Hourglass Nude Bronze Light & Diffused Bronze Light Ambient Lighting Bronzers Reviews, Photos, Swatches
Nude Bronze Light
Hourglass Nude Bronze Light Ambient Lighting Bronzer ($50.00 for 0.39 oz.) is a soft, medium brown with warm, yellowish undertones and a matte finish. The brand said this shade was mixed with “Nude Light,” which doesn’t actually exist in the Ambient Lighting Powder range, but I couldn’t detect any shimmer or sparkle–everything swirled together for a natural, matte finish (matte without being flat). The consistency was smooth, finely-milled, and silky to the touch without being powdery or dusty in the pan. It had semi-opaque color payoff, which was buildable to full coverage in two layers, though it was soft enough in the pan that I could use a lighter hand and get sheerer coverage, if desired. This shade wore well for eight hours on me before fading.
The Ambient Lighting Bronzer formula is supposed have a “sheer, airy” feel (sheer as in texture) that give a “natural, sun-kissed glow” with the “illuminating effects of Ambient Lighting Powder” with “bronze pigments” that give it “buildable color.” The formula tends to be more pigmented (usually semi-opaque), but the textures are always soft enough that a less dense brush or lighter hand is an option for picking up less product and getting less coverage. I find that the bronzer formula tends to be less powdery compared to the original Ambient Lighting Powders, which is nice. The wear is typically around eight hours on me.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Laura Mercier Bronze (02) (P, $40.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Makeup Geek Sunkissed (P, $22.00) is more shimmery, darker (95% similar).
- Viseart Ablaze (Bronzer) (PiP, ) is darker (95% similar).
- Dior Soft Sunlight (002) (P, $48.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- ColourPop Bon Voyage (P, $8.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Tarte Princess Cut (PiP, ) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar).
- Estee Lauder Saffron Sun (LE, $65.00) is brighter (95% similar).
- ColourPop Perk Up (LE, $12.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- Cover FX Sunkissed Bronze (Left) (PiP, ) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Too Faced Sunny Honey (PiP, ) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$52.00/0.39 oz. - $133.33 Per Ounce
The Ambient Lighting Bronzer formula is supposed have a “sheer, airy” feel (sheer as in texture) that give a “natural, sun-kissed glow” with the “illuminating effects of Ambient Lighting Powder” with “bronze pigments” that give it “buildable color.” The formula tends to be more pigmented (usually semi-opaque), but the textures are always soft enough that a less dense brush or lighter hand is an option for picking up less product and getting less coverage. I find that the bronzer formula tends to be less powdery compared to the original Ambient Lighting Powders, which is nice. The wear is typically around eight hours on me.
Browse all of our Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer swatches.
Ingredients
Mica, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Boron Nitride, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Octyldodecanol, Benzoic Acid, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Dehydroacetic Acid, Diamond Powder, Dimethicone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Laureth-7, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Phenoxyethanol, Polyacrylamide, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Potassium Sorbate, Silica, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Sorbic Acid, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Tin Oxide, Trimethylsiloxysilicate. May Contain (+/-): Red 7 Lake (Ci 15850), Bismuth Oxychloride (Ci 77163), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499), Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891).
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
Nude Bronze Light
PPermanent. $52.00.
Diffused Bronze Light
Hourglass Diffused Bronze Light Ambient Lighting Bronzer ($50.00 for 0.39 oz.) is a muted, medium, rosy brown with neutral-to-warm undertones and a soft sheen. One of the downsides of the original two shades in the Ambient Lighting Bronzer range was how warm-toned they were, so I think this particular shade is a fantastic addition to the range (they could still use more shades, particularly some deeper and more red-toned options). The powder was incredibly silky and smooth with very little dustiness in the pan. It had mostly opaque pigmentation, which could be built up to opaque coverage, but the softer texture made it pretty easy to just use a lighter hand to pick up less product for sheerer coverage. This shade started to fade on me after eight hours of wear.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Urban Decay Going Native (Bronzer) (PiP, ) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze (Original) (PiP, ) is more shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
- Buxom Rooftop Tan (P, $28.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Laura Mercier Bronze (03) (P, $40.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- MAC Sun Dipped (LE, $30.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Charlotte Tilbury Seductive Beauty (Bronze) (LE, ) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar).
- Too Faced Sweetie Pie (P, $30.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- Becca Bronzed Bondi (P, $38.00) is less shimmery, darker (85% similar).
- theBalm Balm Desert (P, $21.00) is darker (85% similar).
- Too Faced Sun Bunny (Left) (PiP, ) is lighter, warmer (85% similar).
