Hourglass Ambient Metallic Strobe Lighting Palette

I recently picked this Hourglass Ambient Metallic Strobe Lighting Palette ($90) up the very day Mecca released all of their new limited edition holiday collection products. It was the one product in the holiday collection that really caught my eye and I just couldn't resist. I never bought any of the individual Hourglass Ambient Strobe Lighting Powders ($55) because I saw this palette being hinted at early on, so I held out for it and I'm so glad I did.


Let's start with value. The palette includes 3 pans of 3 grams of product each for $90. The individual Strobe Powders cost $55 and include 4.6 grams for a value of $11.96/gram. Applying that cost per gram to the palette, you are getting an included value of $107.64, along with the added bonus of being able to try three different shades for less than the cost of two individual shades. Any way you slice it, it is a good financial pay off if you were interested in these powders anyway and gives you good value for money despite the hefty price tag. 

As for the shades, the palette includes the following palette exclusive strobe powders:

• Absolute Strobe Light: slightly pink/peach champagne undertone
• Pure Strobe Light: purer bright yellow champagne 
• Lucent Strobe Light: rosier bronze undertone

Personally, my favourite shade is Absolute Strobe Light, but I have been getting use out of all of them. I also like Lucent Strobe Light when I'm more tan but it is a touch dark for my very pale natural skin colour. 

I think part of the reason that they are all exclusive shades is that the formula is actually a little different from the singles. I remember swatching the singles when they first came out and passing because I found them a little glittery. Don't get me wrong, they were still very finely milled but I could see the glitter particles more. The shades in the palette are incredible though! It blends all together to create a luminous sheen that you can't actually identify any individual glitter particles in, which is exactly what makes a beautiful highlight. Even though I don't have the singles, I have to agree with people who are saying that this palette is even nicer than the individual strobe powders and how often can you say that of a palette?

The application of these is also impeccable. I sweep them on with any effort or blending at all. They  also have great longevity, and I can always still see it on my skin at the end of the day. Where this product really excels though, is the finish. It seriously is one of those highlighters that you find yourself literally thinking "Wow!" when it catches the light in just the right way.

That glow, tho! I used Absolute Strobe Light here.

My favourite highlighter has been the Laura Mercier Matte Radiance Baked Powder Highlight, which is a subtle highlight that never looks glittery ever! This Hourglass palette has answered all my hopes and dreams though because it has the same quality in that it never looks glittery or chunky, but is way more intense and wet-looking. I have only had the palette less than a week so I can't say this conclusively yet, but I'm pretty sure that Absolute Strobe Light is my new favourite highlighter of all time. I've included some comparison swatches below of the Hourglass palette against the rest of my highlighter collection. I've also swatched the Hourglass Strobe palette against the original Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette to give you an idea of how much more intense and fundamentally different the strobe powders are.

Left to right: Hourglass Ambient Metallic Strobe Lighting Palette (Absolute Strobe Light, Pure Strobe Light and Lucent Strobe Light), Laura Mercier Matte Radiance Baked Powder in 01 Highlight, Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed (Moonstone, Champagne Pop and Prosecco Pop), Nars Bord de Plage Highlighting and Bronzing Palette (Rivage, Corniche, Crique and Casino).

Left to right: Hourglass Metallic Strobe Lighting Palette (Absolute Strobe Light, Pure Strobe Light and Lucent Strobe Light) and Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette (Dim Light, Incandescent Light and Radiant Light). 

Long story short, I am so happy I picked this one up. I really do think I would be kicking myself if I didn't, especially if it sold out and I missed out forever. I think there is a decent chance that this palette might be incorporated into the permanent collection but that isn't a guarantee. If you are interested in this palette, I suggest you pick it up because it is incredible and you really will regret letting it pass you by. I'm definitely naming this the holiday palette of the year in my opinion because it is the only one I've purchased and am really interested in. I definitely wasn't disappointed!

Disclaimer: I purchased all of the products shown in this post myself. As always, my opinions are my own.