Everyone needs a makeup secret weapon. If you ask us, highlighter, and specifically L’Oréal Paris Lumi Glotion is just that: the ultimate beauty multitasker and skin makeup. A touch of perfectly placed highlighter can help instantly make your eyes look bigger, define your face, and create visual symmetry. Let us explain why it’s a makeup bag essential.
We love L’Oréal Paris True Match Lumi Glotion Natural Glow Enhancer—and why it’s gone viral on TikTok—because it works even harder than your average highlighter. Yes, it illuminates and provides a soft hint of color for the perfect lit-from-within glow. But that’s far from all it does: Lumi Glotion is a highlighter, primer, contour product, and body makeup all in one. Here, we’ll give you the rundown on this must-have and teach you how to use it for the ultimate glowy makeup look.
How Do I Make My Makeup Look Glowy?
With the introduction of the “clean girl” aesthetic, glowy face makeup became more popular than ever (for example, searching for the term “natural glowy makeup” yields more than 42 million hits on TikTok alone).
To recreate this viral look— characterized by fresh, radiant-looking skin —you need the right products and the know-how to apply them properly. If you’re unsure where to start, that’s okay—we’re breaking it all down below. Keep reading to learn how to get natural glow makeup.
Step 1: Cleanse and moisturize
For a flawless makeup application, begin with clean, well-hydrated skin. The first step is to wash your face with a cleanser like the L'Oréal Paris RevitaLift Radiant Smoothing Cream Cleanser. Then, replenish moisture with the L'Oréal Paris RevitaLift Triple Power Moisturizer with SPF 30. It contains Pro-Retinol, hyaluronic acid, and Vitamin C.
Step 2: Apply a glowy primer
Next, prime your skin with a thin, even layer of L’Oréal Paris True Match Lumi Glotion Natural Glow Enhancer. The illuminizing formula hydrates and brightens while giving your skin a soft hint of color. For this step, we recommend choosing the shade that most closely matches your natural skin tone—we’ll get into brightening later.
Step 3: Smooth on foundation
Lumi Glotion can certainly be worn alone for a hint of color. If you want more coverage, you’ll want to add foundation, too. We love to stay within the Lumi family and use the L'Oréal Paris Lumi Le Glow Skin Tint. This product provides a healthy, soft-lit glow and breathable coverage with a weightless texture.
Step 4: Add concealer as needed
Next, brighten your under-eye area with the L’Oréal Paris True Match Radiant Serum Concealer. The caffeine-infused formula de-puffs under-eye bags and neutralizes dark circles with a medium-coverage, crease-free finish. You can also use the hydrating concealer to camouflage dark spots and blemishes— tap it on where needed and blend it with a small brush or makeup sponge.
Step 5: Highlight for a natural glow
While you’ll get a subtle, all-over glow when you layer Lumi Glotion under your foundation, you can also layer some on top of your foundation to highlight. We suggest reaching for a shade slightly lighter than your skin tone. Apply the luminous lotion to any area where the sun would naturally hit your face, including the tops of your cheekbones, the bridge of your nose, browbones, and cupid’s bow, for a glowing makeup.
Step 6: Add a hint of color with blush
Glowy and flushed skin go together—the combination feels beachy and effortless. Pick out a natural-looking shade from the L'Oréal Paris Lumi Le Liquid Blush lineup and swipe it onto the apples of your cheeks. Then, lightly buff it up towards your temples for a natural-looking flush of color.
Step 7: Finish your look as desired
Once your skin is glowing, you can complete your look with a few coats of mascara or a swipe of nude lip gloss. Try the L'Oréal Paris Paradise Big Deal Buildable Washable Mascara and the L'Oréal Paris Paradise Hyaluron Lip Oil for a fantastic outcome. Remember to lock your illuminating makeup with a setting spray like L'Oréal Paris Infallible 3-Second Setting Mist. And you're ready to go.
What Is the Best Makeup to Get Glowing Skin?
