Hit Pan On.....Hourglass Dim Light Ambient Lighting Powder!

Disclaimer:  I purchased this.

I never thought I'd be excited about actually finishing a product, but that was before I started collecting makeup. I say collecting because, let's face it, I've got way too much of the stuff and no I'm not addicted. So, to finish something is both rare and exciting!

Brand spanking new

I actually bought Dim Light as a single compact back in September of 2013 and fell in love with it. When the Ambient Lighting Palette ($58) came out not long after, I bought it to try Incandescent and Radiant Light. Fast forward and 2 years later I've hit pan on the palette's Dim Light after near daily use!

When I received the Ambient Lighting Palette I mainly used it as opposed to my single Dim Light, as I liked the convenience of having a highlight and finishing powder in one compact. Radiant Light has received the least amount of love from me for some reason, although it's quite lovely.

The Hourglass Ambient Lighting powders really are something you have to try to appreciate, as pictures don't quite do them justice. I love the soft focus finish Dim Light gives my oily skin, as it does not settle into pores or make my older skin look crepey or mask like. A little goes a long way,as I just tap my Le Métier de Beauté kabuki brush to the surface (not swirl, just tap) and then gently pat the brush on my face. Fortunately I still have my single compact of Dim Light and it should last me another two years.

Single compact of Dim Light

For those that loved Incandescent Light, it's now available in a single compact ($38) with Hourglass's release of 4 new Ambient Strobe Lighting powders. I really like Incandescent Light and have used it a lot, even though you can barely tell from the picture above. That's how long these last.

Source:  Sephora

I may have to wander into Sephora and see what the other 3 colors look like. Interesting note: the new Strobe Lighting Powders ($38) are less than half the size at .16 oz of the Ambient Lighting Powders ($45), which weigh in at .35 oz. Prices be creeping up, ya'll. Makes the original Ambient Lighting Palette's price of $58 not look so bad.

Above I'm wearing Dim Light over Lauren Brooke's Creme Foundation in Cool No. 30 (full review here). Blush is a mixture of Estee Lauder's Lover's Blush and Alluring Rose. On my lips I'm wearing a blend of Estee Lauder's Vanilla Truffle and Nectarine.

Estee Lauder Vanilla Truffle + Nectarine

Highlighter is Lorac's now discontinued Perfectly Lit Luminizing Powder in Spotlight. That stuff is nice. I rediscovered a sample sized version recently after decluttering/purging my makeup stash over the Christmas break and have been wearing it ever since.

Incandescent Electra from the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush Palette

Disclaimer:  I purchased this.

Incandescent Electra is the exclusive blush shade from the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush Palette, and definitely a motivating factor for me in buying the palette.  I love a good peachy blush, and this one looked like it would work quite well with my fair but warm complexion. 

Each palette is unique and can vary in the blush to powder striation, and mine has a predominance of the peach blush to the Incandescent Ambient Lighting powder.  This makes me happy, as Incandescent is more of a highlighting powder and I prefer a lower shimmer content in my blushes.  This one is quite lovely.

I find the finish of all the Ambient Lighting powders and blushes to be skin enhancing, and they really perform well on my oily skin.  I can still see mostly intact pigment with the blushes at the end of the day, which is not always the case for me.  These are probably the longest wearing powder blushes I've experienced.

It's a toss up for me if Incandescent Electra or Mood Exposure is my favorite from the Ambient Lighting Blush palette.  Indeed, they are similar in tone, with Incandescent Electra leaning slightly more peach and Mood Exposure more terracotta.  Electra also has a higher shimmer content due to the Incandescent Ambient powder, but it still falls comfortably within my acceptable shimmer level (NARS Orgasm would not, for example).

I'm quite happy with my Ambient Lighting Blush Palette ($58).  The formula totally works for me, and I'd love to see another palette with some of the other shades and perhaps another exclusive color.  The palette is currently listed as limited edition (although Hourglass did that with the powder palette, but then brought it back as permanent), and it's currently showing as out of stock at Sephora.  You can still get it from Hourglass, Net-a-Porter, and Space NK, however.

