Hello,

This is not in replace a primer and is a highlighter for the skin.

no it is not a primer, but if you have clear skin and just want a glow, you can use this alone.

I use it on top of my foundation so no, illuminators generally are applies to your face last, as to "illuminate" "shed light" on something....i.e. your cheekbones your eyelids....etc.

No.

Nowhere on this page does it mention it is a primer. It is an illuminator m'dear. It goes on after your primer.

No this is not for priming at all. It does NOT have the 'staying factor/enhancer' that primers have, to answer your question most directly. This is a highlighting product only. The shimmer is an effect that you would want on the top of any product, otherwise it disappears easily under almost any other makeup. Blending would be the only way you may want to mix it with another product, and it loses a lot of its shimmer in doing so. (If you use this around your eyes and have any bit of crow's feet, be careful to stay away with this, as well, as it WILL highlight those, too! Eek!) Hope I helped.

no, i think if you used this instead of a primer...your face would be sparkly and pink.

no this is a luminzer so it goes on above with or under your blush after your foundation or just worn alone.

I use in addition to primer and it hasn't quite worked as a primer for me. But it may depend on skin type.

No this is not a replacement for primer. I would use this alone or after applying foundation and apply it to the top part of the cheeks, bridge of the nose and the inner corners of the eyes.

No it is not a primer at all.

No

Copacabana and/or Orgasm. Totally!!

We aren't able to see your photo m'dear. So we cannot tell. The best way to figure out which is to either go into a sephora and try em on, or you can call the beauty consultant 'line' tehy always help me and have been SPOT on. OR, just order a few, and return the ones that don't work (You can even do this without trying them on and just seeing the bottles). I don't recommend the last one, but for someone whose closest sephora is like 100 miles away - I do what I gotta do.

I would try the lightest shade available for your skin tone.

The regular Nars orgasm color is awesome for fair skin. OR I find Benefit has some amazing products for fair skin as well - not as crazy sparkly, but more subtle.

I think you could use Orgasm. Mix it with your moisturizer and it'll subtly light up your skin. You'll have a wonderfully flushed look.

Try Orgasm. Im also very fair skinned and I love the orgasm illuminator. It provides you with a healthy, radiant flush and I think it would be gorgeous with your coloring.

I have very fair skin too! I would recommend NARS Illuminator in Copacabana. Apply mixed with liquid foundation or moisturizer or dab a little over the apple of your cheeks (with your fingers) over your foundation.

I have fair skin and red hair, too. I bought Copacabana. It's very light, but I was concerned that any others might be too dark for me. I like it a lot. NARS is one of the few companies that makes colors for really fair skin.

Definitely try it in 'Orgasm' - it lends a peachyt-pink glow to the skin that would complement your fair coloring.

I have very pale skin and light hair, but have had it red at times. I use the illuminator in Orgasm and it looks very natural. It looks darker in the tube than it will on your skin.

This is not a foundation. Read what it does: "enhances complexion."

I suggest another nars product, they have a illumenescant light foundation.

No

i mix 2 small dabs into 3 small pumps of my bobbi brown foundation and mix together and apply with a mac stipling foundation brush..and it gives a healthy glow i use guerluien pearls as my powder to set..

You can if you want but i wouldn't. I got lots of glitter on it and it might end up making your skin to shiny, It like illuminates you whole face.
If you want a foundation that is really light and natural looking i suggest you try the NARS sheer matte foundation, get help from the sales support on picking your color. The foundation is really light, natural looking and can be worn all day.

I wouldn't suggest wearing this alone all over your face, because there is a good amount of shimmer, since it is an illuminator. I suggest if you were to wear it alone to place it on the parts where the sun hits your face (nose, forehead and the high points of your cheekbones). This can't substitute as a foundation because it is very sheer so even if you're looking for minimal coverage it will not provide that.

This product is great if mixed in with your regular moisturizer! Your skin gets the moisture it need plus a little extra glow! Then brush on a little all over face powder and a little blush!

I use it alone

No, I wouldn't. It's a bit too sparkly to apply to your whole face.

I would not recommend this product to use as a foundation alone, too shiny!! It does work well to mix in with a light foundation.

It didn't take it away. You do realize this is a liquid. It may have covered it up and you used a formula/color too close to your skin tone.

Next time try it layered, then put on you rblush. Or layer over blush, but its all about layering until you get the right color - goes with ANY makeup.

try mixing it in with your tinted foundation

Get a sample from the store and at home try it on just on foundation. Use it like a bronzer, on jaw line, upper jay bone, not on the your cheeks, and edge of your face. I use it to replace my bronzer to shape and contour. The product is build-able so use a little and then add more till you feel like it is the right amount. I use laguna.

