My Personal Lighting Crew: Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette Review, Photos, Swatches

Everyone and their momma has raved about Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Dim Light (I did, too, right here). I use every time I want my skin to have a smoother finish, which is always. This Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette ($58 — currently out of stock on Sephora and their website *sadface*) contains 3 mini Ambient Lighting powders: Dim Light (peachy beige), Incandescent Light (exclusive shade; a light pearly highlighter), and Radiant Light (golden beige), as well as a 5ml Veil Mineral Primer.

I swatched these powders heavily so you can see the difference in the shades and finishes. Right away you can see that Dim Light has a blurring and subtle brightening effect on the skin, while Incandescent and Radiant give off a more fine-milled pearly finish.

Here’s a before and after. Do you see the difference? To be honest, you have to experience the finish in real life than in photos. It makes such a difference in smoothing and perfecting the skin and at the same time, being undetectable. Notice how Dim Light cancels out strong yellow tones in my skin, and that the highlight of Incandescent Light is totally natural and not OMGsparklebomb! Radiant Light gives the skin a warmth but isn’t dirty or orange.

Who here likes diagrams? *raises hand* I think some people still don’t get the point of these powders, but each powder in this trio really serves its own purpose. Here’s how I apply them. Using an angled powder blush brush — this is key, or else you’re not applying enough product to make a difference — I use Dim Light all over my face as my setting/finishing powder. Then I use Radiant Light where the sun usually hits: forehead, cheeks, nose, chin. Then I finish with Incandescent Light on the tops of my cheekbones, under the brows, down the centre of the nose, and inner corners of my eyes.

Here’s a super close-up of my un-Photoshopped skin, so you can see how undetectable these powders are. But, skin SO pretty!

I’m hoping that this’ll come back in stock, and soon! But if you’re anxious to try one, start with Dim Light. Seriously, you’ll love it.