Mood Exposure Ambient Lighting Blush by Hourglass

Disclaimer:  I purchased this.

I think the Ambient Lighting blushes ($35) are something you either get, or you don't.  Or more likely, it's a matter of personal preference/skin chemistry/complexion color/yada yada yada.  Personally, I love them, which is way I picked up my third one in the form of Mood Exposure.  Approximately 2 weeks or so before Hourglass released their Ambient Lighting Blush palette, which also contains Mood Exposure plus two other colors.  Palms face.

Yeah, I ended up getting the blush palette too, I like them that much.  But that's okay, as each blush is slightly different depending on the ratio of the soft plum blush to the Mood Light powder combined with it.  The full sized compact I received has more of the plum blush, whereas the smaller Mood Exposure in the blush palette has more of the Mood Light powder.  It did make a slight difference in the color intensity between the two.

Mood Exposure is described as a soft plum, but it leans distinctly warmer in tone to me.  Perhaps if you combined the orange pulp of a plum with the skin, that would capture the color better :-)  Regardless, I've been reaching for this blush a lot, as the skin enhancing soft glow and excellent wear on my oily skin continues to impress me.

In fact, the Ambient Lighting Blushes have joined Estee Lauder Pure Color blushes as my favorites.  I hope they release more colors!

Barney's Love Yourself Event Purchases & Gift Bag

The gift bag from Barney's Love Yourself event did it's siren song thing on me this year.  Last year it was Space NK with it's mother of all gift bags, but since many of their items this year were the same, I spread my wings and entered Barney's territory instead.   I received (in no particular order):

1. Sisley Black Rose Cream Mask 10ml = $27
2. Atkinsons 24 Old Bond Street Eau de Cologne 2ml = $3.60
3. Maiyet perfume 2ml = $3.90
4. MAKE Santa Fe eyeshadow = $25
5. Koh Gen Do Cleansing Water Cloth 30 ct = $39
6. Kevin Aucoin The Eye Pencil Primatif Basic Black = $26
7. Tizianna Terenzi Almond Vanilla single wick candle = $75
8. Ritual T’ai Chi White Lotus & Green Tea Foaming Shower Gel 200 ml = $15
9. 111 Skin Nocturnal Eclipse Recovery Cream NAC Y2 15ml =  $84
   
10. Malin + Goetz Grapefruit Face Cleanser 29ml = $3.69
11. By Terry Hyaluronic Hydra-Powder 1.3 g = $7.80
12. Hourglass Femme Rouge  Velvet Crème Lipstick in Grace 1g =  $8.57
13. Deborah Lippmann Virtual Insanity = $18
14. La Mer The Treatment Lotion 5 ml = $4.42
15. Revive Intense Moisture Serum 6ml = $73
16. Givency Le Rouge Lipstick in Rose Dressing = $15.88
17. Tatcha Luminous Deep Hydration Revitalizing Eye Mask = $9.50
18. Sunday Riley Artemis Hydroactive Cellular Face Oil 5ml = $21.12
19. Radical Skincare Multi Brightening Serum 8ml = $40
20. Chantecaille Faux Cils Mascara 4g = $18.52
21. Kai by Gaye Straza = $48
22. 3Lab WW Cream = $63.50

If my calculations are correct, that comes to $641.50 worth of product.  Quite the value, even if you do have to spend $200 minimum to get it! 

So what did I buy to meet the GWP requirement?  Well, more than a few Armani Beauty items, with some Hourglass and MAKE Cosmetics thrown in for good measure.

• Eye & Brow Maestro in ambre #4
• Eye & Brow Maestro in gold #9
• Eyes to Kill in Khaki Pulse
• Maestro Fusion Blush in 500

• Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Mood Exposure
• MAKE Super Matte Lip Pencil

All I can say is, go big or go home, I guess:-)

Ambient Lighting Palette by Hourglass

Disclaimer:  I purchased this.

