L'Oreal Lumi Magique Pure Light Primer

As a primer, I'm skeptical about this product.  A 'primer' suggests that it should do something to prepare the surface of your skin to receive foundation in a smoother fashion, and with any luck prolong its longevity.  While this isn't a primer to fill the crevices and smooth over, if you have very dry, dull and sallow skin this will work wonders for you on its own, mixed or under foundation to give you a bit of dewy glow.  With my youngish, oily skin it works beautifully as an understated highlighter - cheekbones, browbones, bridge of nose, centre of forehead and cupids bow.  Despite my shiny skin I think a bit of highlighting adds sculpture and radiance.   

What do you think of this Lumi Magique range from L'Oreal? I've put off trying the foundation as I think it would make me an oil slick by midday - thoughts? The concealer pen looks pretty interesting - a possible YSL Touche Eclat dupe? 

You can pick up the Lumi Magique Pure Light Primer* for £9.99 and at the moment Boots have a buy 1 get one 1/2 price offer on L'Oreal products.  

 

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Sleek MakeUP GLO - Peach Shimmer Face & Body Highlighter

Sleek MakeUP GLO Face & Body Highlighter in Peach Shimmer (£6.49 and available online) is the palest of three bronzing highlighters that Sleek MakeUP have recently re-promoted.  Bronze Baby is medium toned and Gold Digga is the darkest.  The formulation feels a lot smoother and appears to be more finely milled that the original, and therefore appears to be better pigmented.  I don't own a Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick or Dior's infamous Amber Diamond but have swatched these in store numerous times and Sleek's offering actually feels nicer and less frostier to the touch, with finer particles, so it's a good budget alternative.

You can also use GLO on your eyes for a sheeny bronzed effect, but I prefer to use it on my cheekbones, browbones and cupid's bow.  I normally prefer a pinker toned highligther on my skintone, but Peach Shimmer works well on me and the palest strip reminds me to NARS Albatross, or at least gives a similar effect on my skin.   I wouldn't recommend using Peach Shimmer as an all over bronzer as it is extremely shimmery and therefore emphasizes imperfections, particularly pores.  As per usual with Sleek, the packaging is sturdy and there is a huge mirror in the lid.  All in all this is a great product for the price and if you're looking for a multitasking highlighter, this is a good option.

* Press sample provided for consideration

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Sleek MakeUP Luminaire Highlighting Concealer

Luminaire, Sleek MakeUP's answer to YSL's infamous Touche Eclat highlighter pen launches on 11th May. I've tried a whole range of these pens - YSL, Lacura, No7, Bourjois and while these are great for a highlighting effect over concealer, I don't tend to use them on their own. Luminaire is slightly more pigmented so you can actually get away with using it as a concealer too, which for £6.49 is great value!

Luminaire brightens dark circles (I get particularly blue ones!), conceals blemishes (I use it on the redness around my nose and on my chin) and fades out other minor imperfections.  It also adds radiance along your cheekbones, can slim your nose with a thin line down the middle and can contour your lips for a more defined look and patted over cupid's bow creates the illusion of a fuller pout.

I love the functional and pen applicator, while the product remains hygienic without exposure to air or fingers, I wouldn't be too happy to dot the brush over spots and then reuse it, so if you do need to cover blemishes I would click a bit of the product onto a clean finger and pat over the offending area.  I keep it in my handbag make up bag to keep my under eye area radiant on the go.

  

  It comes in 5 shades and I have the lightest - L01, which is an excellent match for my pale skin.

Under eye without Luminaire

The applicator brush didn't do all of the blending as the product has quite a dry formulation - denser than its more expensive counterparts - you need to pat it in with a finger.  I would also make sure to use a moisturising under eye cream before application.

With Luminaire 

Luminaire launches as a permanent line on 11th May in Superdrug stores and online.

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Urban Decay Keeps Getting Better!

There are two products, one old, one new, from Urban Decay I need to own - and soon!

Let's start with the most exciting one: Urbanglow Cream Highlight - ain't it a beauty?

As far as I know it's still only available in the US and an extensive search of the interwebs only suggests it will join us by Spring 2011 at the earliest.  I have powder and liquid highligters, but no creams and since it come in the shade 'Sin' - shimmering champagne - which is my all time favourite UD eyeshdow I plan to be one of the first people to get my hands on it!

They're described as being 'packed with pearl powders and coconut oil' and promise 'to leave your skin with an ethereal glow.'

Other highlights (gettit?!) of the marketing blurb include: 
Packed with pearl powders, the weightless formula adds luminescence wherever you need it: Craft contours where there were none. Create sculpted cheek and brow bones. Look like you got a full night's sleep with a touch of Urbanglow in the inner corners of your eyes. Hide that hangover with a dewy, youthful glow. The non-greasy formula dries down instantly, and can be worn right on top of makeup.

Can be worn over make up?! Sign me up!
They're $24 but will be £18 when they hit UK shops - a little more than the exchange rate, but I did expect them to just change the $ to £.

And now onto a product which has been around for a while, but I've never spotted it at Boots! 

I'm always on the look at for something to keep oil at bay and my make up in place and this mattifying gel sounds like just the thing!  It can be used under or over make up and apparently helps to tighten pores but I'd be happy with it just keeping me shine free.  It's described as 'colour neutral' and even works in hot and humid conditions.  I've heard good things about UD's 'all nighter' make up setting spray, so there's a good possibility De-Slick will be effective too.

You can probably get it from Urban Decay concessions in large department stores like House of Fraser or Debenhams, but you can order it online from here for £16 - even a better deal than in the USA where it's $28 .  But you only get 20mls, not a lot considering most foundations run at about 30mls. 

Nevertheless, sign me up!