Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush Luminous Flush & Mood Exposure, Review & FOTD

After the big success of their Ambient Lighting Powders, a few weeks ago Hourglass released their Ambient Lighting Blushes in six different shades. I ordered two of these from Space-UK to test it. This was supposed to be a pre-order but a few days after the order I got a shipping notice. Last week these two beautiful blushes was in my hands, so I could play with them a little before I dare to write about one of the most sought after products at the moment, so here is Luminous Flush and Mood Exposure *drums*

No one would ever deny, these ARE pretty. Very pretty *happy sigh*. It was a pleasure to take photos of them. Looking how beautiful they appear from different angles, a bloggers dream.

I love the random patterns on those and the fact that it stays there even after usage since it is not only on the surface but also deeper down. Luminous Flush is composed of a pinky coral part, mixed with Ambient Lighting Powder in Luminous Light but I find the lighter parts of this blush to be darker than the original powder.

Mood Exposure is a plummy shade, mixed with paler rosy highlighter. Pale parts should be the same as Ambient Lighting Powder in Mood Light, which I don't own but looking at the swatches I suspect this one might also be a little darker than the original powder.

I was wondering how much plum would mood exposure pull on me. It appeared more of a soft brown on the swatches I have seen and on me it has a very slight plum tingle but I would still classify it as a brown. Luminous Flush is a warm light pink on me, which pulls slightly coral. Both of them are rather matte to satin finish and do not glow on my cheeks, which is good in my book.

I was praying expecting that Chanel Joues Contraste #84 in Accent (reviewed here) and Mood Exposure would be close but Accent pulls cooler and more plum. I would like to compare Luminous Flush to one of my recent loves, Diorblush in Corail Bagatelle (reviewed here). Luminous Flush is a lighter version of Corail Bagatelle and also slightly warmer.

Below I am wearing By Terry Eye Shadow Stick Ombre Blackstar in Bronze Moon (love!) and Mood Exposure on the cheeks. By the way if you are trying to track Bronze Moon down, now it is available at Space NK, just saying ;-)

For the following look I combined Hourglass Eyeshadow Duo in Exhibition on the eyes with Hourglass Luminous Flush on the cheeks. On my lips I am wearing Giorgio Armani Flash Lacquer #614 in Belladonna, reviewed here (a lovely reader Alicia asked for a FOTD with it, so here it goes out to her). 

My impressions? These are very finely milled, they kick some powder but with a soft brush like Suqqu's Cheek Brush it applied beautifully. The color shows up nicely and blending is easy. I actually have only one problem with these, staying time. Almost 2-3 hours after the application, these started to fade on me and after 4 hour mark there was only a slight indication of blush was left on my cheeks. I don't know if it is my rather dry to normal skin and if it lasts longer on other depending on the choice of foundation or chemistry of one's face but for me longevity is a big issue. I put on my make-up before I go to work in the morning and I expect that when I am back home (10-11 hours) it is still on. Most of my other blushes don't fade on me so I was a little disappointed in this respect. Anyone having the same problem or am I the odd one out?

Final thoughts: Pretty, soft and pigmented. Wished they would stay longer on me.