BD Trade Secrets Dream Shimmer Highlighter

RRP: £7.99

--What does the promo say?--
"Add effortless shine to cheekbones, eyes and body with this stunning textured shimmer compact.  Delicately swirl across the skin to help enhance your features with a radiant sun kissed shimmer."

--Packaging--
The shimmer brick comes in a shiny gold-effect compact made of plastic, which closes securely using a click mechanism. Equally, the mirror is of a generous size.

--Application--
Sweep over face for a naturally sunkissed effect. Focus more on the cheeks for use as a blusher. Warning: a little goes a long way, so start sparingly and layer up!

--Appearance--
The brown shades dominate over the pink and white, but equally you can choose to dip your brush more in the pink shades depending on the effect you want. This is also why you should apply this sparingly if like me you are very pale and don't want to look like you've been Tangoed. Done correctly, however, the effect can be very natural-looking.

--Scent--
Nothing discernible.

--Texture and consistency--
Smooth and easy to blend.

--Longevity--
Perhaps needs touching up once during the day, but that's all. Generally lasts well.

--Value for money--
While the casing feels a bit cheap, and I personally would maybe prefer pinker tones to dominate, it's a decent bronzer/shimmer brick that stands up well to its main competitors this summer. Available now at Tesco!

No7 Instant Radiance Under Eye Concealer

 RRP: £13.50
# of shades available: 8

--What does the promo say?--
"Cheat your way to the appearance of bright, healthy and youthful eyes with our No7 Instant Radiance Under Eye Concealer. Blends seamlessly with you No7 Match Made foundation, covering dark circles all day long and reducing the appearance of puffiness and fine lines for up to 8 hours."

--Packaging--
The silver tube is elegant and sleek, so looks great in any bathroom and slips easily into any handbag. You don't have to stand there endlessly clicking the top like a loon while you wait for the first dose of the product to come out, either. Even once you've got started, the amount of product coming out of the pen is easy to control, too.

--Application--
If using as a concealer, apply over blemishes or discolorations once you've applied your primer and foundation. If using as a highlighter, dab onto brow bone and/or cheekbones at the same stage. Can also be used to deflect dark shadows by using sparingly around the under-eye area. All very simple.

--Appearance--
Definitely increases radiance in the areas applied, and doesn't act badly as a concealer either. The lightest shade worked perfectly for me, matching my skin tone very well. Beware the difference between this (which comes in 8 different shades) and the virtually indistinguishable Instant Radiance Concealer, which has exactly the same packaging but only comes in 3 shades.

--Scent--
Nothing discernible.

--Texture and consistency--
Smooth, light, and easy to blend. Top marks.

--Coverage and longevity--
I'd say coverage is medium to light, meaning it's probably not the best for hiding your acne. However, it seems to last well enough, meaning your new-found radiance should take you through the day with relative ease. Perhaps, though, No7 should consider renaming it as a highlighter (rather than concealer) to give consumers a better idea of what they can expect from the product.

--Value for money--
While it seems a little bonkers that this is £1 more than No7's Instant Radiance Foundation, as an alternative to YSL's Touche Eclat (which this is clearly intended to be) it's an excellent choice, particularly as it's around 50% less than the price of the original cult classic. Nobody will know the difference! Was sent mine for free by No7's lovely PR, but would buy it out of my own money and recommend it to others :)

perfect partners
Perfect Light Loose Powder, £10.50
Natural Blush Tint Powder, £8.00
Instant Radiance Foundation, £12.50
Instant Illusions Airbrush Away Primer, £19.50 

Rimmel Match Perfection Concealer

 RRP: £5.99
# of available shades: 3

--What does the promo say?--
"Skin tone adapting concealer. Conceal signs of fatigue. Highlight and illuminate eye area. Soft precision brush for the delicate under-eye area."

--Packaging--
A slender tube that really pops out on the shelf thanks to its summery blue and beige (sea and sand!) colour scheme. The application brush is also a helpful addition that mirrors higher-end brands, such as Yves St Laurent.

--Application--
Gently squeeze the tube until the product appears at the end of the application brush. Brush the product onto the skin, and then blend in with the tips of your fingers.

