Estee Lauder • Spotlight • Treatments

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Jandesan on 3/11/2013 11:40:00 AM more reviews by Jandesan

Age: 56 & Over   Skin: Dry   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Hazel    

I love this stuff! Perfectly named....I sometimes use after I put on my foundation and tap it around the outer eye area which opens up my eyes. I also tap a little over my upper lip line - looks great! Also mix with my heavier foundations which gives a nice glow. I'll probably have to always have this in my makeup arsenal...too multi-purpose to do without.

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Petunia1989 on 9/10/2012 10:28:00 PM more reviews by Petunia1989

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Black, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Green    

I have purchased this product a few times and it works really well for me. I use it both as a primer and a highlighter. I can completely understand why this wouldn't work for all women considering it has quite a lot of pink in the luminescence. On my NW20-30 skin tone it works perfectly. It doesn't break me out or cause any sensitivity issues, and does work well to even out my complexion. I love how easily it allows my foundation to glide on, and I feel like it allows me to use less product than I normally would. I suggest going to the Estee Lauder counter and try a sample to make sure it works for you. :)

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*TOP REVIEWER* JaneWayne on 3/4/2012 9:40:00 AM more reviews by JaneWayne

Age: 36-43   Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Green    

Spotlight is a pink pearlized cream that is designed to illuminate and perfect the skin. It can be applied under or mixed with foundation, tapped lightly on high planes of the face after foundation application for a subtle highlight.

For some reason, my knowledge of color theory went straight out the window when I used this under my makeup. Redness + pinkish pigments and a unidentified ingredient = Samantha from Sex And The City after her chemical peel. Have you seen that? Not a good look. I also found it to be grabby. MAC's Strobe Cream (a similar product) is much more smooth.

If you have redness, or you are allergic to this product, try mixing a dot of Advanced Night Repair with your liquid foundation. It's lovely...this concoction makes even Double Wear look natural.

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dorowilson on 3/2/2012 6:07:00 PM more reviews by dorowilson

Age: 36-43   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Brown    

This is a lovely primer for me. It makes my smooth but slightly tired skin look beautiful, young and fresh. Despite the odd pinky colour when squeezed from the tube, the effect is subtle and fresh. - no glitter or obvious shine -just radiance. I have used it for years over moisturiser, under foundation.I've tried numerous alternatives including Laura Mercier, Benefit, Clinique but this wins hands down for me.

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nuvitadoll on 2/18/2012 3:33:00 AM more reviews by nuvitadoll

Age: 25-29   Skin: Very Dry, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Black, Curly, Fine   Eyes: Hazel    

This was another product I WANTED to like, but just couldn't! I love the scent and the bottle! Besides that I don't like it. It seem to highlight my freckles YUCK! it made pink rings form around clusters of them. It also made blemishes appear RED! I tried it under my foundation and it completley fades after some minutes. Did not help even my skin tone

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ElizabethB on 1/26/2012 2:56:00 AM more reviews by ElizabethB

Age: 36-43   Skin: Normal, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Hazel    

This works OK with me--I did look a bit more luminous and I do like the squeeze bottle. What I DON'T like is that one of the main ingredients is "corn oil." I read that and was like, "What the heck?" Silicone I could understand, but I don't know what makes EL think that anyone, regardless of skin type, would want to put corn oil on her face. As a primer it's good, but I won't buy it again d/t the corn oil ingredient.

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semira01 on 12/4/2011 9:33:00 PM more reviews by semira01

Age: 25-29   Skin: Normal, Medium   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Hazel    

I have just tried this product in-store in comparison with the others, and after getting back to work from the lunch break couldn't figure out where the funny smell is coming from! After short investigation I realized that that was the smell of Spotlight coming from my hand where it was tested.

I totally disliked the smell, and it's very identifiable even after couple of hours of application.

I would encourage everyone to try this primer in the store first, to make sure you like the smell.

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*TOP REVIEWER* GlamDiva on 8/15/2011 7:21:00 PM more reviews by GlamDiva

Age: 56 & Over   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Other, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Hazel    

EL Spotlight is a pale pink pearl-shimmer highlighter, not a treatment. It's comparable to MAC Strobe and Nars Illuminator in Copacabana, though more of a lotion texture and it's pinker than these other two. Great as an underbrow highlighter. You can also mix it with foundation.

