TheBalm • Mary-Lou Manizer • Highlighters

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*TOP REVIEWER* Chloeclover on 5/20/2013 9:08:00 PM more reviews by Chloeclover

Age: 19-24   Skin: Very Oily, Fair-Medium, Cool   Hair: Black, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

I got this because of all the hype. Honestly it is just a shiny glittery mess. The highlighter has a golden tone to it. I guess this would be great under the brow bone and inner corners but I wouldn't recommend putting this on the cheek bones or center of your nose. It is just tooooooo fake looking. Even if you use it sparingly........... However, you do get a lot of product for the price, which is good. Also sometimes you can find it in TJ maxx or Marshalls for half off the retail price.

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Hypnolove on 5/17/2013 6:10:00 PM more reviews by Hypnolove

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Olive   Hair: Black   Eyes: Black    

I think it's ok. Shouldn't be blended in in circular motions because the glitter particles end up looking like a cyborg . Rather tap it in wherever u want it. I wanted to like and I do use but I don't think it's 5* I'm afraid

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yeeseeniia on 5/16/2013 11:38:00 PM more reviews by yeeseeniia

Age: 25-29   Skin: Oily, Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

I ordered this from thebalm.com when they had it for 50% off... Was SOOOO stoked about it because I've been reading so many good things about if. So I tried it and it was not what I expected.... I think it maybe my skin tone is too dark? It looked powdery and chalky... I kept wearing it though bc idk I want a highlight! Lol... So I'm not a foundation user AT ALL I only wear the mac studio fix and today I happen to try it with foundation and OMG!!! Made all the difference it looks so much better! Not chalky and just glowy! So so glad! I still don't like foundation though, so I guess I'll just wear foundation on my cheeks so the highlighter looks good -__-

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angelababyT on 5/14/2013 11:58:00 AM more reviews by angelababyT

Age: 30-35   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Black    

its a soft smooth great highlighter , good on my nc20/25 skin tone and darker like my sister. too faced highlighter was too rough on my skin and i very much prefer theBalm's products due to their high quality, go and try it out and feel it on your skin, its finely milled and comfortable on the skin.

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*TOP REVIEWER* mikxoh on 5/14/2013 1:39:00 AM more reviews by mikxoh

Age: 19-24   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

if you have this then SKIP THE DIOR AMBER DIAMOND.


no, seriously. it gives the same lovely glow as amber diamond for a lot less. I'm going to sound a bit hypocritical here because I do own both amber diamond AND mary lou manizer. let me explain!


I actually bought the dior highlighter way before this guy. the only reason why I caved in and got this highlighter is because I snagged it for half off during thebalm's 50% sale. such a deal I just could not pass up - sue me D:

but yes, this highlighter makes you look glowy - not shiny/oily! I'm definitely done with purchasing any other highlighters since hitting pan on this thing (and on the dior one) is going to happen in like...never.


even at full price, this product is still worth it. if you love highlighters, don't pass this one up!

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katelovesss on 5/13/2013 8:30:00 PM more reviews by katelovesss

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Hazel    

This product is everything I've been looking for in a highlighter, a champagne shimmer that blends beautifully. It is a finely milled, buttery consistency that can be layered and built up for an intense highlight or lightly dusted on for a really natural, barely noticeable glow.

I've had trouble with highlighters looking very fake, glittery or chunky on my skin, I have none of those problems with Mary Lou, the colour doesn't look harsh against my pale skin and it lasts all day.

Good amount for your money, compact can be a little hard to open but has a big mirror. I can't imagine using another highlighter after finding this one. Does the job perfectly, can't recommend it highly enough (especially for paler people).

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surrealreality on 5/13/2013 7:19:00 PM more reviews by surrealreality

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair, Warm   Hair: Red, Wavy, Coarse   Eyes: Hazel    

Color: A light champagne with very subtle golden tones. I really expected this to be more golden than it is given the way it looks in a lot of swatches. Great color for both warm and cool skin tones.

Finish: This is an intense highlighter and is probably not the right choice if you're looking for a subtle glow. However, the shimmer is fine... no chunky glitter. I find I do have to be careful when applying this.... it's very pigmented and easy to overdue. MAC's 188 works very well for that purpose. It's also pigmented enough to wear as eyeshadow.

Wear Length: 4 hours with my normal application (on top of foundation and finishing powder), which is decent for me (MAC MSFs only give me about 2). However, I can get up to 8 hours if I mist my face with water after applying (MAC MSFs will give me about 6 when used this way).

