The Balm: Mary-Lou Manizer: Highlighter, Shadow & Shimmer

I've heard that this works mostly on light to medium skintones - Im an NC42 and this highlighter is perfect. It applies so perfectly and blends to give this subtle yet bomb glow. You can layer it to make it more intense but I love it as an everyday highlighter. Its also perfect as an eyeshadow.

I purchased this 3 years ago, I have barely made a dent in the product.
Colour payoff on this highlighter is intense.
I prefer a slight glow, but if you want chrome cheeks then this bad boy will allow you to do this.
I know that this is a holy grail product for many and now also mine.
The luminizer powder is very soft and the golden hint in the highlighter makes it suitable for all skin tones.

I thought MAC Soft and Gentle was my "holy grail" product until I bought this baby! Thanks to Retail Box! :D By far the BEST highlighter ever.
- Gives your skin a beautiful glow
- Stunningly gorgeous in photos
- Extremely versatile
- Suits ALL skin types
- CRUELTY FREE! :)
Definitely worth the splurge! You won't be disappointed!:)
Get it from www.retailbox.co.za - great service!;)
X

After a long, long, long wait, The Balm Cosmetics have finally hit the South African shores, which brought complete and total happiness into my life, as I've been lusting after some of their gorgeous products for years and one of those products happen to be the Mary - Lou Manizer, which I am sure isn't a surprise to any of my reader, because every single girl is lusting after the "perfect highlighter".

I purchased the Mary - Lou Manizer from Retail Box for R399, which may seem like a steep price for a highlighter, but I promise, it is definitely worth every cent! This multi tasking product can be used as: a highlighter, to add shimmer and as an eye shadow.
Retail Box's review of the Mary - Lou Maniser: "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 thoughts: Firstly, look at that packaging!!! It has to be the most gorgeous vintage looking packaging ever, from the box to the actual compact! It has a simple yet classy look to it, which I really appreciate, because it will definitely catch eyes when you whip this compact out of your bag.
The actual compact is quite sturdy and gives me a good feeling, as if my Mary - Lou Manizer will see me many good years, plus the compact includes a lovely mirror, which will make sure you see perfectly highlighted cheekbones every time. Excuse my pun, but ever since I've gotten the Mary - Lou Manizer, it has really been the highlight of my life! I've been playing around with it, since the day my package got delivered.

I find the Mary - Lou Manizer to be soft and buttery, feeling like it will melt into skin apon application, which is exactly what it does, no cakey feeling, no flaking, just gorgeously glowing skin every time. I find the Mary - Lou Manizer to be a little too shimmery for my everyday make up as it really highlights on my olive skin tone.
When I apply my highlighter, I use a soft angled brush to make sure I get a perfect application, I also apply my highlighter with a light hand, as this is a very pigmented highlighter. I do love the summer glow this highlighter gives me, making my skin look radiant and sculptured, a definite must have, to make sure your make up will always be on point.

My Final Thoughts: I've you're willing to splurge out for this Mary - Lou Manizer highlighter, I say "why not?", this impressive highlighter is a multi-tasker, and completely life changing, plus this highlighter will see you a couple of good years, mainly because the highlighter is so pigmented, you need very little to complete your look.

I have been in love ever since this highlighter arrived on our beauty desk. Okay, so it's supposedly also an eyeshadow, but I'll be putting it to its best use: as a highlighter.

I've heard many good things about the Mary Lou Manizer highlighter from my favourite bloggers and I was thrilled to find out that Retail Box now stocks it in SA. It's considered one of the best highlighters for fair to medium toned skin, warmer than the other pale person Holy Grail highlighter: MAC Lightscapade.

Mary Lou Manizer is a champagne-coloured compact powder highlighter. First of all, the retro-inspired packaging is simply gorgeous, although the compact is a little tricky to open. At least it closes securely to protect its precious contents.

As for the formula, there's no chunky glitter in this baby (my pet hate in a highlighter). The powder is silky and very finely milled. I was surprised at how intensely pigmented the Mary Lou Manizer is when I swatched it and was worried it would bring too much bling-bling to my face.

Those fears were definitely unfounded. The buttery formula blended in effortlessly and subtly, lighting my face up and giving it a long-lasting healthy glow with a single sweep. It looks very natural, but can be built up to a Kardashian-esque look with some contouring. What a win!

You would never think that this little compact could pack such a serious punch! For a brand that doesnt take themselves too seriously, "Le Lumizer:" otherwise knows as The Balms Mary-Lou Manizer, does a seriously good job. With strong gold and silver pigments, and a shiny, wet look finish, this highlighter not only does the job of efficiently highlighting areas of my face, but it is also hardworking, lasting throughout the day.

Initially a solid colour on the skin, I was able to blend it more naturally into the face so it appeared more faint on my cheekbones, nose and bow of my lip. I used the colour more solidly on my eye lids. Needless to say, I was glowing!

My favourite thing however about this product is its iridescent finish - catching light at different angles throughout the day. I know at night, possibly in a dark bar, or restaurant, this powder will continue to catch light and illuminate my face. For winter, this is the perfect product to bring back a bit of life to my pale skin! Its a real winner!