elf 0.5 (Fair Cool) Halo Glow Liquid Filter Review & Swatches
0.5 (Fair Cool)
elf 0.5 (Fair Cool) Halo Glow Liquid Filter ($14.00 for 1.06 oz.) is a very light peach with moderate warm undertones and cooler, pinky-white pearl that gave it a soft, luminous sheen.
- Sheer to semi-sheer, buildable coverage
- Lightweight, fluid, spreadable without being too runny or too thick
- Dewy finish so never fully set
- Applied well on bare skin, mixed with foundation, or on top of foundation (no lifting)
- Long-wearing (8 hours before fading noticeably as standalone highlighter)
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Auric Selenite (P, $45.00).
- Urban Decay Universal (LE, $32.00).
- Charlotte Tilbury Fair (1) (P, $44.00).
- Lisa Eldridge Cosmic Rose (P, $38.00).
- elf 4 (Medium) (P, $14.00).
- Auric Morganite (DC, $45.00).
- elf 2 (Fair/Light Neutral Warm) (P, $14.00).
- Charlotte Tilbury Fair (2.5) (P, $44.00).
- Auric Morganite 2.0 (P, $45.00).
- Becca Orbit (2) (P, $30.00).
Formula Overview
$14.00/1.06 oz. - $13.21 Per Ounce
The formula is billed as a "multi-purpose, liquid glow booster" that gives a "soft-focus" filter. It can be used on its own, over or under makeup, mixed with foundation, or as a standalone highlighter. It lived up to its claims, was easy to use, and didn't impede the wear of products I paired it with.
It worked to add all-over radiance when applied as a sheer layer over bare skin. I agree with the brand's recommendation to apply it all over with a sponge, as this ensured a very even, hydrated application that allowed me to build up the level of luminosity. It mixed well with thinner and thicker, sheerer and fuller coverage foundations without shortening their longevity or making them hard to apply.
As a standalone highlighter, they applied well with fingertips or brushes, though I found the easiest way to ensure over-application (that doe-foot is huge!) was to tap a bit on the back of my hand, then use a fingertip or stippling brush to apply to the high points of my face. I didn't have any issues with the formula lifting up base products.
It is very comparable to Charlotte Tilbury's Hollywood Flawless Filter (which also has several other similar competitors on the market), though I'd say the elf version has less of a fluid, thin feel. I think this helped it work better with thinner foundations as well as thicker, higher coverage formulations, and I didn't feel like it made anything better or worse--neutral--when used on its own or applied on the skin. At most, a little went a bit further as far as radiance and coverage went, than HFF.
Browse all of our elf Halo Glow Liquid Filter swatches.
How pretty this is. I know they are calling it cool and you mentioned that there is a cool toned pearl but I would have to see how it worked on my skin tone and if it would pull more warm or cool. I tend to like my highlighters to be cool toned or not extremely warm toned. I can pull it off on my eyelids and lips but on my cheeks, not so much.
Very light, and yet I would still use it as a highlighter. Probably as an underpaint moment, though.
ELF made this big reveal on IG to say they listened to everyone and added lighter cool toned shades to the line and this is what we got, a warm toned peach 🙄
Even though it says Fair, Cool – it’s not really cool because of the peach influence in the shade. Quite a few brands seem to be replacing the Rose aspect for Peach and I can tell you now that it doesn’t work on truly cool rose undertones. However the product seems a really good one if it suits your skintone.