Try using a cheek stain instead of a blush with a little dab of this stuff over it. I realize this would require an additional purchase but it really works better because cheek stains will not rub off with this illuminator like a powder blush would.
You could also probably try putting the illuminator on first and see if it works better with your blush.

After applying blush tap a small amount of this product on the tops of your cheek bones or the apples of your cheeks for a little extra highlighting. If you rub the product in to your skin then you will rub your blush off. Instead, just tap into the skin lightly to blend. You can also mix this into your foundation/tinted moisturizer for an all over glow . Either way you use it, you only need a small drop to make a difference. Good Luck!

I use it instead of blush: you just build the color on top of your foundation. The effect is a seamless, natural blush, like someone just whispered something naughty!

Do not use blush with it.

Thanks.. it just doesn't look good on me.. hmm too bad!

I was using it to highlight my cheeks and I broke out there from it. Also if you have sn blemishes this does not look pretty anywhere near them.

I have normal senstive skin, prone to breakout's due to clogged pores. I used this everyday in my tinted moisturizer and can say it has not clogged my pores, nor broke me out!

No makeup is acne causing. If it was, it'd be the same thing for all of us who use it.

They do really mean it that you should test your products on parts of your skin if you have sensitive skin - which you do.

No one can answer this for you m'dear, only time will tell. I use oil as a 'face wash' to remove all my makeup, and I haven't broken out once. Yet, cream foundations make me 'break out.' But it isn't the case for everyone.

The point is, you don't know until you try it. If you bought it online, there is a great spot on th eback that says "I'm returning this because it made me break out."

If it hasn't so far, as long as you are washing your face at night (and WELL), applying appropriate moisturizers, and then washing in the morning, this product will not contribute to your break outs. Just don't try to wear any makeup, especially one with oils, for more than 20 hours a day. Our faces need to breathe!!!!

i break out really easily too. the trick is you HAVE to wash your skin after you come home from whatever you cant sleep with any products on your face. but nars hasnt broken me out at all. and i have combination skin...you should be fine.

I am prone to acne too and have been using this with no problems. Just make sure you keep the brushes clean...

Absolutely not. You probably won't be using it in the most oily areas of your face anyway. I love it.

This product is lightweight and super sheer so it is unlikely to cause a breakout. I have been using it for 6 months with no problems. Hope this helps!

I never put it in areas that I normally break out in and it hasn't caused any problems for me, and I have similar skin to yours. I usually put it on my cheekbones.

I use this all over. I mix a little into my tinted moistuizer and head out the door. You can use this as a highlight on every part on your face (cheeks, eye socket, forehead, nose) or everywhere. Depending on your color of choice (Orgasm for example) you can use it as a sheer blush.

ALLLL makeup is layering. You can put this over blush or under. Just remember you need to have complimentary colors to you (and to the makeup selection).

Have a light hand and build build build.

for instance, my routine:

1. Wash face / pat dry
2. Put on moisturizer approp. for my skin type (This is where if I want a light look I put on the Illuminator). I mix the illuminator with my moisturizer.
3. I dust on BM foundation
4. I dust on blush on my cheeks
5. I may tap on a bit more of this illuminator on my cheek bones over my blush if it isn't enough yet.
6. finish my eyes/lips
7. spray with All Nighter.

I use this all over my face, however, I have a darker complexion and love the bronzed look. If you want to go more natural, use this product sparingly on your cheeks, perhaps with a sponge so you can control the coverage more.

It's like a very sheer blush. I use the Orgasm Illuminator underneath a really light application of cream blush just to add more brightness and to lessen the look of being too 'blushy'. Perfect for a summer, sun-kissed look but not bronzing. The Orgasm color is peachy-pink and the darker Laguna Illuminator is more for a subtle bronze, tan look. A little goes a long way on Laguna Illuminator, so use in small quantities and build up until you get the desired look. I use it underneath a sheer foundation and it adds a hint of color without looking artificial.

I just purchase this and am very happy. It really is a very diverse product which makes it even more worth the money!
I mix a drop of it into my foundation for a subtle glow. Around evening time I tap a very small amount above my checks/around my eye orbit. It really brightens everything up. Im sure this product would look great under or over blush, though I would consider it an illuminator and not blush. I usually put blush on then dab the illuminator in certain spots.
I think it would look pretty under the brow ridge as well.
I hope I was helpful!!

No, this is not a blush. It's like a highlighter. Put it on top of your cheeks and then your blush in the usual place somewhere underneath. I also use my illuminator as an overall wash over my untire eyelid as a nice background color for my other eyeshadows or liners.

