Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder Wardrobe Review

This was one of those products that I had seen people rave about on youtube. It felt like every guru I watched was saying incredible things about this, so I decided to splurge and purchase it for myself. I have to admit I was scared I wouldn't like it because it is (for me) a massive investment.

The packaging for this is absolutely beautiful. It is a long palette with gorgeous rose gold packaging. It feels sturdy and expensive (which is good because it IS expensive). Inside is a large mirror and the three exquisite powders.

Each power feels slightly creamy and soft. There are three powders and they are as follows;

Dim Light: This is a light peach shade that I love to use to set my face. The peach pigment isn't super strong so it doesn't make your face look peach - it just adds a super subtle warmth.

Incandescent Light: This is the limited edition shade (I believe it is exclusive to this palette), and unfortunately is my favourite shade. This is the perfect subtle, moon lit highlight. It is so exquisite and beautiful that I would happily purchase this in a full size if it were offered.

Radiant Light: This is a subtle tan shade that I like to use over bronzer or in place of a very subtle contour. Like Dim Light, the pigment in this isn't super strong and is very subtle.

Overall I love all of these powders. Be warned that they are very, very subtle. At first it looks like they do nothing but when you step back from the mirror you can see that your skin has an astoundingly beautiful candlelit glow. I honestly can't rave about these enough - all of the reviews I watched and read before purchasing this were right on point.

The first time I wore this to work I had two male coworkers tell me that my skin looked nice and that I had a glow (!). I don't wear makeup for anyone but myself but this definitely made me appreciate this palette - if my male coworkers can tell I have a glow then it must be good :P

If you are on the fence about this my suggestion is BUY IT. I realise it is an expensive product and is an investment, but I think it every woman should have at least one product that makes them feel luxurious and beautiful. For me this is it.

This is my very first Hourglass product and yes the main reason for buying it was due to the high cult status it has achieved across the blog/vlog world of beauty it seemed like a too good to be true and the packaging is beautiful. So of course I got sucked in to buying it, but it does now take prize position on my table.

The cutest of this palette isn't in your face, it's subtle with its burgundy glossy dark plastic casing that is quite thick, to the really tight closed opening that requires both hands to open it as its sat on the side of the palette and is designed to blend into the shape of the case with its jutted out edge. Inside the hinges make it slightly stiff to open but not in a "oh my god its going to break" way but it is in fact the quality of the hinges and the design which is just a luxurious item. You feel 100% pretty and more important just holding it. The large mirror is almost borderless so you get a decent size if you use the mirror which would be handy when travelling as you won't need to take a handheld one with this. The 3 powders are slighty domed but still squared in their seats, which has them raised in the middle and the colours that are delicated swirled with hints of silvers and gold through them just gives it a one of a kind effect as if it was made by hand for you.

Formula of the powders seem slightly chalky to begin with but after the first application it seems to remove the top layer and reveal a delicate cream/powder softness but not crumbly texture that blends effortlessly on your face. These are not overly pigmented and you won't get a highly intense highlight effect but it creates an almost romantic glow and brightness to your face when used in a way to give you a more healthy, younger appearance.

In the palette you get: Dim Light - which is the first on the left, the slightly soft beige powder works for my skin as a bronze blur, to help me get a slight contour effect on my fair skin

Incandescent Light - The middle glowing pearl white that is the most used and is sinking fast!! it brightens and makes my face appear more youthful and even looking.

Radiant Light - the 3rd powder which is a more golden brown shade, to be honest I barely touch this shade as it can look too murky on my skin, but I have found that it works nice if applied lightly as a blush topper

It is just a luxury feel, elegant edition to my makeup collection and although I don't use all 3 of the powders it is totally worth it for the limited edition incandescent light, as it is only available in this palette at that time.

There is only so much hype a girl can take before she cracks and gives a product a go. Although, in all honesty, I'd put Hourglass' Ambient Lighting Powder Wardrobe on my 'Christmas present to myself' list as it's not cheap. But when a Trade Me auction comes up and it's half the price and the trader says she can't recall using it ever, but maybe once or twice - you grab that auction by its beautiful horns and you hit the 'buy now'.

It arrived, and with shaking hands I gripped and ripped it to reveal a beautiful chocolate/maroonesque reflective palette, with 'HOURGLASS' written simply on top. I opened the palette, and even though I knew what to expect, three mounds of colour and a big mirror - I still had a 'really? Is this actually as magical as they say?' moment, because while the three mounds are nice to look at, they don't appear to be anything special at first glance.

The palette consists of three different lights... Dim - which is a lovely light beige colour, and works well with my skin tone, so I use it as a finishing powder. Incandescent - this is a light shade that looks more shimmery to me, so I use it as a highlighter on top of my cheekbones and down my nose. Radiant - this is a bronze shade and I use it in the areas where I'd usually use bronzer, or lightly over top of bronzed areas.

