Hourglass Ambient Strobe Lighting Blush Palette

I love Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush (Mood Exposure is my favorite, reviewed here) so when the brand released a limited edition palette called Strobe Ambient Lighting, I had to get it despite my lackluster experience with another palette, the Surreal Light (reviewed and inevitably returned to Sephora). So is it a win this time? scroll down for the complete scoop, swatches and a makeup look.

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Retailing for $62, this blush palette features three shades infused with luminous pigments to give face a desirable radiant effect. They are noticeably sparklier than the regular blush line so use it sparingly and build as necessary. Except for Incandescent Electra (peach), Brilliant Nude (light bronze) and Euphoric Fusion (mauve) are brand new shades. Each shade amounts to half the size of the regular (full sized) blush, photographed above for visual reference. If fingerprints bother you, then you will find wiping the mirrored packaging quite a chore. It has a decent-sized mirror as you open the palette, good enough for quick touchups.

Up close, those beautiful swirls of finely-milled powder are easily picked up by either pointed brush (for precise application) or rounded blush brush (for diffused effect). Used alone or layered for drama, these can pass as highlighters, especially if you apply them more towards the high points of your face and then buff to achieve that “glow-from-within” effect. Bottom line, this palette had me at hello!

For my look below, I combined Brilliant Nude and Euphoric Fusion light-handedly since I was going for a sweet daytime makeup. Did I say movie date with the hubs? Yes, we watched the Office Christmas Party, to say that it is exhilaratingly funny is understatement. No spoiler but if you haven’t laughed ’til your stomach hurts, then run to your nearest theater while it’s still showing.