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*TOP REVIEWER* anisha12 on 7/19/2011 3:49:00 AM more reviews by anisha12

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Olive, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Black    

While I was looking around for skin illuminators...this was the one recommended by the store I was at so I gave it a go...the lady there applied a whole lot of the product on my face and in the store lighting, I thot I looked lyk a diva! I got home and STILL looked gorgeous with a lovely dewy look, skin felt soft and smooth, not sticky and I was pretty sure I would go back there in a few days to splurge! Well, as luck would have it, i actually broke out with just a sample! Got bumpy all over my cheeks and forehead and even then, thought...c'mooon...its estee lauder...can't be the product, it must be ME! So i ended up waiting for a week for my skin to clear with my usual regime and once my skin settled, i went back to an EL counter and tried it on without a brush this tym...jus using my (?clean) fingers. I realised its PINK which is fine...but I needed a lot of product to get that dewy look! My skin tone is a MAC NC 43-44 so that bottle wouldn't last me more than a month of regular usage where it actually shows on me! i DID love the pearlescent finish of my skin. But guess what. The cheek I used it on got bumpy all over again. Guess I won't be buying this product after all.

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cessica on 6/22/2011 8:03:00 PM more reviews by cessica

Age: 19-24   Skin: Very Oily, Fair   Hair: Brunette, Straight   Eyes: Hazel    

I really like this product even though I haven't bought it for a while. I'm in the midst of a love affair with BeneFit's Moonbeam so I've betrayed it!

But this is gorgeous, the glow it gives you is so natural and not glittery which is something I find with a lot of illuminators. I have oily skin and I've never had a problem with this unlike some of the other poor reviewers I've read.

Good product, just a tad pricey for what it actually does.

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Steph8735 on 5/20/2011 5:31:00 PM more reviews by Steph8735

Age: 30-35   Skin: Dry, Fair, Cool   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

Spotlight is classified as a skin care product and claims to reduce uneven skin tone while producing a healthy radiance. Since I’m new to the product I can’t yet comment on improved skin tone but what I can tell you is that Spotlight makes my skin look and feel amazing. It gives the skin a very slight pearlescent sheen which is dewy and natural looking. My dry, sensitive skin loves this – especially after a long Canadian winter, but I'm not sure how well this would do on oily skin as it definitely adds a slight shine/radiance to your complexion. I’ve been wearing it as a primer, under my foundation, but you can also use it alone, on top of your moisturizer. The Estee Lauder website even recommends mixing it with your moisturizer which I have yet to try. This one is a keeper!

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*TOP REVIEWER* Marianthoula on 4/25/2011 12:06:00 PM more reviews by Marianthoula

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Brown, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

Excuse me? Do I read right? Skin Tone PERFECTOR???
This stuff breaks me up like hell. I actually use it only when I happen to have some new acne marks since I know I will have to go through the procedure of treating some anyway, so let's make the money wasted on this product worth. How pathetic is that?

1) Packaging: Nice and classy-looking, in pearl-ivory with golden cap and logo. I gave the 1 lippie just because it looks so elegant in my boudoir.

2) Price: For a product that at best does nothing and at worst breaks my skin up, it is expensive. Even for EL. I' rather have spent the money in chocolates, for the same result...

3) Colour: What on earth were they thinking? When I use it, even with the most careful blending, I have the strangest pink shinny patches were the light catches my skin. It does not perfect my tone, just make it weird-looking, even with the tiniest amount used.

4) Staying: under makeup it completely disappears. Now, it was sold to me along with the EL Doublewear on their counter and it is a shame since they should have known better. Nothing shows, zero, nada. I tried it under a sheer foundation and it just blended with it and made a shinny mess. I thought perhaps its my combination complexion, so I tried the blending in the back of my hand... the same. (Of course I have given it appropriate time to "settle" on my skin first, in all cases)

5) Scent: It has a quite strong scent, which does not disappear completely. I personally do not mind.

All in all, the only way I can perfect my skin with it is by not wearing it. Would not repurchase.

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farouha on 4/21/2011 8:34:00 PM more reviews by farouha

Age: 36-43   Skin: Dry, Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Black    

Gorgeous product gives you a glow without any shimmer,love it.I use it alone over my moisturizer or mix it with my foundation and it gives me a flawless glowing face.

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justmee on 2/21/2011 9:36:00 AM more reviews by justmee

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Combination, Tan   Hair: Black, Wavy   Eyes: Brown    

I really like this product. It has a gorgeous glow when applied. I mix this with my foundation and then apply it on my face. I don't apply it all over because it does look weird on me when applied all over. I put it on the area's I want to highlight. By the way it smells gorgeous! I love it especially because I use a MAC foundation that doesn't really smell but this smells gorgeous. The only thing I don't like about this item is its £25! It will last a while because you only need to use a big.

