Product Review: MAC Strobe Liquid

In my ongoing quest to look radiant and dewy, I've been on the hunt for the perfect illuminator.

So for the last month or so, I've gone through a generous sample of MAC Strobe Liquid. Strobe Liquid is a lighter-weight version of the Strobe Cream, and is meant to give you an illuminating effect.

Now that I've gone through the whole sample, I keep going back and forth about whether or not to purchase it. The pros are that it absolutely does give you a J Lo glow. I dab it on my cheekbones and browbones, and its just the most beautiful finishing touch. And I'm an NC45, so it looks good on dark skin too. But the big ole' con is that it doesn't last more than an hour. I refuse to believe that a MAC product would not have lasting power, so I think there might be something wrong with my application. Maybe since I use powder foundation (Studio Fix),  this light-weight cream just gets absorbed by my powder? Maybe I need to set my makeup with Fix+ or my rosewater spray? I dunno...the MUA at Nordstrom suggested that I mix this with my liquid foundation to get an all-over dewy look, but given how pearlescent it is I think I'd end up looking like a disco ball. Plus I'm not a big fan of liquid foundation for everyday use. It's messy, time-consuming and I always get a feeling that there's a lot of makeup on my face. Maybe I haven't found the best liquid foundation yet, but that's another post.

So in total, Strobe Liquid, in the first hour, gives me a beautiful celebrity glow. But after a while, it goes away. I tried on Strobe Cream the other day (Strobe Liquid's original thicker formula) thinking it would have more staying power, but its not really very illuminating; just moisturizing with a bit of a sheen to it. So it's not really an illuminator. I think for now I might pass on this product. It's quite beautiful, but at $29.50 I need it to stay on all day long.

Have you guys tried Strobe Liquid? What did you think? Do you have a favorite cream illuminator?