--Appearance--
Simultaneously matte, radiant, and providing excellent coverage. The ivory shade was also perfect for my skin tone (even though I think it's pathetic to only supply three shades). WIN.

--Texture and consistency--
Smooth and blendable. 

--Longevity--
Lasts well even without face powder to finish off.

--Value for money--
The retail price is already extremely reasonable and if you shop around the discount stores it can even be found cheaper. While an availability of three shades is arguably insufficient, if you can find one to suit you it is a great deal, thanks to the product's longevity, blendability, coverage and radiance. Proves that cheap can definitely be cheerful! Would doubtlessly repurchase.

perfect partners
Match Perfection Foundation, £6.99
Match Perfection Bronzer, £5.99
Match Perfection Compact Powder, £7.49
Stay Blushed!, £4.49
Stay Matte Primer, £5.99

Body Shop Brilliance Powder

RRP: £14.00/4.5g (or €23, or USD$18.50)
No. of shades: 4 - lustrous rose, shimmer bronze, matte bronze and shimmer gold

--What does the promo say?--
"Just push the button and the Brilliance Powder is in the brush. A lightweight sparkle powder with shimmering pearls that provides a natural-looking sun-kissed finish for the face and body. Available in a shimmer or matte finish. Dermatologically tested. Contains marula oil (a very effective moisturiser that also helps to condition the skin over time. Also provides essential fatty acids that help to repair the skin's moisture barrier, thus helping to restore moisture, smoothness and suppleness.), vitamin E (an antioxidant that helps to soften, condition and protect the skin), and light diffusing particles (instantly brighten the skin and help reduce the appearance of lines)."

--Packaging--
The packaging looks just like a blusher brush, the handle of which is mostly transparent so that you can see the powder inside. The brush is quite cheap and very synthetic-looking (I don't mind it being synthetic but this really does look plasticated), and is a sort of reddish-brown colour. The button is a sort of gold colour, as is most of the non-transparent packaging, and the Body Shop logo etc is written in small writing on the transparent bit. It's quite a sophisticated looking thing and is a nice size too. It also comes with a lid to put over the brush's bristles when you're done, which is nice in theory, but once you've used the brush on your face, even for the first time and even if you're careful, the bristles fan out and it's a challenge to stuff them back into the lid.

--Application--
Sounds so simple in the promo, doesn't it? "Just push the button." I wish. I stood there for 10 minutes pushing the silly little button until my thumb hurt with the appearance of no powder whatsoever when suddenly - whoosh! A load of powder deposits itself onto my hand as if to say "There." Luckily I was able to brush most of this onto my skin, but dearie me, it is a silly way of getting there. Happily this only happened the first time - once it got going it was very easy to use.

--Appearance--
Through the tube the powder looks lovely and iridescent without being over the top, and on the face there's no disappointment either. The glitter is not as subtle as some products I've used, but the product is versatile - you can layer the powder so that it's suitable for everyday wear or for a night out.

--Texture--
Very light. When the powder was on, you couldn't even tell it was there. No heaviness or caked-on feelings with this.

--Longevity--
Excellent - I wore this for a dinner out. We left at 8 and when we came back at midnight it hadn't budged.

--Does it do what it says it will?--
On the whole, yes, though saying it will reduce the appearance of lines seems to be going a bit far.

--Value for money--
You need so little of this powder that you'll get a lot of mileage out of one brush. However, looking at the prices, our American friends are undoubtedly better off, with the Europeans faring worst in terms of price (God damn, I knew I should have waited until I got home to buy this).

--Other comments--
The versatility of this product is amazing. Buy the white one (shimmer gold) and it's a highlighter. Buy the pink one (lustrous rose) and it's a blusher. Buy either of the bronze ones and it's a bronzer! Genius!

perfect partners
Body Shop Shimmer Cubes Eye Shadow, $17.50/£14.00/€22 for 4 colours
Body Shop Bronzing Powder, $14.00/£11.50/€16 for 11.5g

Sephora Luminiser

RRP: $22 or 9 euros 90
# of shades available: 4 (white, light rose, apricot, golden bronze)

Available at any Sephora branch in: France, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Italy, Greece, Poland, Spain and USA. This is the bad news. You won't be able to get this in the UK, not even online (well, perhaps on ebay...), so you may be best to save hunting for this until you're on holiday somewhere nice.



