L'Oreal Lumi Magique Touch Of Light Highlighting Pen Review and Studio Secrets Smoothing Resurfacing Primer Review

Hello lovelies! So, if you read my previous haul post you'll understand that I bought these items on a 3 for 2 deal at my local supermarket. I bought them after discovering Loreal's highlighting pen from CoutureGirl's blog (my no.1 blog). I couldn't believe that I'd never seen this product before and just had to buy it. I've wanted YSL's touch éclat for quite some time now, but the price does put me off. I hate to break it to YSL, but this product looks the same and claims to do the same. Okay, I've never used YSL's highlighting stick before but then again, I've done so much research on it that I might as well have used it!

Product number 1. Loreal Studio Secrets Smoothing Resurfacing Primer.

Okay, so this cost me £14.00 and I am not happy. It's a rare occurance that I moan about a beauty product but I feel that I should warn you all before you waste your money. It may just be on my skin, so by all means try this product, but I can't help but feel that this 'primer' actually makes my pores more visible, instead of smoothing them like it claims to. I should have realised this when I tested it on my hand, it's like a moose formula and it's really dry even when a tiny bit is put on your hand. It seems to dry my skin out. When I put it on my face, it just doesn't sink into my skin. No matter how long I leave it, then when It comes to putting my foundation on, all I can feel is dry,tough skin. It stops my foundation from rubbing in properly and shows all of my flaws instead of smoothing them out. I'm going to keep trying with this product. But I think i'll be sticking to my Mac Primer, which only costs a few more pounds. Read my review of this here.

Product number 2, I promise you this is better. Phew. I bought two of these as they were in the 3 for 2 offer and I knew that they'd be worth it(excuse the pun). Loreal's Lumi Magique Touch Of Light Highlighting pen does not dissapoint. Firstly, I really like the packaging, it's shiny and erm highlighting? It's like a golden accessory that you must have in your handbag. It's a perfect size as well, you could have one in your pencil case, one in your purse, one in your handbag...all for those quick touch ups. I just think it is an item that will look really special in your make up bag as it's hard to believe that it's from a high street make up brand. However I'm not sure how they've got away with pretty much copying off YSL's famous touch éclat. They even both apparently do the same thing, I can't compare them as I have never used YSL's but I really would recommend this for anyone not wanting to go the whole way and spend that much money, maybe buy this one first to see if you like it and then when it runs out go for the more expensive YSL option.

I like the fact that it doesn't all dribble out, it comes out very easily and can literally be painted on the face. I put it underneath my eyes and I promise you that it does eliminate under eye bags and tired eyes. It reflects the light off your skin giving that illuminating and 'awake' effect whilst also acting as a light concealer for dark circles. I also put it on either side of my nose and just underneath my eye brows. You could put it on the top of your cheek bones too. I'd recommend Benefit's high beam for this though as it's a lot more highlighting. I think this product has the right amount of highlighting elements in it for under the eyes, but not enough to be an all over face highlighter. The brush is what I really love, it makes it so easy to apply. I do think that it could be better if it was a bit of a thicker solution, you do have to put quite a bit on for those dark dark circles, it seems a bit weak with just one layer, so smudging a few layers does the trick. All in all, I am very pleased with this product and all week I have put it on top of my primer (mac not the loreal one) and then put my foundation over the top of it. I really do love it and I'm so glad that I bought two! I'll definitely continue to use this on a daily basis, however, I'll not stop using my trusty Mac concealer. I'd rather use the two together. It ranges from £8.00-£10.00 depending on where you buy it from.

It comes in three colours; the obvious; light,medium and dark. I tried light and it was REALLY light. I tried medium and it wasn't much better, I didn't try dark because I just thought I'd go for the one in-between. As you can see it is really light, but I think highlighters are meant to be a lot lighter than your foundation, otherwise they wouldn't lighten anything!

I wonder if this is what's the future for Loreal, more expensive and 'studio' products, ooo I do hope so, can't wait to see.

Have you tried any of these products?

Have you tried any sort of highlighters?

xxxxxxxxxxx

Lots of love, Em