Hourglass is releasing new highlighter powders? I’m in! Especially if they’re “strobing” kind of highlighters, my new obsession. I just had to try these Hourglass Ambient Lighting Strobe Powders!
I’m a Hourglass Ambient Lighting fan (the powders and blushes). They really illuminate the complexion without being heavy, in a very natural and subtle way. I already spoke of the blushes when I reviewed the Ambient Lighting Blush palette and they’re still a favorite.
The existing powders of the range (the Ambient Lighting Powders) are more kind of finishing powders. They can be applied all over the face for a sheer and luminous veil of powder. They have a soft-focus effect that blurs the irregularities of the skin.
The Ambient Strobe Lighting Powders however, are real highlighters. You apply them locally on the face for a highlighting effect.
They exist in 4 shades: Incandescent, Brilliant, Euphoric and Iridescent (which I don’t have).
Hourglass Ambient Strobe Lighting Powders, presentation:
What the brand says about them:
• Ambient® Strobe Lighting Powders are formulated in a sheer base with concentrated ultra-fine micro pearl particles in varying sizes and refraction levels to give off a naturally luminescent highlight to the skin without a heavy metallic finish.
• Developed with Photoluminescent Technology to capture, diffuse and soften surrounding light to refine the appearance of the skin.
• Can be used wet or dry for varying levels of intensity, taking you from day to night – from an everyday, wearable strobe highlight to a dramatic evening strobe highlight.
• Available in 4 universally flattering shades for all skin tones.
• Designed to be used with the Ambient® Strobe Light Sculptorfor the most effortless application.
What is strobing? (reminder)
Strobing, which comes from the term "strobe" (like the strobe light) is a makeup technique that is enhancing the luminous parts of the face.
No need to sculpt the face and play with shadow and light like contouring. You just need to apply the highlighter (1 or more different textures to accentuate the effect, ex: a liquid one first and then a powder on top of it) to highlight the areas where the face generally catches more light: the cheekbones, the T-zone, below the eyebrows, the cupid bow...
If you want to apply some bronzer to give a little warmth to your complexion, it's totally possible but just avoid applying it in a sculpting way, like with contouring. The idea here is to slightly warm the complexion to let the highlighted areas be the "star of the show". You don't want intense contouring with intense highlighting, let's say there is a risk of it being just too much.
In short, it's the ideal technique to obtain a radiant face with just a touch of shine.
For an oily skin, simply avoid applying the highlighter in the middle of your face (forehead, bridge of the nose and chin tip) so as not to accentuate the shine which is already naturally there.
For this technique, I usually use a brush that takes a little more product (like the ZOEVA 114 brush) or even my wet Beauty Blender if I want more intensity, and I apply it:
- on top of my cheekbones,
- above the arch of my eyebrows,
- on the cupid bow of my lips,
- at the inner corner of my eyes.
And on days I really want to "shine bright like a diamond", I even apply it on the top of my shoulders and my décolleté.
The concept of these highlighters is a versatile effect with an application wet or dry of the product. When you apply it dry, the effect is more natural. Wet, it gives more coverage and more intensity.
In both cases, I still found them much less intense than my Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector for example. With the term “strobing” in the product name, I was expecting a super intense highlighting effect, the kind you might see from space (you know those raving comments on YouTube lol). But it’s a strobing effect according to the Hourglass brand, so with them, it’s always subtle and chic. And in fact, I don’t dislike it. These Ambient Lighting Strobe Powders give my skin a nice and discreet but still present glow.
But I admit that the term “strobing” can be misleading and it’s a bit of a shame.
Hourglass Ambient Strobe Lighting Powders, my test and thoughts:
– Formula:
The formula is very similar to the other Hourglass powders, the Ambient Lighting Powders: a very fine and delicate powder.
They’re not as creamy as other highlighters with a more “thick” and heavy texture. But they’re still very easy to blend.
– Packaging:
The packaging is the same as the Ambient Lighting Blushes in their solo size. They’re smaller than the Ambient Lighting Powders (4.5 g against 10g) (but we aren’t going to put them all over our face like the Ambient Lighting Powders , so I guess it seems more logical wink ).
This is a plastic case, but it comes with a very chic metallic coating, in a silver color. It contains a mirror inside.
– Finish:
I confess that the first time I opened them, I kinda freaked out because I found the 3 colors very glittery and I’m not really a fan of glittery highlighters.
However, once applied on the skin, especially when you apply them wet, the glittery effect is extremely subtle and the finish is more of a pearlized iridescent sheen. They are all very luminous on the skin and very subtle and elegant.
– Color range:
- – Incandescent: a pinky beige pearl color, quite iridescent and slightly glittery. This shade is suitable for lighter skin tones or if you want a quite intense result. This color was already in the Ambient Lighting Palette.
- – Brilliant: a light golden yellow with an iridescent finish. This shade will be perfect for light to medium skin tones IMO.
- – Euphoric: a warm iridescent peach. My favorite color of the 3, it looks good on all skin tones and it’s really a very flattering color.
– Application:
You can apply it in 2 different ways:
– dry with a makeup brush for a more natural and classic application, perfect for a day appropriate look.
– wet, applied with a makeup sponge for a more intense effect, perfect for an evening look.
Hourglass also sells a special sponge for this purpose, the Ambient Strobe Light Sculptor that I haven’t bought because it looked a lot like a Beauty Blender, that I already own.
What I love to do is apply it wet first and then dry over it for a brighter effect and also to make it last longer! smile
– Pigmentation:
The pigmentation is good, you don’t need a lot of product for a beautiful luminous finish.
– Lasting Power:
It lasts pretty well on me, especially when I apply it wet first and dry on the top. It lasts between 6 and 8 hours on me.
– Value For Money:
Overall, I think it’s a very good product, but it’s quite expensive like all the products from this brand. It retails for $38.
Finally here are the swatches:
And on me:
On the first photo (on the left), I’m wearing Euphoric (my lipstick is Bachelorette by Kat Von D) and Brilliant on the second photo (on my eyes, it’s Manny MUA X Makeup Geek eyeshadow palette and my lipstick is Lolita II by Kat Von D).
So, in summary:
[wprs-pros][wprs-cons]
I like these products, I find them very subtle and with an elegant finish, but however, I’m not sure I would have used the word “strobing” in their name because I was expecting a much more intense finish.
I guess the brand wanted to be part of big strobing trend which is everywhere at the moment, but it appears to me that it’s a lot more about “marketing” and does not really reflect on the result you’ll get. A bit of a shame IMO… uneasy
The Hourglass Ambient Strobe Lighting Powders are available on the Hourglass Cosmetics website for $38.
And you, have you tried some products from the Hourglass Ambient Lighting range? What are your thoughts?
Photo credit: bonnie-garner.com
How does this compare with the MAC mineralises finish powder landscape or Guerlain’s meteorites? The description / effects sounds very similar?
Hi Joyce! :)
They’re more intense than the MAC Mineralise Finish powder and the Méteorites. You cannot really apply the Hourglass Strobe Lighting powders all over the face like you can do with the MAC MFP or the Méteorites.
For me, the Hourglass Strobe ones are proper highlighters and the MAC MFP and the Météorites are more illuminating finishing powders.
I hope it helps! :)