Hourglass Luminous Bronze Light Ambient Lighting Bronzer Review, Photos, Swatches
Hourglass Luminous Bronze Light Ambient Lighting Bronzer
Hourglass Luminous Bronze Light Ambient Lighting Bronzer ($50.00 for 0.39 oz.) is described as a “medium tan shade fused with Luminous Light.” It’s a muted, medium tan brown with warm, yellow undertones and a fine golden shimmer-sheen. Dolce and Gabbana Desert (P, $51.00) is less shimmery. Urban Decay Naked on the Run Bronzer (LE) is less shimmery. 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 more shimmery, cooler-toned. MAC Delphic (LE, $33.00) is similar. Too Faced Spice (LE) is similar. Too Faced Chocolate Soleil (P) is cooler-toned. MAC Gold Go Lightly (LE, $28.00) is darker. MAC Sun Dipped (LE, $30.00) is similar. MAC Nude on Board (LE, $30.00) is slightly cooler-toned. 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.
The newest addition to the Ambient Lighting range is bronzer–just in time for summer–and is available in two shades. The formula is marketed as combining the “illuminating effects” of their signature Ambient Lighting powders with “bronze pigments” to give a “natural, sun-kissed glow.” It’s supposed to have “buildable color and a radiant finish” with a “sheer, airy” feel. This shade is supposed to be for “fair/light complexions” as it gives a “softer, candlelit warmth.” It had more semi-opaque color coverage to start, which could then be intensified to full coverage or sheered out for lighter coverage. If I wanted to dust this all-over, I’d have to use a light hand and a fan brush (something naturally feathery with little density).
When I first swatched it, I was worried about the level of shimmer, but on the skin, it is beautifully luminous and glowy–it doesn’t emphasize pores at all, and it doesn’t even look frosty. On my medium complexion, I had no trouble getting this to show up well on my skin tone, but it was surprisingly similar to Radiant Bronze Light (which is about two shades darker, but depending on application, any difference may be difficult to detect, as it was on my skin tone!). I would have loved to have seen a greater contrast between the two shades, since there are only two. The texture is silky, smooth, and seemed less prone to kicking up excess powder compared to the original Ambient Lighting Powders. On the skin, it blended effortlessly and wore well for eight hours before fading on me.
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.).
Luminous Bronze Light
PPermanent. $52.00.
Hourglass Luminous Bronze Light Ambient Lighting Bronzer
Hourglass Luminous Bronze Light Ambient Lighting Bronzer
Hourglass Luminous Bronze Light Ambient Lighting Bronzer
Hourglass Luminous Bronze Light Ambient Lighting Bronzer
Hourglass Luminous Bronze Light Ambient Lighting Bronzer
Hourglass Luminous Bronze Light 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
I am excited about this bronzer and the shade looks perfect for me!
Awesome! 😀
I’m glad I only picked up Radiant Bronze Light cause they pretty much look the same on you. I love the finish on you, you do look radiant 🙂
They’re SO similar on!
The total look you’re wearing is amazing, Christine. The bronzen is a perfect finish. A blush would have been too sweet, now you look fresh and glowing
Thank you, Marieke!
So disappointed! Two shades (medium and dark) of yellow-y brown. Why can’t anyone ever make cooler toned bronzers? I love the finish, but none of these bronzers will look flattering on my NW15 skin.
If I knew, I would tell you! And then I’d challenge that.
They’re too warm for me personally – I wish they had less yellow/orange, more brown, and then I’d prefer three options (fair, medium, deep) at the very least. In my ideal world, of course, you’d have no less than four, a light-medium/medium-dark option, and then one cool-toned (well, probably more neutral if it is a genuine bronzer), one warm-toned.
Same here. I think they’re too orangey for me. NC35
Cooler toned bronzers are SO hard to find! Bare Minerals used to make a loose powder one that was perfect but their pressed powders now are all far too orange IMO. The ones I’ve found that I like are MAC’s Matte Bronze pressed powder (that’s the color: Matte Bronze), Estee Lauder’s powders are also surprisingly good color-wise (every shade I can use on my NW15 skin except for Medium Deep which is crazy warm toned) and right now Estée Lauder should have their liquid bronzer on counters. It’s limited edition but comes out every year with the Bronze Goddess collection and it’s FANTASTIC! The perfect bronzer for cooler toned light to medium-light skin. That one and there’s a “matte gel” bronzer by an indie company called Terra Firma (you can find them online) are the two bronzers I use all the time. Terra Firma’s is great for body work. You get a ton and it’s so concentrated and saturated with color that I always end up cutting it with body lotion so it lasts forever!
