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Laura Mercier Indiscretion Face Illuminator Review, Photos, Swatches

Laura Mercier Indiscretion Face Illuminator
Laura Mercier Indiscretion Face Illuminator

Laura Mercier Indiscretion Face Illuminator ($42.00 for 0.35 oz.) is a light-medium, gold-shimmered rosy copper with warm undertones and a frosted, luminous sheen. Becca Rose Gold (P, $41.00) is less shimmery, darker. ColourPop Butterfly Beach (P, $8.00) is more shimmery, lighter. Laura Geller Ballerina (P, $24.00) is warmer. Becca Blushed Copper (LE, $38.00) is darker. Laura Mercier Spellbound (LE, $42.00) is . Becca Rose Gold (P, $38.00) is less shimmery, lighter. Sephora + Pantone Universe Marsala (LE, $25.00) is less shimmery, darker. MAC Cheeky Bronze (P, $30.00) is darker, warmer, lower quality. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.

It is exactly the same as last year’s Spellbound. I strongly would have rather the brand use the same name, because I didn’t know until I received the product and went, “This seems familiar.” It’s a lovely, moderately luminous highlighter otherwise. Laura Mercier describes it as “buildable long-wearing color” to highlight the face. The texture is soft, lightweight, very blendable, and very slightly emphasizes pores at times. I noticed if I used a fan brush, it was fine, but if I used a highlighting or blush brush, there was slight emphasis. The color lasted for eight hours on me.

See more photos & swatches!

Laura Mercier Indiscretion Face Illuminator
Laura Mercier Indiscretion Face Illuminator

Laura Mercier Indiscretion Face Illuminator
Laura Mercier Indiscretion Face Illuminator

Laura Mercier Indiscretion Face Illuminator
Laura Mercier Indiscretion Face Illuminator

Laura Mercier Indiscretion Face Illuminator
Laura Mercier Indiscretion Face Illuminator

Laura Mercier Indiscretion Face Illuminator
Laura Mercier Indiscretion Face Illuminator

Laura Mercier Indiscretion Face Illuminator
Laura Mercier Indiscretion Face Illuminator

Laura Mercier Indiscretion Face Illuminator
Laura Mercier Indiscretion Face Illuminator

Laura Mercier Indiscretion Face Illuminator
Laura Mercier Indiscretion Face Illuminator

Laura Mercier Indiscretion Face Illuminator
Laura Mercier Indiscretion Face Illuminator

Makeup Look
On face:
  • Guerlain Parure Gold Foundation
  • Urban Decay Naked Loose Setting Powder
On lips:
  • ColourPop Sweet Thing Lippie Stix

55 Comments

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Lacey Avatar

It’s a shame they just renamed it, but I do want to find this and test it out! It’s a beautiful color, and I’m pleasantly surprised that the design of the powder didn’t make the product stiff, dry, and hard to pick up on the brush.

(I know you’ve probably answered this question a million times, but where do you get those earrings, Christine? You seem to have them in every color combination possible. Love them!)

Nancy T Avatar

While it is pretty enough, I love my ColourPop Butterfly Beach highlighter immensely. Also still want that LG Ballerina, too. I’ll skip this even though I am totally fawning over that cool molten texture!

Nancy T Avatar

Yes, I have, Nicole! I really like Highly Waisted a lot, but it really is “holy duochrome Batman!” The flash is quite noticeable, but to me, it’s extremely gorgeous! Especially with a coral type of color, or bronzer.

Jill Avatar

I purchased this as “spellbound” but I barley used it. It was too shimmery for my taste. I am anxious, however, to hear reviews about the new Bobbi Brown shimmer brick in “Sunset pink” And I do like Chanel’s summer 2015 highlighter/bronzer

xamyx Avatar

They probably think people actually abide by expiration dates, LOL! Also, people who just buy “as needed” likely have only 1-2 highlighters, of which they actually will need to replace, and the rest of us have sooo many, we likely won’t notice!

Lotus Avatar

That’s just so misleading to do to/with people who are your consumers. I lost respect for companies that do that and have not continued purchasing after noting. There are sosmy highlighters out there anyway..

xamyx Avatar

Well, I guess they’re counting on those who buy it because they lack anything similar in their stash, for whatever reason, and won’t realize it’s just renamed. However, we all know many people will grab it, realize they already have it, and many will be returned. Seeing how limited it is, that’s really sad for those who didn’t get the last one, or who really do need a replacement.

Mariella Avatar

This looks lovely on you, Christine. What a not very nice “trick” to give it a new name and dupe a lot of people (not just you – someone pretty knowledgeable about makeup products) into buying it thinking it’s a new shade. I think that’s sort of a dirty trick. Lovely illuminator but I think it’s a tad too warm for me.

Nicole Avatar

Very pretty. I have all four of the main dupes listed, lol. I like the design in the powder too. But, with it being a LE and since I am very well stocked in Highlighters in this shade range. And considering , the situation going on in my personal life with the house and upcoming surgery, I will likely be passing ( unless the insurance happens to decide to get prompt and pay me back!). Also, I forgot to mention in my Friday Free for haul that I finally got with the program and now own The Balm’s Cindy Lou! So, there is another addition to my highlighter collection. Idk if I saw this in person if I could pass it up though,lol. It looks so lovely on you Christine! I’m trying to make myself hold out for those CDP luminzers in Gold and Sand Beige though! 🙂

Kimberly Avatar

Seems a little sneaky to release an item under the guise that it is limited edition only to release the same exact product as yet another limited edition item. I missed the first and the second, but I guess I will catch the third under whatever they choose to call it.

It really does look lovely on you, so I hope you like your backup.

BW Avatar

How does this compare (in terms of performance) to LG Ballerina? I own Ballerina but it tends to fade fast on me (perhaps because it’s baked and needs a wet application). Anyway, I prefer the color of Ballerina to Becca Rose Gold, but the performance of the Becca product is superior to LG Ballerina so I’m thinking LM Indiscretion may be a happy medium for me.

Andrew Avatar

Wow, you weren’t kidding; they’re the same formula, shade, and even have the exact same “bunched silk” design! That’s really a shame considering Spellbound was a press sample and you purchased this one; I’d almost feel a little gypped!

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