Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder Glow Review & Swatches
Translucent
Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder Glow ($38.00 for 1.00 oz.) is a pale, yellowed powder with a golden sheen. It had sheer coverage when dusted all over my face (as a setting powder), but it had enough shimmer and was buildable that I was able to apply it as a highlighter on my cheekbones, just to give you a better idea of how much of a sheen this can add to the skin.
The powder was finely-milled and silky to the touch, which helped it apply all-over my face to set my base. Depending on the formula, how much of that formula I applied, and what I did that day, the wear ranged between 10 and 14 hours of solid wear out of my base (as compared to 7 to 12 hours without). I did not find that it was as good as smoothing on my skin’s natural texture and pores as the original Loose Setting Powder (which I love), but it did sit well on my skin and did not make my foundations appear cakey.
It yielded a noticeable sheen wherever I applied it; not really a subtle glow but light to moderate with faintly visible pearl if I looked closely, which I know can be a deal-breaker for some. I preferred using the Glow powder on the high points of my face and underneath my eyes but preferred the original for the rest of my face.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
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Formula Overview
$38.00/1 oz. - $38.00 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to give a "glow finish" while setting makeup for "up to 12 hours" in two shades--Translucent and Medium Deep. It is described as having "sheer coverage" that "blur the look of fine lines and imperfections." The powders have a silky, finely-milled quality and are sheer but neither is colorless, and I noticed that the Translucent darkened my foundation about half a shade overall (I'm about light to light-medium). Both shades deposit a soft, barely-there shimmer, but it's somewhat visible close-up, so they result in a good deal of luminosity when applied all-over. I found that I preferred the look of the original Loose Setting Powder for most of my face and using the Glow version on strategic areas for a candlelit glow as the original formula gave my skin a smoother, more pore-less finish than the Glow version.
The powder did help extend the wear of my foundation, and I'd agree that it definitely kept my foundation looking fresh for between 10 and 14 hours, depending on environment, formula, and how much foundation I applied (or didn't apply). In general, I would recommend this powder only for someone who likes a very dewy finish, doesn't mind visible pearl/sheen on the skin, and is light-medium or deeper (or doesn't mind a warming powder if one is fairer).
Browse all of our Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder Glow swatches.
Ingredients
Talc, Mica, Magnesium Myristate, Nylon-12, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Zea Mays (Corn) Starch, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Tocopherol, Lauroyl Lysine, Methicone, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Dehydroacetate. May Contain (+/-): Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491), Iron Oxides (Ci 77492), Iron Oxides (Ci 77499), Ultramarines (Ci 77007).
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
Looks Using this Product
Hi Christine, how would you compare this to Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder when used all over the face?
No, this has more coverage and shimmer.
Whenever I see Laura Mercier products my interest is instantly piqued. But this will be a pass because I already own LM Translucent Powder and LM Baked Highlighter 01, both of which I love and use regularly, and I think this glow powder is way too yellow for my skin tone. But it looks very pretty on you, Christine.
And those earrings with the eyeshadow…perfection!!! 🙂
I could see it looking to warm/yellow for sure!
Speaking of tones, I just got an email from MAC (advertising foundation) that explains cool vs. warm undertones and it’s completely backwards. MAC says blue veins in the wrist and rosy cheeks mean you have a warm undertone, while green veins and golden cheeks mean you have a cool undertone. (Sorry that this is a bit off-topic, but it really baffled me.)
I’m not sure why MAC is saying that. I know that in general, it’s easiest to understand MAC’s NC/NW as “not cool” and “not warm.”
Well, that makes it a lot easier. N = “Not”!!
Strange, though, for a company whose business is color to get its warms and cools so mixed up.
I believe it’s based on color theory so it’s not wrong… but it’s just now how it’s understood by consumers in the industry – sometimes you have to defer to the common understanding, IMO, because that’s who you’re selling to!
What’s really funny, Seraphine, is that even the MUA’s @ MAC also do the whole NC =not cool, NW= not warm explanation! While oddly enough, MAC itself hasn’t gotten the memo yet. ?
I bought this and had to return it. I was so excited for it based on the promo images, but I’m quite pale and it gave my face a metallic sheen (I was looking for a pretty glow). For reference I’m somewhere around NC15. I tried it a few ways, but it always looked like a gold metallic cast to my skin. I’m back to using my Hourglass ambient lighting powders, which are great.
