Skimlinks Test I just figured the Sephora VIB sale is coming! Depending on your Beauty Insider tier, the Sephora VIB sale dates are:
So I want to include some Sephora VIB sale recommendations, or simply just reviews and photos, of the products that I have, in case any of you are interested and looking for the information!
In this post, I’m gonna talk about the blushes that I currently own and are available in Sephora (I have a separate review on the Dior Backstage Glow Face palette in 001 Universal here). At the end, I’ll give my Sephora VIB sale recommendation among these products and share what I’m planning to get!
Table of Contents
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush
I have two Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush singles and the face palette from last year: Ambient Lighting Edit Face Palette – Ghost. Although the face palette is no longer available, one of the blushes, Sublime Flush, is a permanent that you can still get, I’ll also include that. Each of these full size Hourglass Ambient Lighting blushes retails for $40 USD, $24 for a mini size (which is 3.75x smaller than the full size!)
The Hourglass Ambient Lighting blushes that I’m going to talk about are:
- Incandescent Electra
- Luminous Flush
- Sublime Flush
What’s special about the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blushes?
Actually I think these Hourglass Ambient Lighting blushes need no introduction! Many people rave about them and I’m not exception! These blushes are characterized by the mixing (they call it the ‘miscelare technique’) Ambient Lighting Powders with cheek colors, creating a unique blush pattern in each of the compact.
In their description, they say ‘traditional blush can read as flat’, ‘the optically transparent particles alter the appearance of the skin by manipulating and refracting favorable light. The soft-focus technology helps to minimize the look of wrinkles and imperfections, neutralize discoloration, and emulate the appearance of young, healthy skin’. There are a lot of claims but I would say the blushes are pretty flattering on the cheeks without being unnatural.
They are also talc-free, fragrance-free and very finely milled.
Swatches for the Hourglass Ambient Lighting blushes
From the swatches, I was surprised that Incandescent Electra showed more pink than coral in the swatch. In the pan and on my cheeks, it looked more coral than pink.
Iridescent Rose is the red blush in the Ghost palette, I swatched it in case anyone is curious :).
These Hourglass Ambient Lighting blushes are very light-weighted and easily picked up by a brush.
Rating for the Hourglass Ambient Lighting blushes
- Texture: 10/10
- Color payoff: 6/10
- Longevity on cheek: 5/10
- Range of color options: 7/10
- Affordability: 5/10
BareMinerals Bounce & Blur blushes
Each Bounce & Blur blush from BareMinerals retails for $29 USD. I have 2 shades from this line:
- Coral Cloud
- Mauve sunrise
When I was looking for something more like a cream formula but doesn’t feel sticky, I found these BareMinerals Bounce & Blur blushes. To me, BareMinerals is a brand that is around for a long time and is reliable. Their products are usually pretty good for sensitive skins. I was happy to have them in my collection.
What’s special about the BareMinerals Bounce & Blur blushes
These BareMinerals Bounce & Blur blushes are ‘fingertip-friendly, bouncy, powder blush that builds and blends effortlessly for a beautifully-blurred, naturally-healthy-looking flush’.
They also have some skin care ingredient labeled as ‘Botanical Blend’. It is said to be hydrating and helps smooth skin’s appearance.
They are bouncy and creamy to the touch, but for the application, it can be a bit tricky. I usually apply with my finger, picking up some products and then dabbing several times on my cheeks, blending them out with my fingers. I usually need to repeat these steps couple times and digging my finger into the blush to make sure it shows up. I think it is also because after setting my face with loose powder (I set my face before applying blush in any formula), the cream is harder to stick than a powder format. Besides finger, I also tried to apply with a stippling brush, it maybe slightly better that way.
These BareMinerals Bounce & Blur blushes are also talc-free and fragrance-free.
Swatches for the BareMinerals Bounce & Blur blushes
The upper swatch is Coral Cloud, and Mauve sunrise below. Both shades are very pretty and pigmented on the arm swatches. It’ll be sheered out after blending.
Rating for the BareMinerals Bounce & Blur blushes
- Texture: 6.5/10
- Color payoff: 3/10
- Longevity on cheek: 5/10
- Range of color options: 5/10
- Affordability: 7.5/10
Shiseido Minimalist Whipped Powder Blush
Sheseido Minimalist Whipped Powder Blush retails for $29 USD. They are sold in a glass container with a screw cap lid and a stopper to prevent the product from drying out.
I only got the shade 07 Setsuko (rose). It is another cream-to-powder formula blush in my collection. I like how ‘airy’ and lightweight the product is! This is a new texture I’ve ever seen. It feels exactly like a tiramisu!
What’s special about the Shiseido Minimalist Whipped Powder blush?
It is described as ‘an air-whipped, cream blush that transforms into a long-lasting, weightless, breathable powder with a soft-matte finish’. This product has a mousse-like texture. It is said to last for 8 hours. I think they last for a rather long time on my cheek.
I am also interested in some other lighter/brighter shades in this line, like Chiyako (baby pink) and Sonoya (warm pink). I wish this product could get more attention and people to talk about as they did a great job in shade selection and developing this innovative product that is pretty unique in the market.
This blush blends beautifully on the skin, without any patchiness and spread easily.
Again, this Shiseido Minimalist Whipped Powder blush is also talc- and fragrance-free.
Swatches for the Shiseido Minimalist Whipped Powder blush
Although this Shiseido Minimalist Whipped Powder blush is also said to be a cream to powder formula as the BareMinerals Bounce & Blur blushes, they feel very different in that this Shiseido blush is very soft and has a spongy texture, in contrast to the much denser putty texture of the Bounce & Blur blushes.
Rating for the Shiseido Minimalist Whipped Powder blush
- Texture: 10/10
- Color payoff: 9/10
- Longevity on cheek: 9/10
- Range of color options: 9.5/10
- Affordability: 7.5/10
Comparison swatches for all the 3 types of blushes
Some of the shades are similar but their formula and textures are greatly different! The Hourglass Ambient Lighting blushes are easiest to use for me, however, they don’t last very long compared with the other two brands of blushes.
The photo below are the same shades but blended out with my fingers.
Sephora VIB sale recommendation and my wish list for blushes
For the Sephora VIB sale recommendation, I will definitely recommend the Hourglass Ambient Lighting blushes. Incandescent Electra is my favorite! I feel pretty every single time I use this blush!
If you want to try a cream blush, I think the Shiseido Minimalist Whipped Powder blush is worth trying! It is an innovative product and easy to blend. I wish their packaging is more travel-friendly. The container is made of glass and can be a bit heavy for carrying around. Apart from the packaging, it is a very nice product. I want to get another shade of this blush during the sale.
Other blushes I’m thinking to pick up in this upcoming Sephora VIB sale are:
- Lawless Make Me Blush Talc-Free Velvet Blush
- Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush
- Dior Backstage Glow Face Palette in Rose Gold
