Hourglass Incandescent Strobe Light Ambient Strobe Lighting Powder Review, Photos, Swatches
Hourglass Incandescent Strobe Light Ambient Strobe Lighting Powder
Hourglass Incandescent Strobe Light Ambient Strobe Lighting Powder ($38.00 for 0.16 oz.) is a very light, rosy beige with neutral-to-warm undertones and a pearly shimmer-sheen finish. Sephora Light Beam (02) (P, $14.00) is less shimmery, less pigmented (95% similar). Cle de Peau Delicate Pink (14) (P, $55.00) is more shimmery (95% similar). MAC Climax (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar). Kevyn Aucoin Candlelight (P, $44.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar). Cle de Peau Almond (16) (P, $55.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar). Milani Afterglow (P, $10.00) is more shimmery (90% similar). Cover FX Celestial (PiP, $34.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar). Guerlain Perles des Neiges (LE, $80.00) is less shimmery, less pigmented (90% similar). YSL Rosy Contouring Highlight (PiP, ) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar). Too Faced Blinded by the Light (P, $30.00) is less shimmery, less pigmented (90% similar). Cle de Peau Bal Masque (LE, $120.00) is more shimmery (90% similar). Makeup Revolution Radiant Lights (P, $6.00) is more shimmery (90% similar). YSL Lumiere Divine (LE, ) is lighter, cooler (90% similar). YSL Golden Contouring Highlight (PiP, ) is less shimmery (95% similar). MAC Lightscapade (P, $34.00) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar). Tarte Glow (Tarteist) (LE, ) is less shimmery, lighter (85% similar). Milani Moon Glow (P, $10.00) is more shimmery, darker (85% similar). MAC Hot Sensation (LE, $22.00) is less shimmery (85% similar). MAC Snowglobe (LE, $22.00) is more shimmery (90% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
FORMULA OVERVIEW | According to Hourglass, the Strobe Lighting Powders have a “sheer base” paired with “ultra-fine pearl particles” that give a “naturally luminescent highlight … without a heavy metallic finish.” They are wet/dry powders with dry application for less of a highlight and damp application for a stronger highlight. If you find most highlighters “too much” for your tastes but find the Ambient Lighting Powders not enough, then you may enjoy the Strobe Lighting Powders. Hourglass also launched a slanted, sponge applicator designed to be used with this product, which is what I used to apply the highlight in the photos below, but I prefer regular brushes for more even application and easier blending. The powder definitely intensifies with damp application–you can see how it gets brighter, lighter, and more shimmery.
Applied dry, it was semi-sheer with a subtle sheen, while damp application gives a much smoother, shiny finish that’s not metallic but more noticeable, and against my skin tone, it does appear lighter and rosier when applied damp (this is likely due to the increase in opacity as well!). The texture was soft and silky, blendable, and flattering on the skin without emphasizing pores–and consistent across the range. This shade wore well for eight hours before fading slightly.
Incandescent Strobe Light
PPermanent. $40.00.
Hourglass Incandescent Strobe Light Ambient Strobe Lighting Powder
Hourglass Incandescent Strobe Light Ambient Strobe Lighting Powder
Hourglass Incandescent Strobe Light Ambient Strobe Lighting Powder
Hourglass Incandescent Strobe Light Ambient Strobe Lighting Powder
Hourglass Incandescent Strobe Light Ambient Strobe Lighting Powder
Hourglass Incandescent Strobe Light Ambient Strobe Lighting Powder (Dry)
Hourglass Incandescent Strobe Light Ambient Strobe Lighting Powder (Wet)
Hourglass Incandescent Strobe Light Ambient Strobe Lighting Powder (Dry)
Hourglass Incandescent Strobe Light Ambient Strobe Lighting Powder (Wet)
Oh this one is my favorite!! Great color, and perfect level of shimmer/shine!! I just wonder if it would be light enough? I wear nars sheer glow in Mont Blanc, and am about a NW10 this time of year…I have wet n wild reserve your cabana, which is definitely not a highlighter for me…I did a side by side, and it looks like this might be a little bit lighter?
Reserve Your Cabana is maybe a smidgen lighter, but I am obviously darker so it may be harder for me to visually see something like that. I would say Reserve Your Cabana is a little more beige to me.
Ok, I have this, the original Ambient Palette with the original Incandescent and WnW reserve your cabana… This is NOT the same as the original Incandescent and in my opinion it’s a negative not the same. I am taking it back. On me, a roughly NC10/OliveYellow super pale person, it’s a GLITTER BOMB on my face. The “color” is not the problem, it’s the fact that it looks like there’s no color it’s just clear glitter all over the place on me, where the original incandescent from the original palette is a really nice, sheer “glow” with maybe “shimmer” to it. The RYC is a more “yellow” tone than the original incandescent, which is more pinky when side by side. But this is basically clear on my skin and is just glitter city. I am super disappointed.
I was also hoping that the Abbot Kinney store would allow an Incandescent original in a custom palette (they will do custom palettes in that store), but they will only do it with the 6 shades that come individually–which is stupid, since that shade is already available in that size.
