Review: Benefit High Beam

A dewy, healthy glow is a signature look for many models and celebrities. Makeup companies churn out products for the rest of us that claim to shimmer, shine and illuminate their way to a similar look. Unfortunately, most miss the mark -- but I recently added a new product to my collection. Enter Benefit's High Beam, a "luminescent complexion enhancer" designed to give you a healthy glow when blended onto the top of your cheekbones. The packaging notes that it can be used on brow bones too, but I opt for a more minimalist approach. Let's see if High Beam rightly earned its "model in a bottle" nickname, shall we?

Pros:

• (potentially) Perfect for skin tones ranging from light to medium-dark
• Icy pink color that works with either rosy or golden undertones, although there is a more warm-toned peach version called Moon Beam
• Blends smoothly onto the skin
• Has staying power
• No glitter, just very soft, light-reflecting shimmer
• Gives a "candlelit glow"

Cons:

• May cause breakouts if not washed off before bed (learned that the hard way) 
• The brush applicator is similar to a nail polish brush -- I don't mind, but many reviewers dislike this

It can be difficult to capture in photos, depending on the light. But here's a decent example:

The overall verdict? I love it. I can learn to live with the above-mentioned cons, and I'm a big fan of the way it kicks my look up a notch -- provided I don't pile it on. Too much of this product is definitely a bad thing. You want to look glowing, not glow-in-the-dark. My general rule of thumb is to use it sparingly (if at all) during the day, and apply it a bit more liberally for an evening out. Do what works for you. =)

Do you use an illuminating product?