Highlighters are one of my favorite makeup products to use right now because they're one of the easiest ways to achieve a glowing luminous face even when your skin is dull. An extremely popular makeup technique right now, that I'm sure all of you guys have already heard of, is 'strobbing'. Strobbing is basically the opposite of contouring; instead of applying bronzer/contouring powder where shadows would hit your face, you apply luminous powders/creams where light would reflect off of your face. What I love about strobbing is that it's a lot less drastic and dramatic than contouring, but you essentially get the same effects. Plus, it's harder to mess up! ;)
Today, I'm going to be reviewing a multitasking highlighter from Tony Moly: The Luminous Goddess Aura Beam! First, let me just say that this isn't your ordinary run-of-the-mill highlighter... In fact, I wouldn't even strictly categorize this as a highlighter! To me, this product is a hybrid between a highlighter and a moisturizer. This product is so unique in the fact that it's not a regular cream, liquid, or powder highlighter, but instead it's like a gel! However it's not like a typical highlighter that gives you a shimmery sparkly sheen, but instead it gives a natural luminous glow.
WHAT'S THE LUMINOUS GODDESS AURA BEAM?
The Luminous Goddess Aura Beam is a light pink colored gel that contains fine pearl extracts. The pearl particles used in this highlighter is extremely small and not explicitly noticeable on the skin, but helps give off a beautiful, luminous glow.
Tony Moly's multitasking Luminous Goddess Aura Beam is enriched with collagen and natural oils that are known for their anti-aging and hydrating benefits (taken from Sephora webpage).
Perfect for every skintone, this product nourishes skin with argan, almond, and jojoba natural oils and extracts.
-Pearl Extract: Creates a radiant, glowing finish.
-Shea Butter: Moisturizing and nourishing.
-Collagen: Supports antiaging.
-Argan, Sweet Almond, and Jojoba Oils: Moisturize and nourish.
INGREDIENTS: Petrolatum, Diisostearyl Malate, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Polybutene, Phytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Octyldodecanol, Triethylhexanoin, Dextrin Palmitate, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Fragrance, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Glyceryl Caprylate, Iron Oxides (CI 77491), Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Tin Oxide (CI 77861), Water, Glycerin, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Bertholletia Excelsa Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Caffeine, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Hydrolyzed Coral, Disodium EDTA, Beta-Sitosterol, Alcohol Denat., Centella Asiatica Extract, Steareth-4, Cholesterol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Propylene Glycol, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Rosa Gallica Flower Extract, Camellia, Sinensis Leaf Extract, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Cholesteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Palmeth-2 Phosphate, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate, Caprylyl Glycol, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Jasminum Officinale (Jasmine) Flower Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Achillea Millefolium Extract, Pearl Powder, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hexylene Glycol, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5.
REVIEW
Packaging and Design
Tony Moly is notorious for having extremely cute packaging! I mean, they're the makers of an adorable panda shaped eye base, which I reviewed HERE. The Luminous Goddess Aura Beam also falls into the cute category. It comes in a pearly white squeezable plastic tube with a light baby pink twist-off cap. Twisting off the cap reveals a tiny nozzle where you can easily control how much product you want to dispense. Overall, I think the packaging of the product is extremely sturdy and durable making it very travel-friendly.
Though nothing extremely adorable, it's still cute and reminds me of what would be on a little girl's play vanity. However, the product inside is not to be underestimated at all!
Ease of Use
The Luminous Goddess Aura Beam is relatively easy to use and I love how it has many different ways you can use it!
To use with your foundation:
Mix 1 drop of the Luminous Goddess Aura Beam to 2 drops of BB cream or foundation (1:2 ratio). Then, apply this foundation to your face for a luminous all-over glow.
To use alone as a highlighter:
I found that when apply the Luminous Goddess Aura Beam alone on specific locations for highlighting (like the bridge of the nose, top of the cheekbones, etc.) that it was slightly difficult to use because of its tacky and sticky texture it pulls onto the skin and is hard to blend out. The texture of this highlighter resembles that of petroleum jelly. I kid you not, it feels exactly like petroleum jelly to me, but maybe a little bit less oily and greasy!
