MAKE UP FOR EVER Uplight Face Luminizer Gel

MAKE UP FOR EVER's new Uplight Face Luminizer Gel ($29) was designed to give you the sculpted glow of celebrities. Their complexions always looks fresh and glowing on screen, on catwalks, and on the red carpet. Just take a look at Jennifer Lopez on American Idol. Her skin shines - in a gorgeous way!

How do the stars do it? With illuminators! Uplight enhances the points of light of the face (or body) for a natural, glamorous finish.

Uplight is a silky gel that lights up the face, making your skin appear healthy, fresh, and radiant. It contains reflecting pigments that capture and diffuse light. With its extremely fluid, smooth texture, it is easy to apply - on its own or mixed with foundation - with your fingers or a brush. The texture reminds me of Giorgio Armani Beauty's Fluid Sheer, a product I adore.

What's in this illuminating gel? It's oil-free; there's a lot of water (70%); it contains mango butter to hydrate; and it's enriched with pearls to capture and reflect light. Formulated for the face and body, this product adds a healthy glow to your skin that will last all day.

Uplight is available in eight shades and three effects: silky, pearly, and sparkling. All you need to do is to apply a hint of illuminator in very light touches on the high points of your face - cheekbones, brow bone, temples - and blend. You will glow.

I ordered two shades - sight unseen - from Sephora. I chose one that appeared to be a pink shade (#22, described at Sephora as a pearly pink flesh) and one that appeared more golden (#12, described at Sephora as dewy golden beige). I wanted to try one dewy and one pearly. When they arrived, I was thrilled. They were so much prettier in person than their little color swatches online. Now, of course, I want more of them. I am such a hoarder.

Here is my swatch photo, taken outdoors in late-afternoon sunlight, of my two shades. I applied both with my fingertips and didn't blend them into my skin. I wanted you to be able to see the nuances of the colors. The one shown at the top is #12, and #22 is shown below. The pearly finish of #22 is definitely shinier than the dewy finish of #12. When I re-order, I know I should stick with the dewy finishes, but there are only two dewy shades. I know I will order #11, even though Sephora's online swatch looks goulish. It's probably gorgeous. I would also like to try #23, described as pearly golden flesh. I think the #22 pearly pink is exquisite, and I would like to try another pearly shade. Should I act my age instead? Why start now?

There are good online swatches at the MAKE UP FOR EVER site. Click on one of the little squares, and a larger, better swatch will pop up. I found them after I had received my Uplights from Sephora.

These lovely luminizers are definitely worth checking out. You can order them at Sephora.

Photos at top courtesy of MAKE UP FOR EVER and Sephora