Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette

Hourglass Ambient Lighting powders have been my constant companions since their release in the beginning of the year. Hourglass has created a sophisticated finishing powder in several shades that give the skin a certain luminosity without looking too obvious. Holiday 2013 brings us a palette of three Ambient Lighting powders : Radiant Light and Dim Light from the existing range, and Incandescent Light, a limited edition highlighter. The palette comes as a gift set that also includes a travel size 5ml tube of Hourgalss Veil Mineral Primer. The pans are smaller than the regular size compact, yet big enough for use with  a large face brush. The palette itself is sturdy and convenient for travel, though it might be too large for smaller makeup bags.

The swatches above are very heavy and only meant to show you the difference between the three colors. Normally you apply the Ambient Lighting powders with a fluffy brush-- either the one you can buy from Hourglass or just about any favorite brush you already have-- from a large yachiyo for the sheerest application, which is what I prefer for the more pigmented Radiant Light, to an itabake brush for a more concentrated/precise highlighting (or just a good ole' round powder brush for an all-over veil). As you can see, Dim Light is lighter and more beige than the peachy Radiant Light, while Incandescent Light is a gorgeous highlighter that has the perfect amount of flash tone pigment. The way it melds with the skin is nothing short of glorious, and I already have several other powder highlighters. I think Incandescent Light might be my favorite.

Sabrina of the Beauty Look Book has more photos and suggestions on how to wear these Hourglass powders.

Bottom Line: Love. Big Radiant Love.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette ($58) is available from the counters at Barneys and Bergdorf, Sephora, and hourglasscosmetics.com. The product for this review was sent by the company.