Hi Christine
How does this compare to the LE Dior illuminating gardens powder in pink?
Thanks!
They’re not really comparable as the Dior is much more metallic.
This one seem to blend nicely. It strikes me as much subtler than the first two, but I love how smooth it looks.
They do blend well!
Hmm, it seems that the Incandescent Light Ambient Powder in the palette is not the same as this. That shade applied wet looks like the Incandescent Strobe Light Ambient Strobe Lighting Powder applied Dry. lol
I still want a larger version of the Incandescent Light Ambient Powder. But I also want this one for sure because it hard to find a dewy power and this is permanent. 😆 (Should wait for the spring sale though. 😉 )
Hope you can wait for the sale! 🙂
Permanent = Good to Go (and wait)! Plus, it gives me time to try out the shades in person first.
Report back that the Incandescent Light in the Ambient Lighting Powder palette is the same in the new palettes to the Incandescent Strobe Light. I tested it at Sephora and both the palette and this pan now share the same glow.
I own the first permanent launch of the Ambient Lighting Powder palette and it’s also this identical in colour the finish is slightly subtler. 😉
I think this shade running less shimmery than CdP delicate pink makes it more interesting to me. The effect is more subtle and yet the slight pinkiness shows up more as a result. Might be tempted to pick this one up.
I think the shimmer is a little finer, just marginally so, though!
Thanks for the review. Definitely going to buy this one!
Have you ever tried Ellis Faas Glow Up highlighter? It’s pretty finely milled. Would love to see you review it!
Sorry, I don’t have that.
I am anxiously awaiting your review on the remaining shade as I am trying to abandon my “I’ll take one of each” habit in 2016. (also, highlighters take up a lot of room in my makeup drawers/cosmetic cases.) In my current inventory, the only ones getting used are TF illuminating duo, Hourglass Luminous light (on my 3rd), and hourglass Radiant Light. I am truing to decide between LM Matte Radiance , Kevyn Aucoin Candlelight, or one of the new Strobe Light powders.
Tough to decide between those — all good ones!
Christine, has Hourglass given any indication at all as to whether or not this is the same powder as the one in the Ambient Light trio? That is my favourite shade of Ambient Light Powder (and, of course, it’s only available in that trio) but I’m starting to think that all the “Strobe Light Strobe Lighting” wording in the name of this (what a mouthful!) is an indication that it’s a different formula entirely. Have you any idea or have you been able to compare the two?
Hourglass confirmed it for Iridescent (it was linked in the holiday edit palette to the Strobe page), but I’m not sure about this one, as there’s no mention of that on Hourglass’ website.
They confirmed it to me when I called today, and I can confirm because I have both and it is 100% NOT the same.
is this the same as incandescent light in the hourglass trio palette?
I think it is more shimmery than the one in the trio palette with finer shimmer.
I like this one. It might be a little bit of a blush. I’ve swatched Moodlight and it’s definitely blush like on me.
I’m curious if this appears as a blush for anyone!
Wow your look in the swatch/demo is FLAWLESS! I need to get my ambient light palette and see how this compares to the incandescent light in there. It looks a bit more rosy here in the pan. Still beautiful though. Thank you for the review.
The one in the palette isn’t quite as shimmery – and I think the shimmer is a little larger. They aren’t like, miles apart, of course.
I really, really like this one! More of a sheen than the Incandescent Light in the Ambient Lighting Powder palette, cooler than Kevyn Aucoin’s Candlelight (two of the three highlighters I use most often), this one might be just about perfect for me, although I suspect it looks cooler against your skin than it will against mine. Looking forward to your review of the fourth shade. I might get more into highlighting if I had the perfect product (for me) to work with!
I definitely think the shimmer is denser but finer in the Strobe version.
That’s good to know. I should probably swatch before purchasing to make sure it’s worth it, because I still have a lot of that one product left in the palette (I used up the other two long ago).
Subtle, simple and gorgeous on you, Christine.
Thank you, Helen!
Oooh I think this one will be a winner for me :3 !
This time I do succeed to see the difference between the dry and wet application youou!
Yay!
Looks pretty on you!
Thank you, Katherine!
I love this one too! I wish these came in a palette! This will be a hard choice to decide which to buy first. Agh!
On a totally aside- I just checked the weather in Phoenix in Feb. which is when I am traveling there. Ok, it says around upper 60’s to 70’s! Yeah! So, for us here in OH., that would mean Spring-bust put the sandals weather! But, in Feb here we are still typically buried in snow. So, my question for Christine,Nancy, and all you other Arizonian Temptalia readers- what do people wear there?! 😀
LOL, it is cold to me right now, and it is in the low 60s these days. I mean, it definitely will get warmer by February – maybe 70s? Nancy would know better than I 😉
Well Nicole, because our air is usually quite a bit dryer, it can feel chillier than it actually is, especially if it’s cloudy or the sun has gone down. But it can also hit 80° in February, too! Our weather here is definitely unpredictable, they’ll be telling us there’s high chance of rain and flooding and then nothing happens! But other times, not much warning, and it pours? After living here for 13 years, it does feel colder in winter than it did when I was just visiting my Mom. Because NJ would be in the 40’s or around 50°, so when me and my kids stepped outside here, 70° felt like Spring! I used to pack for the weird variables that my Mom warned us about: jeans, capris\ shorts, sweatshirt, sweater, lightweight jacket, T-shirts, bathing suit, sneakers and sandals. Crazy, huh? All that for a 10 day visit! And we needed ALL of it!
