Laura Geller Filter Finish Baked Radiant Setting Powder Review, Photos, Swatches
Laura Geller Filter Finish Setting Powder
Laura Geller Filter Finish Setting Powder ($32.00 for 0.24 oz.) is a translucent beige with subtle, warmer tones and a pearly shimmer-sheen finish. MAC Too Chic (LE, $22.00) is less shimmery (95% similar). Cle de Peau Delicate Pink (14) (P, $55.00) is less shimmery (95% similar). Cle de Peau Bal Masque (LE, $120.00) is more shimmery (90% similar). Urban Decay Luminous (P, $30.00) is more shimmery (90% similar). Kevyn Aucoin Candlelight (P, $44.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
It’s new to the Laura Geller range, and it’s supposed to be a “sheer silky powder [that] creates soft focus perfection.” It “sets foundation” while “color-correcting pigments blur imperfections” and “looks naturally radiant.” I think it makes for a lovely, light-medium intensity highlighter, but there are other setting powders that do more for longevity and for blurring the skin and its natural texture. I actually found that by dusting this all over the face, my face was more textured than it was normally (both just dusted over bare skin as well as over various liquid foundations). It seemed far too shimmery to be applied all-over–it competed with the average highlighter I’d dust on cheek bones and other high planes on the face. When I applied it with a highlighting brush on cheek bones, it emphasized pores slightly.
It’s more semi-sheer than sheer, and the shimmer is larger and more noticeable in the product, which doesn’t make it inherently poor for setting one’s base (but it wouldn’t be for everyone), except that the amount of shimmer seems to draw attention to areas of the skin that I didn’t even realize were a little drier or had more noticeable pores–not good when it’s supposed to do the exact opposite. I applied it with a fan brush and a light-hand, which is about as light as one could dust it on, and it still didn’t seem to blur or give me any Photoshop-esque effect but at least didn’t make me look worse. When applied so lightly, it did nothing for longevity (foundation lasted as long as it normally did). When I applied with a more traditional powder brush (like I would use with a multitude of other setting powders), it extended the wear of my base by an hour and a half or so, but it was very, very radiant and I was self-conscious about my skin all day due to how much it brought out every imperfection on my skin.
I’ve really enjoyed a lot of Laura Geller products that I’ve tried recently, so I had higher hopes for this one, but it was a major miss. The brand actually says that one can “swirl it on liberally over your makeup–there’s no such thing as too much” but that was the opposite of my experience. I think, at best, it would work for highlighting specific areas or very lightly dusted over setting powder as a finishing powder, but I felt it fell very short of a setting powder.
Universal
PPermanent. $32.00.
See more photos & swatches!
Laura Geller Filter Finish Setting Powder
Laura Geller Filter Finish Setting Powder
Laura Geller Filter Finish Setting Powder
Laura Geller Filter Finish Setting Powder
Laura Geller Filter Finish Setting Powder
Laura Geller Filter Finish Setting Powder
Laura Geller Filter Finish Setting Powder
Laura Geller Filter Finish Setting Powder
Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Foundation | Ultra HD + Laura Geller Filter Finish Setting Powder (your right)
Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Foundation | Ultra HD + Laura Geller Filter Finish Setting Powder (your right)
Laura Geller Filter Finish Setting Powder (your right, as a highlighter)
I’m sad that this got such a disappointing mark. I was wondering how great this would be a finishing powder with all the color correcting properties.
I was really surprised at how shimmery it was!
Oh no, her Matte Radiance powder is so beloved, surprised by the score on this one. Yikes, nothing worse than a powder/highlighter that spotlights all imperfections.
Yes, I was surprised! I was like, “Wait, this is the opposite…”
I believe Matte Radiance is Laura Mercier, not Geller. Though Geller does have some very strong, well-loved face products (like the pretty blushes Christine has reviewed before). So definitely disappointing, just a different Laura 😉
Oh yes, you’re right! I actually have the LM Matte Radiance and love it. Guess Monday morning and not enough caffeine will do that to me LOL
Celia, check out Laura Gellar Baked highlighters in French Vanilla and Portofino. They are a matte highlighter similar to Laura Mercier matte radiance. Very great powders. I use the lightest often to set and add slight sheen. They are well loved! You might like them if you like LM!