--What is it?--
This is basically Benefit High Beam at half the price. As well as being just as effective, Sephora's product also has a greater range than Benefit's equivalent - in the Benefit range, you only have white (Moon Beam) or pink (High Beam) available, whereas the Sephora luminiser provides you with a slightly yellower shade and with a bronzer in addition to the pink and the white.


--Packaging--
Comes in a small opaque glass bottle c. 7-8cm high including pump. The Sephora logo and name of the product appear on the front of the bottle in a black, no-frills font, with product information on the back. The pump is black and is covered by a clear lid.


--What does the promo say?--
"Go for the glow with these versatile luminizing liquids that can be mixed into your foundation or moisturizer for a sheer luminescence ranging from subtle to sun kissed. For a more intense shimmer, dab directly onto clean, moisturized skin."


--Application--
Pull off the lid and push down the pump until the liquid appears. Apply either to cheeks or all over your face using your fingers or a brush, over makeup or on bare face. The one thing I really don't like about applying this is the fact that the pump seems quite stiff - you can't just push it down a little bit for a small amount of liquid, you have to push it down the whole way, which I find produces a slight excess of liquid. Luckily this is not an over-excess and any leftover liquid can easily be got rid of by spreading it on your décolletage.



--Texture--
Slightly runny but still stable (i.e. it's not going to drip off your fingers before you have a chance to apply it to your face).



--Appearance--
While in the bottle it appears quite matte, the luminiser is in fact quite subtle on the face. Even though it contains small particles of glitter, you don't end up looking like an Abba reject.



--Longevity--
Excellent.



--Value for money--
Beyond compare. I was considering buying High Beam before I spotted this, and then I contented myself with quiet laughter that I hasn't spend double the money on what is essentially exactly the same product - just without the in-your-face packaging. Plus, a little seems to go quite a long way, so I can anticipate that my bottle will last the distance. Just watch yourself when using the pump.

Yves St Laurent Touche Eclat

RRP: £22.50

Shades available: 4

-- Packaging --
A somewhat chunky golden pen with a smooth shine and the YSL logo on it in understated black font. Black click button at one end, brush in the style of a pen nib at the other. Comes in a similarly styled cardboard box.

--What does the promo say?--
"An ultra-glamorous pen..Just two or three clicks to coat the brush, a makeup tool borrowed from the pros, ideal for applying and diffusing touches of light with absolute precision, with a texture that is ultra light, fine, impalpable, and literally becomes one with the skin. It blends with day cream, a makeup base, foundation or powder, making it ideal for touch-ups anytime, with no overload. It boasts a magical formula combining airy lightness, softness and light. Extremely light oils (volatile silicones) ensure quick, even application. A blend of moisturising, refreshing components provide a feeling of sublime softness on application and extreme comfort throughout the day. A micronised powder combined with crystalline and lamellar structured pigments allow the skin to react to light the way a prism does, giving the complexion new radiance. Their microscopic size ensures an ultra-fine, even film on the skin, and for touch-ups they blend with the pigments of makeup that's already been applied."

--Application --
Click the button at the end a few times until the product starts to appear at the end of the brush/pen nib thing. Apply directly to face.

-- Purpose --
The beauty of the Touche Eclat (and probably why it's become such a classic - it even has its own website, http://www.touche-eclat.com/) is that it seems to have multiple purposes. I use it as a concealer; others use it to brighten the complexion; others use it to disguise under-eye circles.

--Appearance--
On the pen, it appears slightly runny. On the face, it takes on the appearance of powder and it doesn't appear blotchy on the facial areas where it's been applied. It also works very well with any brand of foundation or powder - at present I'm using Max Factor foundation and L'Oréal powder with it.

-- Texture --
Blends into the skin beautifully. Feels powder-light.

--Coverage--
Pretty good, but it's probably more suited as a highlighter and as a dark-circles cover-up than it is for other blemishes such as acne.

--Longevity--
No need to reapply throughout the day.

--Removal--
Easy to remove.

--Value for money--
Frankly excellent - you're getting a very high-quality product that lasts a long time. If they ever stop making it I might cry.