Gotcha Nancy..70 sounds awesome to me. Heck, 40 would be great right now! Light layers..Thank you! 🙂
You would turn into a penguin in Ohio. The high tomorrow is 22.
Sounds like NJ in January, too! Yeah, I have been a penguin back in the day! ? Cannot say that I miss those winter temps or iciness at all, although I sometimes miss watching snow falling. ❄ And I miss having 4 distinct seasons, too.
Ok,If gladly leave it for good. One day ,I will. I won’t miss it. It definetely makes the Trigeminal Neuralgia worse.
Hmmm, that would definitely make sense because cold, damp air makes any nerve pain considerably more painful. I get nasty migraines whenever a storm system comes through, but ESPECIALLY if it also ushers in colder temps, then it feels like my brain is about to blow up! So I totally get why winter weather would make your ATN flare up! ?
it might come out in a palette 🙂 I mean..I got the champagne pop and then a few months later they put it in a palette with other ones…I got the bronzer/blush, and 2 highlighting powders by laura mercier .. and then all three came out in a palette (sooo frustrating!). HG put their blushes in a limited edition one before..so…hopefully the strobing powders will come out in a palette too (next year) 😛
True..But,I am not that patient. 🙂
I must have this.
Nice 🙂
Love it!!!! Even though I pretty much know that this *might* be a little light for me, I also see it being more subtle in its lightness. Therefore it may just work! So far, I am really loving these Strobe Light highlighters.
Hopefully you can check it out in person!
Again, looking very pretty and radiant!
Thank you!
Gorgeous! Christine, how does the color compare to the incandescent ambient powder in the palette?
Thank u 🙂
The shimmer is finer but there is more of it.
awesome thanks 🙂
Of all these Hourglass strobe powders, this is the one I wanted most. So glad to see your review & a swatch. It looks beautiful. I’m gonna be picking this up ASAP! 🙂
Enjoy, Asche!
I think has been my favorite so far, a lovely effect but still natural-ish.
I’m happy to hear it, Erin!
It’s funny I remember my mom having a small jar of an iridescent product she added to her foundation for evenings when I was a kid…guess its true everything old is new again….
Fun!
I really really really like this!
Woohoo!
Hi,
I wanted to ask if this Hourglass highlighting powder is similar to the older Chantecaille Les petales de rose?
Chantecaille is pinker and more shimmery.
This looks gorgeous! Putting it on my must have list ASAP! xo
Enjoy it, Elizabeth!
I know you like warmth in your highlighters but I actually think you look amazing with this light rosy shade. Probably the best one from these highlighters as of yet.
I have another question off topic. I thought I had asked you a few days ago but it didn’t post.
My makeup was stolen so need to rebuy. It sucks. I’m trying to decide between the Viseart matte 01 palette and Tom Ford Cocoa Mirage. Viseart has a lot more shades but I’m not concerned with that. I’m more interested in how the formulas differ and their quality.
Based on your review I know the shimmer shade in CM is not great but I’m just interested in comparing the quality of the mattes. So my question is: If the Viseart matte palette was a quad with similar shades as CM, which one would you get and why?
Also, people rave about Burberry single matte eyeshadows. If Burberry shadows came in a palette like Viseart, would it be a far superior palette? I’m asking because perhaps I should just get four singles instead of TF or Viseart.
Thank you in advance. If anyone else has both palettes I would appreciate your input.
I think Viseart is more versatile. I do not think Viseart is inferior in quality to Tom Ford and personally reach for it more than Tom Ford eyeshadows. I’m not a fan of Burberry’s reformulation of their eyeshadows.
Another gorgeous highlighter – you must be in heaven Christine!
Haha! I am!
Mine will arrive this week. It looks perfect — An A rating, 8 hours of wear and subtle as highlighters go when worn dry. I’m going to love it. Thanks for the review!
Hope you love yours, Anne! Keep us posted.
I think I might be developing a thing for good highlighters. Looks great on you as always.
Welcome to the club 😀
Yesss! Glad this one got an A!!! I bought this before seeing the swatches or reviews so I’m dying for it to arrive!!
Yay!
Christine which is your fav out of the three? Since I read you liked Brilliant less than the others.
Probably Incandescent!
Christine, which one would you recommend more (quality-wise); the Laura Mercier Matte Radiance Baked Powder 01 Highlight or the Hourglass Incandescent Strobe Lighting Powder for fair NC15 skin? TIA!
Laura Mercier!