No sooner had the dust settled on my fifth year of Uni than I found myself combing the holiday sets at Mecca. After months of creeping on Instagram I knew exactly what constituted the perfect #treatyoself gift- and walked out with the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit Palette for $117.
The Hourglass mantra is simple- produce high-end, luxurious products that create ‘unbelievably surreal skin’. Their range of highlighters, blushers and bronzers give the skin a flawless, natural iridescence- making you the glowing envy of those around you. For those without Hourglass products in their collection, the Ambient Lighting Edit Palette provides the perfect, portable opportunity to try their range.
The Colours
The palette has been expertly crafted to combine universally flattering shades that work together effortlessly. The first row consists of 3 Ambient Lighting Powders, from left to right they include:
– Dim Light: A neutral peachy beige with warm undertones, this works well as a highlighter for paler skin. On my own olive or darker tones, the finish is more subtle providing better use as a setting powder. It renders the complexion smooth and refined without a powdery finish.
– Strobe Lighting Powder in Iridescent Strobe Light: A new addition to the Hourglass collection, this peachy white highlighter is packed with pearlescent glitter, giving ‘a refined glow to the complexion’. This is a perfect shade for those who are averse to extreme highlighting or new to the game but still want a noticeable glow.
– Diffused Light: This pale yellow powder can be used as a setting powder for fairer skin or to neutralise areas of redness. The addition of subtle shimmer ensures the face does not become too flat or uniform.
The second row features what I feel is a great combination of 2 Ambient Light Blushes and 1 Ambient Lighting Bronzer.
– Mood Exposure: A medium-toned pinky plum, this product is extremely blendable and long lasting- providing a great natural flush throughout the day.
– Luminous Flush: This champagne rose blush contains a hint of glitter and gives a glorious coral luminescence to the skin. This is definitely a current fav!
– Luminous Bronze Light: I was very interested to see how Hourglass could create a shimmery bronzer that wasn’t too overpowering, and I definitely wasn’t disappointed. Described as a ‘medium tan filled with luminous light’, I’ve found the colour pay off rewarding yet subtle, able to be used as an all over bronzer or a more defined contour.
The Pros
– Great colour range
– Fantastic colour pay off
– Interior mirror
– Portable
– Easily cleaned plastic packaging
– Interior mirror
– Portable
– Easily cleaned plastic packaging
The Cons
– Pan size: There has been a lot of debate surrounding the small size of each pan, which appears roughy 2/3 of the size of the products in other Ambient Lighting palettes. Personally, I feel this palette provides a great opportunity to try the range for someone who has never owned them previously, so this didn’t bother me much.
– Which brush?: Following on from the small pan size is a slightly more pertinent issue. Normal blush/bronzer brushes have a seriously hard time fitting into the individual pan without collecting some of its neighbours. This lets the palette down a little, as without a bit of effort it’s difficult to collect product correctly on your tools.
Overall I feel this latest offering from Hourglass is the perfect addition to your make up wardrobe, providing variety and value in a beautiful, shiny gold bundle. I have really enjoyed using these products and am highly impressed by the quality, colour pay off and finish which for me surpasses the apparently sub-par size of the pans. Coming into the festive season, definitely make this top of your Christmas list!
