Hourglass • Ambient Lighting Powder in Dim Light • Powder

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*TOP REVIEWER* violetmist on 5/31/2013 3:00:00 PM more reviews by violetmist

Age: 44-55   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Blond, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

I am still trying to determine if I got the right colour though from the website it seems like that is mostly a matter of the finish you desire. Dim is a beige with peach undertones and when I wear it over my Bobbi Brown Sand or Armani Silk #4 it doesn't even show up. So I buffed it over Nars Radiance Tinted Moisturizer and it showed up but just made it look flat and not very flattering. I can understand the raves if you have the right colour because the texture of this is magnificent. I'm going to try the other colours because I think this is worth a shot.

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*TOP REVIEWER* dragonflygirl7 on 5/19/2013 3:43:00 PM more reviews by dragonflygirl7

Age: 44-55   Skin: Combination, Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Hazel    

I got this at Sephora with their 15% VIP discount and even though this brand is expensive, I'm quite pleased that I decided to try it! The first review I read of this was on Scenthive. The reviewer liked it as well and had mentioned that this shade didn't have any visible sheen, which I avoid in a product that I want to use all over my face. I did get a sample of the Hourglass Veil foundation, and it will be my next purchase!

I'm NC30 and I use this on top of just about anything, TM, foundation, even my JI pressed mineral foundation. This powder blurs the imperfections on my face and softens the look of my skin, which isn't really half bad to start even given it's middle age, but isn't poreless or line free by any means. Athough the powder appears a bit rosy in the pan, I didn't notice any addition of color to my face. I bought the brush that goes with it, but found I had the perfect one already, an Ecotools large powder brush, so although it was soft and lovely, I returned it.

This Ambient Lighting Powder is extremely dense so as to not even appear to have been touched, unlike some that go everywhere when you swipe your brush over top. I've used this for a few weeks now and it still looks unused. I have a brand new Guerlain Meteorites that I never touch anymore, because the Ambient is really undetectable and magical at the same time!

5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

racmal01 on 5/6/2013 2:25:00 AM more reviews by racmal01

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Blond, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

I bought Dim Light and Luminous Light. I have only tried the Dim so far and I really love it. It really does blur your skin tone. I bought this one for use in the evenings when I go out and the Luminous for when I am at work (day light).

The effect on my skin is really hard to describe but it does give the effect of being in dim lighting. I am in my mid thirties so my skin is not as tight as it once was - not so much fines but a lack of firmness and tone. My skin is prone to freckling although not so bad since I have avoided the sun and used SPF for years. The Dim Light powder blends my skin tone together and makes it more flattering.

I am NC15/20 and it has a slight effect of deepening my skintone but not so much that it looks bronzed (the powder appears to make my skin a true NC20 when I applied it). If you are NC10/Alabaster you may want to swatch this shade first to see if it is too dark for your likening.

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*TOP REVIEWER* glamstep on 4/22/2013 1:57:00 PM more reviews by glamstep

Age: 25-29   Skin: Dry, Fair, Warm   Hair: Black, Wavy, Coarse   Eyes: Black    

DUPED. I went to sephora this past wk in hopes to purchase this during there 15%off members sale. I had the SA eagerly put this on me, although I was convinced I was going to purchase it regardless based on the raves here & my love of glow/dewy skin that this products boasts. I could never justify the purchase without the discount ofcourse, HG item or not. As a graduate, non-working student, I simply cant afford it. I loveD this as a highlight & even all over my face as a setting powder, but was genuinely shocked when the SA told me not to purchase it. She said its "not doing much for you. You can achieve the same look with other affordable products, Im sure." Ofcourse she didnt mention any of these miracle replacements. I waked out discouraged and empty handed , but I must say that was the besT advice/shopping trip ever. Because I headed straight for the ds and found a dupe myself! Its the WnW Reserve Your Cabana bronzer! I got the same, non-glittery glow all over my face/as highlight as I did with this one!

PRICE comparison; $46 for 0.35 oz of Hourglass or $3.99 for 0.46 oz
Im not bashing this product because I LOVE LOVE the look , even if only I can notice the difference it gives my otherwise dull complexion. Im just loving the effect wITh the cost from WNW.

