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 :)

REVIEW: Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch highlighting concealer

Long time, no review.  Just another sign I've been busy I guess.

You may recall I did a comparison post on concealer pens here. While I decided at the time I'd found the best value for money product in L'Oreal's Touche Magique, I now have a new find to share, just a little more affordable, and perhaps the best of the bunch so far...

Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch highlighting concealer

Although I liked the coverage and wear of L'Oreal's Touche Magique, by the time I'd finished it I decided not to buy another because of a little problem with the brush.  As the bristles were so stiff they ended up getting badly bent and misshapen from replacing the cap, making it difficult to apply the product precisely.  Looks pretty nasty, doesn't it:

While browsing the 'net for an alternative illuminating concealer to try,  I found the Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch highlighting concealer recommended by Beautyheaven  as a budget product so it piqued my curiosity.

Now the packaging of these two products is suspiciously similar (see below) and they both work the same way, dispensing the concealer into the brush by twisting the end of the pen.  I haven't done my research into this, so does anyone know if there's a connection between L'Oreal and Maybelline?

Top to bottom:  Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch

 L'Oreal Touche Magique

The difference between these two is Maybelline's brush is noticeably softer on my skin and more pliable than  L'Oreal's.  After one month of use it's still in a tidy condition with only a few hairs out of place:

The product itself is a similar quality creamy opaque concealer/illuminator to L'Oreal and it effectively blends over my under-eye circles (read raccoon eyes) to conceal and reflect light, making me look refreshed.  It lasts all day on my skin, and doesn't creep into my lines, so I don't need to touch it up at all.  Best of all this product is only $17.95AUD, significantly cheaper than $27AUD for L'Oreal's almost identical product.

Swatched & blended:

Pros:

 -opaque consistency that blends well

-effectively conceals undereye circles because of the illuminating properties

-covers minor blemishes

-does not crease or need touching up

-great value at $17.95AUD and is the same quality as higher priced alternative products

-convenient brush applicator

Cons: 

-may need extra help to cover major blemishes

-only 3 shades to choose from

Would I buy this again?

Yes I will - unless there's something else you want me to try!

Until next time.

Vita :)