April 28, 2014

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette Review & Swatches

I purchased this item and I receive a small commission if you shop using the links in this post.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette 11

It’s permanent! The Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette ($58) that launched for Holiday 2013 is now available as a permanent part of the Hourglass Cosmetics Collection.

I actually really enjoy the Ambient Lighting Powder so I was every so delighted to hear they made this palette available again (and forever).

Take a look!

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette 12

The funny thing about Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder is that it actually gives me that soft focus radiant glow that I wasn’t able to achieve as successfully with the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush!

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette Permanent

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette

This palette features not one, not two, but three Ambient Lighting Powders. You get an exclusive shade available in this palette only which is Incandescent Light which is a light beige that has soft creamy shimmer. This is actually contains the most shimmer of the three shades. This shimmer does not cling to my drier areas and works to accent my complexion without giving off a disco ball look due to the shimmer.

Dim Light and Radiant Light are the two other shades in the palette. Dim Light is actually one of the first shades I ever tried. This is a beige peach shade that adds a hint of warm radiance to skin. Radiant Light is a golden beige this is a very pretty shade for accenting the tops of cheek bones and looks particularly amazing in natural sunlight as it gives my skin a very natural glow.

The Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette is actually a nice way to try out a few shades of the powder without indulging in a single shade at $45…for $13 more you can get three shades. Granted they aren’t full size but still I’d rather have the variety versus the single shade purchase to be honest.

Ambient Lighting Powder is one of the nicer highlighting powders I’ve tried. I’m not much of an expert at application of highlighters be these are difficult to mess up! They act as both a refining powder and a highlighter as they create a smooth, even finish on skin with a beautiful soft focus. The texture is super silky and fine milled but does produce a good deal of powdery kick up when swiping a brush through them which results in a bit of waste in my experience. But none the less these are a product that create a smooth look on skin that’s almost airbrushed in appearance. They in fact produce the look I had hopes the blush would but unfortunately I was never able to recreate the radiance I get from these powders with the blush! The powders always have a super soft finish on my skin and never cling to my drier areas. The effect is a lit from within glow which is why I love them so much.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette swatches

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette Swatches (Left to Right Dim Light, Incandescent Light, Radiant Light)

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette Dim Light

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette Dim Light

Hourglass Incandescent Light Ambient Lighting Palette

Hourglass Incandescent Light Ambient Lighting Palette

Hourglass Radiant Light Ambient Lighting Palette

Hourglass Radiant Light Ambient Lighting Palette

Overall, if you haven’t yet tried Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder this is a great way to try a few shades. And of course, if you’re a fan the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette is the perfect way to try a few shades in one purchase!

This is available now at Sephora and Sephora.com.

What are your thoughts on the palette?

And the Ambient Powder?

Do share!

musings_approved

I purchased this item and I receive a small commission if you shop using the links in this post.

About the Muse

Isabella MuseIsabella is just an average everyday geeky girl who doesn’t blend her eyeshadow correctly, wears too much blush, and hopes she never finds her holy grail products because she likes the thrill of the chase so much. Her mission is to bring you super honest reviews on makeup, skincare, fragrance and all things beauty. She’s in no way an expert on the topic and she sure as hell isn’t a super model. But she’s passionate about makeup and is seeking like-minded individuals that like pina coladas, getting caught in the rain, and ones that enjoy spending hundreds of dollars at Sephora without feeling buyer’s remorse. If you’re that person feel free to reach out and leave a comment or follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Bloglovin‘.

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Comments

  • Mary

    Which of the single shades did you find worked best? i have similar coloring and am less interested in the palette (lovely as it is) than I am in that one, less shimmery, everyday shade. Or do you prefer the palette for overall versatility?

    • Isabella Muse

      all three work wonderfully, there isn’t any shade that has a poor performance. I wouldn’t use all three together obviously. If you want something suited to your tone perhaps buy an individual shade as the individual shades are for specific skin tones.

      • chris

        Hi there Mary and dear Muse,

        I would not say these are per se highlighters for different skintones only. Incandescent light surely is a highlighter, but shades like Dim Light or Radiant Light can be used all over. The nicest photos for people interested are at Temptalia’s. She used I think Radiant Light all over, and Incandescent Light as a highlight, but better to check there.

        Now she has medium skin tone, so I guess very fair ladies would have to check out the lighter powders for all over use, or try and use very small amounts. If one is that fair, I bet Radiant Light would work as a subtle blush, though, so there’s definitely use for alternative use also 🙂

    • Isabella Muse

      I’d love it if they did a “create your own” palette. just an empty trio pan you can fill with shades of your choice 😀

  • katrosado

    I received this in the mail a week or so ago. I ordered it from the Hourglass website as soon as I heard it had been rereleased. It is divine. My daughter (almost 19) uses it as a finishing powder. She swirls all of the powders together and then highlights with the middle powder. I have mature skin (almost 53) so I have to use a careful hand when applying these powders. But, I have to with any finishing powder because such is life with mature skin. I think it’s a great buy.

    • Pam

      I really like the Bare Minerals Luminizers. A luminizer is included in the Glamour Now TSV from holiday and also the latest kit, The Hot List. They give a nice sheer hint of color as they highlight & sound very similar to the Hourglass Ambient powder.

  • Ashley

    Would be a great product for contouring the jawline and giving yourself kim kardashian style cheekbones. This palette isn’t what I expected, its nice though. Never tired anything from this brand before.

  • Jessa

    Hmm, Dim Light looks like it could almost, almost be a dupe of my beloved Benefit Georgia which was discontinued a while back.

    • Pockykami

      They’re not even close. Just FYI. From what I remember Georgia was an orange-peachy color with a slight shimmer. I’m sure you could find lots of dupes these days. Have you tried the clinique cheek pops? Peach pop may be similar. Also mac just made modern mandarin perm.

      • Isabella Muse

        peach pop is very, very pigmented compared to Georgia so not really the same product.

  • Catherine R.

    I have pretty fair skin with some redness and I’m blonde. I am oily and so I’ve been terrified to try these because shimmer and oily aren’t usually a good mix. Is this something that would work for me or would I just look like a total grease ball? I was thinking just around my cheek bones maybe? The powders are just so gorgeous but I am afraid to try it because of my oily skin. What do you think? Thank you!

  • Taylor

    I have heard many many rumors that the e.l.f. illuminating palette is a dupe for this. Have you personally tried it?