3 out of 5 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

KerBears on 4/11/2013 5:42:00 AM more reviews by KerBears

Age: 36-43   Skin: Dry   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Blue    

I was so excited to buy diffused w brush. Could have used any fluffy brush. Why didn't they pkg it so brush cld fit in compact? Brush is luxurious & a nice idea but having to extract it from velvet pouch each time not so convenient. Now to the review of diffused. It did nothing, I mean nothing for me,except settle into fine lines,atop nettle lines, etc. I liked like a parched pale yellow idiot at an interview today and I went very light handed using their brush following tutorial online by the guy who reviews it on YouTube . Do not put this anywhere near your under eye area you will age 20 yrs. I am an hourglass fanatic but this is a trumped up mineral veil, clear radiance in that line a much cheaper better bet,at least for me.

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iamjoelle on 4/2/2013 5:34:00 PM more reviews by iamjoelle

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

This stuff is incredible! It gives your skin a subtle, radiant and flawless finish; with this in your purse it's POOF instant mood lighting and seriously blurs skin imperfections. A little goes a long way; you really only need a light veil over the face with a fluffy powder brush.

I'm an NC30-NC40 depending on the season and this review is for the Dim Light version. It is pricey but worth the $45 USD in my opinion.

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janiebeth65 on 3/28/2013 9:53:00 AM more reviews by janiebeth65

Age: 44-55   Skin: Oily, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Blond, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Green    

I am so glad to see good reviews here because another general review for the Hourglass Ambient powders was not so positive.
I absolutely LOVE these powders and I use DIM the most right now. I am expecting to use MOOD more when I am wearing spring colors and the LUMINOUS and RADIENT (nights out) more in the summer. Yes, I have all of them now because I did not have any finishing powders except It Cosmetics HD powder. I tried the MAC mineralize skin finish powders but they were too shiny. I also tried the Nars powder but I prefer compact powders and HOURGLASS formulations ARE WONDERFUL! THey are great for imparting a glow and softening effect over full coverage matte foundation and somehow make my skin look like skin which is not easy over a full face of makeup. I still use a little HD powder on my T-zone first to absorb oil but I love this powder so much I bought them all and my makeup collection is not extensive. I just know what works and what makes me look my best.....try it...and see if you agree.

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Imimpressions on 3/13/2013 12:21:00 AM more reviews by Imimpressions

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Olive   Hair: Black, Curly, Fine   Eyes: Hazel    

I would like to formally apologize to all users of this product who have not loved it....I am so sorry for your loss. This powder in dim light is absolutely fantastic, amazing, stunning, healthy, electrifying I mean I could go on and on. It's hands down better as a finishing powder then Chanel, guerlain pearles, Mac, I mean it is the best there is right now. I am a NC25-40 depending on the time of year, now about a NC30
This product literally does what it says, softens and makes my skin look silky soft and glowing. I love it!!! I wish it controlled combo skin a bit better but I will still repurchase as I love the look it gave which lasted a 8hr work day. So far no breakouts, will update

5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* pinkbrush on 3/8/2013 1:41:00 AM more reviews by pinkbrush

Age: 30-35   Skin: Dry, Fair, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Green    

On me, NC25ish Dim Light was too peachy and didn't blend into my skin very well it just looked peachy brown. I ended up returning it and am hoping to try out Diffused Light instead, but it's been sold out at three sephoras that I've gone to so far, I think that one is the most popular.

These are nice powders, smooth, nice packaging and if you can find one that works for your skin, it's definitely worth it. I wouldn't bother with the brush though, there are much better powder brushes out there.

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aqelvis on 3/7/2013 8:42:00 AM more reviews by aqelvis

Age: 44-55   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

Ok...if you read my review for Diffused Light, you may think I am anti-amibent lighting powders....but no....actually I bought Dim Light first, thinking I would be able to use on my entire face. So when I received it, I did just that....I looked absolutely fabulous, however, it made me about one shade darker than I normally am, and did not blend in with my neck....I think this is going to be an incredible all over finish once I break out the ol' self tanner. For now I am using it as the perfect light bronzer for pale winter skin, and the great part about it, is you don't have to worry about being too heavy handed with it! Well since I loved the finish of Dim Light, I ran out to Sephora, thinking Diffused Light would be my perfect friend for all over finishing for winter pale skin.....however, it did not perform anywhere similar to Dim Light for me....you can read that review under Ambient Light Powder reviews...so back it went. See what you think, and as for packaging, I have no complaints.