I purchased the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette back in November when it was still a limited edition item, and it sold out not long after that.  Hourglass has brought it back, however, so I thought I'd share my thoughts/feelings on this item. 

If I had to sum it up in a single word:  love.  I love that  you get three variations of the Ambient Lighting powders, including my favorite to date, the beige Dim Light.  That's my go to all over face powder, as it mattifies my skin without making it look chalky or mask like - just a realistic looking and skin enhancing finish

Then there is Incandescent Light, which I use as a highlighter on all the usual places.  It's not frosty in the least and therefore does not emphasize pores, but it does pick up the light nicely.  This shade is not available in the single palettes, and I like that I'm getting something unique as part of the palette.

Last is Radiant Light, which can be used to add warmth to the face, much like a bronzer.  I actually like it as a blush, especially over a neutral toned cream blush, which is how I'm wearing it below.

Yes, the palette is expensive at $59, but I see it lasting for a long time.  Do not overswirl your brush with these, as it isn't needed and will waste product and kick up dust.  One swipe is plenty to pick up powder, and I just repeat as needed.  I love the soft focus finish I get.  I've got oily skin and I can't say that these are work horses as far as absorbing oil, but they do wear well and extend my foundation  somewhat.

 I'm glad Hourglass brought the palette back, I hope it stays a part of their permanent collection!

Radiant Magenta Ambient Lighting Blush by Hourglass

I'm a big fan of the Ambient Lighting powders, so when Hourglass released the Ambient Lighting blushes, I knew I'd get at least one.  I waited a while so that I could read reviews and decide on the color, which turned out to be Radiant Magenta.  Was it worth the wait and $35?

For me, absolutely!  Radiant Magenta is a mix of bright pink blush combined with Radiant Light Ambient Lighting powder, which gives a golden coral pink glow.  No two blushes will be the same due to variations in the baked powder striation:

Just like the Ambient Lighting powders, Radiant Magenta provides a healthy looking luminosity to the skin.  The color leans warm in spite of the cool pink blush pigment, as it's tempered by the golden Radiant Lighting powder.  I find lightly swirling my brush picks up plenty of color, and intensity can be built up without looking cakey.  Yes, there will be powder dust kickup evident in the pan, which is why a light touch works best. 

This is the kind of finish that makes your skin look better, which is the magic of the Ambient Lighting powders.  Hourglass calls it "Photoluminescent Technology", or optically transparent particles to amplify the color to a multidimensional level. 

Click to enlarge and see glow

Call it whatever you want, the result is a lovely finish that is incredibly long lasting on my oily skin.  In fact, I'd say this is a great blush option for oily skin.  At the end of the day the color is still there and I don't see the disintegration of makeup that is common for me after 8-9 hours. 

Dust kickup

Of the six available colors, three look very close in color (Luminous Flush, Radiant Magenta, Vibrant Poppy) in the reviews I've seen.   Two more look better suited for pale complexions (Dim Infusion, Ethereal Glow).  which leaves one other (Mood Exposure), that I may pick up at some point in the future.  The Ambient Lighting blushes are proving quite popular and only Luminous Flush is currently in stock at Sephora, no doubt a result of the recent BI/VIB sale.  I'm sure they'll be back soon.

Hourglass Immaculate Liquid Powder Foundation in Sand

Disclaimer:  I purchased this.

I'm not quite sure what I was thinking when I ordered the shade Sand over Light Beige in the Immaculate Liquid Powder Foundation, but I'm sure it was well researched and reasoned  at the time.  Light Beige would have been the more logical choice, as it has yellow undertones as opposed to Sand's pink undertone.  Regardless, I got Sand, and I can't say I'm completely happy with the color.

Sand (medium with pink undertone)

The foundation itself, color aside?  I like it!  It's more pricey than I would normally want to pay ($55), but it was part of my NK Space extravaganza, where I had to spend beaucoup to get the GWP.  Geared towards oily skin, the key ingredient Cashmere Kaolinite Clay can absorb 75% of its weight in sebum, all while retaining moisture in the skin.

