theBalm Mary Lou-Manizer Review

I won this product in a twitter giveaway from theBalm  (https://twitter.com/thebalm) a while back. Mary Lou-Manizer is a powdered, golden luminizer (or highlighter).

This is the box that the product comes in. I love it, it is very cute. It is one of those packagings that I can't bear to throw away! 

The product its self comes in a good sized and convenient compact with a mirror. I love this packaging so much. It opens and closes easily, it won't come open in your bag. The compact is very sturdy, although I haven't  dropped it yet (and I really hope not to!). The retro design that theBalm is known for is super cute and fun. The name is also very clever. This is a compact I would be proud to pull out in public.

  

I tried very hard to capture a good swatch of this product for this review, but it refused to photograph.

Mary Lou-Manizer does as it is supposed to, adds a great glow and a highlight. You can build the coverage of it making it sheer or more opaque. It can also be used as an eyeshadow. It is finely milled so my face never looks like a glitter ball. It feels very silky, glides on nicely and blends very well. It lasts very well too.

This is a great luminizer, I would say it works with any skin color, especially a tan one. I have a fair complexion and it works well for me.

If you prefer working with powder over a typical liquid luminizer, this is definitely for you and absolutely worth the investment.

Benefit High Beam Review

Finally I have gotten to this review! High Beam is probably one of the most well known luminizers out there. What is a luminizer? It is basically a highlighter to add some luminance or a glow to your face.

 High Beam is a light, pinky liquid luminizer. It comes in a bottle with a brush, very similar to nail polish. I love this packaging so much, it makes this product so much easier to use and it makes less of a mess. To use, just dab a little on and blend.

Although this is a pinky liquid, when blended out you don't see any color. You are left with a nice dewy glow. High Beam definitely lives up to expectations. It doesn't make my face look like a glitter ball. It blends easily and nicely. It feels great and lasts a good amount of time. It's not sticky. A little bit goes a long way, so this product will last you forever.

                                                  (High Beam dabbed on, not blended)

                                                           (High Beam blended)


I love High Beam so much, it is my favorite luminizer ever. The color is perfect for my fair skin. For you ladies with more tan complexions, you may want to check out Moon Beam which is a golden colored version of High Beam.

I should add that there are many dupes out there for this product. Some of those include Nyx Liquid Glow Illuminator, Elf Shimmering Facial Whip and Hard Candy Glow All The Way Luminizer. I am not sure how the Nyx and the Hard Candy products compare. I do own some Elf Shimmering Facial Whip and I feel that High Beam is better and works better for me. High Beam's packaging makes it easier to worth with while the Shimmering Facial Whip comes in a tube (as do the Nyx and Hard Candy products).

Weekly Beauty Tip #40: Mix luminizer with your foundation

For a luminous and more dewy look, mix some luminizer with your liquid foundation.