Beauty Care: Hourglass Diffused Edit Ambient Lighting Palette Review & Swatches

Diffused Edit

Hourglass Diffused Edit Ambient Lighting Trio ($64.00 for 0.29 oz.) is a new, Nordstrom-exclusive palette that includes a finishing powder, blush, and bronzer; all three shades are from the permanent range, so any could be purchased individually if desired. The blush was substantially more blush-dominant in the marbling, which resulted in a much darker blush color than my past two iterations, but otherwise, the feel, performance, blendability, and wear were in line across all three products to their permanent counterparts.

I think this format is preferable to the larger, six-pan palette, but it’s disappointing, though hardly surprising, that there is only one variation offered. I’d really like to see a departure from one-size-fits-all kind of cheek palettes industry-wide and movement toward offering light, medium, and deep options.

Diffused Edit

LELimited Edition. $64.00.

9.5

Product

9.5

Pigmentation

9.5

Texture

Longevity

Application

94%

Total

We hope you'll consider supporting Temptalia by shopping through our links below. Thanks!

Sephora Sephora Beautylish Ulta Nordstrom More

Diffused Light

Diffused Light is a translucent, yellowed beige with subtle, warm undertones and a natural finish. As a finishing powder, it had translucent coverage that applied a veil of natural-looking powder all-over the skin. The quality–texture, performance, etc.–were all consistent with past iterations. It was smooth, finely-milled, not too powdery nor too firmly-pressed into the pan, and worked well as a finishing powder.

This is the shade I’ll usually reach for when I want a bit of luminosity and subtle skin blurring, as it doesn’t add visible color–no lightening or darkening–and I’ve gone through my original, full-sized version of it (and did repurchase). The version in this palette performed consistently with the past releases; I don’t find that the Ambient Lighting Powders differ that much in performance, color, etc. and are very consistent, which is always good. It’s with marbleized products that a lot of the end results can be based on the ratio of colors.

To spare my cheeks/face, the photo above is the Diffused Light applied from the Hourglass Sculpture palette, but the one I wore for testing was from this palette.

FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).

Formula Overview
Ingredients

Formula Overview

$48.00/0.35 oz. - $137.14 Per Ounce

The Ambient Lighting Powders breathe life back into the skin after you’ve applied foundations and setting powders–especially if you have more mattifying base products on. They’re not full-on highlighters, but they’re not exactly setting powders (by Hourglass’ definition, they are finishing powders).

If you have very oily skin, you may still need your usual setting powder, but for my normal-to-dry skin, the Ambient Lighting Powders work as a setting and finishing powder in one for me. I get extended wear out of my base products, but the powders also smooths the skin’s appearance, minimizes pores and imperfections, and gives the skin a natural luminosity (not shiny, not shimmery). It is that something extra that someone won’t see and go, “Oh, nice lipstick!” but “Did you do something different with your skin?” When people start asking you about your skincare routine, that’s when you know a product is really delivering on its promises!

The only negative I have to say about the products is that the texture is very, very soft, so depending on the brush you use, excess powder can be kicked up (and wasted).

Browse all of our Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder swatches.

Ingredients

Mica, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Boron Nitride, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Octyldodecanol, Benzoic Acid, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Dehydroacetic Acid, Diamond Powder, Dimethicone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Laureth-7, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Phenoxyethanol, Polyacrylamide, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Potassium Sorbate, Silica, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Sorbic Acid, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Bismuth Oxychloride (Ci 77163), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499), Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891).

Diffused Light

PPermanent. $48.00.

9.5

Product

Pigmentation

9.5

Texture

9.5

Longevity

Application

97%

Total

Euphoric Fusion

Euphoric Fusion is a medium-dark, rosy plum with moderate, warm undertones and a luminous finish. I have two previous versions of this, and this particular one looks significantly darker–like a different shade–because it has a ton of the blush color and very little of the lighting color. I didn’t mark it as a separate shade because I didn’t think it was separate per se (like it was done wrong), but I’m not sure what’s more common as two of three are very light and more peachy-coral–including the standalone, permanent single.

Applied, it also went on lighter and warmer, though not as light as the other two I have. The texture was finely-milled, smooth, and silky to the touch with semi-opaque, buildable pigmentation. It stayed on well for eight and a half hours before fading visibly.

FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).