Comparison: MAC's Beauty Powders are all far less shimmery than Mary-Lou. MAC MSFs in By Candlelight, Blonde, Readhead, & Brunette have about the same amount of shimmer as Mary-Lou, but also have the occasional larger chunk of glitter, which Mary-Lou does not have. Perfect Topping and Refined are actually a little LESS shimmery than Mary-Lou, but again... they both have the occasional larger chunk of glitter. Mary-Lou is far less sparkly/glittery than Soft & Gentle (but then again... what isn't?). The shimmer in any of Bobbi Brown's Shimmer Bricks isn't as smooth. Mary-Lou is more pigmented than any facial highlighter I've ever seen. If you liked the color of MAC's Too Chic BP, but found the shimmer too subtle, Mary-Lou is only very slightly more golden toned and of course, has a more intense shimmer.

Packaging: Awesome. Sleek and lightweight. Has a mirror and you get a huge amount of product (0.3oz).

Bottom Line: Very shimmery, but not glittery. Great color will look good on warm or cool skin tones. Possibly my favorite highlighter in my collection!

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violetriot on 5/13/2013 5:53:00 PM more reviews by violetriot

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Green    

this highlighter is so pretty. Sometimes, I like to just open up the compact and stare at it. don't deny it, you know you do that with your makeup too ;)
I'm very picky when it comes to highlighters because I don't like looking like I got a handful of glitter thrown in my face. Beautiful champage, lightly golden shimmer powder. I think this is a pretty unique color, and the amount you get for the price is great! Mine did break after about a month but i poured some rubbing alcohol into the pan and mixed with a toothpick so that when the moisture evaporated the powder was like new.

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Leeleegbb on 5/4/2013 7:04:00 PM more reviews by Leeleegbb

Age: 30-35   Skin: Normal, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Green    

This is a great highlighter. You also get ALOT of product for the price. I have used this as a highlighter, and on my eyes. it just gives a very nice shimmer.

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Polydroogie on 5/4/2013 5:58:00 PM more reviews by Polydroogie

Age: 19-24   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

I loooove highlighters but it's hard to find one that is not glittery or too shimmery. The particles in this one are so small that it actually gives you an amazing glow, like you do have this amazing juicy cheeks.

I have acne prone combo skin and this thing has never broke me out. Not even once. It's such an amazing product!

Nars' highlighters are okay, but if you're looking for the ultimate highlighter without spending a fortune, this one is for you!

I recommend not applying with a brush but with your ring finger and give it a small blend. The product will warm up and it will blend easily that way.

a YAY!

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trishthecat on 5/2/2013 10:20:00 PM more reviews by trishthecat

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Blue    

Lovely highlighter! Will repurchase!

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LovesPromos on 4/30/2013 3:17:00 PM more reviews by LovesPromos

Age: 25-29   Skin: Very Oily, Olive   Hair: Black   Eyes: Black    

I've been dying to try this highlighter. Everyone seems to rave about and when I've seen it being applied by YouTube gurus, I HAD to have it. I think we all know that feeling. So when I saw it on sale on hautelook, 50% off, I immediately bought it. And since I would have bought it regular price, I bought 2 to have one on backup. Let me just say, WOW. now, I'm a highlighter fiend, so I can compare it to Dior amber diamond and NARS albatross, Bobbi brown, ETC, but this highlighter gives a whole different kind if highlight. It's not glittery at all but when I apply it, it looks "wet" so it give you a really fresh look. Now I am now a medium skin tone and its awesome on me and it doesn't look like a white streak. It looks fresh and glowy. I think it'll look good on all skin tones. Highly recommend!

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ashleysizemore19 on 4/27/2013 1:42:00 AM more reviews by ashleysizemore19

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Blue    

This is my all time favorite highlighter!!! It's the most beautiful champagne color. It really makes your skin glow and radiate! It's worth every penny. However, the product itself broke quite easily on me, but I don't know if that's a packaging problem or a storage problem. There's not much better than this!

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sofibecca on 4/16/2013 7:09:00 PM more reviews by sofibecca

Age: 19-24   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair, Cool   Hair: Brunette, Curly, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

Everyone needs to try this, this is the best highlighter i've ever used! this works for all skin tones and colors. It's also great for sensitive skin like mine. It's noncomedogenic. lasts all day unlike mac. It's also not frosty or glittery. You can use a light touch for a glow or build it up to a very strong highlight. This is such an amazing highlighter, everyone i use it on loves it and wants one.

