This must have been one of the most anticipated palettes for the Christmas season! I remember when pictures first leaked out, it generated such a frenzy amongst the beauty community. Can’t deny it’s a thing of beauty though.
It’s the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit palette, a handy palette containing 6 useful powders to give your visage a lovely healthy glow.
While I had my earlier doubts about the practicality or usability of the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powders, I must confess to being a fan once I tried one in Diffused Light. For me, it not only acts as a finishing powder, but also as a setting powder and I’m pretty happy with it for living up to its promise of bathing my skin in a diffused light.
I’m also happy with the Ambient Lighting blushes of which I now own erm… quite a few, although I only shared my thoughts on Radiant Magenta previously :P I picked up the blush palette from last Christmas, which you will see in the pictures here, but didn’t blog about it, because by the time I had it, it was sold out everywhere.
Nonplussed, I decided I’d have to buck up and share my thoughts on the Edit palette before it too sells out (Limited Edition!) although I think it might be around for a while due to its price. So, here is what I think!
The Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit palette holds 6 mini pans of powder. I say mini, because once you see how it compares to the full sized products further below, you’ll realise just how small they are. I had seen pictures for myself, and even I was a little surprised when I eventually held it in my hand.
Like the regular Hourglass cases, the highly shiny metallic surface is a fingerprint magnet as you can see. A quick buff with a piece of cloth usually takes care of it, if you’re fussy. I confess that I’m not :P
But you can possibly tell that it isn’t very large at all, which makes it actually a very compact and handy palette. Let’s just say that if you have never tried any of the Hourglass powders or blushes, then this is actually a good one to have because you get a taster of products which allows you to decide if you actually like them enough to buy the full sizes.
That said however, it is pretty pricey, weighing in at about £65 or US$80 retail (there are online shops still stocking this, that ship internationally. Please don’t pay above retail on ebay! I’ve actually seen it go for over US$110 which is madness!) so that’s hefty on the wallet. Still, Hourglass cosmetics has never come in cheap, so I think it’s par for the course.
In the Ambient Lighting Edit palette, you get:-
- Dim light – peach beige powder
- Iridescent Strobe Light – pale pink pearly powder
- Diffused Light – pale yellow powder
- Mood Exposure – soft plum blush
- Luminous Flush – light rose-pink blush
- Luminous Bronze Light – bronzing powder
I own Diffused Light in the full size, and I also have Mood Exposure and Luminous Flush from the Ambient Blush palette from last year, so technically, this was not quite worth it for me. If you own 2-3 of any of the shades available in this palette, then I will tell you to skip it and save your money for something else. These powders are so pigmented, and you need so little of each, that you won’t likely finish any of them to justify having many duplicates.
However, I own this, so who am I to preach otherwise eh? :P
Here are the swatches of the powders from this palette, as best as I could make them.
While I know that Diffused Light works well for me as an overall finishing and setting powder (it has a more satin finish) I find that Dim Light shows up a little more on my light skintone. So it isn’t one I’d wear all over, perhaps for areas that I want to “contour” or use a low-light. Perhaps only on certain areas of the face. Iridescent Strobe Light is rather shiny so I’d use it for a highlight.
As for the colour powders, Mood Exposure is a wee bit deep on my skin so I rarely wear it on its own, preferring to blend it with a lighter blush. In this case, it would be Luminous Flush although I have to be a little careful with it. It’s pretty pigmented. When working with the Hourglass blushes, I like using the Wayne Goss Brush 2 because I get precise placement where I want it, and it blends out well, which is important for pigmented blushes like these. I am not good with using bronzer, but I have to admit that the Luminous Bronze Light bronzer, which is new from Hourglass, wasn’t too hard to use. It is transparent, and if you use a light hand, and blend it out, you don’t end up with dreaded stripes of brown cocoa powder on your face.
All in all, I must say that it’s a useful palette to have and own, if the budget permits :)
This is how the size of the Ambient Lighting Edit palette compares to other powders. The largest pan will be the full sized Ambient Lighting Powder, while the full sized Ambient Lighting Blush is a wee bit smaller. The Ambient Lighting Blush palette that you see in the top right, is a limited edition item and one of my favourite blushes ever. I use them almost daily, because I like how longlasting the colour is, and how easy and flattering it is on skin. Yet, despite using it for months on end straight, there’s barely any discernible dip in the powders! Ditto the face powder. Barely a dip. Yep, a little goes a long long way :)
You may also notice how the Ambient Lighting Edit palette is noticeably smaller in size. If you use large fluffy brushes then it will bother you. But if you don’t, it’s actually alright. I’m happy with it, with absolutely no complaints. Sure, it was silly of me to buy this when I already own 3 of the products in it, but then, this was only my 2nd Christmas collection purchase this year (my 1st was the Guerlain lipstick!) so I’m allowed some irrationality eh? ;)
IN A NUTSHELL
The Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit palette is a handy palette containing 3 mini pans of Ambient Lighting powders, 2 Ambient Lighting blushes and 1 bronzer. It’s actually useful if you don’t already own 2-3 of the colours, and the compact size is very useful for toting around. I think the combination of products is also very useful for most people. However, this is most certainly a luxury product, due to the price and the size. Not a must have, but if your budget permits, it’s oh-so-lovely to have! :D
PROS: Easy to use, Compact sized, Good combination of powders and colours to suit almost any skintone, A little product goes a long way, Flattering to the complexion, Good way to try out the products if you aren’t familiar with them
CONS: Pricey, Small size, Hard to get if there’s no Hourglass Cosmetics counter nearby
WHO WILL LIKE THIS: Anyone who loves the Hourglass Ambient lighting products, Anyone who wants a taster of the Ambient Lighting products, Anyone who doesn’t already own 2-3 of the shades in the palette
PRICE: £65 | US$80
AVAILABILITY: Hourglass Cosmetics is not available in Malaysia at time of writing. I bought mine on SpaceNK and you can also get it at Net-a-Porter (both ship internationally) or in the USA also from Sephora, Nordstrom, Bergdorf Goodman
Were you taken in by this Ambient Lighting Edit palette? Have you tried any of the Ambient Lighting powders or blushes and do you like them?
