I was incredibly surprised at how much people wanted to find out what I thought about this product. I had posted a picture of it on Instagram and briefly mentioned it in my Highlighter/Illuminator Inventory way back when. The item in question is none other than the BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector in Opal.

Product Description: “A water-based moisturiser with an SPF of 20+ and light-diffusing particles of shimmer that creates instant radiance and vitality and reduces imperfections.”

This sort-of cream is a kind of a lightly burnt bronze-y color with a lot of shimmery particles. Supposedly, this is the key to a natural glow.

I think it was buzzed about for a while in the beauty community because of Lisa Eldridge. I don’t know what particular video that was, but if you know this product, chances are, it was because of her.

So. How do you use these?

You can mix them into a liquid base product like a foundation, a tinted moisturizer, or a BB Cream. This is my preferred method of applying it, and that yields this result:

When you mix it into a liquid base, you kind of disperse the sparkly bits making them practically imperceptible to a person who is an acceptable distance from your face. What you get, instead, is a natural-looking healthy glow, instead of The Cullen Effect.

When I first used this, however, I wore it as a moisturizer under my loose powder foundation:

I did not like it very much, only because if someone leaned in to your face for whatever reason, they will be blinded by glitters!

The mica particles were so obvious, but I think that it’s because you spread a more concentrated amount of glitter all over the face. Does that make sense? That’s how it makes sense in my head. Though this is one way of using it, it is not the way that I necessarily like.

Obviously, you can also use it as a “spot” highlighter, concentrating the product on the bridge of the nose, on the cheekbones, and so on, but that’s just asking for trouble.

The problem with this is that the pump dispenses way more product than you need. I save the remnants of the SSP that gets pumped out that I don’t get to use on the top of the dispenser before putting the cap back on. The bottle is lovely, though. But I digress.

This method also makes for a sparkly effect, rather than a glow. I think that the product was probably made to give an all-over highlighting effect, as opposed to just “spot highlighting,” as in it aims to make your skin appear glowing. It also obviously doesn’t act as an all-over facial moisturizer in this case.

My preferred method is also the one that makes the most sense. The Shimmering Skin Perfector has SPF 25+ and I think that mixing it with a base will give you more coverage for that SPF, as well as the more desirable results.

Another pro with this product is that although it is quite glittery, it does not accentuate pores. MIRACLE? Probably.

I definitely recommend this product if you are in need of something to perk up dull skin. It’s especially great for the summer. Actually, it’s probably even going to be great for the fall and winter time. You can confuzzle people when you walk into a room, bringing in a strange summer radiance. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?

Finally, this is not at all a cheap product. Considering the mark-up in Manila, it’s probably better to buy this overseas. But, you honestly need half a pump for your entire face, and no further highlighting. It’s that good.

Alternately, you can use the too cool for school Dinoplatz Pearl Bay Invasion illuminator which works the same way, and gives beautiful results as well.

That’s a cheaper alternative, though I don’t know if it is cruelty-free or if it has SPF/skin care benefits, like BECCA’s Shimmering Skin Perfector. I can’t speak for the moisturizing effects of either bceause I frankly did not notice much of a difference, but my skin’s not that dry to begin with, so that may be why.

My final verdict on this product is that it’s super awesome, and I would definitely repurchase it when I run out, which doesn’t seem to be any time soon.

BECCA Cosmetics is a cruelty-free company. You can purchase BECCA in Manila at Adora in Greenbelt 5.