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*TOP REVIEWER* 1017 on 4/12/2013 4:37:00 PM more reviews by 1017

Age: 36-43   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

Well, add me to the masses. I have no idea if I "need" a highlighter and honestly didn't really get the idea of it. I had tried a few other ones before but they never seemed like a big deal. Then I committed to try to "get" the idea of a highlighter. I have NARS Copacabana liquid which was the nicest of what I had tried so far, but I came to the conclusion, I may need to try a powder to really check out this highlighter concept (plus I wasn't thrilled with the liquid concept). So after scouring the reviews and checking samples, I opted for TheBalm's Mary-Lou Manizer. I am officially a convert. It went on effortlessly. It didn't look like a strange metallic streak, but I would just catch hints of light reflections...nice light reflections. There is no glitter on my cheeks either. This is a desert island product. You can use it as a highlighter, and eye shadow, a blush (sort of). I am honestly amazed. Now I am still not 100% sold on the use of highlighters. But I am very confident that I chose the right one to start with.

FYI - I am NW20, brown eyes, almost black hair.

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whereismymind59 on 4/10/2013 6:59:00 PM more reviews by whereismymind59

Age: 19-24   Skin: Sensitive, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Black, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Hazel    

Best highlighter I have bought yet. Its not glittery or chunky or powdery, its like a beautiful glow. It can look subtle, and it can also look super dramatic if you use a heavier hand. People always tell me how great my skin looks when I have this on. The pale gold shade makes this perfect for cool and warm skintones.

My only gripe with this is I bought it the first I dropped it from my hand onto my desk (like less then a foot) and the pan fell from the package and shattered. Yes, my fault, so I bought another...only this time when I took it out of the package at home the pan was already loose and fell out the second i turned it upside down. It's kind of annoying that this has happened twice to me, but I love the product so much I just deal with it.

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*TOP REVIEWER* dbmiller on 4/10/2013 2:23:00 PM more reviews by dbmiller

Age: 30-35   Skin: Very Dry, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Blond, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Green    

This is my favorite highlighter. I, like a reviewer below, have trouble with some highlighters looking way too powdery, therefore ending up being the opposite of what I'm trying to achieve. This on the other hand accomplishes the glow by looking creamy but also does it without glitter and sparkle.

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Joobz2 on 4/9/2013 10:10:00 PM more reviews by Joobz2

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Medium   Hair: Black, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

I am loving this highlighter! I bought this on a flash sale site for $10AUD.. total bargain since makeup in Australia is never cheap and this usually retails for $30-40AUD! I hadn't heard much about TheBalm brand but they had such cute packaging and I'm a sucker for nice packaging. About the product, it's a finely milled powder that is a champagne colour that is shimmery without the chunks of glitter usually found in highlights. I like that it is so multifunctional, it can be used as both an eyeshadow and a highlight. I think it could work for all skintones. So if you ever come across it definitely pick it up!

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Fiache on 4/9/2013 6:43:00 AM more reviews by Fiache

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Tan   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

If you want to shizzle, then purchase this little bad girl! Mary Lou-manizer is one amazing highlighter. You can also use it as a beautiful eyeshadow. Its buttery smooth and so so rich in pigmentation which gives the most gorgeous sheen to your face. It doesn't feel like a dry powder to the touch, more like a creamy powder. I love how it's not gritty or chunky, it's just as I wish a highlight to look and feel like!
Use it with care and you'll glow like a sun godess! Don't overdo it, or you'll look like a complete goof! It's pretty long lasting, but I think a highlight always needs some kind of a touch-up at the end of the day if you are still rocking your makeup for late nights out!
It's quite fragile since it's so soft and as it was broken when it was shipped to me. I am a NC37-40 and the beige champagne shimmery color suits my warm skin tone perfectly. I think it would suit most of the skin tones out there! Packaging in sturdy plastic is super cute with its retro design. Price is a bit higher for most of the The balm product but you will sure get quality for the price you pay. I adore this product and think everyone should try it out!

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bldsgrsxmgk on 4/8/2013 10:01:00 PM more reviews by bldsgrsxmgk

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Combination, Medium, Neutral   Hair: Blond, Curly, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

I had had a hard time finding the right powder highlighter for awhile, they all looked too powdery on the skin, were too sparkly rather than shimmery, or didn't match my skintone. Until Mary-Lou! I have read reviews that complain it's too much sparkle/shimmer, but this highlighter is so finely milled it looks creamy on the skin, and quite buildable depending on brush and heaviness of hand. The packaging contains lots of product and the outside is cute, the mirror inside it is nice and big. And it just wears so nicely. HG highlighter for sure.

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