Currently Obsessed: Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush Palette

Let me shout it from the rooftops: I love a good blush! This fact was particularly true in 2014, which was a huge year for cheek colour in my stash. I spent a good portion of the year on a lipstick buying ban, which inevitably led me to acquire all.the.blushes. Of all the lovely new formulas I encountered, my firm favourites were the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blushes. You can check out more extensive reviews and raves here and here but, in sum, these blushes are the best! They're soft, pigmented, extremely long-wearing, and give cheeks the most beautiful glow. When I heard that Hourglass was releasing a trio of these blushes in palette form (and that I didn't own any of the shades in this palette!), I knew I'd I'd have to make it mine.

The palette comes in a shiny golden box with a sleek, minimalistic feel:

The palette itself is likewise gold and reflective and is made out of lightweight, yet seemingly sturdy plastic:

Can you spot the kitty?!

Upon opening the palette, the most stunning trio of cheek colours is revealed. Each shade is a marbled mixture of a pretty pop of colour and one of Hourglass' Ambient Lighting Powders, which add an extra dose of luminous glow.

Each blush in the palette is smaller than the original Ambient Lighting Blushes, but not terribly so (.11oz vs .15oz). Here's a side-by-side shot for comparison:

Each of the shades in the palette is utterly gorgeous. Yes, I'm smitten, but in this case, love is not blind. I mean, look at these colours! Here they are swatched along my inner arm (MAC NC15 skin tone). Once again, Sadie could not stay away from the camera!

(L-R): Ambient Lighting Blush Palette shades in Luminous Flush, Incandescent Electra, and Mood Exposure

Here's a peek at each of the shades in the palette on yours truly.

The first shade in the palette is Luminous Flush, a warm, slightly peachy rose with a golden beige luminosity. This shade is definitely "me", in that it's vibrant, cheery, and utterly girly.

Ambient Lighting Blush in Luminous Flush
The middle shade is Incandescent Electra, which is exclusive to this palette. It's a pale, cool-toned peach with a glowy ivory sheen. I find this shade to be understated, totally sexy, and the perfect complement to bolder lips or eyes.

Ambient Lighting Blush in Incandescent Electra
The final shade is Mood Exposure, a permanent option from the range. It was one that I had previously ignored, thinking it fell in the "bland/boring" category. I couldn't have been more wrong! Yes, this plummy brown hue is subtle and neutral, but man is it flattering! It's become my go-to shade for work.

Ambient Lighting Blush in Mood Exposure
So, in case you had not gleaned this so far- I'm so freakin' obsessed with this palette! Given my love of the Ambient Lighting Blushes, I knew this trio wouldn't disappoint, but even my highest expectations were exceeded. Each of these three shades is unique, flattering, and completely on par with the rest of the Ambient Lighting offerings. While I hate to sleight the rest of the blushes in my collection, I have to say that I've been reaching for this palette nearly every day since I received it. The infatuation is real!

Have you tried the Ambient Lighting Blushes? Are you tempted by this palette? What was your favourite blush formula of 2014?

Thanks for reading! xo