I’m nw20 and the only two bronzers that I can use are chantecaille st barths and lorac tantalizer baked bronzer. They’re not orange or too warm imo.
I am going to check those out- thank you for the recs!!!
Add to that: MUFE MAT BRONZE 20 & MARC JACOBS bronzer. I’m actually liking LAURA MERCIER *Ritual* too. Recently brought back to Sephora;touch more orange but glowy enough & pretty on my NW20-25 skin.
I am in the same boat as you- I’m also nw 15/20- I was so excited about these bronzers, but they would be way too orange on me also. I would love a cooler toned bronzer as well! I have both shades in my cart at Sephora.com, so glad I waited for the review, that just freed up a $100
I really love these new bronzers ! I’m an NC15-NC20. Do you think there will be a difference between the 2 on my skin ? I wanted both but they do look alike once applied on your picture ! Is it worth it to get both ? If not, which one would suit my skintone better ? Thanks ! I was waiting for your review to make my purchase !
Hi Tracy,
I can’t tell a difference on my skin tone, but I don’t know if maybe there’d be a more distinguishable difference on yours, though my guess is not really. I would get the lighter one if you want to have it be a more versatile product.
My skin is in your shade and tone range. They are very distinct on me. On me Radiant is extremely orange and Luminous is a golden tan.
Oh it looks so much warmer than I thought, I like it!
Yes, they’re definitely very warm!
Looks gorgeous on you but $50.00 is too much.
Yeah, I totally spaced on adding it to the post (LOL, I even compared the physical size minutes before sitting down to write the reviews!), but:
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.).
Too warm and dark for my light skintone, but the finish sounds awesome. After their latest shadow fiasco, glad this bronzer is getting great scores.
They are running REALLY warm!
Hmm yeah the two look very similar. I wonder why they don’t have three options. Ideally the “fair” one would be lighter than this and the “deep” one would be darker than what’s on your other cheek. These both look “medium” to me.
I’d love to have a neutral to even neutral-warm one. These are pretty warm-toned (too warm for me personally).
I ordered this when it was available for VIP at Sephora, it should be here on Friday. Thank you so much for the review and swatches, much appreciated for all your hard work and dedication to the cosmetic world.
-M
Enjoy, Monica! xoxo
Thank you for your quick review. This is beautiful, I don’t need it I am telling myself !!!! but OMG I am loving this minus the price. think I will wait and hope they are still in stock when the VIB Rouge Sale to start soon.
My pleasure, Melanie! 🙂
I’m having difficulty seeing much difference between the two. I wish this one ran more noticeably paler and cooler.
I totally agree, Wendy! These are both very warm.
Loving this color over the other one. I might have to snag Chanel’s Tan de Soleil before this though for $50 for a bronzing product. Definitely would like to pick this up in the future.
I haven’t tried Chanel’s Tan de Soleil in a couple of years, I think, but the texture + finish of this is so much better than what I remember of Chanel’s.
It looks so much cooler and paler in the pan. I’m a bit disappointed it’s so orangey, I don’t think this would work on my super pale/cool toned skin. It looks practically identical to the other one on your face Christine. I can’t really tell much of a difference. I had high hopes for these, but it’s a pass
It does! I walked around my house with five or six swatches of these (heavy, light, blended, and on different parts of my arm, lol) trying to ensure they were both that similar and both that warm.
These do look the same on you! Lol I can barely tell the difference. After reading this I’m thinking I may be able to use Radiant Bronze Light as an all over powder though. I can’t wait for these to hit stores. I really need to see them in person to get a better idea of how they’ll work for me
Very subtle for sure!
Oh no! How am I supposed to choose between Radiant Bronzer and Luminous Bronze then? They look so similar! ;p Guess am getting whichever one is in stock haha!
lol! I mean, I would probably err on the side of whether you wanted something a little lighter vs. a little darker, but especially when you blend them down/don’t wear at full opacity, they look very, very similar.
Yes, surprising that the two shades are more different. But they look beautiful on you.
Thank you, Allison!
The bronzer looks interesting, but what really caught my eye was your eye look today! Absolutely gorgeous, Christine – wow! 🙂
Aw, thanks a lot, Caesara! xo
Well, you’ve made up my mind for me. WAY TOO WARM!