I either mix in a little bit with my foundation for an all-over glow, or I rub it over my cheeks after putting on foundation and put just a dab of blush on top on the cheek bones

It depends on what look you want! If you want a shimmery look (think dewy skin), go with the Illuminator. But, the Illuminator will give a sheer glow and not an actual bronze, tan look.
If you want that- I just came from the beach look- go with the bronzer. A little does go long way!

Call the Sephora folks on this one. Honestly.

I wouldn't start with a cream/lotion type bronzer as a first timer. You need to finesse application a bit and it can get messy. Try to find a creamy bronzer in a stick or a shimmery 'cake' bronzer. But then make sure it isn't going to make you look like mud - stay away from really dark and hit up shimmers as a first timer.

Then, next time you are IN a Sephora, tell em your prob. They'll hook you up with options. You aren't ever obligated to buy.

Go with the powder. The illuminator is meant to be more of a highlighting product that gives your skin a glow. The bronzer does what the name says it will do; bronzes you. Plus since it's a powder formula, you will have more control where you put it when you use a brush versus a liquid with your fingers or a stippling brush.

Get the powder. I use Casino, because even though I have very fair skin, I love looking a little darker. Plus, it also has a little shimmer. If you go for the Illuminator, you might end with way more shimmer than you wanted, since the Illuminator is just basically liquid shimmer. And don't worry about it being oily or greasy. It's not, it's quite silky. I'm allergic to almost everything, and I've never had a problem with NARS products.
Good luck!

In my opinion the illuminator is easier than the powder because of how light it is and for time efficiency. If you get the right color you wont regret it!

I was just like you up until a few months ago, and would shy away from the cream blushes. If you can, go into the store and have one of the sales associates teach you how to apply, ask for a sample & practice!
I did that and now I can use both versions.. I do think the powder lasts longer, but the cream/gel is more subtle & has more uses (mix with moisturizer for a dewy glow, highlighter, etc..). Good luck!

I would say the illuminator would be best. Bronzer is great but it's easy to overdo it. I still overdo it sometimes, and it looks too fake or dirty. It would be hard to mess up with illuminator.

I am african american, Beyonce skin tone. I like to use this as a blush on my bare skin for those dewy summer makeup looks. I love the
effect...dewy, coppery and very fresh looking.
I'll definitely be buying a full size. Hope this helps!

You can use this as a highlighter! It will give your skin a dewy glow. Mix it in with your foundation for an all over glow. You can also wear it by itself or with blush.

I use this all over under my foundation. You could use it as a blush but it's going to be a subtle color, not as intense color as a real blush. It's just meant to give your skin a little glow, a little shimmer.

I mix this product in with my foundation for the perfect overall color and brightening. I suppose you could use this to "spot" highlight some areas, but for me.. I feel "dull" if I don't use it all over.

It CAN be used under or over foundation, but I use it as a blush. I put my normal blush on (NARS cream blush in locoum) then I dab some of this illuminator over it for a bit of glow.

If you use a liquid foundation use Copacabana in your foundation for an all over glow. If you use a powder foundation use it on the high planes of your face under your foundation.

it's probably best you use it over your foundation so that you don't mess up your foundation coverage. and yes it can be used as a blush with certain skin tones. you can also wear it alone and it looks super cute

I have used NARS and the benefit, i like both but i do like NARS better. NARS blends a little better and it's more versatile than Benefit.

I like this better than high beem. Has a better consistency for all over coverage without having to use foundation and blends well to give a nice subtle glow

I can't answer for Lorac products, but in regard to Benefit's High Beam, it is less frosty and obviously iridescent, more natural and glowy looking. It has a slightly warmer hue whereas high beam is cooler. This one is more daytime or professional friendly, high beam would work best for nights out or special events. Personally, I wear high beam during th day too.

I have used high beam and prefer the Nars product. It is easier to blend, is not as "thick" going on your skin. I still sometimes us high beam on brow bone.

Hi, I can't comment on how it compares to Lorac, as I have never used it. But compared to BeneFit HighBeam, the NARS Illuminator is far more shimmer. HighBeam is very, very subtle compared to Illuminator. Additionally, the texture is a bit different. HighBeam is quite watery, in my opinion, whereas the NARS is more powdery, if that makes sense. Hope that helps some!
respectfully submitted, makejeanup

Much sheerer than High Beam (Copacabana would probably e the closest match to HIgh Beam)

Get a sample of the Copacabana from the sales person, and try it. I have used it the inside of my eye to highlight and i do like it.

yes you can use the lighter shades as a highlighter

I would not use this as an eye brightener. Unless you want a golden shimmer under your eyes.

yes! that's what i use it for but be sure to use a primer because it will fade after wear- i use a shadow too to give it a bit more stick but it does give the eye area natural looking luminosity!

I use it that way. I use the lightest color. Not as sheer as some products though,

No, I wouldn't use it in my eye area.