This formula is definitely more more shimmery than the Hourglass palettes!
I love this my skin but better and glowy look. I just ordered a small travel sized one and can’t wait to try it. I’m an NC 30/37 so this should look just fine on me. I like the original powder and I love LM’s matte highlighter. It looks lovely on you Christine. It goes so nicely with that lip color.
Hope you love it! So glad they have the travel-size, too, because a little goes a long way.
I grabbed the one in medium-deep during the Rouge sale because the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer in Radiant Bronze Light (which is their deepest shade) and while I loved the glow it gave me, the bronzer did nothing for me b/c it’s not deep enough for my skin tone. I use a regular matte bronzer that’s deep enough for my skin tone and then put the LM glow powder over it and it’s instant J. LO glow town for me.
I also grabbed the brush and while it’s not absolutely needed, I do like it a lot. I haven’t used it to set my entire face bc I have oily skin, but I have placed it down the bridge of my nose for a slight lit from within sheen and I normally will skip using a regular highlighter if I use this powder. They really knocked it out of the park with this powder. But I won’t lie, when I first swatched it I was instantly turned off by it b/c I thought it was too shimmery, but it really is all in how you apply it.
Yeah, I like this formula more for portions of the face vs. all over because it is fairly shimmery for an all-over powder otherwise. I’m not surprised at all that it looks so great on your skin tone, Jessica!!
Christine, I just have to say that the eye look you came up with is so pretty!
Thank you, Christina!
Hi Christine! 1st time-commenter here 🙂
You look great in these review photos boo. What make up do you have on your bottom eye? I love that blue trim. Happy weekend!
Much love,
Diana.
Thank you, Diana!
Here is the breakdown of everything: https://www.temptalia.com/look/a-gold-copper-bronze-look-with-a-pop-of-teal-featuring-colourpop-jelly-much/
Ooh, I just ordered the small size jar of this during the Sephora sale, so I’m glad it got a good review! I was never a huge fan of the original setting powder, but I think this will be just the perfect thing for setting my cheek area when I need to put down a powder blush or bronzer but don’t want to overly mattify my face. I’m very excited to try this and see how it goes.
It looks good on your much younger, less textured skin than it would look as a finishing powder on mine! I could easily use it as a softer highlighter, though. But, having her Matte Radiance Highlight 01, I think I’m covered in that department.
This would look far too warm and too shimmery for me. I love how it looks on you though, Christine.
If this shade works for you, then it is beautiful.
I purchased the Laura Mercier translucent setting powder some time ago and in the end I was disappointed at how little product was in the pan for the price. On a whim, I picked up the Rimmel Stay Matte translucent powder at a fraction of the price and did not notice any differene in the product. It has also lasted 3x longer.
I hope that is a come back for Laura Mercier Starlight!
Hi Christine,
How is this in comparison with Hourglass Translucent Veil Setting powder?I am 37,have normal to dry skin and extremely dry under eyes.I was contemplating between this Laura Mercier Glow, Hourglass Veil Translucent and Becca Hydra Mist Powder.What do you recommend?
They are completely different powders – this is very luminous, Hourglass Veil and Becca Hydra Mist are not luminous!
I have worn this to work twice this week, over the Dior backstage foundation, which I’ve been wearing for about a month. I have had people stop me, email me or just in conversation ask me what is on my skin because of how good it looked. I’ve been applying it as an all over buffing powder after all other products have been applied. I love this stuff!
While I very much appreciate the yellow tone, it’s overall too shimmery. I’m looking at Aromaleigh for something a hair more subtle (but stronger than Hourglass Diffused Light), but I don’t think she has one yellow enough for me. The search continues…
I just bought a small size of this at Sephora on the weekend, but haven’t tried it yet. I’m kind of hoping it’ll be like the Versace Extra Glow loose powder that I loved so much in the ’90’s 🙂
Do you know how this compares to the Lancôme absolue peche powder?
Sorry, I don’t!
I wanted to love this product so much – sadly will be returning. It looks cakey on my skin (normal to dry) and I’ve tried different techniques and primers and brushes to apply. Also, it creates creases within an hour underneath my eyes though it suppose to set concelar and make up.