Yes, they’re very warm-toned! 🙁
seems a waste to put diamond powder in a product only to put bismuth oxychloride in it as well… won’t be buying this – itchy skin!
That’s a bummer that ingredient bothers your skin!
Yea it’s a bit scary, after a while my skin starts getting all warm and then scratchy 🙁
I just think it’s weird that high-end companies put cheaper ingredients in their products, especially ones that are known to give bad skin reactions
I’m not a big fan of bronzers for the most part but also, seeing that I have both the Naked on the Run Bronzer and Chocolate Soleil, I really have zero need or even desire for these. It’s also quite orange looking for my limited bronzing needs.
They’re too orange for me as well!
Hi Christine, do you know what the international release date is for these?
Nope, sorry!
They’ve just released this in Australia (literally moments ago) so I imagine now because we always get it last!
I was so looking forward to this, and I’m sadly disappointed in how overly warm this is. Please Hourglass, make a neutral to cool toned bronzer like an Ethereal Bronze Light.
Fingers crossed!
GIRL! Your whole makeup look is absolutely fantastic. I LOVE your eyes. Saving the details and a pic for inspiration!!
About the bronzes- probably going to swatch in store and I will likely pick one up. In my mind its a summer version of an ambient lighting powder…
But yes. If they made a more neutral cool toned one, say similar to Too Faced Choclate Soliel (but better cause they mix in they’re magical luminous stuff…)
I think it would quickly become a staple for so many people. Cult status!
Thanks, Taylor! 🙂
Let’s hope they put out another one with less warmth to it soon!!
too yellow/orange for me. I am not sure if i should buy online without actually swatching. Was very excited for this release n review. thank you
No problem, Resham!
Thanks for the advice Christine ! I am planning on buying it during the VIB rouge sale and was impatiently waiting for your review. I feel a bit lost without your input ! Keep up the good work 🙂
Happy to help, Tracy!
It’s really pretty, but warmer than I would have thought from the pan. So expensive, too. I’m not sure why it’s more than the blushes.
Theoretically, they’re very similar in terms of price per ounce, but I don’t know why it contains more/costs more.
Too warm for me too. I’ve been using Laura Geller Bronze n Brighten in Fair until I find something I like better.
It is very warm, unfortunately!
I am very excited about this, i have the hourglass palette & i love it! This looks amazing on you 🙂
Thank you, Mieko! 🙂
I think I’ve bought three bronzers in my entire life, because what’s “sunkissed” on some people is “I rubbed my face in dirt” on me. That said, I love the HG Ambient powders and blushes so much that I’m tempted by this. Doesn’t help that it looks so lovely on you, dammit.
The finish is so lovely as a bronzer, but I wish the color choices were better!
They all look pretty similar to me. I think it looks lovely on you Christine.
They totally do!
Thank you, Genevieve!
Do you see this as being as magical on us pale girls as the other shade was on you?
If you like your bronzers pretty warm, sure! I really love the finish on these, but I don’t love the actual colors.
Hmmm, it still looks a hint to orange for me. I’ll have to swatch it!
Yes, it runs very warm.
For those who need a cooler color of bronzer, would an eyeshadow work? Just a thought that poppyseed in my head.
It possibly could work!
When I use bronzer, I get along really well with my MAC MSFN in Give Me Sun, so I REALLY don’t need this!!
An oldie but a goodie!
I hope they come out with a cooler toned bronzer, and then a Bronzing Palette with 3 shades!! Now that, I’d buy.
Fingers crossed!
WOW–it looks SO much warmer than in the pan. How disappointing:( I don’t NEED any bronzer but I am a huge fan of HG ambient lighting palette/blushes so I know that the lovely, subtle luminosity is what excited me about this product. I guess it is money saved–until they come out with a cool tone:)
They both turn REALLY warm once you swirl it around!
I may have to test these in person since a lot of ‘universal’ bronzers (i.e., super limited shade range!) can disappear on me or only serve to make my cheeks look dirty. But I hope at least one will work because I’m in love with the Ambient face and cheek products!
I also love the eye look, Christine! It makes me think of watermelon. 🙂
Thank you, Lacey! 😀
My goodness, are they ever orange! 🙁 I’m so fair and cool-toned, there is no way I could pull these off.
🙁