RMS Beauty Living Luminizer

After hearing personal raves from the No More Dirty Looks girls and teen eco-star Erin Schrode, I knew I was long overdue to try RMS Beauty Living Luminizer. Rising to cult status among elites in the beauty and fashion industry, models like Gisele Bündchen swoon over this stuff. And as soon as I heard it had five—yes, just FIVE—ingredients, I was even more intrigued. Could such a simple formulation give me that lit-from-within glow I'd been lusting for?

Living Luminizer is the love child of celebrity makeup artist and green beauty devotee Rose-Marie Swift. After researching how over-processed cosmetics formulas are, Rose-Marie realized that most beauty products are devoid of nutrients or good-for-you ingredients. Her namesake line, RMS Beauty, uses only pure oils in their raw, unprocessed form (castor seed, coconut oil, and beeswax). With added rosemary extract and naturally-derived minerals, this minimalist makeup treat smells divine (if you're into that zen spa aroma).

Most highlighters look too artificial for my skin. Fortunately, the mica and minerals in Living Luminizer are so finely milled that you don't actually see any visible shimmer, just glow.

This highlighter cream is oil-based, but doesn't feel greasy. It's solid in the pot but melts once your fingers warm it up. When I dab on my normal-to-dry skin with a ring finger, it goes on thickly but absorbs within a few minutes. I apply on all the usual suspects: tops of cheekbones, brow bone, inner corner, center lid, nose bridge, cupid's bow, forehead, and chin. And _voil_à, my skin catches the light beautifully without enhancing pores or fine lines. However, its emollient texture isn't ideal for an eye shadow base, so avoid the crease! 

And here's where the green honeymoon ends. For 5.67 grams of goodness, you'll have to shell out $38. For some perspective, MAC Cream Color Base has 3.2 grams of product for $16.50. A slightly higher price point, yes, but completely worth the splurge for quality and effectiveness. And with absolutely no fillers, this little glass pot will last you a very long time. I haven't completely eco-overhauled my beauty routine yet, but I can safely say that this little pot of magic has a permanent spot in my stash.