Review -- L'Oreal Paris Magic Lumi Highlighter

The L'Oreal Paris Magic Lumi Highlighter is one of those face products that always call out to me.

Anything that promises to brighten, illuminate or make my skin glow is right up my alley.

L'Oreal claims that the unique liquid formula "highlights your complexion and boosts radiance for a subtle glow." They suggest dabbing it on dark areas for instant illumination or along your cheekbones and brow bone to make yourself look wide awake.

It's easy to believe that this product could work like that -- it certainly has a brightening effect on my complexion.  And it doesn't have any shimmer or glitter to make it look unnatural.

The liquid formula is nice and lightweight, so it blends easily into the skin and doesn't look cakey.

Unfortunately, the Magic Lumi Highlighter doesn't really work as a highlighter for my skin.

Favorite Concealers

I have two main weaknesses when it comes to makeup – foundations and concealers.

Well, actually, that’s not exactly true since I also have a weakness for blushes, highlighters, peachy lipsticks, navy liners, and glittery polishes.  But foundation and concealers, those are my two biggies.

I suppose it has something to do with the fact that my skin is far from perfect – lots of blotchiness, old acne scars, large pores, etc.  I’m willing to try anything that can fake the look of a flawless complexion. When it comes to concealer, I usually use it just on my dark circles or areas of redness. If I have a breakout, I typically let my foundation cover as much as it can and leave it alone since I can’t seem to prevent concealer from looking cakey on a zit.

Red Lips

As I’ve mentioned before, I have very fair skin.

I also have red hair. It’s not natural, mind you, but with my porcelain skin and freckles, I may as well have been born with it.

Now, I happen to think red hair and fair skin is a pretty combination – it certainly works for Julianne Moore and Nicole Kidman (sometimes).  But when you’ve got that kind of coloring, it can be tough to get certain makeup shades to look right on you. 

Foundations for Fair Skin

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall... What's the palest foundation of them all? 

I have fair skin.

Actually, saying it’s fair may be an understatement. I am Casper the Friendly Ghost, Edward Cullen sans shimmer, Frosty the Snowman- white.  It’s a combination of being naturally fair, staying out of the sun, and smothering myself in SPF of at least 50 every time I’m even thinking of setting foot outside. (I had a few bad sunburns as a kid so I’m slightly paranoid about skin cancer.)

I don’t really mind being pale – I hate self-tanners and have a hard time finding a bronzer that looks natural on me - and in fact, I’ve started telling myself that given the current obsession with bronzed skin, my super pale complexion is kind of exotic.

But as much as I like my fair skin, it does present a significant challenge – finding a foundation shade that matches just right.