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*TOP REVIEWER* katrosado5 on 1/26/2011 10:21:00 PM more reviews by katrosado5

Age: 44-55   Skin: Combination, Olive, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

For reference I am 49 yrs old. I have fine lines, moderate crows feet, some sun spots, uneven skin tone. You name it I've probably got that issue with my skin.


This is not a highlighter. It is not shimmer. It is not marketed that as a highlighter or a shimmer or a "glitter". Nothing wrong with glitter but at my age I need to keep it off my face. In fact I need to be careful with placement of shimmer as well.

This product is called a tone perfector. It does do it's job. It's very subtle. It's to be applied AFTER moisturizer but BEFORE foundation. However, some people (including me) will sometimes mix it with the moisturizer and wear it that way, or mix it with foundation and wear it that way.

It is fragranced, I don't have a problem with the fragrance as far as no irritation and fragrance that is found in most dept store or high end makeup doesn't bother me but it does bother some.

Ths comes out of the tube as a lotion consistency and is light cream in color. That is until you smooth it out onto your skin that is when you get "glow". Not highlighter, not shimmer (that we've become used to using) and definately not glitter. But a pearly glow. Before you spread it out thinly (use this thinly it's not moisturizer it's a perfector) it will have an interesting reddish pink halo like shimmer but once it is spread thinly, very thinly, you are going to glow.

This is the product I have been searching for and could never find. Other products marketed as highlighters are far too shimmer and glitter.

This will more than likely *not* give dramatic effects to anyone with younger skin. I don't care how much you damaged your skin if you are under 40 you don't have mature skin. You just don't. Be happy you don't because unless you are 6 feet under you will eventually. Trust me I thought it would never happen to me.

Love this product for my mature skin. Aging isn't so much as the fine lines, crows feet, sun spots...etc. It's looking tired all the time. It's the loss of elasticity in the skin that makes you look very tired. This product made me not only look fresh but when I looked in the mirror I actually felt pretty darn good. I paid 27.00 for this product and yes I will repurchase.

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Hevz555 on 1/25/2011 6:28:00 AM more reviews by Hevz555

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Medium, Neutral   Hair: Brown, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Green    

Loved this years ago and have just recently rediscovered it again. I use it after moisturiser and under foundation just on my cheeks and temples and it does give the most gorgeous glow. On no makeup days I fix this with my moisturiser for an all over glow and to even out my skintone which it does beautifully. I'm not religious with wearing this so can't comment on how well it works longterm. Even though it is not classed as a highlighter the glow can be seen under most foundations (I use various ones) from sheer to medium-full coverage and is not too overpowering. It is lightweight so I can use it on my combo-oily skin and does not cause any problems.

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teago on 10/18/2010 6:01:00 PM more reviews by teago

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

What a beautiful product

I mix it in with my Double Wear every day. It makes it apply more smoothly and really does give an 'airbrushed', luminous finish.
Cant speak for its tone improving abilities though. If it were to do anything I dont see how applying it over moisturiser as directed would do it...Id apply it before.

This wont give you what you want if you apply it over your foundation.

I dont think Id buy it again because in Australia, its $72! If I had the money when I run out though...I probably will!

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lefrou on 10/16/2010 2:10:00 PM more reviews by lefrou

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair, Cool   Hair: Red, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

Let me first stress that this product is not designed to be applied over, or without, foundation. (for four years, I was one of the "ignorant EL counter girls" described by "boxerface" in an earlier post, so I have a little background here.) If you use it as directed, over moisturizer and under foundation, it really does give the most amazing glow... without the grease, glitter or pearl of other "illuminators". I can't with any conscience speak to its ability to actually even skin tone over time, but it does function excellently as an illuminating primer. I will cry big, hot salty tears the day this goes away for good.

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MsSparkleArkle on 8/3/2010 11:27:00 PM more reviews by MsSparkleArkle

Age: 36-43   Skin: Sensitive, Fair   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Green    

Wow - this product is great if you use it for its intended purpose which is a treatment. You can also use it as a primer. I mix a small amount with my Estee Lauder Double Wear. Brilliant. This product is not supposed to be used as an over makeup highlight. This product is classed as skincare, not makeup in their range.

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alalia86 on 1/6/2010 9:09:00 AM more reviews by alalia86

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

This doesn't have any glittery specks like a lot of highlighter. It gives a subtle shine, but the problem is that it is too subtle. I can't really tell a big difference after i put it on over my foundation, and I can't tell a difference at all if i put it on under my foundation. If I wear it over foundation, it kinda leaves a pinkish hue that clashes with my skin tone. I do not think it is worth the price, and i will not repurchase.

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