Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder Wardrobe Review

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.

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 did ALOT of reviews on this before adding it to my list. It took a Youtube vid from the amazing Wayne Goss to convince me I needed this in my life. It is expensive so I wanted to do my research first to see how it's best applied ect. Knowing abit about photography and how to use light to accentuate angles I was intrigued to see how these work. These powders give a beautiful, subtle glow to the skin. So finely milled they glad on the skin and with out feeling like an extra layer has been added. This palette essentially makes your face look like it is glowing from within. I use each of the individual powder for different area's of the face.

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.

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.