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* D-Girl on 3/1/2013 8:15:00 AM more reviews by D-Girl

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

I was very skeptical about all the hype surrounding the Ambient Powders. How could a powder recreate the specific effects achieved by lighting? Well, skeptic I am no more. Dim Light really does recreate the look you might hope to achieve using a more dim light to blur imperfections. It doesn't make you look sallow or shadowed, though. Instead, it creates this special blurred effect that looks really quite amazing. I have since gone back and purchases the Luminous Light and Radiant Light because I am interested in seeing if they live up to their claims as Dim Light does.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

Mysticmme on 2/24/2013 10:10:00 AM more reviews by Mysticmme

Age: 25-29   Skin: Other, Olive   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Blue    

NC 35-40, olive undertones.
Dry skin.


It really does diffuse the skin, and doesn't leave any powdery residue. I built it up to see what would happen, and it still looked completely natural.

I wore it over MUFE HD in 123, and my skin looked amazing. Glowy, healthy, very very natural looking. I touched it up half way through the day, and at the end of the night, my skin still looked glowy and fresh. I could see some dryness underneath the foundation, but I had to look realllllly closely.

I like the packaging. The compact has a generous lip around the powder, probably to catch any dust up. It has a nice weight to it, and is easy to find in my bag.

Yes it's expensive but it will last a loooong time.

I like it better than Guerlain meteorites. (Blasphemy, I know!) I've also tried Too Faced candlelight, MUFE, Smashbox, LM, Chanel, and some LE MAC thing that gave me metal face. :/. This blows them all away.

7 out of 7 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

elizabetch on 2/18/2013 1:18:00 PM more reviews by elizabetch

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair, Cool   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Green    

I hate the packaging, way too bulky. I always favour sleek compacts buuuuut the product delivers. I find it works better with a base that dries down fairly well, for example I somewhat disliked this powder with my chantecaille just skin tinted moisturizer (it like the defines of the TM "eats up" the powder), but fell head over heels with the effect the powder gave layered over my armani maestro fusion makeup. I think it's best used with a very soft and not too dense fluffy brush (my suqqu cheek brush worked great) because a soft brush will kick up less product, therefore wasting less.

I find when I wear this, it gives a very subtle glow with no shimmer or sparkle (huge pet peeve!) and just look a bit more refined. I call it "invisibly noticeable effects" (lol). I don't think the lasting power is that great, definitely not over a 12 hr day but it is decent.

I don't like the smell, but that disappears basically on application. I would definitely recommend as a finishing powder (not a mattifying powder). I'm really loving it :)

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

DaniRN16 on 2/15/2013 8:32:00 PM more reviews by DaniRN16

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Curly, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

NC20-25 leaning towards neutral undertones here. Heavily swatched this is a neutral light peach color, buffed out it gives my skin a slight warmth, evens out my skin tone, and blurs imperfections. I use it as a setting powder and also on it's own as it gives me light coverage similar to a tinted moisturizer. Gives a subtle luminous finish. I would buy again.

4 out of 5 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* AntiqueGlitter on 2/1/2013 8:23:00 PM more reviews by AntiqueGlitter

Age: 19-24   Skin: Normal, Medium, Warm   Hair: Brown, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Black    

Ambient Lighting Powders are supposed to mimic its corresponding light of its shade name.
Dim Light, according to Hourglass, is described as a "neutral peach beige". Shade-wise, this seems pretty accurate. It's definitely a peachy beige.
Dim Light delivers a subtle, but noticeable glow that looks absolutely fantastic under any and all lighting types. The luminosity is suitable for both daytime and nighttime wear. Its peachiness isn't too obvious on my NC35 skintone, but it does neutralize my slight yellow undertones somewhat.
The finish is gorgeous!
There is minimal blurring of pores and lines.
I don't recommend this for oily skin unless you wear a mattifying primer as these powders don't control oil.
There is a separate brush available that's meant specifically for application of this powder, but I don't feel like shelling out $35 when my MAC 150 brush works perfectly fine for this powder.
It's definitely pricey at $45 for 0.35 oz., but I can imagine that one compact will last a long time.
Would I repurchase? Yes.

13 out of 13 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No