Glowing Skin Without the Drama

Hello everyone!

I'm obsessed with glow-enhancing skincare products, and I'm super stoked to share my thoughts on the Essence Magic Filter Glow Booster, a highlighter fluid with multiple uses.

The Basics:

Price - 399 rubles.Volume - 14 ml.Manufactured - Czech Republic.Shelf life - 6 months from opening.Where to buy - Golden Apple, Girlfriend.

Product Packaging - a glass bottle with a pump dispenser. No tamper-evident seal was present, which is a bit of a bummer. The product info sticker on the tube is prone to smudging over time, which can be a real pain.

Essence Magic Filter Glow Booster

Ingredients:

AQUA (WATER), OCTYLDODECANOL, ETHYLHEXYL POLYHYDROXYSTEARATE, ISOAMYL LAURATE, POLYGLYCERYL-4 DIISOSTEARATE/POLYHYDROXYSTEARATE/SEBACATE, GLYCERIN, HYDROGENATED CASTOR OIL, MAGNESIUM SULFATE, RICINUS COMMUNIS (CASTOR) SEED OIL, SODIUM HYALURONATE, MICA, DISTEARDIMONIUM HECTORITE, PROPYLENE CARBONATE, SORBITAN OLIVATE, ISOSTEARYL SEBACATE, DISODIUM STEAROYL GLUTAMATE, CAPROIC ACID, PHENOXYETHANOL, BENZOIC ACID, DEHYDROACETIC ACID, ALUMINUM HYDROXIDE, CI 77491 (IRON OXIDES), CI 77492 (IRON OXIDES), CI 77499 (IRON OXIDES), CI 77891 (TITANIUM DIOXIDE).

After using the product for a while, the bottle started to look less appealing, with the golden letters fading and disappearing over time. It's not the end of the world, but it's definitely a bummer.

The tube gets almost to the bottom of the bottle, which is a good thing - it means I've gotten my money's worth.

Dosator isn't super tight, but it works okay, and it's always getting clogged up. I mean, it's not the end of the world, but it's a bit of a pain to deal with.

Palette comes in four shades:

10 Light20 Medium30 Medium tan40 Tan

I learned my lesson last time I tried to pick a shade with Catrice's Soft Glam Filter Fluid. I went for the lightest one, 10 Light, and I'm really happy with how it looks on me. The beige-ish shade with a hint of pink is perfect for my skin tone. I didn't notice it making me look yellow, but it might oxidize over time. There are a lot of light-reflecting particles in it, which is kinda cool.

Texture is medium-thick, not sticky, but a bit oily. When I apply it, it kind of stripes and you can see the uneven pigment distribution. Maybe the texture will separate over time, but it's not a deal-breaker for me.

Finish is shiny, almost like a greasy pancake. The camera doesn't capture it fully, but trust me, it's pretty shiny.

Smell is a total deal-breaker for me. I mean, it's just not my cup of tea. It's super sharp, with this menthol note that's just not my vibe. It fades away pretty quickly after I apply it, which is a plus, I guess.

How to use it:

This stuff is basically a highlighting fluid for your face. It's got a lightweight coverage that gives you this flawless, even-toned complexion. You can use it on its own, under your makeup, or on top of it for a natural glow.

My skin type:

I'm 34, and my skin is a total nightmare. It's dry, it's problematic, it's prone to inflammation... the whole nine yards. My skin tone is super uneven, and I've got these fine lines around my mouth that I'm really not a fan of.

I've tried using this product in all sorts of ways - on its own, under my tone, or mixed with it. Let's just say it's been an adventure.

Variant 1: With my tone and a small amount of fluid

Variant 2 - as a standalone coverage. Honestly, it's not the best option for me, since my skin gets super shiny, and the fluid doesn't do a great job of masking my highlighter.

It's a bit better with this powder. It helps to cancel out the extra shine.

Left - bare skin - right with fluid

Left - bare skin - right with fluid, tone, blush, and highlighter

Application

I've found that this foundation applies smoothly to my skin with my fingertips, and it doesn't leave any residue or dry out my skin, even on areas with inflammation. It just feels really comfortable to wear.

Finish is super shiny, but when I wear it under makeup, it gives a more subtle glow that looks really natural.

Coverage is basically non-existent, though - it doesn't hide any redness, and it can even make enlarged pores stand out. That being said, it does help to even out my skin tone a bit.

Longevity is around 5 hours on its own, which is pretty standard for a foundation. I haven't experienced any negative reactions from my skin, and it seems to be pretty well-tolerated.

For removal, I use a gel cleanser and then follow up with a toner to make sure I get it all off.

Value is pretty good, especially if you mix it with your foundation like I do. I've been using it for a few months now, and it's still going strong.

Verdict

I wouldn't say it's perfect, but overall, I really like this product. My go-to way of using it is mixing it with my foundation for a more natural look.

Thanks for reading!

Check out my other makeup reviews