Hourglass | Ambient Lighting and Ambient Lighting Blush Palette | Review

So these palette's aren't cheap, I'll get that out of the way first. Both palettes retail for £56 EACH, and I have recently just purchased the Hourglass Lighting palette. The Ambient Lighting Blush palette I received as a Christmas gift from my younger sister, but because they are both so expensive, I normally only use these two products if I'm going out for a special occasion or if I know I will be out all day. These may be cray cray expensive to some but, I had lusted over these two products for a very long time before I decided to get them (well the lighting palette)!

The texture of both these products are very similar - finely milled, soft, pigmented and very bendable. If you hold one of these palette's, you just know you've paid good money for the packaging - it just feels luxury and well-made. Each palette features a mirror so that's great for when you're travelling, and you receive a good amount of product in each separate product. 

Hourglass Lighting Palette, £56, 0.35 oz. (clickable link)

Like I mentioned, I have wanted this palette for a long time now and finally purchased it (alongside a few other things from Space NK...damn you, N.Dulge incentive). So these aren't exactly classed as highlighters or face powders...I would say they are more finishing/beauty powders. Why? Because they just add a little something extra to your finished make-up look, and you really can tell the difference in your overall makeup look. They definitely breathe 'life' back into your skin after you've piled all that foundation, concealer and powder. If you love the matte look but don't want to look too 'dewy', this palette will enhance your features without making your face look 'flat'. Each pan holds 0.116oz of product compared to the full-size compact that holds 0.35oz, but I think it's a nice product that lets you try out different shades without overspending.

Dim Light - A neutral peach beige colour, with quite neutral to warm undertones, and a very light subtle satin shimmer (not glittery). I use this colour predominantly to lighten my forehead, nose and directly under my eye. It definitely makes these areas stand out a little more.This could also be used all over the face to add a very subtle glow to your finished look.

Incandescent Light (Limited Edition) - A light, pearlescent powder with natural undertones and a very soft beige shimmer. I would say this has a little more shimmer than the other 2 colours, so I would say this is perfect for highlighting and brightening the whole complexion. I like to use this under and above my eyebrow to highlight, and on top of my cupids bow.

Radiant Light - A warm golden beige powder which is perfect for those with lighter skin tones but ideal in finishing any areas that have been bronzed or contoured. I love doing this technique to lock in all that contour, and to really make it stand out subtly. 

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush Palette, £56, 0.33 oz. (clickable link)

This palette is great for travelling (intact, both palettes) for when you like to have different options or looks. You could easily make eyeshadows or highlighters from the Ambient Lighting Blush palette, if you enjoy making your makeup products versatile.These blushes are dreamy, like, oh so dreamy. The colour and pigmentation is beyond like any other blush I have ever tried. Because they are so finely milled, it picks up colour easily and just adds a flush of life into your cheek. Each pan holds 0.11 oz. of product for £56, which works out reasonably cheaper than £28 for 0.35 oz. of a full-sized individual compact. So the palette is ideal if you own a lot of blushes and you don't finish them often, and want to try out these colours before buying the individual compacts.

Luminous Flush - A beautiful champagne rose shade, that shows up as pinky-coral with warm undertones and a satiny sheen, that doesn't 'glitter'. I love this colour with a bold smokey eye and a using the champagne shade for highlighting my eyes.

Incandescent Electra - A cool peachy shade with subtle warm, yellow undertones with a satiny finish. Because of the marbling, you get a good amount of the blush shade and the shimmery shade, without being too 'glittery', it's definitely more of a shimmer. 

Mood Exposure - A soft plum shade with pinky undertones a soft shimmer. This shade looks better on the skin than in the pain, in my opinion. Although I don't reach for this shade often, I would use this in the Winter for when I'm wearing more darker colours.

The photos don't do the colours justice because all three are fairly vibrant and glowy (is that a word...it is now). As you can see from the heavy swatches, they are pretty pigmented so a little does go a long way, and you can definitely build the colour up as you go, so I think this palette is totally suitable for most skin tones (pale, medium and quite tanned). Because they're so finely milled, it can get a bit powdery so I would be quite careful when using this palette. Of course, the right brush will help in application. I personally use a domed duo fibre by Morphe brushes (amazing inexpensive brushes!!), so I can softly diffuse the colour onto my cheeks and apply as much or as little as I want.

Heavy swatches on my NC25 skin.
L-R: Dim Light, Incandescent Light, Radiant Light | Luminous Flush, Incandescent Electra, Mood Exposure

Have you tried any of the Hourglass range? 
Let me know any recommendations and any comments/questions on these 2 Hourglass palettes.