Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder Radiant Light

The Hourglass Ambient Lighting powders had been on my wishlist for more than a year. I originally had my sights set on the palette, that contains three colors, but when I saw the products in store in England last year, I wasn’t convinced. I took home a blush though, as I thought it would be a product I would use all the time. And then I went to the US and had a make over at Sephora. The MUA used the Ambient Lighting Powder in Radiant Light on me as a bronzer and I fell in love. By now I have already talked about this product in my US beauty haul, my current beauty favorites and I have used it in a make up video AND I raved about it as THE product that has changed my make up routine. In other words, it is about time, this product got a separate review.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder Radiant Light

What stopped me from buying this product is its high price tag: $45 to be precise. That is by no means a cheap product, which is why I held back on purchasing it for a long time. I wanted to be sure that this product would have added value to my make up routine before caving in and taking the plunge. Like I said, my change of heart came about by having this applied by an MUA, who used it as a glowing bronzer rather than an all over face powder.

Like all Hourglass products, the packaging is absolutely stunning, but don’t be fooled. When I first saw the Hourglass products in real like I was quite disappointed. The packaging looks better on pictures and in videos than in real life. The case is made of a shiny, reflective coppery brown plastic. It doesn’t feel heavy and chic like most high end make up I own. But it certainly look pretty on camera and because it is lightweight it is easy to travel with.

The packaging is also sleek and simple. It doesn’t get dirty easy and overall it seems to be well though through. There is a nice sized mirror in the lid and the packaging click open easily enough. The product is meant to be an illuminating powder that captures, diffuses and softens the look of the skin. In other words, it should look natural yet glowy at the same time.

The color, Radiant Light, is described as a golden beige shade, which is obviously much too dark for me. That is one reason why I hadn’t purchased one of these before: I didn’t know which shade would be right for me. The lighter shades are all very cool or yellow toned and both do not fit with my fairly neutral complexion. When the MUA applied this to me as a bronzer it was like a Eureka moment. I am generally quite pale and bronzers are usually much too dark for me. Applying this as a bronzer, gives me a healthy, glowy look.

Radiant Light looks absolutely stunning in the pan. Golden Beige is I think the best way to describe this face powder. You can already see in the pan that this is shimmery yet, not overly so. You can use the lighter shades as a highlight or all over if you prefer a more dewy look. The powder doesn’t have one color all over, there is a slightly veining marble like effect that runs through the pan.

Swatched you can hopefully see how finely milled this powder is. My brush picks up this powder easily without it being too much and the powder feels silky smooth. It is so buttery soft it is almost creamy and when it comes to face powders that is a very good thing. Against my skin you can clearly see this would be much too dark as an all over face powder. It has a nice bronzy tone though with golden reflects. I find this isn’t too orange, nor too brown for me: it is just right.

Applied to my skin the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder gives a nice bronzy glow. Above you can see the close up of it on my cheeks. I like to apply this all along the perimeter of my face though. I start by apply this to my hairline, which I sweep along both temples. I then pick up some more product and apply it in a big sweeping motion across my cheek and in a 3 motion along my jaw line and up to my temple. What ever’s left on the brush I sweep down my neck. I repeat the same process on the other side of my face.

Close up this bronzer may seem like a bit too much, but when I put two pictures together, one without bronzer and one with, you can clearly see what this product does for my face. It instantly adds dimension and puts some much needed color back into my pale complexion.

In a finished look the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Radiant Light is clearly the product that makes all the difference. I apply contour, highlight and blush over this, but still this powder, used as a bronzer is what lays the foundation for my entire make up look. I can go without this product, but I don’t like it. It has been my go to face product ever since I bought it and there have been days where all I wore was this and I skipped all the other face steps. It is quick, it is easy, it is difficult to overdo it and what’s more: it gives life to my face. To me, the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Radiant Light has been well worth the purchase.

What bronzer is your favorite?