So while it's not much to look at, once applied there's a heck of a lot to love. It's like, ABRACADABRA, your skin glows, as if a veil has been placed over it to hide your imperfections, to make you look fresh again. I seriously thought I was imagining it, that it was a case of The Emperor's New Clothes, so I made The Husband watch me apply it and his face got all 'what!?', and he said it made me look more youthful. He couldn't believe a powder could do that, heck, neither could I, but the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder does exactly that. It makes you look like you've filtered yourself.

Best of all, you don't need a lot to achieve this, a dab and a sweep - a few of those if you're dusting your whole face - and you're good to go.

This product is expensive, but it's so worth it. I can see it'll be forever before I hit pan, and the result it gives - luminous youthful skin - is utterly sublime. Go without your favourite treat and save up, sell your firstborn, ask family and friends to pay you to mow lawns/clean toilets/babysit kids - you need this in your life, and if you're anything like me you won't regret it.

Imagine if you could walk around every day in the perfect lighting - it isn't going to happen, but this product can help.

I've used incandescent & dim light as subtle highlighters and the warmer radiant light as a highlighter and all over face glow giver.

These powders are super fine... super duper fine. and it doesn't take much to load up a brush.

I'm also very in love with the packaging. The mirror in this is huge. However, I am aware that the powders can break easily and for that reason, this splurge product comes with me in my carry on luggage (ok, all my powder makeup tends to end up in my carry on!)

Actually, Dim Light is another that I would recommend over other parts of the face.

I have had this palette over 6 months and only now do I feel confident in writing my thoughts on it. I have dry skin and was sick of my makeup constantly looking tired and dull so one day I went in to Mecca and had the assistant dust the powders all over my face so I could see how they wore. I honestly couldn't stop looking at my skin the entire day, it made my skin look airbrushed and glowy all day long (in a non-oily way).

Needless to say I went back the next day and purchased it. Initially I was only using Dim Light over the centre of my face and for the life of me could not recreate the effect on my skin that the assistant had created. This resulted in me putting it aside and doubting my purchase. However, I picked it up again a couple of months ago after researching how others use it, and I just adore it now. I use all 3 powders daily as follows:

Dim Light: I dust this over the centre of my face to blur the size of my pores and imperfections, and just give the skin a healthy glow. It really is great at pore blurring!

Incandescent Light: I use this on all the standard high points of my face for a gorgeous non-glittery highlight. I also love it as a brow bone and inner corner highlight as it lasts alll day!

Radiant Light: I love the effect of this dusted over my bronzer at the back of my cheekbones and on my forehead. It really does give your face a gorgeous radiant glow. I also dust this down the bridge of my nose for a healthy, sun kissed flush of colour.

The packaging is elegant, feels sturdy and is perfect for travel as it contains a good sized mirror. I do note that the Hourglass label etc is starting to wear off, but that just shows how much I use it! Do I think it's worth it? If you have dry/normal skin, absolutely! It just makes your skin look airbrushed. Not entirely sure how useful it would be if you have oily skin though.

My sister thinks I'm nuts. When I'd talk about how much I wanted the Hourglass Ambient Lighting palette she'd bring up the price and say 'it's just pressed powder', I felt one of us must have a problem and I couldn't accept that it was me. So I brought the palette. And I have to say, she's the one missing out.

The palette contains 3 shades, Dim Light, Incandescent and Radiant Light. I'm pretty sure Incandescent is the only shade limited to the palette, but the other 2 are sold in seperate compacts.

The palette packaging is very sleek but sturdy. It has a shiny bronze case with a simple gold Hourglass logo. It has a click closure and a mirror that goes the whole length of the compact. Inside sit the 3 beautiful powders, each being 3.3g.... I imagined they were bigger, let's be real, I wish they were as I'm going to cry when I hit pan. They feel velvety and soft.

From the left you have:

Dim Light, my most used. I love it as a setting powder, under the eyes and everywhere! These powders give your skin the most amazing finish.

Incandescent is what I love to use as a highlighter, on top of the cheek bones, nose and Cupid's bow. It has the most beautiful subtle glow without any glitters.

Radiant Light Is the darkest shade, it's beautiful for adding very subtle warmth to the face. I use like a bronzer for very subtle warmth. Would be great for fair skinned ladies.

I'm so happy I purchased this palette, it hasn't disappointed me at all and is my most reached for product for everyday. I love how I can use all the powders, they each have their purpose, setting, highlight and bronzing.

I purchased the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette after seeing it EVERYWHERE. It is constantly raved about over Instagram and beauty forums with many saying it is a 'life changing' product. With an $89 price tag, I held out a little while before purchasing via phone order from Mecca Wellington.

This product is beautiful. The packaging is sturdy and luxurious, with a large mirror that makes it perfect for travelling. A lot of people who had ordered online had commented that it was smaller than they had anticipated, but I thought it was a great size. I love adding luxury, feminine makeup products to my collection and this has become a staple.

