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Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Matte Radiance: Laura Mercier Baked Powder in Highlight 01

Before I launch straight into 'ooohs' and 'aaahs' over this highlighter, I have to (yet again!) thank Gummy for introducing it to me - or more specifically, including it in her Holiday giveaway prize that I was incredibly lucky to receive. There's something very special about beauty packages to me, and being given a couple products to try handpicked by a fellow junkie is just beyond exciting. Gummy, I loved everything about that package, from the card and wrapping, through the prizes, to the little extras you've thrown in!!!
I know, enough of waxing lyrical about Gummy's generosity - but if you wanted to participate in her future giveaways, better go and subscribe now - just sayin'. You may remember that around the same time last year I said that I never used highlighters, and didn't see the point of acquiring any for my stash. Well, this Laura Mercier Matte Radiance Baked Powder Compact in Highlight 01 ($38 for 0.26 oz) may be the game changer for me.
You see, as a person blessed (hmm...) with a combination, formerly oily skin type, I don't need much help in the radiance department. I don't know if it's a natural property of my skin or the skincare I'm using, but my face looks glowy without me even trying; like my skin can be dehydrated and flaky, but it will still look shiny (anyone else has observed that with their skin? No? Just me?). However, with the cold season, a generally lessened oil production in my skin, and some more mattifying foundations I've been trialling, I've found that I should probably revisit my stance towards highlighters.
Laura Mercier's Matte Radiance comes in a very sturdy and slightly bulky packaging with a mirror; it's a domed baked powder though, and you get a lot of it, so I understand the need for a bigger compact. The powder itself doesn't look too marbelized in the pan, it has more of a uniform appearance, with a soft sheen to the surface. The texture is very soft and kicks up a bit of powder, but goes on smooth and creamy on the skin.
Here's why I think you need it, even if you generally dislike highlighters. First of all, it does give a natural, but visibly glowy look to the skin. I know people laugh at the name 'Matte Radiance', but I get it: it's radiant but not shimmery, and in a different way than the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powders. If you've tried Luminous Light and are thinking 'Pffft, who needs that? It does absolutely nothing', but also swatched something like theBalm Mary Lou-Manizer or BECCA's Pressed Shimmering Skin Perfectors and thought them way, way too much, Laura Mercier Highlight 01 is going to be exactly the sort of highlighter you've been looking for. It's definitely there and does an amazing job at bringing a youthful glow and definition to the cheeks, but it doesn't need to be strictly controlled for fear of looking like a drag queen in the daytime (nothing wrong with that, if that's what floats your boat). It's more... refined, you know? #whynotbesubtle
Secondly, if you're fair-skinned like me and find the bulk of popular highlighters simply too dark for your complexion, Matte Radiance in Highlight 01 is your friend. It's a slightly more champagne/ peachy version of my NW10/15 skin, so it blends in perfectly - see how dark and warm that Hourglass Luminous Light and Benefit Watt's Up are next to it? And yet, it works on darker and warmer Gummy as well, but if you're even darker (or are looking for a glowy bronzer), there are three more shades in this range.
L-R: Laura Mercier Matte Radiance in Highlight 01, Benefit Watt's Up, Rouge Bunny Rouge Eyeshadow in Unforgettable Oriole (see, more shimmery finish), Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Luminous Light
I've been wearing it the past couple of days non stop and I'm really loving it. I find it very easy to blend, long lasting and complimentary for a variety of blush shades - I'm not wearing any blush in the face shot by the way, just a little bit of contour powder. I don't think it's too much, even with a more dewy foundation; I've really built it up for the photo, but you can also wear a very sheer layer. It also doesn't emphasize pores too bad - I know that when you look close up at the picture that's focused exactly on the highlighed area, you can see some texture there, but in real life it's not discernible to a naked eye.
All in all, while I don't see myself hoarding multiple highlighters in the near future, I do think there's a place for a refined glowy cheekbone in my make-up routine, and it's been fun to experiment with highlighting my features. Tell me, are you strictly against or all for highlighting? What's your current favorite highlighter?

23 comments:

  1. that subtle gleam on your skin! *___*
    It looks so beautiful without any over-the-top glitter/shimmer craziness. Congrats on winning Gummy's giveaway. She puts together some of the nicest ones out there, I think! :D

    I have the Matte Radiance baked bronzer, which again matte, but with a beautiful glow. These LM Matte Radiance products are pretty top notch, imo.

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    1. Gummy's giveaways are beyond fabulous - and her product recommendations are great!

      Haha, yes, I've linked your LM Matte Radiance bronzer post in the review, it looks gorgeous on you <3 I like a lot of Laura Mercier products, actually - the blushes, the Caviar sticks, even the foundation primer is still nice for a primer-phobe like me!

