Your personal choice of glow will make a difference whether you like this product or not. I think it’s a good product, but I don’t necessarily think it’s something I’ll be reaching for that often due to personal preference (and I’m pretty sure I’m in the minority).
As expected from Marc Jacobs Beauty, the packaging is beautiful and on par with all of the other Marc Jacobs products. It feels expensive and the frosted glass looks very chic. The color of the highlighter is beautiful and works well with my skin tone (my complexion is light with yellow undertones). It does have a scent to it, which to me smells like your typical coconut scented lotion, and that scent does linger for a while. So, if you’re very sensitive to scents, or dislike the smell of slightly artificial coconut, this might be a negative attribute for you, but if you love coconut scented lotions, then this will be right up your alley.
A little goes a long way with this product, so the bottle will last quite a while. I feel it works better using it sparingly and building it up if you want more of an intense glow rather than applying a lot at once (doing so can tend to make it look too opaque/concentrated while also making it harder to get a nice blended finish on the face). I’ve tried applying it with a brush (which I didn’t really like the outcome) and my fingers (which was ok), but I prefer using a freshly dampened sponge (I’ve tried it with both my beautyblender and Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge), and that seems to work well for me. I apply less than a pump to the back of my hand and lightly touch the sponge to the product, and then very very lightly bounce the sponge on my cheek, and repeat to intensify if needed. I’ve found that this method of application gives me a highlight that blends nicely into my foundation, rather than a stripe of highlight that sits on top of my foundation. This highlighter also feels pretty lightweight when applied that way.
I haven’t noticed a great deal of hydration to my skin when using this but my skin does feel the slightest bit tackier in the areas where this is applied, but not in a bad way. My cheeks tend to get a little dry, and this did not accentuate any dry areas (like some highlighters sometimes do).
However, here’s where personal preference comes in to play. I’m the type of person who typically likes a more subtle, natural looking, glow from within, kind of highlight. Using this solely as a highlighter, I’ve found that this does have some noticeable shimmer to it (and just to elaborate a little more, I classify it as “shimmer” and not chunky “glitter”, as the specks are very fine/tiny). The shimmer is more or less apparent depending on the lighting. I put a small pump on the back of my hand earlier before applying it to my cheeks and in the lighting from my lamp I can see the individual teensy tiny specks of shimmer as my hand moves while I’m typing this. It is also noticeable on my cheeks where I’ve applied it. Having said that, if you don’t mind fine shimmer in your highlight then you will probably enjoy this! If you are completely turned off by seeing small/fine shimmery particles, then this might not be the highlighter for you.
I also tried mixing it into my foundation, since it says it can be added to foundation for a “universally flattering glow”. Doing so does give a nice radiant glow, which is completely customizable depending on how much you mix in (I used it sparingly and the glow was still apparent). The shimmer is still there, however, and you can see it in certain lighting but it is definitely not as noticeable since it is not as concentrated.
If you’re looking for a very nice shimmery highlight or something to mix in with your foundation to give you a glow (and don’t mind a little shimmer on your face) then definitely give this highlighter a try, but if that’s not your cup of tea, then I’d probably skip this. Personal preference aside, I still think this is a nice product. It works well and it delivers on most of it’s claims.
