Whenever I think of Hourglass makeup, I think of elegance…refinement…and makeup that’s friggin’ beautiful, and their four new $38 Ambient Strobe Lighting Powders evoke the living daylights out of all three of those things (I also talk about them briefly in this 5 Things I’m Loving Lately video).
To me, this is highlighting done so incredibly right.
I admit it: I get persnickety sometimes about my powder highlighters because, ya know, when you’re a woman of a certain age, the metallic ones? — even though they’re lovely, dramatic and ever-so eye-catching, they can also be a bear to work with when the frosty flecks go snorkeling in your pores and fine lines, and they end up highlighting all the stuff that you actually didn’t want to highlight at all…
Now…I’m gonna say this next phrase, even though I know it’s a tired cliché, but these Ambient Strobes really do create that lit-from-within candlelit glow. The magic, according to Hourglass, comes from fabulously fine pearl particles in different sizes, which reflect light to varying degrees.
Unlike the also otherworldly, awesome O.G. Hourglass Ambient Powders, the Strobes are strictly highlighters (the O.G. Ambients can also be used for other things). Whereas I might put the O.G. Ambient Lighting Powders all over my face or use them to set my under-eye concealer, I wouldn’t do those things with the Strobes.
That’s not a knock on them. They’re just a little different than their older cousins, but I also lurve them. And I also think they get better as you wear them throughout the day.
They’re available in four darned near foolproof, flexible shades (all designed to be worn by all skin tones).
Sometimes, with other highlighters, I’ll apply some and feel like, “Oh, my gosh! I’m wearing too much…” but with these, even when I do accidentally go overboard, it doesn’t look bad.
Yeah, I got mad love for these Ambient Strobe Lighting Powders!
They’re smaller, by the way, than the original Ambients. For comparison, they’re the same size as the Hourglass blushes.
Oh! — and Hourglass also released a a funky little $22 sponge with which to apply them, and it is handy… You can use the angled part to highlight your upper cheekbones, and the tip to highlight your nose and Cupid’s bow, but I don’t necessarily think it’s must-have if you already have a good highlighting brush.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
I still haven’t bought a ambient powder, I think I need to get on that and get both! Now to choose the shade…
How do you feel about neutral gold? My fave out of the bunch is Brilliant Strobe Light. It’s the one I’m wearing in the 5 Things I’ve Been Loving Lately video (if you wanna see it in action).
Pretty good. I’m a rather pink person, but i can do gold pretty well (i wish I knew how to make my photo show here).
See, I am a dissenter. And I am kind of butthurt about it because I was SO disappointed with these, especially for the price! They were, to me, dollar store glitter quality at $40 a whack.
I bought the Incandescent because the main store told me it was the same as the original Ambient Lighting Powder –you know, the “special one that only comes in the 3 pan palette!”– and it’s NOT. They really should’ve named that thing something different to prevent this confusion. So when it showed up and I opened it, I was like “ok, that looks like serious shimmer. Is that even the same?” So I swatched it next to the original and I was like “Uh no. This is not the same.” And I turned my hand to see just flecks of glitter ALL OVER. It was just clear with glitter, and was like flying all over the place. So basically the original is glow, beautiful glow, and the Strobe is just a glitterbomb of death. So I took it back, and looked at the others, and they were exactly the same on me.
I am a SUPER pale freakazoid and thought the others might show up on my skin with like…tones of some color or something. Since they’re like pinkish or yellowish or peachish. NOPE. Just clear glitter everywhere. I was not pleased.
So I basically am back to just overpaying for a 3 pan palette where I only use the one middle pan and toss (yes literally throw away) the rest totally unused because I can’t find anything like that middle shade and I know no one in my friends or family circle that wants anything to do with this product, especially not two shades that are too dark for any of us. I was disappointed to learn they won’t include that shade in the “custom” option they do through their Abbott Kinney store, either. Despite already being in that pan size.
That sponge is fascinating though…I like it for baking under my eyes lol
Bummer these didn’t work out for you. I didn’t have that issue with the glitter. On me I get the softest, most beautiful glow.
They are pretty!
I don’t use highlighters, but I love the pictures! 🙂
Karen, now I have to try them… You look gorgeous!! Thanks for the warning about the size!
You look so radiant! I don’t tend to use powders right now since my skin is dry (I’m using Becca’s Shimmering Skin Perfector in Moonstone, which I adore), but this looks lovely! Highlighting is my favorite.
So would you say these are sort of in between the ambient powders and say a Becca highlighter? I love the ambient powders but the Becca is a little too much for me. I may or may not be of a certain age LOL
I think I will treat myself to one of the originals instead. I am not that much into highlighter, and I feel like they´d just gather dust in my drawer.
Oh wow, the highlight on you looks gorgeous! Will definitely check these out next time I’m in London 🙂
Apart from Euphoric they all just look kinda similar on. But they’re definitely pretty!
Euphoric looks nice for those with a warm medium skin tone! Also, the sponge looks like it would be great for tapping concealer underneath the eye area. Love that it can stand on its own!
That makeup! Girl, you look gorgeous!x
All of these look lovely, especially swatched alongside each other. That sponge also looks super handy.
Please always list what you’re wearing. You always have beautiful makeup on. What’s the lipstick? I think I would really love Euphoric!
I’ve liked them on everyone so far, very good offering!
I’m sold on Euphoric now that I’ve seen it on you!!!
These look stunning! Unfortunately, I can’t get past the trendy marketing term “Strobing.” I get majorly turned off by brands who cater too much to the IG-glam-norm and prefer a little more balance from brands, you know? When they can offer a perfectly lovely product that appeals to all varieties of beauty worlds, I’m much more likely to buy. A shame in this case, because to date Hourglass has been my favorite luxury brand. Kind of hoping the trend phase is a one-and-done. One word in the name might seem like a lot to get this picky over, but “Strobing” won’t last forever…highlighting/contouring will 🙂