Hourglass Ambient Metallic Strobe Lighting Palette - review and swatches

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Earlier this week I reviewed the new Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit Volume 3 (see here) and I'm back today to review the other Hourglass holiday release I bought this year: the Hourglass Ambient Metallic Strobe Lighting Palette.

Long story short, I like it. But does it beat my original Hourglass Ambient Strobe Lighting Powders? No it doesn't, although that puts me in the minority because everyone's obsessed with this. I can see why, believe me, it's just that I think the originals are a better fit for my personal preferences. If only I'd reviewed those... Must do so soon.


If you're anything like me, you've already seen some reviews of this palette so you know that it's more metallic and pigmented than Hourglass' original highlighters.

This is absolutely correct, and one of the differences between them is that I can build the originals and still get a natural highlight, but with this one I have to go in carefully or otherwise I'll get a stronger highlight than I want - keeping in mind that some people prefer this, it's just that I personally prefer a more subdued look. But I do like versatile products that give you the option of having a stronger or a more natural finish, and this palette does achieve that. 


The palette comes in Hourglass' standard metallic packaging and it's silver in colour (same as the strobe powders), and yes it attracts fingerprints and looks very grubby very quickly, but it's easy to wipe down so that doesn't bother me.

In this palette you get three shades:
  • Absolute Strobe Light, 'a soft pink metallic pearl powder for a captivating highlight'
  • Pure Strobe Light, 'a pale gold metallic pearl powder for an exquisite highlight'
  • Lucent Strobe Light, 'a rose gold metallic pearl powder for a magnetic highlight'

According to the Hourglass website they are all 3.3g in size so you get 9.9g of product in total, and according to the underside of the compact they are all 3g in size (9g total), which is of course confusing but I'm not too fussed about the amount because I'll never pan this thing anyway.


Hourglass claims/product details:
  • This limited edition palette of Ambient® Metallic Strobe Lighting Powders provides the brightest highlight to the skin
  • With a smooth velvety texture, these highly concentrated metallic strobing powders glide across the high points of the face to reveal a vibrant glow
  • Formulated with intensely concentrated, multifaceted pearl particles in varying sizes and refraction levels to give the most reflective glow 
  • The velvety texture ensures a smooth application 
  • Concentrated formula utilises Photoluminescent Technology to intensify the way light reflects on the skin
  • Available exclusively this holiday season
  • Features three new and exclusive shades: Absolute Strobe Light, Pure Strobe Light and Lucent Strobe Light
  • Vegan, cruelty free and gluten free
  • RRP $90 AUD for 3.3g x 3 (or 3g x 3, as discussed above)


One thing to note with this palette is that I don't believe we are getting three new shades. Yes we're getting a different formula that's more intense and has a different texture and finish as compared to the original strobe powders, but I reckon these three shades are dupes for Iridescent Strobe Light (that's the pink), Brilliant Strobe Light (that's the gold) and Euphoric Strobe Light (that's the bronze-y beige that Hourglass is calling a rose gold).

While I can't say this for sure of Iridescent Strobe Light because I don't own it, I can say it for the other two shades because I own both of them. You'll see what I mean in the swatches below.

In other words, I reckon this is the three-pan highlighter palette we expected to get from Hourglass after the brand released its strobing powders individually. I don't know about anyone else, but I was waiting for that so I held off on buying the individual full-sizes, but when the palette never arrived then I eventually caved and bought the two full-sizes that I wanted. While I don't mind buying this palette now because, yes, the formula is different and these powders are more intense, I personally would have preferred to see different colours in this palette - otherwise I'm just getting more of the same.

I mentioning the dupe aspect because, although it's worth it to me as an Hourglass lover to have both formulas in my collection, it mightn't be worth it for everyone - so do be aware that I don't feel these shades are unique to Hourglass' range. Again, you'll see what I mean in the swatches below.

Anyhoo. There's the palette in direct sunlight:


Below I've swatched the shades heavily and then softly in different lights, and then I've done comparison swatches.

