What are three products that have caught your eye?

I’m looking for a replacement for Hourglass’ Ambient Lighting Powders, so I’ve been paying more attention to finishing/setting powders: Tatcha The Silk Powder, Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk, and Kosas Cloud Set.

— Christine

38 Comments

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Mariella Avatar

Christine, I’m curious as to why you’re looking for a replacement for the Hourglass AL powders. Are they (like SO many – too many – things) being discontinued or it’s your own curiosity? As much as I have a major grudge against Hourglass, I do like their Ambient Light powders (I have the trio and a full size of Ethereal Light which I like for setting my under eye concealer).

I don’t think anything has caught my eye lately, mostly because I’ve not been going into stores to be drawn to things I see. I think the last things to have caught my eye were the Dior quints you showed here (I bought 2 of them) and maybe Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Cleansing Oil (I got a mini in Kiehl’s Advent Calendar and I really like it) though I have so many cleansing oils, I want to finish one before I add another to the “family”.

Christine Avatar

Hi Mariella!

Hourglass makes great products for sure, but they’ve been going backwards (or stagnating) when it comes to delivering inclusive products across their product ranges. They, as a brand, receive SO much feedback from customers about expanding ranges like their powders, bronzers, blushes, and palettes to work for medium-dark and darker skin tones but they don’t.

For me, I’ve been considering no longer reviewing the brand for the last year or so (I believe it was 2018 holiday that seemed “promising” but 2019 holiday was back to their usual), and the final straw was the reformulation and release of the Illume trio, which is a cream-based trio of highlight, blush, and bronze. If I recall correctly, they took it off the market for almost a year, and it was originally only available in one variation… so they reformulated it to be vegan and the new launch in 2020… and still only released the same one variation. They did not respond to customers who asked about it. When multiple influencers called them out, they never responded publicly.

I feel I’ve made the same commentary about Hourglass and not releasing darker shades for years but while most brands show some improvement, Hourglass seems to regress (and best case scenario, stagnates).

Mariella Avatar

Thanks for you answer, Christine. Where I am, Hourglass is only available at Sephora and as much as I wanted to try one or two of their eyeshadow palettes (which I think are discontinued now), they never were available here, at least not in store. Because I don’t purchase a lot from them and don’t really follow the brand (my own grudge about their pricing of holiday releases at a much higher price point per ounce than their regular products, something I learned thanks to you and the information you provide), I wasn’t aware of the concerns regarding more inclusive colours. Just one more reason to feed my grudge!

Cynthia Avatar

Christine, I would love to know if or when you find something comparable to the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powders. I have a mini of Dim Light which I enjoy but I do not want to support a brand that does not take inclusivity into consideration.

Wednesday Avatar

Okay, so my preferred lower lash mascara is drying out (MAC EP Gigablack) and I just impulsed before checking out of Mac website. Devoted to Chili e/s and paint pot in Bougie … Devoted to Chili came up as a dupe for a shade I really liked out of Uoma royal edit palette. Bougie caught my eye on recent reviews. I hate just buying mascara. Lol.

Ginny Avatar

Christine those Armani powders are innnnncredible. I also recommend checking out their Neo Nude powder even though they are marketed as a foundation I find them to be like a hybrid between setting powder, finishing powder, and highlighter.

Ginny Avatar

Forgot to say I have also heard Laura Mercier makes a similar product called Candleglow Powders and when I can go to the dept store again I want to check those out.

Latika Avatar

I love the candle glow powders and I used mine up I had 3,4,5 and then bought 2 hourglass – I was just thinking about going back to these!

Ginny Avatar

Thanks for your reply! Now I’m super interested! Did you find there was much difference amongst those three shades or were they all workable for you?

zeezee Avatar

I actually bought the LM candleglow powder as a dupe for the HG ambient powders. however, even the lightest shade (fair, i believe) oxidised so much on me that i turned orange. i hope it works out better for you all!

