I often relate makeup milestones to Pringles and chocolate. The moment you start eating/doing it, it becomes quite hard to stop yourself.
I remember back when I was in college. I never shaded my brows. I just let them be as they had this normal, natural shape. But once I got around to using a brow pencil, a spoolie brush, and some brow gel, the rest was history. Damn, that 1950s eye brow arch. I just gotta have it on all the time! In fact, I can never go out or be seen by actual human beings without my brows on fleek (as one of my favourite Youtubers would say).
Back then, I wasn’t into concealer as well since I’ve always had skin that’s on the clearer side. But after I saw a makeup artist use concealer under my eyes and to put some shade on some areas of my face which looked perfectly fine before, I knew I was never going to live without concealer anymore. It’s like, you never know something wrong is going on until someone else actually points it out! However, this drives my husband nuts when I tell him I have to cover up some stuff on my face and he’s always like – ‘What are you talking about? There’s nothing there!’
But alas, my eyes have become very critical even to the minutest of details. And here I go again, going off point. What was I supposed to talk about? Ah, highlighter. Like my brow and concealer story, I was also late to the party when it comes to contouring and highlighting. In fact, there was a time when I would contour my face and totally forego the highlighter. YES. UGH. Weird times.
But then, Benefit Cosmetics popped my highlighter cherry by giving me a sample of Watt’s Up as a gift with purchase (GWP) and it totally changed my life! I’m exaggerating. But it did drastically change my makeup routine!
I’ve been pretty loyal to Watt’s Up and cream highlighters but with all the peer pressure (and by peer, I mean Youtube beauty vloggers) I’ve been getting, I decided to try out The Balm’s Mary Lou Manizer. Everyone’s talking about it so I might as see what the fuss is all about.
The first time I picked it up in Sasa, my first thought was: ‘Damn, this packaging is seriously cute!’ I love vintage fashion and I love pin-up girls so The Balm totally got their packaging right in my opinion. 😉
The compact is round and quite big but it fits perfectly on one’s hand. It’s packed with 8.5 grams of the product so it will practically last you forever.
It’s also important to say that it has a huge mirror, earning a proper and permanent place in my everyday makeup bag. Really. Why do some makeup companies make compacts without mirrors? How can you guys be so heartless?
As for the product itself, it doesn’t disappoint. It comes in a beautiful, champagne colour that is usually associated with a natural looking glow.
However, be careful when you’re using this product.
Don’t go all out! Just use a fan brush to get a bit of the product on the top area of your cheekbones for a natural-looking glow. With its high pigmentation, it’s quite easy to end up having too much of it on your face.
Also remember to blend, blend, blend. If you don’t blend it, it becomes too obvious and may even make pores look too big and obvious.
I use my fingers to put some on the inner corner of my eyes and my cupid’s bow to keep the product to a minimum. I use a small eyeshadow brush with the Mary Lou Manizer as well to highlight my brow bone. Come to think of it – I don’t really know when I’ll ever finish this highlighter off. You need just a small amount of it every time you do your makeup!
It’s definitely a great addition to anyone’s makeup collection, especially if you go to a lot of events like I do where makeup is actually required!
The Mary Lou Manizer stands out in photos but in person, it can be a bit too much. If you’re just going to the mall or meeting up with friends and would rather go for a natural look, cream highlighters like Benefit’s Watts Up is still your best bet. Creams often look more natural.
As for powder highlighters like the Mary Lou Manizer, I’ll save it for special events but will keep it handy in my everyday makeup bag because of the mirror and for sudden needs. Since it’s very versatile and can be used an eye shadow as well, I’d rather have it with me all the time. 😉
The Balm’s Mary Lou Manizer is a bit pricey as it retails at RM89 (Php1089.20, EUR22.73, USD24.50) but I got it on sale about two months ago – around RM69 if I’m not mistaken. It’s available at SaSa in Malaysia. 🙂
For my friends back in the Philippines, you can get your Mary Lou Manizer at Beauty Bar. 😉
What’s your favourite highlighter? Let me know! 😉
Love,
Carol
