Great Finds: Spirit Beauty Lounge and RMS Living Luminizer

Never gave much thought to highlighter. It didn't really seem...important. But, when I had a MAC-over one day at the counter, the makeup artist used it, and I actually kinda sorta looked like I might have cheekbones. And so another step in the beauty routine was born.

But you know how you do things day after day and don't give them much thought and then one day, you look in the mirror and have this epiphany like "Holy crap — I thought that looked good?!" Well, that's what happened to me. I'm looking in the mirror at work — in those horrifying fluorescent lights that only office bathrooms and detention centers have — and realize that my sparkly highlighter powder has migrated, leaving glittery specks all over my face. Probably a little too showgirl for my everyday life.

I realized this even more after trying RMS Beauty Living Luminizer. Because I am on a cut-out-the-chemicals kick, I ordered a sample from Spirit Beauty Lounge. Pay attention, other beauty sites, this is a revolutionary thing — allowing customers to order samples.

Though the name kinda makes me laugh — Living Luminizer? What do zombies use? — the natural, organic highlighter kicks ass. It's one of those unsung hero kinds of products. You know, the kind that make people say, "Wow — you look great! What did you do, get nine hours of sleep? A facelift?" And you did neither of those things. It's all due to using something top-notch.

The luminizer makes skin glowy. You look more awake and like you're constantly in good lighting — like what's in my bathroom at home.

You can use a make-up brush (or your fingers) to stroke a smidge on the tops of cheekbones, beneath eyebrows and in the bow of your top lip.

The stuff ain't cheap: $38 for a tub, but I suspect it'll last a looooong time. And, if I'm willing to pony up for it, you know it's gotta be good. It is available at other sites, but I now pledge my allegiance to Spirit because it lets me try before I buy.