I am forever skeptical about beauty products which promise endless amounts of 'glow'. Perhaps that's because there are so many of them, or maybe I've just tried too many which didn't deliver. Either way, at this point a product has to be really good to convince me, which is why I was pleasantly surprised by L'Oréal Paris's Lumi Glotion, which really does do what it promises. No wonder Kendall Jenner is a fan.
Granted, Jenner is one of the faces chosen by L'Oréal to advertise its Glotion but the model has also regularly chosen it as one of her favourite glow-givers in various interviews where she's discussed her beauty routine. Either way, I was instantly attracted to the fact that, like many L'Oréal Paris products, this combines skincare with make-up to deliver hydration as well as an enhanced complexion.
I've long thought that the brand's True Match foundation is one of the best foundations on the market (and I really have tried hundreds), but I'm a creature of habit and, therefore, hadn't tried the Glotion until I saw that it was in Amazon's Spring Sale – for less than £10.
You can use this skin-enhancer in lots of different ways. Try on its own as a substitute for foundation or wear under make-up for even glowier skin. Or, use it in the same way you would a highlighter. Either way, it leaves skin looking radiant and feeling more hydrated.
How to use L'Oréal Paris Lumi Glotion
I tried two shades in combination with one another, which I found gave me the best results. I started with a very small amount of True Match on my face with a swoosh of blusher (because it is my favourite thing of all time and I cannot be without it), to which I added a pea-sized amount of the Light Glow shade 902 (there are four to choose from, ranging from Fair to Deep Glow) all over my cheeks, forehead, nose and chin. I found this gave my complexion a – wait for it – real glow almost instantly, providing the sort of results I'd only previously seen from heavy-duty highlighters. My worries that an all-over application would feel too heavy on skin were unfounded, too; the product is incredibly light, leaving skin feeling natural and fresh.
On top of that, I applied the Fair Glow shade 901 in the way I would a highlighter – to cheekbones, under my eyebrows and on the bridge of my nose. It added a pearlescent kind of sheen to my skin and I was left with a much brighter complexion than when I started. The formula apparently contains glycerine and shea butter, promising up to 24 hours of hydration. I can't say that I noticed consistent hydration levels a whole day after application but I will say that the smooth, light formula is easy to blend, sits well on skin and doesn't ever lead to dry patches.
Surprisingly, this skeptic has been won over. Since trying the Glotion, I've incorporated it into my daily routine and have (humble brag incoming) been told by no less than three different people that my skin looks 'luminous' and 'radiant'. I'll take it. And so should you, while it's still in the sale.
Hannah Banks-Walker is Grazia's head of fashion commerce. She has previously written for the likes of Harper's Bazaar, The Financial Times, Glamour, Stylist, The Telegraph, Red, i-D and The Pool on everything from fashion to curly hair (hi!) to the patriarchy. Not necessarily in that order. Find her on Instagram and Twitter. But please don't look for her MySpace profile, which until now was the last time she wrote about herself in the third person.