Review: ELF Healthy Glow Bronzing Powder in Luminance

When I was younger, I hated my cheekbones and my jaws too. They are very prominent and make me look fatter. I even thought that they add years to my looks since my laughlines are a bit emphasized by them when I smile.

Hi there, fat cheeks!

Now that I am a little older, others think that these apples actually look good. These people, whom have shown their envy of me, made me realized that I have no choice but to like what I have. Am I the only person disliking my very own cheekbones? Okay, okaaaaay! Since I clearly have no choice unless someone would invent a serum that would magically hide these, I am now finding ways to flaunt my dearest cheekbones. After all, I have read that women with high cheekbones are often considered beautiful. This knocked out my idea of disliking one feature that makes me look extra beautiful.

So I looked for ways to further enhance my beautiful feature. One way I found is highlighting! Highlighting is accentuating a feature by means of make-up. For features that you want to pop, you have to lighten the area up. Light shades of make-up are used to highlight features such as the forehead, cheekbones, chin, bridge of the nose, and the browbones. There are various products used for this trick -- powders, creams, and liquids. Since I am new with this enhancing method, I am starting with powders. The first victim is the ELF Healthy Glow Bronzing Powder in Luminance. 

I find the product name to be misleading. It says that it is a bronzing powder yet it works to highlight. Maybe it is just me, but I associate bronzing powders with contouring. I heard about this from Morbidfrank of A Beautiful Rhapsody. She wears it in almost of her looks and she also has a review of it that you can read here. This powder looks fabulous on her so I decided to try this out hoping that it will work for me too.

Highlighters are lighter than the skintone and are usually with shimmers that would attract light to the area. The ELF Healthy Glow Bronzing Powder in Luminance is a perfect complement for my not-so-dark skin. It is lighter but not too light that would make me look like a ghost, with protruded cheekbones. 

Please excuse my dirty nails.

I used this on my recent look, Smokey Cat Eyes. It may not be noticeable because of the lighting but this powder made a huge difference on my face. It lifted my cheekbones more and made my nose look extra thin. I believe the highlight will be much noticeable under flash photography.

ELF says:

A touch of sunshine to warm up every complexion with its soft and silky texture for a beautiful and natural glow.

Directions (from ELF):

Using an e.l.f. Professional Blush Brush, lightly brush over powder, tapping off any excess. Apply to cheeks and across bridge of nose and forehead. Blend with Total Face Brush to insure seamless application.

Price: Php129.75 (~$3)


What I like:

• Inexpensive -- In the US, this products is sold for only a dollar. But at Php 129.75, it is still very affordable compared to other imported cosmetics sold here.
• Available at ELF counters in Watsons and other department stores
• Available in other shades: Sun Kissed and Warm Tan -- Both shades are on a darker tone which I think are the 'real' bronzing powders.
• Has no allergic reactions
• The shimmer it has is not too overwhelming.
• Simple packaging, fits my kit just right.

What I don't like:

• Packaging is made of cheap plastic. -- It has a huge tendency of breaking. 

• I hate the back part of it. It shows the adhesive.

• Has no mirror -- Not much of a problem, though. I always bring my ever reliable compact mirror.
• Does not last long -- It is somehow fine if you have enough time to reapply.

Will I repurchase?

YES!

Notes:

Now that I am starting to LOVE my cheekbones, I am planning to try out other highlighting products like lighter shades of foundations and concealers. 

1. For me, it is better applied with an angled blush brush.
2. Place highlighter on the top part of the cheekbones, bridge of nose, chin, and forehead.
3. Blend thoroughly to avoid distinct lines in between the blush and the highlighter.
4. Highlighting works best if done side by side with contouring.

For more information about the product, check out ELF's local website at http://www.eyeslipsface.ph/


To the people who appreciate my cheekbones, thank you from my cheekbones. Because of you, I start to fall in love with the feature that makes me beautiful. :)


Do you highlight your best facial feature? What product do you use?