REVIEW: Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette

This palette launched 2 years back I think during the holiday season and it is one of the most coveted / hyped-up products of 2013. It is meant to be a limited edition from Hourglass but it is now part of their permanent collection because Hourglass got a huge volume of demand out of this palette.

It took me years to finally decide getting this palette I have so many highlighters (one of my obsessions) and I am really curious how these powders work.  It is supposed to be a limited edition palette from hourglass but now it is already part of their permanent collection, you know me I do pass on limited edition product (okay sometimes I don’t but most of times I do) . Now the question is, is it worth the money? 

This palette is a trio of their ambient lighting powders but a tad bit smaller than the regular ones. It has DIM LIGHT, INCANDESCENT LIGHT, and RADIANT LIGHT. 

The palette has 0.116 oz/ 3.3 g (x3) amount of product while the full size individual powders has 0.35 oz.  The shades dim light and radiant light you can buy them in full sizes while the incandescent light is only exclusive to this palette. This palette cost $58 in Sephora website, the individual powder cost $45 and the travel size individual powder cost $22. I paid Php 3,500.00 for this palette and that is after taxes and the shipping rate is already included. If you come to think of it the palette is already a deal for its price since the full size cost Php 2,100.00 here in the Philippines (after taxes and shipping rate included).  

Packaging is very elegant looking and has luxurious feels in it. It is a mirrored type of packaging that gets finger prints in it but that doesn’t really bother me and I actually prefer that because it’s easier for me to clean compared to a rubberized type of packaging that can get messy after a while (i.e. NARS and LORAC PRO packaging). It is really perfect for travel and you get a decent size of mirror which I think is pretty useful. 

These powders are meant to be highlighters according to Hourglass but I don’t want to call all of them highlighters since most of the shades are skin-toned and can be used as a setting powder. It sounds scary to me when they say, “It’s a highlighter that you can dust all over your face” or “A highlighter use to set your foundation”. *insert silly face here* Like really? I’m thinking of a Disco ball right now.

I’d like to call them finishing powders with a very subtle sheen – really subtle that you can’t even notice a difference but when the light hit your face you’ll get that multi-dimensional luminescence glow. None of these powders are frosted or glittery, if you want some highlight on point these powders might give you that but which extra effort like you have to wet the brush and build the powders on your face. This is not even close to a BECCA  SHIMMERING SKIN PERFECTOR which for me is the Goddess of all highlighters.

Let's take a look on each shades.

DIM LIGHT - It is described as a neutral peach beige powder that blurs imperfections and highlights a radiant complexion with the perfect balance of warm and cool tones. I think the effect will vary depending on your skin tone. I’d like to use this powder as finishing powder by lightly dusting it all over my face right after setting my foundation. It is my favourite shade in this palette.

INCANDESCENT LIGHT – According to hourglass it is an opalescent pearl powder that brightens the complexion with a celestial glow. To me it is a straight-up highlighter that I use to give me some “dewy-ness” I use this above my cheek bones, tip of the nose and cupids bow. The shade is very similar to MAC soft and gentle  which I really love  but Incandescent light has this subtle sheen that you wont be able to see the shiny bits on your skin compared to mac that has chunky glitters in it. So if I love soft and gentle, I love love love Incandescent light because of its subtle-ness. We want everything natural don’t we? 

RADIANT LIGHT – Described as sun-kissed golden beige that enhances the overall complexion with believable, subtle warmth, and also extends a summer glow. In short it is a light bronzer and I seldom use it. I think it is not warm enough to be a bronzer and I barely see it on my fair to medium skin. 

HOW TO USE:

1. Dust Dim Light all over your complexion.
2. Add Radiant Light as your light bronzer or on top of your usual bronzer.
3. Finish off by applying Incandescent Light on the tops of the cheekbones, under the brow bone, the tip the nose and your cupid’s bow to brighten the whole look.
*Results will be dramatically different if you have different skin-tone. 

SWATCHES: 

(L-R) DIM LIGHT, INCANDESCENT LIGHT, RADIANT LIGHT

I would like to say that I really love this palette; I’m enjoying it so far. I’ve been using it exactly 1 month and 2 weeks now from the day that I got it and I can really see the difference of it to other highlighters however BECCA OPAL is still my top 1 favorite highlighter because mama loves highlight on fleeeeek.

Going back to the question, is it worth the money? Well, if you're looking for a versatile palette, then this is a good buy for you. It expensive but the quality you pay for is definitely there. For me it is a must try, but if you have a huge stash of highlighters and bronzers it is not a must have. If you get what I mean. 

What are your thoughts about this lovely Hourglass Palette? Share it below. 

With Love,

Anne