Indirect sunlight:


*L-R: Absolute Strobe Light, Pure Strobe Light, Lucent Strobe Light

Direct sunlight:


Now for comparison swatches.

Below we have Pure Strobe Light followed by Brilliant Strobe Light (both gold), then Absolute Strobe Light (which I suspect is the same as the pink-toned Iridescent Strobe Light), then Euphoric Strobe Light followed by Lucent Strobe Light (both being more bronze/beige).

Indirect sunlight:


* L-R: Pure Strobe Light, Brilliant Strobe Light, Absolute Strobe Light, Euphoric Strobe Light, Lucent Strobe Light 

Direct sunlight:


* L-R: Pure Strobe Light, Brilliant Strobe Light, Absolute Strobe Light, Euphoric Strobe Light, Lucent Strobe Light 

Verdict

Ok, so I do enjoy this product and I think it's an excellent addition to Hourglass' range because I know that the original Ambient Strobe Powders weren't for everyone (some found them too glittery and others too subtle), so this palette should suit people who had those kinds of complaints. 

There's no glitter in these and they're a lot more reflective and pigmented than the originals, so I think this palette will appeal to a (mostly) different audience than the original formula did.

Having said this, I know I'm not the only one who loves almost every powder that Hourglass comes out with - and I think we're the ones 'missing out' here. That is, if you love the original strobe powders and have one or more of them, then if you buy this palette, you're suddenly winding up with doubles of your shades. Or at least, that's the case for me. 

Yes Brilliant Strobe Light and Euphoric Strobe Light are my favourite highlighters in terms of formula (the colours too), but I would like to have seen variations in tone for this palette. Or perhaps that's just me. Perhaps the difference in formula and finish is enough for others. I guess I feel this way because I prefer a more natural highlight so I use this palette very softly (so the finish/intensity I'm getting from both formulas isn't that different): perhaps others like having the option of the same shades but in differing levels of intensity.

In terms of formula, the originals are soft, smooth and silky to the touch. Yes the new ones are as finely milled as the originals, but they're a little harder and grittier to the touch. While they're certainly not hard and gritty full stop, I'm just comparing the two. They're also a little drier in texture than the originals, although Brilliant Strobe Light is drier than my Euphoric Strobe Light so that's worth saying too.

As mentioned above, the original formula does contain very small flecks of glitter - which the new one does not. You know I don't like glitter in my products but I live with it in the Hourglass highlighters because it's barely noticeable and it's so finely milled. But if the glitter bothered you, then this palette might appeal.

On the flip side, the original highlighters don't emphasise texture (indeed, they minimise it on my cheeks), but the new ones don't minimise it (if you wear them very lightly), but they do if you try to build them. Yes you can say that of most highlighters if you wear them more heavily, but it's worth saying that these don't offer the same airbrushed effect that the originals do.

And indeed it's for this reason that I prefer the originals. Not only do I prefer to not have to be careful when I'm touching my brush into the pan, but I also like something that makes me look younger and smoother. That's why I'm an Hourglass junkie, pure and simple. And the powders in this palette aren't quite 'Hourglass' to me.

One thing I will say in favour of this palette, however, is that it looks better on the eyes than the original formula because you don't have to build it as much (which can be drying, if you have to use too much powder to get it to show up), and indeed I haven't been able to put this palette down since I bought it over two weeks ago for the simple reason that it works so well on the eyes.

In terms of the shades, I can wear all three colours on the face but I suspect I wouldn't be able to wear Lucent Strobe Light if I built it up (it would be too dark if I did that). The pink shade looks frosty on my face (but it works beautifully for brightening up the insides of my nose, near my inner corners) and the gold shade is my favourite, which is hardly surprising given my love affair with Brilliant Strobe Light.

Overall, I think this is a beautiful palette and it's a great addition to the Hourglass range, but it's not my favourite Hourglass product and while I'm glad I bought it and I'll certainly use it a lot, I can see myself using it more for the eyes and less so for the face, for the reasons mentioned above.

I do like it, though. And I would still buy it again: make no mistake about that ; )


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