The palette contains three shades, including one limited edition. Usually there is one 'dud' shade that never gets used, but these are equally gorgeous and wearable. I use these as a setting powder or apply as a highlighter to the cheekbones, nose etc. In fact, sometimes I will run my brush through all of the shades and apply it like fairy dust over my skin. Whichever way it is applied, the end result is healthy, glowing skin. What sets this product apart from other highlighters is that this glow is mysterious, and can't be pinpointed to a single product or section of the face, resulting in comments such as "wow, have you been drinking lots of water lately?" and "have you changed your makeup, it looks amazing!" This product is easy to apply and it is virtually impossible to get a glittery, OTT finish. I have combination skin that ends up matte and flat by the time I apply my base, so this is a great addition to my beauty routine.

Is it worth the hype? Whilst it is now a staple in my makeup routine, I wouldn't say this product is life changing. I do still reach for my other highlighters at times (Stila Kitten and The Balm Mary-Lou Manizer), and if you have a highlighter that you already adore, it may not be worth purchasing. If you can't see yourself splurging, I would pick up Stila Kitten or Mary-Lou Manizer instead. They are not dupes, but are equally as lovely.

This was another one of those products I just had to try after hearing about it everywhere online! I was always deterred by the hefty price tag, but, eventually caved after hearing such amazing reviews. Now I have tried it, I have to say it isn't as life changing as I thought it would be and not a must have in my books.

First of all, the packaging is absolutely stunning! This is to me what luxury beauty looks and feels like. Hourglass really hit the mark with the packaging of this product . It is sleek, feminine and quality inside and out. It has a large mirror inside which is never a bad thing and three smoothed cubes of finely milled powders.

I am impressed by the smoothness of the powders and find they really do go on the face undetectably, never cakey or powdery looking once applied.

The three powders included in the palette are:

- Dim light which is the all over setting powder, is great all over the face and especially useful for setting under eye concealer as it is finely milled so doesn't leave me with as much creasing. I do like this powder, but, In all honesty I have drugstore face powders which I find set my face just as well...maybe it's just me but I don't find this hides imperfections any more or has any special powers over other setting powders.

- Incandescent light which is a highlight shade and is my favourite of the three. This highlighter is stunning on the cheekbones (and on the lid/brow bone as a shimmery eye shadow) and leaves you with a lit from within glow. The shimmer is subtle not chunky or overdone and is exactly how I like my highlight to be.

- Radiant light is the least used powder in my palette and is a pale bronzer with a subtle shimmer. It is gorgeous too, just a product I would only use as a bronze highlight in summer on my ghostly skin.

Overall, I really like this palette, but don't think it is anything amazing (especially for the price) in comparison to other products I have tried.

This is just pure luxury.. On all levels. I brought this from Mecca and I must say amazing customer service I think it was only 2 days from when I placed the order to when it arrived and I had emails along the way saying it had been shipped etc. so of course I ripped into it with excitement when it arrived. (Cue harps playing) the case is just beautiful and I instantly feel special it is a mirrored dark chocolate brown with hourglass printed in gold to one side. I must say when I got fingerprints on it I had to carefully polish them off because it shouldn't have fingerprints on it it's too beautiful.

I open it up and in front of me there are 3 shades In 3 square shaped domes. There is also a mirror inside that runs the width of the palette. The Shades I have never seen before. At first glance I thought all three would be too light and I thought I had just wasted $89 but how wrong was I once I used it. The three magics are:

Dim light which is the medium colour out of the three. I do find it quite pigmented and I was worried I'd look all glittery I like using this very lightly all over like a bronzer. It definitely gives a healthy glow look to my skin I'm surprised at how little you actually need to use.

Incandescent light is the lightest shade out of the three it's a peachy kind of tone. I love this one and once applied my skin looks healthy, glowing and flawless. Yay there is hope for me even if it is with a bit of trickery!!

Radiant light is the darkest of the three shades and the one I use the least. It is basically a setting powder with no pigmentation so it doesn't really give that "glow" I have dry skin so I stay away from anything that is going to be matte and sadly this one makes me look drier (sobs)

All of the powders feel like velvet so soft and smooth. They are all so so fine I find them easy to apply using a powder brush. A very firm staple for me and I wished I brought some sooner. It's magic on my skin not only does my face look good.. And less noticeable flaws I feel good too.

I originally purchased Dim Light as I had read it was a lovely way to add a bit more of a dewy finish to makeup if you tend to set with powder and don't want a full on matte finish. I fell in love with this powder and use it every. single. day. It sets my makeup in place and I find it blurs my imperfections and gives my skin that more 'flawless' look while providing a subtle glow.

When the lighting wardrobe came out I had to purchase it as I loved Dim Light so much and wanted to try some other powders in the range. Incandescent and Radiant Light are definitely more highlighters and I use them for this purpose rather than all over my face. They are both gorgeous and I love they they are not glittery at all, but provide more of a subtle sheen on my cheek bones. I get so many compliments when I use this because it gives me a more healthy glowy look and I get "what have you done differently" and "your skin looks so good today".

The packaging is gorgeous and feels quality and luxurious, I also love that it has a large long mirror so this makes the palette great for travelling too!

I really do think this is worth the price even though it is definitely expensive. Such a beautiful product.