French Vanilla & Golden Rose are the ones. My mistake!
Oh what a shame! Candlelight by KA seems a better bet and more worth the money!
For a highlighter, definitely!
Bear in mind that the Kevyn Aucoin Candlelight swatch pictured above is no longer available and is DC’d. The current Kevyn Aucoin Candlelight (sold in updated packaging without the brush) is a different color altogether but still subtle.
I am also interested in LG French Vanilla as a subtle highlight.
They’re the same – I have several versions of it! Are you referring to Starlight perhaps?
Thank you for commenting back–hopefully you can clear this up BC this is the primary reason why KA Candlelight is no longer in my cart. Nope not Starlight. Shameless Fripperies has a powder highlight smackdown video where she swatches both old and new KA Candlelights (the single versions–not versions from palettes) side-by-side and the difference is apparent. She talks about it at 8:31 on her video and I was so disappointed to see that. If you could double check your versions, I would be grateful.
Hey Maggie,
I checked, and they are the same. I couldn’t tell the difference between the two whether heavily or sheerly swatched (heavy usually will show a great color difference, sheering/blending out can make undertone differences more apparent). I bought a THIRD full-sized one this month and it is the SAME as every single version I have.
Hi Christine,
Thank you so much for following up on this! I am happy to have a definite verdict on KA Candlelight’s consistency–it means I don’t have to spend time finding a dupe. I know from years of following your blog that you are most discerning so it is reassuring that you double-checked. However, I’m amazed you triple-checked with a brand new one just to be sure on the current stock offered. I have no idea what happened with SF but I’m just glad the shade I was set on hasn’t gone anywhere. Thank you again!
No problem! 🙂
On the plus side, your makeup is gorgeous – love that eye look!
Thank you, Amanda!
Thanks for the 411 on this one. It looks so gorgeous in-pot. Maybe it should sit near a display of Bite watercolor gloss and the S COTY 16 palette. A little shrine to products that should never venture out of their containers. I had hopes….. BTW, it does not look at all dreadful on you, on my iPad. Loving the Blue Suede Shoes you’ve been waterlining. I think S liners are their best overall house brand line up and I love that you bring them to us in the context of other looks…that’s how we’d wear them.
I think the big thing is one side looks really smooth, and then the other has a more textured look, yet this really should give a very smooth finish!
Darn! I was really hoping this would work as a setting powder since I like the price point, especially as compared to Meteorites. Boo 🙁
I was hoping for the same, Raeanne!
I was wondering about this! Thank you for the review. Bummer. 🙁 Resembles lightscapade slightly. Marketing claims need a revamping. What happened to describing the product the real way instead of false claims? Maybe if this was labeled as what it was it would get attention from a different audience. Safely passing.
No problem, Joy!! It’s an odd product – I would have called it a finishing powder or highlighter!
Darn i just bought this it’s suppose to arrive today. I guess it’s going back. I definitely don’t need my pores or dry patches emphasized. Becca foundation is already luminous so i don’t need extra. Wasn’t expecting this to be a shimmery product. Still hunting to find perfect setting powder for me.
Let me know if you give it a try and how you like it. But it is pretty shimmery 🙁
Physicians Formula http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=xlsImpprod1930129 via @ULTA_Beauty
This isn’t bad!
A setting powder for a very young person with flawless skin to wear for a night out dancing, perhaps?
There you go!
Oh, I definitely see what you’re talking about in these pics, especially where you’re smiling because that raises the high points of your cheeks upwards. Much too much shimmer! Unless one wants to reserve it as another highlighter. But when I first saw the product pic up top, I was thinking it was going to be like the ones by Guerlain, or the old Physicians Formula ones, so disappointed!
Yep! If you want to use it as a highlighter, not a big deal, or maybe as a finishing powder, but definitely not for blurring!
How disappointing! It looks so pretty in the pan!
It does!
DARN! I liked how it looked in the pan!
It’s pretty as a highlighter, lol!
