Fellow Hourglass fanatic and probable feline porcelain figurine lover, go grab your biggest, fluffiest, pouffiest (wait — I don’t think that’s even a word) powder brush, and hurry back.
You’re going to need that brush when you work with these new Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzers.
YAAAAAAS GIRL! 🙂 Hourglass totally went there. First, they gave us the glorious Ambient Lighting Powders, then the awesome Ambient Blushes, and now these! — the new Ambient Lighting Bronzers (available in two shades, $50 each).
Both bronzers, as well as a new full-sized version of Ambient Lighting Blush in Incandescent Electra (Remember Electra from the the Ambient Blush palette? I’m a fan.), are new for summer 2015. They’re also being added to the permanent line (available now at Hourglass counters and online).
Notice how the bronzer pans are comprised of two shades, one lighter than the other? Those lighter areas are veins of Radiant Light and Luminous Light Ambient Lighting Powder running through the Bronzer.
Hourglass recommends the Luminous Bronze Light one for fair-skinned/lighter lovelies, and Radiant Bronze Light for medium/deeper-toned divas.
Now, the darker areas within each of the pans is the actual bronzer. Hourgless figured out a way to combine warm, golden orange bronzers with cooler, ashier-toned taupes.
Interestingly, though, the warm orangey bronzer is what shows up in swatches, and also when I apply these on my face, which I do with a big fluffy powder blush, which creates that whole sun-kissed, golden bronzed effect I like.
When I use a dense contouring brush to apply these instead, it’s a totally different story. The application is more concentrated, and the bronzer comes across as cooler and more taupe, which is something I’d probably use more for contouring than glow.
As for chiseling yo’ cheeks, I wouldn’t bet on using these, as both have a sheen to them, and shiny finishes aren’t as dramatic as flat matte contours. If you’re looking for deep cuts, you’d probably be better off with something with a flat matte like Kat Von D’s Shade & Light Palette.
Be that as it may, I think it’s still nice to have the flexibility of either being able to contour with these, or use them for all-over bronzing. Either way, I have to be careful with these, because if I over-apply, my cheeks start looking dingy. I think less is best in this case, unless you’re aiming for that mud-wrestling look.
Other tidbits and notes…
- Blending: Totally, typically dreamy, as you might expect of the Ambient Powders. These bronzers practically blend themselves. Most of the time with bronzer, I like to go back in with a clean brush to diffuse any edges, but I don’t feel like I have to with these.
- Wear time: I wore Radiant Light a lot last weekend and it lasted 7-8 hours each time I applied. It did start to fade a bit after a while, but it wasn’t really noticeable or bad.
- Finish: Seriously, the sheen is one of the coolest things about these. Hourglass has the whole glowy-but-not-shiny thing down, but it’s worth mentioning in case you have major pore action or bothersome dry skin. The sheen, while usually flattering, does seem to slightly exaggerate pores and dry bits.
As these are $50 each, I’d definitely recommend stopping by an Hourglass counter to play before deciding on one or the other (or neither, or both), and get an idea of how they look and work on your skin. While you’re there, really take the time to play, too. Dust them lightly at first, and then go outside with a mirror to see how your skin looks in natural light. Then add another layer in the store, and head back outside with your mirror again.
Don’t forget to factor in the sheen, too. If you have pore and/or dry skin issues, something more matte might be a better fit (and if you need a matte recommendation, holla at me in the comments).
Hourglass Summer 2015: Swatches (for ref, I’m an NC 42 in MAC)
I like these bronzers, in particular how well they blend and how long they last. Great for all-over, natural-looking, sunlit skin, but they to seem to meander toward muddy pretty quickly for me, which probably keeps these more in the “like” zone than “love.” I really have to be careful to use a light hand with these; otherwise, my cheeks look dirrrrrtaaay.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Hello, Karen!! I always come to you for advice in shades, as my skin tone is the same as yours. What’s the best matter contour shade for our skin tone? Is it better to buy a palette, or just a bronzer? I have my eyes set on the “Shade and Light” palette from Kat von D, but sometimes I think the colors are too warm or light for a real contour. I’d also love to know what cream contour would also be right for NC42-NC40.
Thanks in advance!!
Hi Daniel,
For a straight contour, my favorite is NARS Paloma. It’s a matte, easy to work with, and blends beautifully. The undertones are cool but they don’t look jarring on warm skin. Here’s a review I did of it last year: Chisel Those Cheeks! Contouring Made Easy With the New NARS Contour Blushes.
You could also do something like the MAC Sculpting Powders too. Either Sculpt or Shadester.
I don’t do a ton of cream contouring but when I do I use NARS Matte Multiple in Vientiane. I like how it blends and how it isn’t too ashy.
Let me know if you have any other questions! Happy to help.
I like the look of these for an all over bronze! I wonder if they’ll come out with a pa,Leyte though
*palette
So sad, these bronzers look so good in the pan but they sound like a miss to me. I don’t have access to a counter and I haven’t seen enough positive reviews to warrant a blind purchase. I have pores and I find that the Ambient Lighting powder in Radiant Light emphasises them; I can only imagine that these wil too.
I have so many bronzers but have been using only my Trish McEvoy one which I’ve hit the pan on already. These may be a replacement, they do look dreamy and I love the powders from the range.
Glowy but not shiny is EXACTLY what I need! Incandescent Electra looks so so pretty, sigh.
P.S.: Thank you so much for commenting on my first YouTube video, Karen!
I am really torn about these bronzers! I really want one but I think it will be too warm and orange on me. I guess I will have to check it out in person.
Yes, give them a go. You never know!
These are beautiful. Not sure if I’d purchase them but I do think HG is such an impressive brand. I have the ambient lighting palette & use it virtually everyday =)
These look so tempting. I’ve always wanted to add a little bit of a sunny, warm glow to my skin. But I am so fair (NC15 can be a bit dark on me in the winter) that bronzers usually end up looking like dirt on my skin. Sigh. The glow on these is so lovely. I pulled out my Ambient Lighting powder again and was so happy with how softly lit from within my skin looked, I wondered why I had forgotten about it.
As much as I yearn for the powders and blushes, these bronzers just don’t tempt me. I am not that much into bronzers anyway, I prefer them matte and somehow they look… dirty instead of pretty.
But this is personal preference, I guess.
I love the color of the lighter bronzer and the blush. I think they look dirty because they are so pigmented!