Formula Overview
$52.00/0.39 oz. - $133.33 Per Ounce
The Ambient Lighting Bronzer formula is supposed have a “sheer, airy” feel (sheer as in texture) that give a “natural, sun-kissed glow” with the “illuminating effects of Ambient Lighting Powder” with “bronze pigments” that give it “buildable color.” The formula tends to be more pigmented (usually semi-opaque), but the textures are always soft enough that a less dense brush or lighter hand is an option for picking up less product and getting less coverage. I find that the bronzer formula tends to be less powdery compared to the original Ambient Lighting Powders, which is nice. The wear is typically around eight hours on me.
Browse all of our Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer swatches.
Ingredients
Mica, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Boron Nitride, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Octyldodecanol, Benzoic Acid, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Dehydroacetic Acid, Diamond Powder, Dimethicone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Laureth-7, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Phenoxyethanol, Polyacrylamide, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Potassium Sorbate, Silica, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Sorbic Acid, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Tin Oxide, Trimethylsiloxysilicate. May Contain (+/-): Red 7 Lake (Ci 15850), Bismuth Oxychloride (Ci 77163), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499), Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891).
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
Omg! Not hourglass powder’s biggest fan, but love the rosiness in diffused! And I haven’t even scored balm desert. Gotta have something on the WL, after these sales. It’s cheerful…and the cheerful hourglass powders reeeeeally don’t suit me. Well worth a swatc or app. Nice.
You might like Balm Desert better since it’s much rosier!
Thanks for the tip….I left readers one. Our north of the border friends may be very excited…..
The bronzers look gorgeous and I could wear both, though my Diffused Bronze Light with its red undertone would be more ideal. I see dupes for both in my collection but am very intrigued to try in-store.
I can’t wait for you to try them in-store, Tracey!
I love the rosier tone of Diffused Bronze as it has a natural sunkissed appearance to it. Between this one and that MJ coconut infused bronzer for this spring, I’m very pleased to see bronzers that aren’t a sickly, unappealing shade of orange!
Me too! I love a good rose/red-toned bronzer!
Diffused Bronze Light looks the best imo. But I’m not a big fan of either on my skintone!! I feel like these would be too light/subtle for my tastes!!
I could see them being too light!
You look so beautiful, Christine. Love the blue liner!
Thank you, Indya!
Diffused Bronze Light is very nice, I like that it’s rosy but not too rosy.
I totally agree, Erin!
??????????Please excuse this irrelevant comment, but I think many readers would like to know, and I’ve not seen it mentioned on T. ULTA NOW SHIPS TO CANADA!!! Don’t know the details, but cruise way to the bottom of a selection page (I saw it on a new arrivals page). And there it is. Go, you maple leaves! ??????????
I saw that as well but heard it was really expensive 🙁
This is exciting! Finally access to Lorac 🙂
OMG, I have been waiting for this for so long!
I want both, but I don’t need them….
Try duping them in your stash!
I love Nude Bronze Light – I see this being a really good blush on my skin (NC25) and I think this is fairly similar to MAC Cosmic Force!
I bet it would be great on NC25 skin!
IMO Cosmic Force is more gray/cool toned than Nude Bronze, which looks quite warm.
Not into bronzers much, but glad this scored well and the packaging is so elegant
These were nice! 🙂
Hi Christine! I really love the undertone of Diffused Bronze Light, but do you think this is ok for those with medium skin tones? I’m an NC42, and it looks very beautiful, but I don’t know if it will be too light. Thank you! (FYI love your site!!!).
It might be a little light! 🙁
Christine, first off your makeup and hair look beautiful, as always. Rarely see the hair down though! ☺️ Which color would be best for a … porcelain, slight yellow/ neutral undertone? Or would one of their originals be better suited? Or!? Does another product come to mind? ?☺️ Thank you❤️
Surreal or Diffused – Surreal is a bit lighter.
I love bronzer/blushers (Diffused Bronze Light)
Diffused Bronze Light looks very pretty 🙂
I wear 20-beige in chanel and nc20-25 in most foundations, and prefer a very natural look- would you recommend the diffused bronze light or tom ford terra?
Terra is going to have less of a glow, which you may prefer!
I sadly got a dud of Diffused Bronze Light 90% powder, 10% color. They need better QA!
Oh no!! 🙁
the ratio of powder and color is the same for every palette. Once you use it the patter changes 😉 so every swirl is supposed to give you the same ratio of bronze + powder
hmm weird. hourglass’s official description says Diffused Bronzed light has cool undertone..
I’m deciding between the two 🙂 I think nude bronze light look a little yellow(?) on my skin.
It has a redder undertone, but it still appears warmer to my eye.