Sooner or later I’ll make through a day without saying the word “strobing” at least once, but today? — totally not that day.
Yes, sweets, these new $13 L’Oreal True Match Lumi Powder Glow Illuminators are all about that high-shine frosty life, and they’re just in time for strobing madness! — the latest craze sweeping the nation.
These three illuminating powders work a little like Bobbi Brown’s Shimmer Bricks. Each pan is comprised of four different colors of varying levels of shimmer, glitter and opacity. You swirl ’em together and use the combined mix to highlight specific areas, or your entire face, although I’d be wary of doing the latter, unless your skin is smoother and more perfectly porcelain than a baby’s butt, because the frosty finish seeks out pores and fine lines like a tabby seeks out gravy.
I actually tried it once… I applied one of these all over just for kicks and ended up looking hella sweaty with, like, huge 3D horror movie-sized pores.
Basically, I’m not the biggest fan of frosty highlighters, and I kinda wish that the shimmery effect were subtler, but these could prove useful if you like dramatic frosty effects that shine like high-beam headlights, perhaps for spot highlights on your cheekbones and/or down the bridge of your nose.
They’re available now online and at drugstores, Walgreens and Ulta in Golden for warm skin tones, Ice for cool skin tones, and Rose for neutral skin tones.
Oh! — one last thing. Try not to drop these, because they’ll almost definitely shatter (see the sad pan of Rose?). 🙁
PRICE: $12.99 for a 0.31-oz. pan
AVAILABILITY: Available now online and at drugstores, Walgreens and Ulta
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B-/B (priced well and good for dramatic highlights, but the frosty finishes seek out pores and fine lines)
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Kwmechelle says
So, I just recently started playing around with cool toned neutral eye shadows. And I must say, I like ’em. I’ve always steered clear of them bc of my warm undertones but I enjoy them so much until I’m thinking of getting a cool toned eyeshadow palette. Which brings me to this- do you think I could rock a cool toned highlighter? No worries if you think not. Totally trust your opinion. As for these, they’re an easy pass for me. Until that day when I want to look like an Atlanta Housewife, I’m not going anywhere near these. Lol. 🙂
Lauren says
I’m SO happy to read your review! I literally just looked at these half an hour ago at Target. I almost bought the rose and golden, but I’m terrified of highlighters because I’m pretty shiny in the summer, and really pale in the winter. I tend to make my face as matte as possible and shimmer up my eyes. But I feel so sad not using the new trend when it looks so beautiful on others!
Karen, I think the golden is gorgeous on you!! Is that the crumbled one?! 🙁
Laarni says
GOLDEN FOR ME!!! I wonder if these beauties are available now here in the islands.
Kiss & Make-up says
Eep, that’s very glowy indeed! A bit too glowy for me, to be honest. My skin is shiny enough as it is. If I used an illuminator with THIS much sheen I’d just look ridiculously shiny.
Gauri says
I’m definitely going to check them out. They sound amazing I think I may have to give this a go. Thanks.
x
Nivedita says
My oily skin in summer turns tad dry and lifeless in winter. Last winter I fell in love with illuminators and highlighters and honestly, I don’t mind if the shimmers are a little coarse. Not that I would want to pat on art glitters. But, it seems I can live with shimmers of this size. besides, these look so pretty!
I still cannot get around the idea of dusting on illuminators on my entire face.
You always look so immaculate Karen. Tabs must be proud of you.
Jessica says
Oh!! Ice!! I like very very much!!! <3
Kim says
Oh, gracious, no. Super frosty with crater-like pores is not a good look for me! I felt sorry for the Rose pan, too. It does look so sad, all mashed up. 🙁
On the upside, happy hump day!
Erin says
Since my pores hate me, I best steer clear.
Elizabeth says
Is it true that Golden is a dupe for the Becca Champagne pop? I have Ice… I’m not sure if I like but it’s pretty to look at in the pan!
MonicaP says
These look so pretty in the pan .. but I’m currently love with my Becca Shimmer in Opal.
Monica.
Krista says
These are awful! I was actually really excited to find these and buy them and when I tried each one, they were awful. They just sit upon your skin and don’t blend well. Plus, they literally gave me pores I didn’t even know I had and made the pores I DID know I had look 100x worse.
I saw all the negative reviews (haven’t actually seen ONE positive review on these!!) And thought ” I still need them!” (Makeup addict? Nahhh. ..) I returned them immediately and when I posted I did on instagram, I had 20+ people comment saying they also returned theirs immediately!! Save your money!
kellly says
Now I’m exactly the opposite of most of the comments. I definitely want to try this after reading your review. I LOVE SHINE, not on my face but as an eye shadow. I’m tempted to get one of these to use as shadow(s). Thanks for the picture b/c yeah, it is shiny – not what I want on my face, but definitely a look I’d go for on my eyes!
LindaLibraLoca says
Wowza, that is too much shine for me!
Emmy says
Hi Karen, I have been a follower for a long long longggg time! I love reading all your posts as they are so entertaining and of course, who doesn’t love Tabs? I totally admire the way you blog and the way you keep this blog all together with so much hard work! Also, You look so beautiful in every single post of yours <3
I also wish I had a cat like Tabs. I use to have a Kitten too and I loved her to bits until someone food poisoned her 🙁
Keeping that sad story aside, I heard pretty bad stuff about these illuminators but they look so gorgeous on you. Actually any product does. This illuminator will definitely not last on my butter fingers! Sorry for the long comment! x
gio says
Wow, that is glowy! But I really really like it. I think I may get me some Ice.
Rachel R. says
I got Ice and Rose, because I like some oomph in my highlighter. I can’t imagine using these all over the face, so I appreciate your testing and confirming this. I really like them for highlighting cheekbones, on the browbone, and in the inner corner of the eyes. I also think they work great for strobing.
I got the liquid version in Ice, but I haven’t tried it yet.
Chelsea says
Holy frost! I’ll pass.