Review: Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Diffused Light

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder Diffused Light ($45 for 0.35 oz) is one of the six new powders from Hourglass this spring. From both the company's website and sephora.com, they seem to possess super power of light-correcting: capture, diffuse, soften, filter the hash light and creating your perfect light! After testing them all in store, I found them to be too sheer to bring about any changes in lighting. I opted for Diffused Light, mainly to set my Burberry Sheer Luminous foundation that doesn't stay fresh pass 6 hours in Houston whether. I want a sheer powder that can maintain the glow of the foundation while keeping it in place. In other word, I aim to use Diffused Light as a regular setting powder rather than to correct my foundations. 

Ambient Lighting Powder come in classic Hourglass plastic case with a large mirror. The brush designed for the powders are sole separately. I skipped it after testing it in the store. I really like the packaging although I'd prefer a sleeker design. This functions well though, sturdy, compact and convenient. 

 The case

Diffused Light is a sheer soft yellow with micro-shimmer infused in the pigment. When applied all over my face, it produces a transparent veil of iridescent sheen, brightening up my skin in a very subtle way without adding color. I tried Radiant Light and Diffused Light on each side of my face and can really tell the difference between them. Radiant gives me warmth while Diffused Light lightens the other side. This suits me well as a setting powder. The powder is soft and ultra-fine. It feels luxurious and modern. 

 

I love how natural Diffused Light is as a setting powder. It's sheer enough to not cake up and let the color of the foundation peek through. It doesn't dry me out even with 5 layers on my face. Diffused Light stays fresh for solid 12 hours and extends the wear of my Burberry foundation yet not on my long-wear foundations. It also even out my skin tone just a tiny bit. I like it better than Guerlain Meteorites for this particular reason. 

When in need of a setting powder that either maintains a dewy finish or creates a subtle glow, I reach for Diffused Light. It's excellent for the job! But in order to create a from within glow, I can summon a galore of highlighters, my Tom Ford Illuminating Primer, my Burberry Sheer Luminous Foundation, Bourjois foundations, Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk, Benefit Hellow Flawless Oxygen and the list goes on. It's a nice-to-have but I can live without it. 

I strongly recommend you check out Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powders in person if that's possible. I've found swatches make no sense in this case. In the photos: 5 layers of Diffused Light

On the flip side, Diffused Light doesn't reduce the redness and conceal conceal my skin imperfections, pores winkles as promised. My foundations do the job a million times better. When it comes to light correction and blur out the skin "problems" Diffused Light bring none to the table. Under hash lighting my skin looks the same with or without Diffused Light.  I can see how Diffused Light can disappoint those of you who want something rather than just setting your cream products.

The ingredients

And to end this post, I'd like to share my thoughts on the other shades of Hourglass Ambient Lighting Power

• Ethereal Light: same finish and texture with Diffused Light yet it whites me out. 
• Dim Light: off color on me and a bit more shimmery
• Luminous Light: ashy on me, the most frosty and works more like a highlighter on me. When applied all over, my skin shines like metal
• Mood Light: Too pink and more shimmery than Diffused. 
• Radiant Light: Too bronze and sparkly for my daily routine. It's the most sparkly shade of the bunch. I personally prefer it for night time. 

Have you picked up any Ambient Lighting Powder? Or were you able to resist the hype? If yes then hats off to you. LOL!

Bottom Line. Love it as a setting powder! But it's neither a must-have for me nor bright about the revolutionary solutions as claimed. 

Cover Look Week 02.13.2012

Laura Mercier's Lingerie Collection immediately caught my attention among all spring collections this year. The promo picture of this year wonders quite far from the soft feminine that dominated Laura Mercier seasonal makeup in a few years past. It's just different from Laura Mercier I got so used to with, in a good way. Sultry dreamy eye coupled with glossy peach lips screams summer rather than spring to me. Still, the peach and pink bring the springy feelings to the look.

Focus. Violet tinted chocolate brown eye shadow. Glossy peach lips.

My take

Base. Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation 5.75 and Giorgio Armani Micro-Fil Setting Powder No. 2 (both are not pictured here).

Eye.

Option 1
Plum and peal white in Dior Stylish Move and the rich chocolate brown in Dior Rosy Tan.

Option 2
Edward Bess Berry Chic.

Option 3
A more shimmery/chrome version of the look can be achieved using Chanel Vanites.

Comparing the three options

Cheek. Paul and Joe Cheek color 12

Lips.

Option 1
Bobbi Brown Rich Lipcolor Sweet Nectar SPF 12
Guerlain Rouge G Orange Euphorique (LE)

Option 2
Paul and Joe Moon Shadow Lipstick topped by Paul and Joe Sailor's Delight.

Did you get Laura Mercier Lingerie Collection? What will be your take on the promo look?

Review: Giorgio Armani Micro-Fil Loose Powder

Setting powders have always been an issue for me second after finding a perfect foundation. Most of the time they dry out my skin, wash out the warmth in my complexion or just make me look chalky. I want a flawless finish (sure who doesn't) but natural. And I know it must be loose powder for that natural finish. My search for a good loose setting powder seemed like for ever until I discovered Giorgio Armani Micro-Fil Loose Power. The powder comes in three shades that are creatively named No 0, No 1, and No 2 ranging from very white to light beige. The powder ($49 for 0.53 oz) is a very finely milled translucent powder. I picked up No 2 that is not completely translucent but has a light beige undertone and subtle shimmer. The shimmer is a toned-down version of Guerlain Meteorite Compact Powder shimmer.

I love that the powder is truly hydrating. I've been using it since the summer and now we're heading to drier months. I never had any patchy area on my face. It's not chalky nor washes out my complexion (medium warm undertone) like Laura Mercier translucent loose setting powder.

The result is flawless and very natural. Problem solved!

Highly recommended! A must-have for me!