To use over your eye makeup:
To use on the eyelids, use a small amount and light dab over eyeshadow creating an easy glossy-wet eye look! This is tricky to do over eyeshadow because it can smear if not done correctly, so I like to do it over a plain bare eyelid for a more awake look.
Texture and Scent
The texture of the Luminous Goddess Aura Beam is what's so unique and sets it apart from other highlighters. It's described as a gel cream, but it's more of like a heavy gel/jelly. Again, it resembles that of petroleum jelly! It has a sticky and tacky finish to it that doesn't really go away or dry.
The Luminous Goddess Aura Beam is also scented. It has a light perfume scent that smells of sweet florals.
Effectiveness/Wearability
I love multitasking products! This Luminous Goddess Aura Beam is no exception. The Aura Beam can be used in several different ways:
MIXED WITH FOUNDATION
Mix with your favorite foundation (1:2 ratio) to create an all-over luminous finish
Mix with your favorite foundation (1:2 ratio) to create an all-over luminous finish
This right here is my favorite way to use this product. As unappealing as the tackiness and stickiness of the Aura Beam might sound to you, the tackiness really helps the foundation adhere to skin making it longer lasting. My foundation usually fades throughout the day, but when I mixed it with the Luminous Goddess Aura Beam, it helped my makeup last over 12 hours! It transformed my basic foundation into a beautiful BB cream with a dewy and very natural glow. I swear, this must be the secret to how the Asian skincare models get their dewy skin in all the ads! I love how it's not like straight up shimmery glitter like most highlighters, but a natural dewy sheen.
The Luminous Goddess Aura Beam is also incredibly hydrating and moisturizing. This is exactly why I said that it is a mixture between highlighter and a moisturizer. It moisturizes with its natural oils like almond, jojoba, argan. The shea butter included in the product also helps moisturize and nourish the skin! I noticed that after using this product more and more often, my skin has improved! My complexion is still glowing even after removing it from my face and it still looks radiant!
HIGHLIGHTER
Use the Luminous Goddess Aura Beam alone by applying a small amount on the cheekbones, nose bridge, chin, or anywhere you want to accentuate your skin with radiance.
This works well as a highlighter, but it's not your typical highlighter and it also does not yield the same effects. When using as a highlighter, it's slightly difficult to blend out. It's sticky to touch and pulls on the skin when trying to blend out. Instead of a glittery sheen, it gives a more natural dewy glow which I prefer. In my opinion, the dewy look works better when it's used all over the face (mixed with foundation) instead of in specific areas.
OVER EYESHADOW
Lastly, you could even use this on your eyelids to get that runway popular glossy-wet eyeshadow look!
I've been loving the new beauty trend of glossy eyelids and the Luminous Goddess Aura Beam makes this beauty trend a piece of cake. The secret is to use a very small amount. Remember, "a little goes a long way" applies here! Lightly dab the Aura Beam onto your bare eyelids, or over your eyeshadow! This gives your eyes a subtle pop without being too dramatic. I love using the Aura Beam on my eyelids because it actually stays on and doesn't crease or budge. There's a slight problem with it feeling sticky, but that small take-back is worth it for the outcome!
OVER EYESHADOW
Lastly, you could even use this on your eyelids to get that runway popular glossy-wet eyeshadow look!
PROS:
Multifunctional and versatile productEasy to use
East to control amount dispensed
Gives a natural dewy glow & luminous sheen
"A little goes a long way"
Moisturizing
CONS:
Sticky/Tacky to the touch
Heavy (think petroleum jelly)
Heavy (think petroleum jelly)
I highly recommend this product to those with dry skin looking for a little dewy kick to their everyday makeup! The Luminous Goddess Aura Beam is a cross between a natural highlighter and a moisturizer. It provides you with a natural, luminous glow that looks great no matter your age or skin tone. This gets two thumbs up from me!
The Luminous Goddess Aura Beam by Tony Moly currently retails for $22 and is available at Sephora.com, HERE!
Disclaimer: This product was sent to me for reviewing purposes. All reviews are my own 100% honest opinions.
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