If you’re after glowy skin or a glowy makeup look, opt for lightweight, radiant-finish products with hydrating ingredients. The more hydrated your skin is, the better your makeup products will apply. Lumi Glotion, for example, is formulated with glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and shea butter.
Another thing to consider is how glowy you want to look. Generally, we recommend opting for formulas with a pearlescent (rather than glittery) finish. The finer the shimmer, the more natural-looking your makeup will appear.
Lastly, consider how well your products layer with skincare. Ideally, you’ll want something that applies evenly and smoothly for a seamless, your-skin-but-better finish.
Lumi Glotion Natural Glow Enhancer
Reach for a highlighter-lotion hybrid, like the L’Oréal Paris True Match Lumi Glotion Natural Glow Enhancer. It’s available in four shades for all skin tones. To glow all over, apply the highlighter under or over your foundation. Apply a lighter shade than your skin tone above your cheekbones and on your forehead, cupid’s bow, and chin to highlight. To contour, apply a darker shade than your skin tone to the hollows of your cheeks. Learn more about the different ways to use Lumi Glotion below.
What Does L’Oréal Lumi Glotion Do?
- It works as a makeup primer: Apply a thin, even layer to your face and neck before foundation for a subtle glow, perfect for that no-makeup makeup look.
- It’s a stunning highlighter: To highlight, apply a lighter shade than your skin tone to the tops of your cheekbones, cupid’s bow, brow bones, and along the bridge of your nose.
- It can be used to contour: Select a shade slightly darker than your natural skin tone and apply it to the hollows of your cheeks and the perimeter of your face for a sculpted, glowy effect.
- It’s also a body luminizer: Smooth a bit of the illuminating makeup onto your collarbones and décolletage for head-to-toe radiance. Use medium or deep shades to achieve a bronzed, tanned glow.
Do You Use Lumi Glotion Before or After Foundation?
You can use Lumi Glotion before or after your foundation—the choice is yours. Apply it before your foundation and concealer makeup to illuminate your complexion, hydrate your skin, and add a hint of color to even out your skin tone. Using it after foundation, meanwhile, results in a more noticeable glow, perfect for highlighting or contouring (or both).
Is Lumi Glotion a Skin Tint?
While Lumi Glotion is a tinted lotion, it’s not considered a skin tint. Traditional skin tints have a serum-like texture and offer the sheerest coverage. They’re a perfect hybrid product for anyone who wants the skincare benefits of a moisturizer while wearing very little makeup.
Think of Lumi Glotion as a step up from classic skin tints. It offers skincare benefits but with slightly more coverage (and luminosity) than a super-sheer tint. On the other hand, the L'Oréal Paris Lumi Le Glow Skin Tint is a lightweight water-based tint that provides a healthy, soft-lit glow.
What Do You Mix Lumi Glotion With?
You don’t need to mix Lumi Glotion with anything—it can be applied directly onto bare skin or on top of foundation. Buy if you want a more subtle flow, mix a few drops into your moisturizer or liquid foundation. Try warming the combination on the back of your hand and applying it with a flat makeup brush. This simple technique is perfect for achieving a soft, dewy finish.
You can also mix Lumi Glotion with your body moisturizer or lotion—it’s an easy (and sun-damage-free) way to achieve a beachy, sunkissed look. Apply your DIY bronzer wherever you’d like a bit of color and luminosity, and prepare to glow.
How to Use Lumi Glotion in Your Makeup Routine
- As a primer, smooth Lumi Glotion over clean, moisturized skin before applying foundation. It creates a soft, radiant base that keeps makeup looking fresh all day
- Mixed with foundation: Add a drop to your foundation and blend well. The result? A dewy, skin-like finish that still lets your complexion shine through.
- As a highlighter: Dab a small amount onto the high points of the face—cheekbones, brow bones, and the nose’s bridge. Tap in with fingers for a natural, light-catching sheen.
- On bare skin: Wear it alone for a radiant, no-makeup look. It instantly wakes dull skin and delivers an all-over glow without feeling heavy.
