Archived Post

Hourglass Radiant Bronze Light Ambient Lighting Bronzer Review, Photos, Swatches

Hourglass Radiant Bronze Light Ambient Lighting Bronzer
Hourglass Radiant Bronze Light Ambient Lighting Bronzer

Hourglass Radiant Bronze Light Ambient Lighting Bronzer ($50.00 for 0.39 oz.) is described as a “warm bronze shade fused with Radiant Light.” It’s a medium-dark brown with warm, yellow undertones and a soft, golden shimmer-sheen finish. Dolce and Gabbana Desert (P, $51.00) is less shimmery. Urban Decay Naked on the Run Bronzer (LE) is less shimmery, lighter. Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze (P) is cooler-toned. Bobbi Brown Bronze (LE, $45.00) is more shimmery. IT Cosmetics Warm Radiance (P, $34.00) is lighter, cooler-toned. MAC Delphic (LE, $33.00) is a smidgen lighter. Too Faced Spice (LE) is cooler-toned. Too Faced Chocolate Soleil (P) is cooler-toned. Wet ‘n’ Wild Bikini Contest (P, $3.99) is redder, less shimmery. MAC Lush Light Bronze (LE, $28.00) is darker. MAC Gold Go Lightly (LE, $28.00) is similar. MAC Sun Dipped (LE, $30.00) is cooler-toned. MAC Nude on Board (LE, $30.00) is similar. MAC Soft Sand (LE, $25.00) is less shimmery. Burberry Summer Glow (P, $48.00) is darker. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.

As I mentioned in my review for Luminous Bronze Light, the new bronzing formula takes the “illuminating effects” of their signature Ambient Lighting powders with “bronze pigments” to give a “natural, sun-kissed glow.” The formula is supposed to have “buildable color and a radiant finish” with a “sheer, airy” feel. This particular shade is designed for “medium/deep complexions.” It was very pigmented and a little went a long way, but I’m not sure this is dark enough for very deep skin tones, though the luminous finish may help it still add some noticeable warmth/sheen, even if it doesn’t add much color. It’s rather full coverage, instead of buildable, but you can blend/diffuse it for a sheerer look as the formula is forgiving. It seemed rather sparkly when swatched, but the way it translated onto skin is almost magical, because I didn’t see a lot of sparkle, I saw the luminosity. The texture was silky, smooth and blends easily on the skin, while the sheen didn’t emphasize pores or the skin’s natural texture. It stayed on well for eight and a half hours before I noticed any fading. It was hard for me to see a noticeable difference in color when I wore both this and Luminous Bronze Light on my skin tone; the lighter shade seemed a bit less warm/more subdued, but it was a subtle difference.

Forgot to mention: the Ambient Lighting Bronzers are the same physical size as the Ambient Lighting Powders. These have 0.39 oz. in them, whereas the original powders have 0.35 oz. On a price per ounce basis, the Bronzers are $128.21/oz. and the Powders are $128.57/oz. Of course, if you look at it from more of a “per use” basis, you may feel that you stand little chance of finishing the bronzer and would have preferred it in blush-size (which costs $35 for 0.15 oz. or $233.33/oz.).

Hourglass Radiant Bronze Light Ambient Lighting Bronzer
Hourglass Radiant Bronze Light Ambient Lighting Bronzer

Hourglass Radiant Bronze Light Ambient Lighting Bronzer
Hourglass Radiant Bronze Light Ambient Lighting Bronzer

Hourglass Radiant Bronze Light Ambient Lighting Bronzer
Hourglass Radiant Bronze Light Ambient Lighting Bronzer

Hourglass Radiant Bronze Light Ambient Lighting Bronzer
Hourglass Radiant Bronze Light Ambient Lighting Bronzer

Hourglass Radiant Bronze Light Ambient Lighting Bronzer
Hourglass Radiant Bronze Light Ambient Lighting Bronzer

Hourglass Radiant Bronze Light Ambient Lighting Bronzer
Hourglass Radiant Bronze Light Ambient Lighting Bronzer

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer (Luminous vs. Radiant)

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer

Makeup Look
On face:
  • Guerlain Parure Gold Foundation
  • Urban Decay Naked Loose Setting Powder
On eyes:
  • Make Up For Ever I412
  • I808
  • S604
  • M600
  • M510 Artist Shadows; Sephora Go For It Eyeliner with Make Up For Ever D334 and D306 Artist Shadows below
On lips:
  • Clinique Melon Pop Lipstick

35 Comments

Comments that do not adhere to our comment policy may be removed. Discussion and debate are highly encouraged but we expect community members to participate respectfully. Please keep discussion on-topic, and if you have general feedback, a product review request, an off-topic question, or need technical support, please contact us!