Genevieve Avatar

I don’t think I have three products that have caught my eye lately – my stash is so huge that I think I have every shade and colour I like, but here goes:

1. Navy mascara – once upon a time it would have been Clinique’s – but of course they have d/c it, so probably YSL’s instead.
2. Auburn and Autumn Blaze Sephora lipsticks – our local Sephora does not have this range at all, so I am hoping that that might change in the near future. Not that I need any more lipsticks!

That’s about it!

Lune Avatar

– Make Up For Ever’s Pro Sculpting face palette

– Smashbox’s Cali Contour face palette

– the new LYS bronzer in Motivate

I panned the Urban Decay Shape-Shifter palette last year and really miss it…so it’s all complexion products.

Latika Avatar

I have mixed emotions on brands and inclusion. Why should we beg to spend money with brands that do not want to include wider shade variety? I am happy there are so many other brands to deject from and patronize that are beautiful and high quality .

Finishing powders that I enjoy are the Mac mineralized skin finish and some will be aghast to know that I even sweep a littke “soft & gentle “ under my eyes to set my concealer – it’s works fir me sorry –
I love the Laura Mercier Candleglow powders
The Armani Luminous silk pressed powder is lovely and you can also use a little Lancôme Absolute.

I recently purchased a TF quad in suspicion and I love the TF formulas. It I think I give up – the shadows just seem to look kinda as my on me. Never look like the swatch or what’s in the pan

Right now I am really enjoying my false lashes and lots of lip products! PMG lip gloss / Mac powder kiss liquid are my faves now

ShariP Avatar

I’ve been looking at foundation for more mature skin and checking out what Chanel, Dior, Giorgio Armani, Koh Gen Do, Lancome, and YSL have to offer. I’m open to any suggestions too. I haven’t settled on anything yet. Otherwise, I’m impatiently waiting for your Sydney Grace palettes and saving my budget for them.

Georgina Avatar

I’m on a no-buy, but the following items are on my wishlist:
1) Kosas powder and concealer
2) Rare Beauty foundation (and the brand in general)
3) Melt cream blushes,

Not makeup products, but I also want to try ice rollers and the Nu-Face.

Coralie Rose Avatar

I have been eyeing a lot of blushes lately.

1. Lys cream blushes
2. Melt cream blushes
3. Merit cream blushes

I’ve been trying to support more Indie brands lately and clean beauty brands.

DVa Avatar

I’ve been enjoying my By Terry Hyaluronic Hydra Powder for under eyes and around nose and laugh lines. But I’d be interested in whatever else you find.

Caught my eye:
Danessa Myricks Lightwork HIghlighting Palette 1 ( I have a bunch of her other stuff, but didn’t order this because I have so many highlighters). I just checked and it’s out of stock at Sephora, which makes my life easier.

Pat McGrath Lip Fetish Astral in a few shades. But I’ve managed to let them slip out of my life since they first were released, so I can probably continue to do so.

Nars Soft Matte Tinted Balm in Unrestricted, but I just don’t want to give Nars my money anymore–have bought only one item from them in the last 5+ years and that was a gloss two years ago.

Z Avatar

1 – Hourglass’s Red 0. I’m a sucker for red, sucker for packaging, and a sucker for removing animal-derived ingredients when it makes sense (doesn’t to me for things that are shed or trimmed, leaving the animal whole and living (like antlers and lanolin)). But I’m not a sucker for their shitty, misleading marketing. They don’t want to be inclusive? Fine. Whatever. It’s shitty, but the ultra-luxe brands like la mer and sisley don’t bat an eyelash about their shade releases. Hourglass PRETENDING to do it to appease people was straight up nonsense.
2 – Melt’s cream blushes, but I can’t use face products with silicone so I’m out. Sucks because they do colors like no one else
3 – I can’t think of one at the moment, but I know the second after I hit “post comment” three more will pop in my head.

Luba Avatar

I recently bought the Scott Barnes Snaturals and Atelier pallets. The packaging is cardboard and basic, BUT the eyeshadows are outstanding. Blendable mattes, shimmers and glittery shimmers that dazzle but feel as smooth as a matte. You have got to try and review these. I am stunned and more excited about these pallets than I have been in a long time. Amazing!!!!

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