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.).

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