shades and each one of them looks good on you Christine.
Thank you, Genevieve!
This is tempting since I’ve never tried Hourglass blushes before.
Their palettes are a nice intro for sure, assuming you’d prefer a few shades over one perfect pick!
This is quite the temptation for me. But, enough of one to go for? I’m actually trying to talk myself out of it, though.
I worry about them showing up on you, Nancy!
After reading the comments above from Denise S. and then Connie Lee’s response below it, I would have to bid this Hourglass trio adieu. This may only work well on lt.-med or lighter, which stinks.
So very pretty. My blushes are almost to the point of needing to be replaced for age. I think I will look into these.
They are nice!
In my first Ambient Lighting Blush palette the pan of Mood Light had much more Ambient Powder than colored pigment on the top. I saw a couple of YouTube videos where reviewers complained of the same thing. This led me to Josh, a rep from Hourglass who explained that each shade had a consistent amount of color pigment to the lighter powder however it was possible that the ratio may differ from top to bottom of the pan. He said that ideally the ratio would be the same all the way through but they weren’t always and to return and buy in person if you were unhappy. I remember they were selling out everywhere so
I ended up keeping and using mine and sure enough the shade darkened as I worked through it. I don’t know if this would explain the shade differences you experienced from the individual compacts to the palette but I just thought I’d mention my experience.
Yeah, it can definitely change a bit as it goes through the compact, and it can be hard to tell what you’re going to get until you open it up 🙁
That’s so interesting! Thanks for sharing. I was thinking my mood exposure was a bit of a dud because the top was so light. This makes me more confident in it.
It’s a lovely trio. Reminds me to pull out the 2 Hourglass blushes that I have and put them in rotation.
Nice! I just recently pulled out my Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powders to use more often!
Is this a Nordstrom exclusive, Christine?
Thanks!
As far as I know, yes!
Was it only for the Anniversary sale and now gone?! So confused! 🙁
Yes it was. It’s sold out. A lot of their LE are, I learnt that last holiday season.
Wow I love the colors. This would be perfect for me if I didn’t own ten years of blush already.
LOL! Only 10 years, eh? 😉
This is lovely. Would you happen to know if this is only available at Nordstrom or if it will be released more widely in the fall?
As far as I know, it’s exclusive to Nordstrom, but I didn’t receive any official press info from Hourglass on it either (just saw and purchased it from Nordstrom).
This looks like such a nice palette, but I have a couple of Hourglass blushes that look very similar to Surreal Glow and Luminous Flush. Not sure this one would be worth it for me, but it’s very pretty 🙂
Yeah, that’s the problem with the Hourglass blushes… a lot of them run together! Definitely not a range where you need ’em all.
UGH. That’s the thing about these blushes, they’re so inconsistent and when you get a palette, especially if you order online, you can’t control what you get. I bought the last strobe blush palette and opened them all up at Sephora to choose.
I already own all these shades. I actually had to buy a full size Mood Light powder to tone down my Mood Exposure because it was way too much of the dark powder (yeah, that was economical!) Did the same with Luminous Flush (though I had already owned the Luminous ambient powder).
I like the value and if I hadn’t darkened one to two shades since moving to AZ I’d consider it. I’m sitting at NW 15 ish right now and while I like a lighter blush I’m worried they might be too light! I never thought I’d say that!
I think they’d show up on NW15 as I’m darker than that!
I’ve never tried hourglass blushes, this could be a good place to start. Do they emphasized texture or pores?
Nope!
What brush do you recommend for applying these?
Thanks!