13 November, 2012

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 :)

24 comments:

  1. thanks for the review! I was looking at Loreal`s concealer :)

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    1. My pleasure! I actually felt that I had to write this review because of my personal issues with the product :p

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  2. I've tried the L'Oreal Lumi Magique foundation a few months ago and I found it too pink toned. It looks like the concealer has the same problem.

    I've just bought the Maybelline concealer due to your recommendation so hopefully that'll work for me :)

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    Replies
    1. I hope you like the Maybelline - I absolutely love it because it's a great multi-tasking highlighter/concealer and provides decent coverage :)

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  3. Nice review! Always wondered about this and was considering picking it up on sale, but not now! So thanks!

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    1. Thanks Tracy :) It feels weird putting people off but I really felt compelled to do this review especially considering the product won an award as a concealer!

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  4. Yeah, while I do find that these brighteners can help diminish the darkness under my eyes, they are no substitute for a good concealer! I use a corrector (Bobbi Brown) daily, sometimes without concealer if I'm lazy :P

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    1. I really NEED a good concealer cos I have raccoon eyes otherwise! This product just wasn't doing it for me :(

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  5. thanks for the review! i really wanted to try it but now i wont :)

    vickyhoang.blogspot.com

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    1. It's a pretty product but it's really only good as a highlighter :p

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  6. There is something called w7 at My Chemist/Chemist warehouse. The pen is $5. Yes i kid not.
    I bought it for the sake of proving to myself these can be good. Seriously try it. Or come try it on sat when u come over.

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    Replies
    1. I'll have to check it out, although I'm a bit unsure. If it's a good highlighting concealer at only $5 that works - well, that would be fantastic!

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    2. Try it at my place next week! Can you remind me too.

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  7. Interesting! I usually use a lighter shade of concealer underneath my eyes than the rest of my face, but I really should try one of these highlighting concealers. Might give the Maybelline Lumi Touch a try! Thanks for the comparison!

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    1. Welcome back Stacey! Highlighting concealers have a reflective element as well as providing coverage so that's why I love them :)

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  8. Haha, it's like a riddle! How did this highlighter win best concealer? I'm not really thrilled with any products in this category, even the YSL one. I bought the Milani version and went through it in a week. I don't think I was using it appropriately. Anyway, I felt nothing special with it so I haven't returned to it. I may try the Maybelline one since you like it.

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    1. The Maybelline does have great coverage - better than YSL too! Yes I'm still baffled over this award winner!

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  9. I think that I'll actually test this one out as a highlighter if I get bored with my current stash. :) Thanks for pointing out the difference re: concealer though! So funny about that award.

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    1. It's definitely weird and since I was using it - and not loving it at all - I was even more puzzled!

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  10. I won this but have yet to try it (need to finish up some other concealers first). I've heard some great things about the Maybelline one though.

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  11. Great review, I was thinking about buying this so it's helped me out alot :) x

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  12. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    Replies
    1. You're not wrong at all and that was the point of this review.

      If you read the first few paragraphs I was surprised to find this highlighter won the award for best concealer in the Australian Beauty Awards. I get the difference - a highlighter is not a concealer - but funnily enough the local beauty industry didn't!

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