Application Tips for Best Results
- Choose the right tool
Use your fingers to warm and blend the formula into the skin for a soft, all-over glow. A damp makeup sponge offers a sheer, diffused finish—ideal when mixing Lumi Glotion with foundation. For targeted highlighting, a small synthetic brush gives precision and control, especially on cheekbones and down the bridge of the nose. - Blend for a seamless finish
No matter how you apply it, blend thoroughly to avoid harsh edges. The lightweight texture melts into the skin, making it easy to build a glow makeupwithout streaks or patchiness. - Set strategically
Dust translucent powder over areas that tend to shine, like the T-zone, if you have oily skin or prefer a longer-lasting finish. To maintain the glow on high points, apply powder lightly over areas with Lumi Glotion.
Next Up: How to Get a Sun-Kissed Summer Glow With Bronzing Drops
Photo courtesy of L’Oréal Paris
Do You Use Lumi Glotion Before or After Foundation?
You can use Lumi Glotion anytime in your routine, but consider your skin type when deciding where to apply it. For drier skin, it works beautifully as a hydrating primer or base—apply it before foundation and concealer to illuminate your complexion, add a touch of color, and help your makeup glide on smoothly. If you have oilier skin, try applying it after foundation so you can add glow only where you need it, avoiding an overly shiny finish. Applied post-foundation, it also works perfectly for highlighting, contouring, or both.
Is Lumi Glotion a Skin Tint?
Lumi Glotion is a tinted moisturizer, not a traditional skin tint. Classic skin tints typically have a fluid, serum-like texture and provide sheer-to-medium coverage. They’re commonly used in place of foundation to help even out the complexion or camouflage minor imperfections, such as redness or small blemishes.
Tinted moisturizers, on the other hand, are primarily designed to hydrate and nourish the skin. They tend to boast a slightly thicker, creamier texture and provide a sheer wash of color to very subtly even out the skin. Lumi Glotion falls into the latter category: it’s lightweight, hydrating, and adds just a hint of coverage to enhance your skin’s natural radiance, without concealing imperfections the way a skin tint or foundation would.
Keep in mind that you don’t have to choose between a skin tint and a tinted moisturizer—you can use both together for an ultra-luminous look. Try priming your skin with Lumi Glotion before smoothing on your skin tint for a subtle, lit-from-within glow, or mix a few drops of the illuminating makeup into your go-to base for an extra radiant finish.
What Do You Mix Lumi Glotion With?
You don’t need to mix Lumi Glotion with anything—it can be applied directly onto bare skin or on top of foundation. However, the versatile formula can also be mixed with liquid foundation or moisturizer to give your skin an added boost of radiance. We also love mixing it with sunscreen—such as the L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Triple Power Moisturizer SPF 30—to help protect the skin from damaging UV radiation while keeping it hydrated and glowy-looking.
If you want to use Lumi Glotion on your body, you can smooth the shimmery formula onto your arms, legs, or chest straight from the tube. Alternatively, mix it with your favorite body lotion in a 1:1 ratio for extra hydration and a soft, head-to-toe glow.
How To Use L’Oréal Lumi Glotion in Your Makeup Routine
There are several ways that you can use Lumi Glotion in your makeup routine. Here are a few of our favorites:
- As a primer: After completing your skincare routine, smooth a dime-sized amount of Lumi Glotion onto your face with clean fingertips. Allow the formula a few minutes to set, then layer on your foundation and concealer as usual.
- As a tinted moisturizer: To use Lumi Glotion in place of foundation, cleanse your skin thoroughly, then smooth the tinted moisturizer over your entire face. If it’s daytime, prep your skin with sunscreen first to help protect against damaging UV rays.
- Mixed with foundation: Mix liquid foundation and Lumi Glotion together in equal parts, then apply the glowy mixture to your face with a foundation brush or sponge to help camouflage imperfections and boost radiance.