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    2. :D hehe! thank you for linking me! :) Oh yes, the caviar sticks are WONDERFUL!

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  2. Oh this is so natural on you! I am actually really enjoying MAC's Hush Cream Color Base.. I have had it for a couple of years and keep rediscovering it.. Its gorgeous! :-)

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    1. MAC's Cream Color Bases are something I've always wanted to check out but never got around to actually doing it! Thanks for reminding me! <3

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  3. This one sounds really nice but its pricey

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    1. True dat - although I imagine this humongous pan should last you a lifetime ;)

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  4. I love this! It's on my list - I've been looking for something subtler than what I've currently got, and this review has convinced me that it is indeed what I've been searching for! Looking lovely as always, Monika.

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    1. Thank you my dear - this one IS beautiful and I think you'd absolutely rock it!

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  5. Looks go beautiful on you and my god your skin is pretty glowy to start with ...but yes you already knew and mentioned that:)) I have suffered many a time from the "dehydrated yet shiny skin" syndrome so can completely relate! Havent tried this highlighter and Im still so undecided about highlighters in general. I do like them but just not enough to incorporate into my everyday routine I think! One of my favourites is the bare minerals ready luminizer!

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    1. Thank you Dee, I'm glad I'm not the only one with shiny and dehydrated skin, haha! I almost feel like the surface looks even more shiny when it's dehydrated by washing my face or something. I love bareMinerals READY products, but I never paid attention to their highlighter!

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  6. Looks great on you Monika! I don't highlight very often and that's why I don't pay much attention to highlighters. I only have a handful and they're still sitting in my vanity drawer untouched most of the time. This does look very lovely and subtle though. I haven't explored much of Laura Mercier, but looks like there are lots of hidden gems in their offerings

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  7. Oh gosh, that is one stunning matte highlighter!! I love it on you, Monika, definitely like "just-moisturized" skin than highlighted skin.. Perfect description btw, placing it btw Hourglass and Becca. Gummy, gosh.. that lady has a killer taste in products. I'm glad you win her giveaway.

    My favorite highlighter so far is Burberry's. This one is def. lower wattage than Becca, but I have nothing else to compare it with. I like my highlighter either in liquid/cream form. I think if I were to try next that would be RBR Sea of... (which may be the same with Becca -- shimmer-wise?)

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    1. After Bloomin Beauty's video swatchathon, I'm really interested in the Burberry too! I have a little sample of the RBR Sea of Clouds (the white pearl one) and it's beautiful, definitely more on the subtle side - I believe the liquid BECCAs are more subdued as well. Hugs!

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  8. You have the right skin for highlighting. I however do not, lol.

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  9. I love highlighters, but I do prefer a more subtle one for everyday use. That's why I've been leaning towards cream highlighters; I find they blend better into the skin and look much more natural. Definitely will have a look into this when I want to get a new hightlighter!

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  10. I quite like having a few highlighter options as I use them for PM looks quite frequently - I have to admit that a light dusting of Mary Lou Manizer is my personal favourite most of the time, I don't mind a strong highlight every now and again. I think this sort of matte radiance is refreshing, and nice for a daytime look to add dimension to the face. It looks gorgeous on you :)

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  11. Wow!!! You look so gorgeous dear! I love the way it blends with the skin for it really looks so natural. This is the reason why I love highlighters. It seems natural and oh so light on skin.

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  12. This one looks gorgeous! I love highlighters. My current favorite is Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Opal. For something more subtle I love the Incandescent Light from Hourglass Ambient Lighting palette.

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  13. now THIS is my kind of highlight! Glittery or metallic highlights leave me with mixed feelings.. sometimes I'm ok with it but most of the time I feel really fake looking. I'm always on the hunt for a highlighter that makes me glow in the most natural way possible, and I think you just introduced me to that highlighter ;)

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  14. lovely! it looks great on you :) i haven't tried this yet - it is sitting in my unopened pile. Oops!

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  15. I'm so surprised that Luminous light is so dark compared to Laura Mercier's! Probably not good for NC15 skin, then, it would probably color my face terribly.

    I do like a natural look, I'm always attracted to Laura Mercier's brand and love everything of hers I buy. You said the highlighter is perfect for your pale peachy skin; do you think it would also color a yellower-tone skin? Thank you for your opinion!

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    1. Hi Naomi, I think the Laura Mercier would be perfect for a complexion with yellow undertones as well! The other review I linked in my post is by my blogging pal Gummy Vision, she's a lot more yellow than me and loves this highlighter as well. Hope that helps!

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