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Unsung Makeup Heroes: Hourglass Brilliant Nude Blush

by 40 Comments

hourglass brilliant nude
I’m wearing the awesome Hourglass Brilliant Nude blush on my cheeks!

When some people think of brilliant nudes, they might think of Venus de Milo or the statue of David… I think of a blush from Hourglass, LOL! Brilliant Nude Strobe Lighting Blush by Hourglass, you guys, is so, SO good, especially if you love a fresh-faced look where your cheeks glow without looking overdone.

Can’t-miss fresh-faced color that isn’t obnoxiously obvious

It’s the same effect you get from NARS Madly Blush or the Kevyn Aucoin Neo-Trio, you know, where you have a hint of color, a whisper of shine, and your face and skin look livelier and peppier, like you just took a brisk walk or somebody sneaked up and started tickling your ribs.

Your cheeks will have that beautiful flush! That’s what you get from Brilliant Nude.

What’s an unsung makeup hero? For me, it’s an oftentimes underrated makeup morsel, a permanent collection product that scoots under the radar screen of many makeup lovers but regularly rocks my world. The long-running Unsung Heroes series features some of my favorites.

hourglass brilliant nude
Each of the Hourglass Ambient Strobe Blushes has a unique marbled pattern, so no two are quite alike.

Peachy amber mixed with a shimmery highlighter

Brilliant Nude is a peachy amber blush mixed with a gorgeous golden shimmery highlighter. It’s one of the Ambient Strobe Lighting Blushes, which is the blush family in the Hourglass permanent collection that has a more obvious and visible highlight (there’s also the Ambient Lighting Blushes, like the shade Diffused Heat, which are great, too, but they have a quieter highlighting effect).

Not to say that the Ambient Strobe Blushes like Brilliant Nude have an obnoxious highlight. Ya know, it’s Hourglass, they handle their finishes with a very refined touch. It’s softly reflective and luminous, but it isn’t metallic or garish or harsh, so women of all ages (and pore sizes!) can wear it.

A healthy glow on all shades of skin

When you mix the highlighter and blush together you have that perfect combination of color and shine that’s just a little something but not too much. I’m a tan gal, an NC42 in MAC, but I’ve seen this on both lighter and darker ladies, and it’s beautiful across the board. On lighter skin, you get more of the blush effect. On darker skin, it functions more as a highlighter, but in either case cheeks have a healthy flush and glow.

Long lasting

One 0.15-ounce pan is $38, which is pricey (as most Hourglass products are), but all you need is a little bit, and that little bit won’t need a touch-up halfway through the day.

Easy to apply

For a fresh-faced look, I’ve found the best way to wear this blush is to use a blush brush — no fancy techniques or moves needed! Just swirl it in the pan to mix the blush and highlighter together, and then just use a light, sweeping upward motion on the apples of your cheeks.

I use one layer, maybe two at the most, and that’s all I need. Simple and easy.

hourglass ambient strobe blush swatches
Strobe Lighting Blushes from the top: Brilliant Nude, Euphoric Fusion, Incandescent Electra and Iridescent Flash

Color goes with everything

Another brilliant thing about this blush is that you can wear it with any color combination on your eyes and lips, and it seems to flatter most everything. In this pic I’m wearing it with a cooler-toned brown eye, but it also works with warm browns, or brights, or nudes. Basically everything and any color combo you can dream up, Brilliant Nude will go with it, and the same goes for lips. Peach, pink, purple, red, orange… Doesn’t matter. All colors look good.

The take-home message

When I wear this blush, I look like I’m wearing a little makeup, but I don’t look like I’m wearing a ton, and that’s what I love about it. And it goes with almost everything!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Reader Interactions

Comments

    • Hi Tatiana,

      Thank you! I went to a dinner with some folks from Oribe in SF so I figured I should probably comb my crazy mane. LOL! We had British food at a place called The Cavalier, and I had sticky toffee pudding for the first time ever.

      How’s your week been going? Good I hope! I was supposed to take Connor for a play date today in Sausalito at the Children’s Museum but our plans were thwarted by the check engine light on my car, GRRRR.

      Reply

      • Oh no! I hope the check engine light isn’t anything too major or expensive. Sorry the play date got cancelled.
        The Cavalier is sooo good! They have good cocktails too, if you get to go to dinner. Mmm, sticky toffee pudding! That’s worth raising the blood sugar for!
        You have gorgeous hair!!!

