Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder Review

hourglass

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If you’ve ever wondered what Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder is you are not alone.  I used to read so many reviews and watch videos before I purchased the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Diffused Light. Keep reading below for the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder review and let me know what you think in the comments below.

This powder is a multi-use product. It can be a highlighter, finishing powder or just give you an overall glow!  I cannot stress that enough. 

The Hourglass ambient lighting powder is also meant to set your makeup and get you camera ready.  I find that when I use this and say, take a ton of Instagram selfies, my skin looks more flawless. They call this an Insta-filter!

There are other ways you can use the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder so keep reading below.

Before you begin, you may want to read some of my other Hourglass makeup reviews:

How to Use the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder

In thinking about writing this Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder review, I was thinking about how to give you the best point of view. The best way to use the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder is after you apply all of your makeup.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting powder is all about how the light reflects with Photoluminescent Technology. Each colour reflecting particle refracts the light and creates the perfect illuminating flush.

Use it as a setting powder as it evens out your makeup application. Hourglass has its own brush that you can use to apply the powder. I usually just use a big fluffy brush to dust the Ambient Lighting Powder all over my face.

You can also layer the Ambient Lighting powder. If you start with a more neutral shade such as Dim Light or Ethereal Light and can follow up with mood light as a blush.

You can also use the Ambient Lighting powder as a highlighter if you get some of the lighter shades. Don’t be afraid to play around and experiment with it as it is very sheer.

Ambient Lighting Powder Swatches

If you take swatches of the Ambient Lighting Powder, it may be hard to see up close. These images are taken from Sephora’s website because they accurately show the pressed colour up close.

Radiant Light

Radiant Light is a golden beige powder that can also double as a contour shade or light bronzer. If you have medium skin you’ll love this shade for the perfect honey glow.

Ambient Lighting Powder Review Radiant Light Review
Ambient Lighting Powder – Radiant Light

Mood Light

Mood Light is a soft sheer lavender pink powder. I suggest you use this for a soft blush look or even as a highlight. I tried to use this as a setting powder and my entire face went pink! This one is more pigmented than the rest.

Ambient Lighting Powder Mood Light Swatch Review
Ambient Lighting Powder – Mood Light

Luminous Light

Luminous Light is a champagne pearl powder. This is very multi-use. Use it to set makeup or as a highlighter. You can even mix this one with some of the other shades to get the perfect glow.

Ambient Lighting Powder Swatch Luminous Light Review
Ambient Lighting Powder – Luminous Light

Diffused Light

I love diffused light because it is a soft warm pale yellow powder. When you apply it you think you may not be getting any colour but it is the perfect insta-filter. I am almost done my first purchase and I will definitely purchase this again.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder Swatch Diffused Light Review
Ambient Lighting Powder – Diffused Light

Ethereal Light

Ethereal Light is similar to Diffused Light because it is an all over powder. Ethereal Light is a cool white powder so it is great for lighter skin or as a setting powder.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder Review Ethereal Light Swatch
Ambient Lighting Powder Swatch – Ethereal Light

Dim Light

Dim Light is one of the most popular shades. It is a neutral peach powder which makes this turn into a contour shade or even slight blush. Many people find that Dim Light is universal and gives the perfect glow without being too sparkly.

Ambient Lighting Powder Swatch Dim Light Review
Ambient Lighting Powder Swatch – Dim Light

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette review

Since there are so many beautiful Hourglass Ambient Lighting shades, Hourglass has a Lighting Palette that is a mainstay.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette Review
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette

There is a shade in the Ambient Lighting Powder palette that you cannot buy separately called: Incandescent. The other two shades that are included are: Dim Light and Radiant Light.

The key to using this palette is to go across all of the colours with one singular blush to get the full of effect of all three.

You can also use them one at a time and place them where you see fit.

Hourglass also made a very specific brush that works well with the Ambient Lighting Powder Palette.

Hourglass Ambient Powder Brush

Even though the brush is expensive, you can see that it has dense bristles to be able to pick up the product across all three shades. You can swipe this across the entire palette or be very specific on which colours you would like.

Overall, if you are not sure which colours to purchase first, the Ambient Lighting Palette is the best bet.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder Dupes

Essence Pure Nude Highlighter

If you find the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder expensive, it’s because it is! It is a luxury makeup product that not everyone wants to purchase. There is a drugstore dupe of the Ambient Lighting Powder.

The dupe is from Essence called “Pure Nude Highlighter”. The closest is the shade Luminous Light from Hourglass which is almost identical.

Essence pure nude highlighter dupe hourglass ambient lighting powder luminous.

Don’t forget about the Hourglass light reflecting technology that makes Hourglass so beautiful. BUT – if you want the same look without breaking the bank then you should be good with the Essence version.

You can purchase Essence at Shoppers Drug Mart, Amazon, Ulta or any of your local drugstores.

There are other shades of the Essence Pure Nude Highlighter which align really nicely with some of the other Hourglass shades.

E.L.F. E L F Illuminating Palette Powder

Elf illuminating powder dupe hourglass

Many people will say that E.L.F. is a great dupe for any luxury makeup. The ELF Illuminating Palette Powder is said to be a dupe for the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder. However, I have tried the E.L.F. illuminating powders and I find them to be HORRIBLE. Don’t even bother. Even though the price is low there is no pigment to these shades.

I suggest the Essence Pure Nude Highlighter over the ELF Illuminating Palette Powder. Do not waste your time with E.L.F. makeup but I have included it in case you want to check out the reviews on Amazon.

Hourglass Ambient Blush Collection

Hourglass does make Ambient blush in a very similar packaging as the Ambient Lighting Powder. The Ambient Blush collection will give you a bit more colour and you can layer it with the Ambient Lighting Powder.

Hourglass Ambient Blush Mood Exposure
Hourglass Ambient Blush “Mood Exposure”

An example of a shade that I love is called “Mood Exposure”. It is the perfect plum blush shade without being too overwhelming.

Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer

Hourglass veil mineral primer review
Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer

The last thing I wanted to talk about in this Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder Review is the importance of a primer. The Hourglass Mineral Veil primer extends makeup wear and also smooths out any imperfections.

Honestly, if you wore the Veil Mineral Primer with the Ambient Lighting Powders you would get the perfect soft glow Hourglass look. You do not always need to wear foundation when you wear Hourglass.

The Veil Mineral Primer rating on Sephora is 4 out of 5 stars and many say that it keeps their makeup in place all day long!

Don’t forget to check out my other Hourglass makeup product reviews here:

If you enjoyed this Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder Review, leave a comment down below and let me know if you’ve tried this product before. Also let me know what shade has worked best for you as I continue to buy more of these beautiful products.

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