theBalm Mary-Lou Manizer

Mary-Lou needs no introduction. Unless you've been living under a rock. I've had my eye on theBalm Mary-Lou Manizer ($24.15 USD at FeelUnique.com - get 10% off $40 with the code FUNSIZE10) for a very long time and now that it's finally in my clutches I can't stop piling the glow on my face. 

The packaging is characteristically theBalm, retro, a little sweet and a little sassy. Can't say I don't appreciate the mirror as well. 

theBalm Mary-Lou Manizer is described as a "seemingly innocent honey hued luminzer", in other words, a white-gold highlighting powder with a strong sheen. I feel like the colour is good for those with light to medium complexions but perhaps a bit ashy for those with medium to dark complexions. For me, it's a year-round highlighter and works when I'm tan and when I'm not. 

The finish is not metallic like MAC Oh Darling but it has a sheen that is very prominent. It's probably the strongest highlighting product in my collection. The texture of the powder is decent. Less creamy and smooth than Tarte's but not at all hard or chalky. 

Above, I've swatched it next to the Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Skin Twinkle Lighting Palette. As you can see, they're similar in colour but Mary-Lou is quite a bit more forceful in opacity and glow. It can be sheered out but where's the fun in that? Whenever possible, I like my highlight to look like a stark, glaring strip of shimmer on my face. Not even joking.

It's unfortunate that it's so darn difficult to capture with my current lighting setup. The most obvious place you can see it is on the inner corners of my eyes. 

I wear it everywhere that highlight could possibly go, applying it with a small, fluffy tapered face brush (right now it's the Luxie Rose Gold Tapered Highlighting Brush 522) - on the tops of the cheekbones, the tip of the nose, on the cupids bow of the lip, the centres of the eyelids, inner corners of the eyes, on the browbone, the tops of my collarbone, centre of my forehead... you name it.

Definitely worth the hype.