Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Radiant Light: Review & Swatches

Press Sample (Affiliate Links)

Hourglass has garnered considerable praise from their lovely line of Ambient Lighting Powders, and for good reason. They are ultra finely milled, silky smooth to apply, and offer skin a ravishing glow. The quality is exquisite, and they are a delight to use.

According to Hourglass,

A wardrobe of six universal finishing powders that recreate the most exquisitely flattering light—from ethereal moonlight to luminous candlelight. Each powder captures, diffuses and softens surrounding light with groundbreaking photoluminescent technology. 

Unlike traditional powders, which merely cloak imperfections, Ambient Lighting Powder utilizes photoluminescent technology to filter out harsh light and refine the appearance of the complexion. The powders deliver a multidimensional luminescence to every skintone, making it appear softer, younger, and lit-from-within. The finishing powders enhance skin in any type of light, including flash photography. With six universal shades available, you can create your desired effect—not unlike having a personal lighting technician. 

Powders capture, diffuse and soften the way light is reflected on skin, brighten the appearance, and conceal skin imperfections, pores and wrinkles. Infused with technologically advanced soft-focus particles that help make skin appear younger, even-toned and radiant.

Hourglass conceived of their Ambient Lighting Powders as universally flattering powders that were intended for every skin tone, and that can be worn both day and night. Hourglass posits, "unlike traditional powders that use opaque pigments, Ambient utilizes “photoluminescent technology” – micron-size spherical particles that refract light and create transparent coverage."

They are  paraben free, talc free, fragrance free, gluten free and free of nano-particles.

Each shade was created with a specific lighting "mood" in mind. Hourglass describes them as follows:

ETHEREAL LIGHT is an opalescent sheer, cool white powder that mimics a moonlit glow – even in broad daylight.

DIFFUSED LIGHT is a soft, warm, pale yellow powder that conceals redness and gives skin clarity – like a soft ray of morning light.

DIM LIGHT is a neutral peach beige powder that blurs imperfections and highlights a radiant complexion with the perfect balance of warm and cool tones.

MOOD LIGHT is a soft, sheer lavender pink powder that mimics the softest most forgiving light and reveals your brightest complexion.

LUMINOUS LIGHT is a champagne pearl powder that creates a soft, incandescent candlelit glow – day or night.

RADIANT LIGHT is a sun-kissed golden beige powder that enhances the overall complexion with believable, subtle warmth, and also extends a summer glow.

Radiant Light is aptly described as "a sun-kissed golden beige powder that enhances the overall complexion with believable, subtle warmth, and also extends a summer glow." While you could certainly lightly brush Radiant Light all of your face, or anywhere you want to create the illusion of a sun-kissed complexion, I prefer to inscribe a "3" and a "reverse 3" on my face. By beginning with a sweep in the shape of a three from my temples, to just below my cheekbones, and then terminating at my jawline- I am able to achieve the perfect lightly bronzed effect. This method, particularly when applied with a light-hand, offers an ethereal sun-kissed glow that appears natural and believable. Therefore, I find Radiant Light to function perfectly as a bronzer, and unlike most bronzers this one does not oxidize on my skin leaving me with an orange cast.

Radiant Light is ultra-finely milled, blends beautifully on the skin, and leaves behind a praiseworthy and gorgeous sun-kissed glow.

Suggested application: "Apply powder all over the face using Ambient Powder Brush as the final step for a flawless complexion."

Both swatches are applied much heavier than one would on the face in order to demonstrate the depth of color. The swatch on the left is fairly light compared to the swatch of the right that was applied quite heavily.

Ingredients: Mica, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Boron Nitride, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Octyldodecanol, Silica, Benzimidazole Diamond Amidoethyl Urea Carbamoyl Propyl Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Phenoxyethanol, Dimethicone, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Sorbic Acid, Polyacrylamide, Benzoic Acid, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Potassium Sorbate, Dehydroacetic Acid, Laureth-7, Ethylhexylglycerin, Trimethylsiloxysilicate. May Contain: Ci 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), Ci 77163 (Bismuth Oxychloride),Ci 77491 (Iron Oxide),Ci 77492 (Iron Oxide), Ci 77499 (Iron Oxide),Ci 75470 (Carmine).

Overall assessment: Yet another reason to love Hourglass!

$45.00 for 0.35 oz. Available from Hourglass, Barneys New York, Sephora & SpaceNK (Affiliate links).

Press Sample. All views expressed are categorically my own.
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