REVIEW: L'Oreal Lumi Magique Touch of Light - Highlighting Pen

An illuminating concealer is one of my desert island necessities and while I've settled on a favourite over the past year I still keep an eye out for newer, possibly better products.  It's for this reason I sought out the shiny golden pen from L'Oreal.

I've been using L'Oreal's Lumi Magique Touch of Light highlighting pen for just over a month now and I recently read this product had won both the Judges and Readers choice award for best concealer in the Australian Beauty Awards 2012.  This means I should love it, right?  Well...I hate to disagree with the beauty experts but I felt compelled to share my opinion with you.

L'Oreal Lumi Magique Touch of Light - Highlighting Pen

(2 - Medium)

The packaging is appealing and eye catching and it not so subtly reminds me of my old favourite YSL Touche Eclat, although this is imitation rose gold veneer.

This review includes the inevitable comparison with my personal favourite concealer pen, Maybelline's similarly named Dream Lumi Touch Highlighting Concealer.   I've decided to do this as a comparison post because the Maybelline concealer pen meets my needs in terms of luminosity, coverage (my under eye circles need industrial coverage most mornings!), and price.

The contenders - Top to bottom:

L'Oreal Lumi Magique Touch of Light

Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch

These both work in the same fashion as you dispense the product through to the brush-tip applicator via a quick twist of the end of the pen.

When you look at the brushes you can see the L'Oreal brush (top) is wider and flatter than Maybelline's.  What you can't see - but trust me on this - is L'Oreal's brush is also softer and more pliable, so it feels nicer and silkier when applying product on the skin.  Obviously, if this review was based on packaging alone I'd agree L'Oreal is superior in its overall presentation and brush quality.  However, it's all about the product inside the pen isn't it, and this is where I was a little disappointed.

Swatched & blended

Left to Right:

L'Oreal Lumi Magique Touch of Light (2-Medium)

Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch (02-Nude)

Okay, the shades are pretty different but that's not the issue - that's my own silly fault for not doing a comparison swatch in store!  Besides, they're both close enough to my fair skin tone.  My beef is just how sheer and translucent the L'Oreal product is - it does add luminosity to my skin but it blends away so sheerly you can clearly see the blue of my veins showing through and it doesn't offer sufficient coverage for my under eye circles.  I find I have to apply, powder then reapply to get the coverage I need in the mornings.  If I read the product name and take it literally L'Oreal's Lumi Magique Touch of Light is not really a concealer at all but simply a highlighter, whereas Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch is, yes, labelled a highlighting concealer.  My question then is:  How did this highlighter win best concealer??

Pros:

• Sleek attractive packaging
• Soft, flat brush allows for precise application of product
• Feels smooth and moisturising on the skin
• Highlights and illuminates without shimmer

Cons:

• Very sheer coverage
• Very limited colour selection with only two shades available
• More expensive than Maybelline's Dream Lumi Touch.  This retails at around $27AUD.

Would I buy this again?

No, because I need heavier coverage for my under eye area.  I'd recommend this as a highlighter only.

Until next time

Vita :)