An Insider’s Guide to ‘Fluminous’ Skin (Clue: It’s Satiny, Radiant and Oh-So Enviable)

Wed, 18 July 2012 11:54AM

I spent Sunday working on a story for a magazine (sadly beauty, and deadlines, wait for no one) about creating complexion perfection – how to get skin so radiant, it looks lit from within. Maybe because it was Sunday, I was a little weary when trying to pinpoint the best possible adjective for said skin. “Flawless,” I thought. Then, “Luminous!” And before I knew it, my fingers had begun typing, making an executive decision of their own:

Fluminous. That is what they typed. Fluminous.

First, I cursed at my typo and went to delete it. Then, I stopped. “Fluminous,” I said out loud to myself (it’s true that sometimes working from home on a weekend does render you slightly insane). That’s when it hit me. I wanted fluminous skin. Sure, I wanted it to be flawless and, of course, I wanted it to be luminous. But I also wanted it to be both. Rachel Bilson gets to be both. Just look at her here – satiny skin that still looks alive and glowing, not matte in places and oil-slick shiny in others:

Now, Primpers, being the beauty-minded community you are, you’ll be aware of the myriad makeup products available that work to create a smooth, even skin tone: Pore-perfectors, matte-finish primers, heavy duty foundations and so on. You’ll also be totally clued up on all the luminisers out there: creams, powders, sticks, compacts and more, specifically designed to add sheen. I, too, am aware of their individual charms. However – and go with me here – I’ve always felt a bit like matte, blemish-free perfection and a glossy glow are somehow mutually exclusive. That, as soon as you add shine, any bumps stick out, redness is somehow highlighted, you look a bit oily… the list continues.

So, after a bit of a think about this conundrum, and a good rifle through complexion enhancers old and new, I’ve developed a succinct list of five great buys I believe can do both. Read: make you look flawless and luminous at the same time. Let’s get fluminous, people:

The primer: Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector, $66, Becca Australia
The details: Instead of smearing this glistening fluid all over your face before foundation, do your base first, then dab over your cheekbones and temples for a dewy finish where you want it, not where you don’t

The foundation: Yves Saint Laurent Teint Radiance, $85, from department stores
The details: This clever, light-diffusing base creates a velvety finish that’s at once glowy yet softly matt. Genius. Work it into skin with your fingers to assist blending for super-natural results

The concealer: Laura Mercier Undercover Pot, $60, Adore Beauty
The details: I love this sweet little pack containing two concealers and a powder. Keep clear by using the thick, oil free Secret Camouflage section to cover blemishes, and use the Secret Concealer pan to brighten dark circles and shadows. Set your work with the mini powder. Flawless and luminous in one pack.

The luminiser: Benefit Watts Up! Soft Focus Highlighter, $60, from Myer
The details: This Champagne-toned stick has a cream-to-powder finish for a gentle glow that doesn’t look all oil slick-y. Pop over your makeup and blend with the inbuilt buffer for low-fi radiance.

The powder: Napoleon Perdis Mosaic Gleamer, $60, Napoleon Perdis
The details: Let this pressed powder combo featuring five pastel colours create sheen without sparkle. It’s super subtle when dusted over skin with a fluffy brush and will leave you looking lit from within, not disco ball glittery. Result.

And there you have it, Primpers. Five buys for picture-perfectly fluminous skin – surely one of beauty’s holy grails. Who knew a simply typo could be so fruitful?

Do you agree that it’s hard to strike the perfect balance between matte and glowing when it comes to your makeup?

And do you have any special products you rely on to hit that sweet spot between smooth and shiny? I’d love to add them to my shopping list.

Until next week,

Emily xx

Posted by: Emily Taylor

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Tags: benefit, featured, fluminous, glowing skin, illuminator, laura mercier, luminous skin, napoleon, yves saint laurent