Radiance for Less: Maybelline Dream Lumi Highlighting Concealer

Maybelline Dream Lumi TouchHighlighting Concealer
$7.99

Touche Eclat Concealer
$41.00

Over the years, I have splurged on YSL's cult classic Touche Eclat Concealer a number of times.  I have always thought it did a better job of highlighting than concealing, but nonetheless, I found its stripes well earned.

My other issue was that originally, Touche Eclat was offered in a limited range of shades, none quite right for me.  I knew of people who bought two and blended, but $82 is not in my wheelhouse to spend on concealers that don't, well, conceal.

When they finally expanded their offering to 12 shades, I reviewed it again and finally found a perfect match.

Yesterday, I spotted Maybelline's version of Touche Eclat, Dream Lumi Touch, described as a, "highlighting concealer". Housed in a far less glam plastic tube, it sports the same click pen applicator as Touche.  For $8 bucks, I couldn't resist buying it...

Review: Physician's Formula Nude Wear Highlighter

Physician's Formula Touch of Glow
List Price $12.95
Rip off Price at CVS in Greenwich, Ct.
$14.95

Is this not the cutest packaging evah??? You can't tell from the picture, but the lower part is actually faux baby pink alligator.  Adorbs!

I first became aware of this product during my daily read of Musings of a Muse, one of my favorite beauty blogs.  Isabella, the Muse, reviews and writes up a prodigious amount of product each week.  I bow to thee. I think she's terrific, and I highly recommend you subscribe to her blog as well.

I do prefer a liquid highlighter and my iconic YSL Touche Eclat has finally bid me adieu. Touch of Glow Nude Wear bills itself as a Concealer/Highlighter/TouchUp Tool.  I wasn't looking to replace my concealer, but a highlighter and touch up tool appealed to me.

Touch of Glow only comes in one shade but the "reflecting pigments" it contains are all supposed to be in nude hues.  Like  Touche Eclat the applicator twists, until the product dispenses onto a small nylon brush:

Review: Le Teint Touche Eclat Foundation

YSL's Le Teint Touche Eclat Foundation
1 oz. $55

Devotees of Le Touche Eclat Concealer, (and they are legion) have long waited for YSL to create a foundation to complement it.

I too was quite smitten with Touche Eclat concealer. It's housed in a sleek gold pen, and with a simple click, the built in brush deposits just the right amount of product. It does a fine job of covering dark circles, diffusing fine lines and subtly highlighting.  I thought it was a Holy Grail product for me, until I noticed that I frequently looked like I had the dreaded "raccoon" eye in photos.

At that time, "Touche" only came in 3 shades. At $40 a pop, I was not going to invest in mixing two shades, so we parted ways. Today, it's available in 12 shades and I am sure that anyone would be able to find their perfect shade, myself included.

All of this brings me to Le Teint Touche Eclat Foundation, which was generously sampled for me by Tyshon at Sephora in Greenwich.  I so appreciate that they are always willing to supply samples so you can try product on clean, make up free skin at home. It takes away all of the guess work and in this case, I realized the lighter shade that Tyshon had recommended was indeed the right one for me.

So, did it live up to all the hype???