        Reply

        • I didn’t have anything to drink because I was driving. The fries were delicious! The brussels sprouts had a nice crispy texture but were super salty. For the entree I had cod, which was delicious. Maybe we can meet for lunch or dinner there someday!

          Reply

  2. Karen… you sure know how to make a point with this one! Hourglass should send you more to review bc you’re selling this girl!

    Reply

    • Hi Jennifer,

      LOL! Well that would be nice. 🙂 I hope that you get the chance to try this one sometime soon as it’s a beautiful blush.

      Happy (almost) Thursday!

      Reply

  3. I love this blush! I also have Mood Exposure and Incandescent Electra. Honestly, Hourglass makes some of the most gorgeous cheek powder products out there. Even when they do shimmer, it feels luxe!

    Reply

    • Hi Katie,

      I have those two shades as well and love them. Don’t you love how easy they are to apply and blend? They looks so effortless!

      What are your fave lippies to wear with Mood Exposure?

      Reply

      • I actually used Mood Exposure yesterday with MAC Honeylove! It goes with basically everything warm, especially anything with a bit of plum or rust in it. It looks fantastic with MAC Kinda Sexy as well, and Velvet Teddy.
        Katie recently posted … Done!

        Reply

        • I’m pretty sure I have that lippie! I’ll have to try that this weekend… I have a whole bunch of combos on my “to-try” list and am adding this one. Thanks, Katie.

          Reply

  5. Omg Karen, I just bought my first Hourglass blush this week! I had a birthday gift voucher from my MIL for Mecca Maxima (a shop like Sephora) and I splurged on some top notch new products. Hourglass blush in Mood Exposure and By Terry concealer, mascara and ombré blackstar cream eyeshadows.

    The blush is amazing, so soft and easy to apply. I actually had to dial my application waaaay down, because the previous blush I was using was much harder to pick up colour from. I’m loving my new luxe products, it was so fun to have a splurge.

    Reply

    • Hi Janet,

      Mood Exposure is SO GREAT! I can totally see it flattering your skin tone. Do you have any berry lipsticks or glosses that you like? Because it goes really well with berry shades.

      How are you liking that By Terry concealer?! I need to know!

      Reply

      • Oh the concealer is heavenly! It’s so light, and feels really moisturizing & soothing on the skin. I got it mainly for the dark circles under my eyes, where you really don’t want heavy concealer once you’re in your late thirties lol.

        Yesterday I did a super minimal makeup, just blended out the concealer, added mascara, blush and tinted lip balm – and I honestly forgot I had any makeup on at all. Really comfy, and just made me look fresher and put together.

        Reply

        • Light and moisturizing sounds PERFECT. I’m kind of freaking out a little because I know I’m going to run out of the MAC concealer that I love eventually, and it’s discontinued so I need to find a new one to love. I hope I can find a shade that works for me. Do you need to set it with powder? Or can you go without?

          Kudos to you for putting on some face paint! It’s small steps like that helped me feel normal again after having Connor. 🙂

          Reply

          • I have to admit that I basically never use powder. I have dry skin, and I really like a dewy, glowy finish to skin. Plus I’m busy and lazy, and no powder saves a step!

            I think using a setting powder would extend the wear time of the concealer a little.

          • Hi Janet,

            I’m the same way. I use very little on a day to day basis; I only really wear it when I have to take pics or plan to be out and about all day and need something to lock everything down. If you ever have to use powder or get a hankering to MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural is the best one if you like a dewy, glowy finish. It doesn’t look obvious and isn’t overly matte.

            Another question for you. I was just looking at the By Terry concealers and realized there’s a bunch of different formulas. Are you using the one with a doe foot wand, Terrybly Densiliss Concealer?

  6. hmm
    wonder if that would work for me
    different complexion and age
    20 bucks from sephora burning a hole in my pocket, KWIM?

    Reply

    • Thanks, Ruchita. I think this shade would look amazing on you as well, and that you’d like how easy it is to apply. Plus it goes with all sorts of kitty fur shades. 🙂 Obviously that’s the most important aspect…

      Reply

  9. Have you tried the Antonym Baked Blush?
    I think it’s the same vibe… These are beautiful! The Nude one almost looks peachy here, but I’m not sure it’s because of your skin tone and undertones! Beautiful nonetheless.