I confess that when I saw the picture of the palette, I filed it away in my to-buy list. I just knew I was going to get it, because I liked how it looked, and because I already knew I enjoyed using the powders. Plus, I can’t always be rational all the time right? Life would be so boring (although I would have a tad more money in my wallet LOL!) :D What say you – something you’d like?
Paris B
I picked up Diffused Light for my birthday this year based on your post on it, and I was not disappointed. I won’t be getting the Edit though since I’m deciding on something else I have my eye on. That Luminous Flush swatch looks pretty.
Yay! I love Diffused Light and I’m glad to know that it works for you too Jennifer :D The Edit palette is very nice, but that chunk of money can definitely be put towards something just as nice, if not nicer! What did you get that you have your eye on? ;)
Such a pretty palette! Hard to justify at the price, especially since I don’t use highlighters or bronzers – but so pretty!
I don’t use bronzers either Kuri, but this made it relatively painless, thankfully! Still, I understand about the price. It’s quite astronomical!
I nearly picked this up! I wanted to try the blushes, but I just couldn’t click ‘buy’. Something’s holding me back, and I don’t know what it is.
I think it’s called “Poor Exchange Rate” LOL! The blushes are very nice, so I do recommend trying one if you have the chance. It would have been nice if they had made the blush palette permanent. I love that one and use it so often!
I must admit, the packaging really suck me in. Good thing is Singapore still doesn’t carry this if not I would have been to the counter all the time to stroke at the palette until I buy it.
I do realized that very few people compares Hourglass Diffused Light to Guerlain Meteorites, to me, the function looks pretty similar, could you help to shine some light on that? I have the iconic Meteorites but I don’t use them often because of how pretty it looks. So I’m considering to get this for usage.
I am from Singapore too! Net-a-porter ships right to your doorstep within 3 days from point of purchase. I get my poison from there.
I think few people compare Hourglass powder to Meterorites because the two powders are really not the same and serve different functions. If I really could only have one, I will choose the Hourglass powder.
Hahaha I hear a little birdy saying you might have access to it soon! Don’t quote me though. I’m not sure when but look out for it ;) I actually did a brief comparison between the Diffused Light powder and Meteorites in my original review post here https://www.mywomenstuff.com/2015/06/hourglass-ambient-lighting-powder-diffused-light/ In general, I’d say the Diffused light is more of a powder, while Meteorites is far more translucent and more ethereal. That said, use the Meteorites! They’re beautiful to look at and on skin and don’t worry – it’ll never finish. I’ve never met anyone who’s ever finished their Meteorites! LOL!
Yes, these powders are a sure winner! I found out that I could use the Hourglass powders to hide my acne marks! Have you tried it for acne marks/scars?
I have a few volcanic eruption-like acne going on now. After applying treatment cream, I dust a tiny bit of ambient lighting powder over my acne and the acne disappeared when seen from conversation distance! I find this much better than cake-ing on concealer only to make the acne even more obvious.
Also, I managed to use all 6 powders from the holiday palette. Everything blends like a dream and just melts down into one whole coherent face.
Gosh, I never thought about using the powders to hide acne marks and scars! I don’t really have an acne problem now, but the next time a spot erupts, I’ll give your tip a go! What I do like is to use the powder as an all over powder, over a thin base e.g. BB base or cushion base or just some concealer. It looks very natural, and yet, hides all that needs hidden ;) I love your description of the palette melting into one coherent face! :D I have tried just brushing the brush all over the 3 powders and going all over, and then over all the 3 colours and using as a blush. It’s pretty and not too much!
I love mine too and am glad I got it! I love pretty much every powder in it-I never thought of using Dim Light as a contour, but that’s a good idea because that one puts too much colour on my fair skin too. Good thinking!
Glad to have helped you use Dim light Tracy! ;) But it’s probably my least used powder anyway. Sometimes, I run my brush over all 3 shades and apply all over. Somehow, it works, without being too dark or too sparkly
Oh what a beauty this is! So so tempted to get one now :P
Hahaha a “Merry Christmas to me from me” gift? ;)
Oh yes it’s definitely a thing of beauty! But I really can’t justify the price, especially since I don’t like using bronzers. Wish I picked up the blush palette last year!
It would have been amazing if they made the blush palette permanent, like the powder palette. The bronzer isn’t too muddy or warm though, so I can get away with it. Sometimes, I just mix the colours and use it as a blush instead of as a separate bronzer!
Gosh I want them so bad! I never tried these palettes before, are they really worth the splurge?
I love them so I say yes :P
Am trying to decide between buying dim light and diffused light as a setting powder, and seen different views online – some people say dim light is just right, others have said it’s too dark like you! I’m a Mac NC30 – if you don’t mind and if you know what shade you are – can you share? :) would help to estimate which I should splurge on!! Any advice on this also would be appreciated! Thanks!
Also, I’ve read that Diffused light has more visible glitter than dim light – is it much more visible?
Not to me. I use Diffused light almost daily and see no glitter at all. A friend who has the same skin tone as I do tried Dim light and found it a bit warm, but gives a warmer glow if a very light hand is used. I think it depends on the look you want to achieve.
Hi I’m sorry but I have no idea what shade I am in MAC! Based on online comparisons of comparative foundation shades from other brands, it would appear that I’m an N15 in MAC. I do find Dim a little dark for me. But it might suit you then! :)