- As highlighter: Dab a small amount onto the high points of the face (cheekbones, brow bones, Cupid’s bow, and the bridge of the nose), then blend with your fingers for a natural, light-catching sheen.
- As bronzer: Use a bronzing brush to sweep a shade slightly darker than your skin tone along your hairline and beneath your cheekbones to fake a sun-kissed glow.
- As an illuminating body lotion: Smooth Lumi Glotion onto your chest, arms, or legs to enhance a fake tan or give your skin a soft, shimmery finish.
Application Tips for the Best Results
The best way to apply Lumi Glotion will vary depending on what your intended purpose is—priming, moisturizing, highlighting, or sculpting. Here are some tips to ensure a flawless application, no matter how you intend to get your glow on.
1. Choose the right tool
The tool you use to apply your illuminating makeup can play a significant role in determining how bold your final look is. If you want a soft, diffused glow, apply Lumi Glotion with a damp beauty sponge. Or, use your fingers—the warmth from your fingers can help melt the product into your skin to create a subtle, natural-looking glow. For targeted highlighting, a small synthetic brush gives precision and control, especially on cheekbones and down the bridge of the nose.
2. Blend for a seamless finish
Blending is the key to securing a seamless makeup look. No matter how you choose to use your Lumi Glotion, we recommend taking a few minutes to blend out any harsh edges and ensure a smooth, even-looking application.
3. Consider your skin type
Anyone can rock a glowy makeup look, but if you have oily skin, you may need to tailor your approach to avoid looking overly shiny. To keep your skin looking balanced, apply a mattifying primer and use your illuminating makeup to highlight the high points of your face only. This approach allows you to create a dimensional, glowy look without making your skin look slick or greasy.
4. Set strategically
Use setting powder and setting spray to help ensure your glowy look lasts. Powder can help mattify shine on oily areas to keep your complexion balanced, while setting spray is ideal for locking in your look and preventing creasing, smudging, and transferring.
How To Use Lumi Glotion on the Body
Lumi Glotion isn’t just for your face—you can also use it on your body to give your skin a natural (and damage-free) beachy glow. Because your body has more surface area than your face, we recommend snagging one of the XL tubes if you plan to use it as a body illuminator. As for application, it’s pretty straightforward. After showering, smooth Lumi Glotion anywhere you’d like your skin to glow. Use a shade that closely matches your skin tone for a subtle luminosity, or opt for one a bit darker than your skin for a slight sun-kissed effect. You can also, as mentioned earlier, mix Lumi Glotion with your go-to body lotion for a hint of shimmer that catches the light.
One thing to keep in mind: Don’t get dressed immediately after slathering on your illuminating body lotion—the shimmer could transfer onto your clothes. Give it some time to sink in, and get dressed once your skin is dry to the touch.
How To Choose Your Lumi Glotion Shade
L’Oréal Lumi Glotion comes in five flexible shades: fair, light, medium, rich, and deep. If you’re using the luminous formula as a primer, tinted moisturizer, or foundation enhancer, we suggest selecting whichever shade most closely matches your natural skin tone. Fair works well for those with pale, cool-toned skin, light and medium suit olive complexions beautifully, and rich and deep are ideal for anyone with a darker skin tone.
If you plan to use Lumi Glotion as a highlighter, you’ll want to choose a shade slightly lighter than your skin tone. Going lighter will help brighten your features, drawing attention to the high points of your face in a way that feels completely natural. On the other hand, if you’re using Lumi Glotion as a bronzer, you’ll want to go deeper. To create a natural-looking sun-kissed glow, opt for a shade only slightly darker than your natural skin tone to ensure a seamless, natural-looking blend. You can use the bronzing shade on your body, as well, to give your skin a beachy, summery sheen.
Finally, remember that you don’t have to rely on guesswork to find your perfect match. Swatch different shades in natural lighting to find your perfect match, or use our virtual try-on tool to try out the range in real time before committing to a purchase.
Next Up: How To Wear Light Coverage Foundation
Photo courtesy of L’Oréal Paris