It is water-resistant and humidity proof, which is perfect for Mobile's humid climate.  Furthermore, it is supposed to provide good coverage and a matte finish without looking cakey or mask-like.  Another added boon, it does not contain alcohol like many of the other liquid to powder foundations.

Indoor lighting

The color is workable as long as I've got a bit of summer color left, but I won't be able to wear it during my paler winter months. 

Hourglass Veil Fluid Makeup in No. 2/Light Beige: Sample Series v. 5

Disclaimer:  This was a sample with purchase.

I continue with my quest for foundations, and this sample was courtesy of Sephora.  I believe there were 3 different colors in this particular sample card, and No. 2/Light Beige ended up being the best match for my complexion.

Veil is one pricey foundation at $60 for a 1 oz. bottle, but you are also getting some skincare ingredients in the form of Matrixyl® Synthe'6™, which supports the body's natural ability to produce collagen and help reduce the appearance of wrinkles.  Veil also contains Skin Tightener ST™ PH, which helps to improve the skin's texture and promote a younger-looking complexion.  I applied with my foundation brush and thought the coverage was good and the finish fairly natural looking.

I did end up buying a Hourglass foundation, but I went with the Immaculate Liquid Powder Foundation formula (review tomorrow) instead of Veil.  I believe my reasoning was that the Immaculate formula is targeted more towards oily skin.  I actually prefer the color I'm wearing above over the shade I got in Immaculate, which is a touch too dark.  Them's the breaks, as it's always a toss up choosing the right foundation shade online.  

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Dim Light

If you've ever tried to take photos of yourself or others, you know that good lighting makes all the difference in the world.  I've learned through trial and error that standing in certain parts of my yard to take pictures for the blog give me pictures that realistically reflect my skin tone and give me a glowing quality, whereas in other parts of the yard I'll look washed out or 10 years older.  It all has to do with lighting!

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powders attempt to mimic the type of settings that typically give us the best photos, such as the warm glow of a sunset or the mystery of a shadowy bar.  Yes, I'm at the age where dim lighting is preferable, so it's probably no mistake that the first Ambient Lighting powder I purchased is called Dim Light.  I'm not kidding about the shadowy bar part, as here is what photographer Elise Dumontet had to say in The Glossy/Sephora:

THE SCENARIO: SHADOWY BAR
TRY: Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Dim Light
WHY: “This peachy-beige light is very flattering,” Dumontet says. “Details like pores and fine lines become altered and softened because light is coming from all angles.”

Ambient Lighting Powders are one of those products that are difficult to capture in photos, as the effects are meant to enhance your skin and are thereby somewhat subtle.  If you enlarge the swatch photo below, you can see how Dim Light provides a touch of color and a soft glow. 

I always use powder to set my foundation and prolong it's wear, as I've got oily skin and all the challenges that can come with it.  My usual setting powder has been Lancome's Dual Finish Powder Foundation, as it does a good job of mattifying and setting liquid foundation.  So how are the Ambient Lighting Powders different from any other powder?  At $45 each, I think that's a fair question, and one I asked myself prior to purchasing. 

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. (Source:  Sephora)

I think the difference is subtle but there.  All I can say is I've purchased another Ambient Lighting Powder in Diffused Light, so I'm putting my money behind them.  I like the finish they give my skin, although I'm not sure they are better at controlling oil than any other powder.  It's a fine line between controlling oil and yet not mattifying skin to the point that it looks mask like, and I like the slight glow I get with the Ambient Lighting Powders!

I'm using my Le Metier de Beaute kabuki brush (love that thing) to apply and it is working great, so I don't think you necessarily need to invest the $35 in the Ambient Powder Brush.  Any dense brush would probably work just fine.  I only need to lightly touch the brush to pan to pick up powder, so I do think these will last a very long time.