That’s a surprising grade. I do see where it brings out the skin texture more, though. How weird.
I didn’t think it was going to BRING OUT texture 🙁 I was so disappointed, since it was really the opposite of what it was supposed to do!!
You know … most of us tell you how grateful we are for your reviews (me included!!) but I thought I would mention how much I look forward to your daily emails. I really do! Thank you for all that you do!!
Aw, thank you Deborah! 🙂
Too bad, it looked like it would be pretty ? However, your make up looks stunning Christine!
Thank you, Alicia!
And you love your highlighters too. What a shame!
It is!
How do you think this product compares to MAC’s MSF in “Lightscapade”? The products look really similar and seem to do the same things
Lightscapade has a stronger base color with slightly smaller shimmer. They are somewhat similar, but Lightscapade is less noticeable on.
Wow! That is quite shimmery. I agree that it would work better as a highlighter.
Right? That is a lot of larger-sized shimmer for a setting product!
Oh how disappointing! I love LG products and was wondering about this one, it looks beautiful and it seems like it would be so easy to use.. Obviously your experience was just the opposite! Sigh.. What a letdown. Thanks so much for your detailed and honest review as always!
My pleasure, Logan!
I haven’t tried too many LG products; however, I haven’t like any of the ones I did try.
Can you do a “Top 5” listing your favorite blurring setting powders, Christine? I really like the one I use (ItCos. Bye Bye Pores), but I’m always looking for something better.
I really like Urban Decay Naked Loose, Guerlain Les Voilettes (loose or pressed), Laura Mercier Translucent, and NARS! 🙂
Which NARS loose powder if you don’t mind me asking? Light reflecting or the normal one?
I use the Light Reflecting one by NARS if I go NARS!
Thank you for the review. I was considering purchasing this. Saved some money.
My pleasure, Susan!
That does look pretty shimmery for a setting powder. Hey your eye look is amazing in the photos though!
Thank you, Valerie!
Ohhh dear, at first sight; it does look quite pretty. Looks a bit like the guerlain finishing powder; but with so much shimmer all over the face; I dare not finish my makeup with this. Even I would be conscious of a disco ball appearance. Thank you Christine ; you really saved me some money here.
Happy to help, Arpita!
As I’m strangely pending lol how long was the wear time? You didn’t mention wear time for the powder, just how it affected the base. I wonder how it compares to lightscapade in this respect. That is a HG for me. They are the same price. MAC has .35 oz compared to this at .24. I’m stocked from before they changed packaging but I’m always looking for dupes. Any info is totes appreciated! I’m going to look into ingredients to compare further. Not feeling comfortable is not a good thing. Did that feeling only come from how you felt it looked or also how it felt? Physician’s Formula has a beautiful translucent perfecting powder. I think it is the Mineral wear correcting powder. It’s in a compact for around $12 for those looking for a corrector that does blur and set! It is also pretty to look at. I figured the LG would be like that. Sadly for many hoping, nope. Bonus it could be a better lightscapade if that’s even possible! I typed a lot. Did not mean too! ?
Hi Joy,
It extended the wear of my base by one to two hours (depending on application), but I tried it with different types of foundations, some that wear six hours, some that wear eight hours, etc. Lightscapade is less shimmery and has a more powdery base.
How long did the powder wear for? Just how long wearing is the powder? It’s more shimmery you say and less powdery so does that mean it has more slip? Can you please compare the wear to Lightscapade? Longer, differences? The powder from PF I was talking about is Physicians Formula http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=xlsImpprod1930129 via @ULTA_Beauty
Hi Joy,
I only tested wear as a setting powder (to set my base) – I tried it on bare skin to see if it would enhance the skin alone as a test but not for wear. Sorry! I’ve never used Lightscapade to set, only as a highlighter.
Awesome. Thank you very much! That’s extremely helpful! 😀
It looks really pretty but definitely not for all over your face!
Exactly!
I had this in my Ulta cart. So glad I didn’t buy it! I love how you’re makeup looks though!
Thank you, Denise!
