Laura Mercier Sensation Face Illuminator Review & Swatches

Name: Sensation
Brand: Laura Mercier
SKU: 423348

Reviews

Contains: Affiliate Links, Sample Provided

Christine | Updated: 2/12/20February 12, 2020

Sensation

Laura Mercier Sensation Face Illuminator ($45.00 for 0.3 oz.) is a deeper coppery brown with moderate, warm undertones and a intense, metallic finish. It was one of the more intense highlighters in the brand’s range (instead of being a little more buildable). It had opaque color coverage in a single layer, but the formula was that gel-powder hybrid type, so that the texture was firmer (but not stiff) and would easily yield less pigment with a lighter hand.

While I don’t recommend fan brushes with most products, this one might work well with it to achieve a subtler sheen. Using a moderately-dense brush, it gave me intense, metallic finish that did emphasize my skin’s natural texture slightly. It stayed on well for eight and a half hours before fading a bit.

FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).

Top Dupes

View Swatches View All Dupes

Becca Blushed Copper (DC, $34.00) is more shimmery, warmer (95% similar).
MAC Format (P, $24.00) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
Fenty Beauty Sinamon (P, $25.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
ColourPop Glo Up (LE, $8.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
Melt Cosmetics Sundown (P, $22.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
Laura Geller Sunswept (P, $28.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
MAC Cheek Pollen (LE, $24.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
Melt Cosmetics Lynx (P, $22.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
ColourPop Mesmer-eyez (LE, $4.50) is more shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
ColourPop Soft Serve (DC, $8.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar).

View Swatches

Formula Overview

$45.00/0.3 oz. - $150.00 Per Ounce

According to the brand, Laura Mercier Face Illuminator ($44.00 for 0.30 oz.) supposed to be a “long-wearing, buildable” highlighter that gives a “natural-looking” glow. The formula was typically more buildable from medium to opaque coverage with a noticeable sheen that could get more frosted/metallic if applied heavily but didn't emphasize my pores. The texture was smooth and blendable, but there was a bit of dryness to it that seemed common to this type of formula (think MAC Extra Dimension, NARS Dual-Intensity, Estee Lauder Gelee, etc.). On my normal-to-dry skin, the highlighter tended to last around eight hours.

Browse all of our Laura Mercier Face Illuminator swatches.

Look Using this Product

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Sensation

LELimited Edition. $45.00.

Product

Pigmentation

Texture

Longevity

Application

93%

Total

Laura Mercier Sensation Face Illuminator

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5 Comments

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Nancy T

Medium, Olive, neutral undertones. Combination skin.

This really reminds me of the Smashbox x Vlada highlighter/blush that is sculpted into a rose baked geleé! That one plus MAC Cheek Pollen have me set.

Wednesday

Light Plus, Neutral undertones. Dry skin.

Everything in this reddish copper range is massively appealing to me these days.. Oy, it’s lovely.

Susan Nevling

I do love the LM Face Illuminators and the imprints. I actually love LM in general. This color might be too dark for me though.

Louise

What’s the difference between this shade and Seduction? Seduction is also a coppery-bronze shade as well, no?

Christine

Light Medium, Neutral, slight yellow undertones. Normal-to-Dry skin.

Please use the “Compare Any Two” widget, which is on this page (and on all review posts!), where you can compare two shades side-by-side. It would show that these two shades are nothing alike 🙂

https://www.temptalia.com/side-by-side/?sbs_1_search=Laura+Mercier+Seduction&sbs_1=227347&sbs_2_search=Laura+Mercier+Sensation&sbs_2=423348

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