    Also, hair looking GORGEOUS. I’m not even a fan of long hair, but GIRL.

    Reply

    • Hi Glenda,

      No, but I’ve had that brand on my wish list for a while now. Thanks for the heads up! I’m going to put one of the blushes to my lust list. Is there are particular shade you can recommend?

      Oh and thanks for the nice hair compliment. I went out that evening to dinner with a few people from the hair care brand Oribe so I figured I should do something with my mop. LOL!

      Reply

      • Hey, Karen!
        Well, I left you that comment and then proceeded to Sephora to buy the blush. Lol, I’ll let you know when I get it.
        I heard really good things about the Peach one! That’s the shade I went with too. There aren’t that many options though, I think they are 3 in total. 🙂

        Reply

  11. Karen, you look absolutely gorgeous! Love the hair and makeup! I love makeup, but I can’t get the hang of eye makeup so I just don’t wear any. Love this look!

    Reply

    • Hi Makai,

      Aww, thank you! Ya know, the eye makeup here is SO easy. I don’t have the energy/time to do anything too complicated. This look here is a cream shadow (MAC Constructivist) from the lash line into the crease and then feathered out at the edges. Then I mixed a satiny brown and pink from the Chanel Codes Subtils quad (but any softly shimmering brown or taupe will work), and did a light wash just on the lids. I did a quick cat liner using MAC Carbon Eyeshadow, then two coats of Tom Ford Fullscreen Mascara. And that was it! Oh wait… I may have swept a little MAC Wedge into the crease on top of Constructivist. I don’t remember exactly. LOL! Either way, it’s super easy. It is totally doable and YOU CAN DO IT! Makeup doesn’t have to be nearly as hard as Youtube tutorials often make it out to be.

      Reply

  12. I fell in love with Incandescent Electra after seeing it on you ? Uh oh, Brilliant Nude is joining my Mood Exposure and Electra! Your hair is just gorgeous Karen. I love Oribe products especially Supershinr Cream and the dry spray…they are amazing.

    Reply

    • Hi Diana,

      What a lovely collection of blushes you have! Both Mood Exposure and Electra are regularly in my rotation. I swear Hourglass blushes are the best. Thanks for the Oribe recs, by the way. I haven’t ried the Supershine Cream and so now it’s on my list. Everything I’ve ever tried from them has been impressive (and smells so good). I hope you had a good week. TGIF!

      Reply

      • I am fair with pink tones so always hated blush but these Rock! You have steered me to try some great new things, gotta say I look way more put together lol Baseball cap for me most days! We have the same color hair/highlights so I know you will LOVE the Supershine Cream! I also use just a drop on dry hair when I need a shine boost. Royal Blowout Spray check out too, never a bad hair day with Oribe! Have a great weekend with Tabs&Ms. Connor Claire?

        Reply

        • Yes, they do! I don’t like to spend a lot of time blending out cheek color and these ensure that I get a perfectly blended cheek every single time. Don’t you wish they’d do more colors? I would hoard them all. NO SERIOUSLY!

          I’m so happy to hear that you’ve liked some of my recommendations. 🙂 I’m always happy to help.

          And now it looks like I’m gonna have to try Supershine, ahhhh!

          Have a great weekend and I hope you manage to sneak in some fun.

          Reply

  13. I’ve got the Touché Veloutee, with the brush applicator. It’s an interesting formula, it doesn’t like, completely blank everything out with pigment, it sort of tricks the eye by blurring and using some kind of witchcraft lol.

    It feels like the concealer version of a good B.B. cream, like skincare with pigment in it. Definitely worth having a play with to see if you like the formula.

    Reply

    • GURL. I knew you were going to say that. That concealer must have some witchery because it’s $60 (OMG) here in the US. Have you ever tried YSL Touche Eclat? Because it looks similar.

      Reply

      • I did use Touche Eclat years ago, and this is less highlighter-ish?

        And yep, it’s super pricy, but I’ve been using a Maybelline one for years so I was due a splurge ?

        Reply

        • Oh my gosh, YES! I like YSL but always wanted a little more concealer and less highlight.

          And ya know, a new mommy deserves a new splurge. You gotta do what you gotta do to feel normal again!

          Reply

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