Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in Beige | Review and Swatches

Cue all the heart eye emojis. Bobbi Brown is a brand that I don’t own too much from, but so many of their products have reached cult status in the blogging world. I had been drooling over this highlighter for the longest time so I decided to put it on my christmas list, and my mum was nice enough to get it for me! Keep on reading to find out my thoughts…

The Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in Beige (£32.50) contains five strips of shimmery colour ranging from a soft white to a deep bronze. When swirled together, it is a beautiful golden beige, a perfect highlighter for when I’m slightly more tanned. What is great about the shimmer bricks is that they’re really customisable – you can focus your brush on either end of the product depending if you want a lighter or darker payoff.

Surprisingly, even though it looks intensely shimmery in the pan, it doesn’t come off too glittery on the skin. It isn’t the most natural looking highlighter, but it definitely isn’t garish or reminiscent of a disco ball. Currently I love using the Sigma E40 Tapered Blending Brush for highlight as it gives really precise application. I put it on the tops of my cheekbones, tip and bridge of the nose, in between the brows, cupids bow and chin (everywhere, really). If you love glowy skin, you will love this.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
I also think this highlight captures the light beautifully in photography. This is definitely a splurge item, but if you feel like treating yourself or putting it on your wishlist, then I would highly recommend it. Would you pay this much for a highlighter? 
 
RachelElizabeth

theBalm Mary Lou Manizer | Review

There is something special about highlighter – it literally transforms the face. It adds an extra oomph to a makeup look, bringing out the high points of your face and giving you that glow in a more uniform way. If you love a glowy base as much as I do then you might want to listen up…

theBalm Mary Lou Manizer is these days a cult product among the Youtube and blogging worlds. It is a light beige with a golden sheen. The gold tones in this highlighter makes it perfect for those of us with warm skin with yellow undertones. However, I don’t find it to be overwhelmingly warm and I think it would work fine on someone with more pink undertones. This is quite an intense and pigmented highlighter, but can be easily applied with a light hand for more of a glow-from-within look. It looks almost glittery in the pan, but I don’t see that translated on the skin – it is more sheen than glitter. The texture is buttery and smooth to apply, and frankly I am in love. When it comes to application, I tend to focus it on the tops of my cheeks, down the bridge of my nose, cupids bow and under the brow. 
It’s surprisingly difficult to photograph highlighter, but after quite a heavy-handed application, the light bounced off it beautifully. If you’re a highlighter junkie and haven’t tried this one already, you really should. Have you ever tried anything from theBalm?

-RachelElizabeth