Instafluence Ingenue: Hourglass Founder Carisa Janes X @caitbird This look was influenced by finding Hourglass founder Carisa Jane's new foundation line Outside In (maybe the best foundation I have found...ever?) and my dithering and dathering about whether to splurge on this year's Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit Unlocked Palette Deer and seeing a review and look by @caitbird (who pulls off some of the most diffused, lovely looks I see here) that led me to part with the pretty chunk of change it took to snap it up First off, the Hourglass Holiday Palette Struggle: I think most of us know the hype and sometimes underwhelm of Hourglass's Holiday Palettes. The gorgeous packaging...the potential to try out shades exclusive to the palettes...the dreamy color stories. But, also sometimes having only two or three of the six shades really "work" for us, the seeming lack of color pay off and general confusion about how Hourglass's Ambient line works (are those finishing powders? setting powders? what brushes even fit into the tiny pans?). Admittedly I gave away both the palettes I snatched up last year because so few of the shades popped on me and the color payoff seemed weak. But then I got the Hourglass Ambient® Lighting Palette, started working more with the powders and watching more tutorials and was determined to figure out how people like @caitbird have been pulling off the looks they do with them. So what finally brought me back to the dark side I mean back on the Ambient Light train? It finally hit me, for the most part, that a major key to the Ambient line is brush selection. So I want to start by sharing the brushes that are working for me and a shot of the Deer Palette and gloss I'm wearing with it today (see the spoiler for product descriptions): SpoilerIn terms of the palette itself I simply got lucky this year as 5 of the 6 shades are working for me (I'm scared of that pink though). But mostly what I've finely learned is brush selection is key: think smaller, denser (to pick up more pigment), think even outside the contour, highlight and standard blush brushes (one of these is even a concealer brush). Some of my faves are SEPHORA COLLECTION PRO Contour Brush #79, SEPHORA COLLECTION PRO Contour Brush #78 , MAKEUP BY MARIO F3 Dual-Ended Precision Powder Brush due to it's small profile, SEPHORA COLLECTION PRO Concealer Brush #57 and SEPHORA COLLECTION PRO Bronzer Brush #80. And, of course, gotta love the versatility of CAY SKIN Isle Lip Balm SPF 30 with Sea Moss and Aloe Stem Cells Irie Rose.In terms of the palette itself I simply got lucky this year as 5 of the 6 shades are working for me (I'm scared of that pink though). But mostly what I've finely learned is brush selection is key: think smaller, denser (to pick up more pigment), think even outside the contour, highlight and standard blush brushes (one of these is even a concealer brush). Some of my faves are , , due to it's small profile, and . And, of course, gotta love the versatility of .I'm still learning (any tips on how you keep nailing those ethereal looks @caitbird or others?) But with what I've learned so far here is the look I came up with today: I think I might even pan out on most this palette this year - who da thunk?

Thank you @SportyGirly125 !!!!

Cold winter dayz and nights. Blush all the way ( pink cheeks for sure) goes with out saying. Pink cheeks are in right now.

following you!

TYSM @lmaster @Titian06

@Happy1234smile Are you able to get into a Sephora location to do some arm swatches? You may be albe to choose a shade better after seeing them in person?

@SportyGirly125 thanks for the info! I really appreciate it!

Thank you! I will check out the Gucci blush 😊

@HusbandsWifey I think so. Sometimes with cheaper blush brushes the application isn’t as smooth for me. It can also depend on the material for the brush being used.