That’s too bad as I had high hopes for this one. I had picked up a similar LG powder on a Hautelook sale and it quickly became a favorite. Of course it was long-ago discontinued. I guess I’ll keep up the hunt!
Good luck on your quest!
Wow, that’s poor. I have the Baked and Brightening powder foundation (or whatever it’s actually called!) and it works beautifully as a setting powder with a bit of extra coverage. I really like layering it over a BB cream.
Will have to look into that one next 🙂
I am so glad I didn’t run across this product before your review! I love LG and have had success with most of her products. I’ve also been looking for a good dupe for my meteorites in a pressed version, those lil spheres of perfection stay on my vanity. Considering just the photo and description alone I’d have bought this. Then spiraled into sadness when every pore and scar on my face plus imperfections I’d never seen were all LIT UP and filled with glitter lol BLESS YOU for saving me from this fate!
It had such promise 🙁
It looks so good in the pan. Pity it doesn’t do what they say it should.
I agree!
I would have to respectfully disagree and be a contrarian. Just bought it a few minutes ago from Ulta and I actually liked the product. The sales lady and I tested it and it looked great on my face. (For reference, I’m NW40 and have combo skin.) We used a big fluffy brush and it distributes the powder well. Sorry it didn’t work out well on you.
What brush did you guys use? I tried using a fan brush, setting powder brush, finishing powder brush, and sponge applicator. I didn’t think I had bad skin (I don’t think I have great skin, but I thought it was okay) until I applied this – it made me hyper-aware of just how textured and uneven my skin was 🙁
We used the IT Cosmetics All Over Powder Brush #211.
Don’t fret over your skin, if the product did not work out, it did not work out. You still have an arsenal of great Guerlain Meteorites you can use.
I might have that, so I’ll try it with that brush 🙂 I feel like the scene in Mean Girls where she doesn’t realize so much can be wrong with a person — hopefully by next week I’ll feel better about myself, LOL!
Aw, it looked beautiful in the pan. Wish it performed better!
Me too!!
I agree with this review. I bought the powder and gave it a try and it magnified my pores and imperfections I am thinking of returning it as it did not blur anything.
Hi Temptalia, I really like your reviews. They are awesome and so helpful. I wrote in a little while back stating I agree with your review on this filter finish powder. I have tried to work with this powder over the course of the past couple weeks during the workday for touch ups and blotting and it’s just too difficult to work with as a setting powder. I am going to return this and try Lorac’s Porefection. Have you you tried that one before?
I haven’t!
Awww bummer that you didn’t like this! I love it, surprisingly. I picked it up yesterday and used both days. Yesterday I used it on the high points for a natural highlight and MUCH preferred it on places like the bridge of my nose rather than using highlighter. So much more natural for daytime. Today I used it all over, but with a very light hand and fluffy brush, as a finishing powder. I definitely would *not* set foundation with it. I can easily see how this would grab the foundation and be far too luminous. In my mind, this is my Guerlain Meteorites, which I cannot use because they have wheat powder and I am allergic to wheat. It adds that little something that you can’t quite put your finger on, that leaves skin looking luminous and pretty.
Looking for a new setting/finishing powder. I have UD naked loose, but was thinking of trying naked pressed as I’m not too big of a fan of the shades in the loose edition, I’m just scared that the pressed won’t blur imperfections as much and end up looking too flat and matte! Anyway, have you tried Giorgio Armani Luminous silk pressed powder? I hear it’s extremely beautiful. Though it is $65, hopefully you can try it and we can see. Also try Laura Mercier’s illuminating face powder in Starlight, it’s a really beautiful golden tone and more of a finishing powder, it is a little shimmery but when I dusted it all over my face, it seemed to only pick up at the high points of my face, and it’s supposed to blur imperfections. Hopefully you can test both of those out on your blog soon 🙂
Cover FX illuminating setting powder is spectacular in comparison to this. Actually, in comparison to any illuminating setting powder I’ve tried. I’d highly recommend it, even for oily skin & especially for those lacking any kind of natural glow to the skin. Amazing stuff.
Fortunately, this review stopped me from buying this particular product. Just removed it from my cart. Thanks!