The Balm Mary Lou Manizer Luminizer: Review, Swatches, Dupes

Review, Swatches, Price, Dupes, Buy Online The Balm Mary Lou Manizer Luminizer Highlighter

By Contributor: Surabhi Pisal

I have always neglected blushes and highlighters until I saw a random YouTube video on how to do the perfect face contouring and highlighting. Never knew blushes and highlighters can actually make a difference; that was the time I realised the importance of these extra makeup products (which are not actually extra but essential) and decided to invest in a good blusher and highlighter. After reading multiple reviews, I made up my mind to get hold of MUA Whipped Velvet Blush in Chichi and theBalm Mary Lou Manizer

which is a highlighter for face and eyes. Without much ado, lets review and swatch the Balm Luminizer Mary-Lou Manizer.

theBalm Claims: Meet Mary-Lou Manizer, a seemingly innocent honey-hued luminizer that catches everybody’s eye. This highlighter, shadow and shimmer diffuses light so your skin looks softer and younger while adding a subtle glow.

My Review of the Balm Lou Manizer:

The first thing that would attract buyers is its packaging! So cute and funky! the Balm Cosmetics are known for their funky packaging and great quality products, and this is no exception. Mary-Lou Manizer comes in a flip-open flat and sleek compact case. The lou manizer highlighter contains a mirror on the inner side of the lid which I really like as it comes handy during emergencies or when we are running out of time and have no time to sit comfortably in front of the mirror for doing our makeup. The lid gives a ‘click’ sound ensuring that it is properly closed. The sturdy plastic case is quite travel friendly.

TheBalm Mary is a gold/champagne coloured illuminizer. This makes the lou manizer suitable for almost any skin tones as it only gives a healthy glow without any opaque stain. I am sure it will suit not only the fairest of all but also the ones with wheatish or darker Indian skin tones. The pigmentation is just really amazing. Just 1 swipe gives the much needed glow. The luminizer powder is very soft and buttery light which blends uniformly like a dream leaving behind no patchiness at all. Even if you have dry skin, it will blend uniformly without getting in fine lines or unevenness.

The Luminizer has a really faint and mild chemical smell. Frankly speaking, the fragrance is almost negligible. I am sure it won’t bother anybody as you might almost forget it has a smell.

I use this powder highlighter at the end of my makeup, just to highlight my cheekbones and brow bone. I simply swipe my powder brush (I use my Colorbar powder brush) in the theBalm highlighter, tap away the excess and blend it gently on my skin. This particular lou manizer gives a really subtle and natural glow and stays all day long with really mild fading but the glow remains. You can use it alone or on top of blusher or bronzer. If you don’t like contouring, you can just use this mary highlighter for a dewy healthy look. I am sure this will last longer with a primer underneath.

BEST FACE SPOTS FOR APPLYING HIGHLIGHTER: You could apply highlighter on the cheek bones, brow bones, on the convex surfaces of your forehead (temples), on the chin (triangular manner), Outer-V shape of the upper lip, and on the center of your nose to make it look pointed.

BEAUTY TIP: For extra glamour, you could swipe the powder brush in the the Balm highlighter and apply on the collar bone, shoulders (if you are wearing sleeveless), calf and thighs (if you are wearing something short) for a healthy and polished skin look.

PROS of The Balm Mary Lou Manizer Luminizer:

• Gives a natural glow with no obvious shimmery particles
• Stays all day long
• Little goes a long way
• Travel friendly
• Attractive packaging
• Suits oily skin like mine
• Won’t cause breakouts
• Well pigmented

CONS of The Balm Mary Lou Manizer Luminizer:

• Contains a lot of chemicals
• Not easily available in India
• Expensive
• One can easily go overboard with it & look like a shiny disco ball
• Can get wiped away if rubbed with a rough cloth (and which powder highlighter won’t?)
• Wish it contained an applicator
• If you are using a blush brush or powder brush, you will have to take care to wash it before you use it for other purposes as it will still have the highlighter residue in it. I use my powder brush and once ended up making my whole face shiny.

Price in India: Rs.2,490

VNA Rating: 5/5

Where to Buy Online in India: I got it from amazon.in

Dupe: MAC Soft and Gentle, Coastal Scents Flesh Tone Hot Pot

Final Verdict: If you are looking out for a good quality highlighter with no obvious shimmer and won’t mind spending much, this is the one for you. Grab this asap. Highly recommend.

Read More:

MAC Strobe Cream

Highlighters for Indian Skin Tones

MAC Cream Colour Base Shell

Chambor Light and Sheer Skin Highlighter

Revlon PhotoReady Skinlights Face Illuminator

theBalm Hot Mama Shadow

Have you used The Balm Mary Lou Manizer Luminizer? Share your reviews with us.