Top Dupes

View Swatches View All Dupes

bareMinerals Golden Gate (LE, $22.00) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
Tarte Prim (LE, $29.00) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
Tom Ford Beauty Cool (Winter 2016) Highlighter (LE, $60.00) is cooler (90% similar).
Makeup Revolution Make Love Instead (P, $5.00) is cooler (90% similar).
Hourglass Mood Exposure (P, $40.00) is less shimmery (85% similar).
Edward Bess South of France (P, $45.00) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
CoverGirl Medium Rose (DC, $9.99) is less shimmery, cooler (85% similar).
Milani Dolce Pink (P, $8.00) is darker, cooler (85% similar).
Urban Decay Rapture (DC, $26.00) is cooler (85% similar).
Makeup Geek Spell Bound (DC, $9.99) is less shimmery, lighter, brighter (85% similar).

View Swatches

Formula Overview

$38.00/0.15 oz. - $253.33 Per Ounce

The Ambient Strobe Lighting Powder is designed to have the “illuminating effects” of their Strobe Lighting Powder with “vivid cheek colors.” The formula features “buildable color” with a “natural-looking, radiant finish.” The texture of the powder is very, very silky and finely-milled, which can result in noticeable powder that gets kicked up in the pan, though they apply beautifully to the skin and never look dry or dusty actually applied (which is where it counts!). One of the things I have noticed over the years is that the depth of color can vary dramatically depending on the marbling of the powders; some have more of the “Strobe” shade and others have more of the “blush” shade. They last between seven and eight hours on me typically.

Browse all of our Hourglass Ambient Strobe Lighting Blush swatches.

Ingredients

Ingredients: Mica, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Boron Nitride, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Octyldodecanol, Silica, Dimethicone, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Alumina, Water/Aqua, Benzoic Acid, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Dehydroacetic Acid, Diamond Powder, Ethylhexylglycerin, Laureth-7, Phenoxyethanol, Polyacrylamide, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Sorbic Acid, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Tin Oxide, Trimethylsiloxysilicate. May Contain (+/-): Red 7 Lake (Ci 15850), Carmine (Ci 75470), Ultramarines (Ci 77007), Bismuth Oxychloride (Ci 77163), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499), Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891).

Euphoric Fusion

PPermanent. $38.00.

9.5

Product

Pigmentation

9.5

Texture

Longevity

Application

93%

Total

Luminous Bronze Light

Luminous Bronze Light is a soft, golden peach with strong, warm undertones and a luminous finish. It had buildable color coverage from medium to opaque (two to three layers) with a soft, lightly powdery consistency that was finely-milled and blendable. It wore well for eight and a half hours before fading noticeably. This shade was consistent with the past iterations I’ve tried.

FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).

Top Dupes

View Swatches View All Dupes

MAC Baby Girl (LE, $28.00) is less shimmery, darker (95% similar).
MAC Delphic (LE, $34.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
Chanel Lumiere d'Ete (LE, $70.00) is warmer (95% similar).
MAC Delicates (LE, $35.50) is more shimmery (90% similar).
Givenchy Ambre Saison (P, $52.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
Make Up For Ever #20M (P, $36.00) is lighter, warmer, lower quality (90% similar).
Rouge Bunny Rouge Goddess (P, $48.00) is more shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
Urban Decay Naked on the Run Bronzer (-, ) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
Too Faced Chocolate Gold (P, $30.00) is darker (90% similar).
MAC Nude on Board (LE, $30.00) is darker, cooler (95% similar).

View Swatches

Formula Overview

$52.00/0.39 oz. - $133.33 Per Ounce

The Ambient Lighting Bronzer formula is supposed have a “sheer, airy” feel (sheer as in texture) that give a “natural, sun-kissed glow” with the “illuminating effects of Ambient Lighting Powder” with “bronze pigments” that give it “buildable color.” The formula tends to be more pigmented (usually semi-opaque), but the textures are always soft enough that a less dense brush or lighter hand is an option for picking up less product and getting less coverage. I find that the bronzer formula tends to be less powdery compared to the original Ambient Lighting Powders, which is nice. The wear is typically around eight hours on me.

Browse all of our Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer swatches.

Ingredients

Mica, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Boron Nitride, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Octyldodecanol, Benzoic Acid, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Dehydroacetic Acid, Diamond Powder, Dimethicone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Laureth-7, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Phenoxyethanol, Polyacrylamide, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Potassium Sorbate, Silica, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Sorbic Acid, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Tin Oxide, Trimethylsiloxysilicate. May Contain (+/-): Red 7 Lake (Ci 15850), Bismuth Oxychloride (Ci 77163), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499), Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891).