Please help us streamline the comments' section and be more efficient: double-check the post above for more basic information like pricing, availability, and so on to make sure your question wasn't answered already. Comments alerting us to typos or small errors in the post are appreciated (!) but will typically be removed after errors are fixed (unless a response is needed).

We appreciate enthusiasm for new releases but ask readers to please hold questions regarding if/when a review will be posted as we can't commit to or guarantee product reviews. We don't want to set expectations and then disappoint readers as even products that are swatched don't always end up being reviewed due to time constraints and changes in priorities! Thank you for understanding!

Comments on this post are closed.
Eri Avatar

OMG Thanks Christine!! I’ve been waiting impatiently to see swatches for these 🙂

Is the Radiant light a little more orange-y than the Luminous light? Trying to choose between the two, I’m light but I tan well in the summer 🙂

Christina Avatar

Thank you so much for posting this quickly, as I am trying to figure out if and now, which! one I should get! So glad you gave it a good review. I woke up this morning to look if you did a review on this, and you did!!! Thank you, Christine 🙂

Christine Avatar

Thank you so much 🙂 I wanted to do something warm and neutral and use some of the lingering Artist Shadows I haven’t used yet, but I had to have some fun with the lower lash line and decided to go for a “flower” concept where the lash line were the leaves/stem and the lid was more like the petals!

Nicole Avatar

Very pretty! If you had to chose between this or Guerlain’s Teracotta,which would you go for? I was going to pick up Teracotta #3 at the Sephora sale. Don’t think I can swing both right now since Tom ford decided to pre-sale yesterday! Major dent in the Sephora budget! I have no access to a Guerlain counter and I really value your taste!

Christine Avatar

I really like radiance/luminosity in my cheek products, so in that, Hourglass is more in line, BUT these two are more orange/yellow than I personally like so I’d still opt Guerlain because of the better shade selection.

So, if you like the tone of the Hourglass blush, then I’d probably go Hourglass 🙂

Nicole Avatar

Lol…well, now I want both! The swatch looks really orange. but looks gorgeous on your skin. I think I am leaning toward getting the Guerlain first as I have had my heart set on it.I can always pick this up later maybe after I get a chance to see it in store. Probably will wind up with both! lol!

Melissa Avatar

“but the way it translated onto skin is almost magical, because I didn’t see a lot of sparkle, I saw the luminosity.”

well… that sold it!

Katherine T. Avatar

It’s too dark for me (I would look like Snooki with this on), but the finish sounds great, and glad it got such a great score.

Audrey H. Avatar

Thanks for the great swatches and review! The price tag puts me off. I agree about preferring a smaller size at a lower price point. Easy pass for me.

Sparrow Avatar

I’ve been waiting for you to review this! I wait for all your reviews on stuff I think I’ll blow all my money on.

“It was very pigmented and a little went a long way, but I’m not sure this is dark enough for very deep skin tones, though the luminous finish may help it still add some noticeable warmth/sheen, even if it doesn’t add much color.”

When you say very deep, can you give me an example? I’m MAC NC50 and I don’t know if that means I’m deep or very deep. I wonder if I can wear this bronzer…

Christine Avatar

Hey Sparrow,

I think there is enough pigment to transfer, but I’m not sure it’s going to really work as a bronzer, so I’m not sure how it’s going to perform on NC/NW45 and darker. Do you have any of the dupes/similar shades? If some of those show up, then this might show up.

We try to approve comments within 24 hours (and reply to them within 72 hours) but can sometimes get behind and appreciate your patience! 🙂 If you have general feedback, product review requests, off-topic questions, or need technical support, please contact us directly. Thank you for your patience!