Comparison – Skin Highlighting Fluids (Lisa Eldridge, Charlotte Tilbury, Auric, Chanel)

Upon purchasing the new Lisa Eldridge Elevated Glow Highlighter (full review here), I knew I wanted to compare it to the other skin highlighting fluids I have. I figured that if I’m wondering about this, I can’t be the only one! The ones covered in today’s post are:

• Lisa Eldridge Elevated Glow Highlighter | Crystal Nebula
• Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter | 1 Fair
• Auric Glow Lust Radiant Luminizer | Morganite*
• Chanel Les Beiges Sheer Healthy Glow Highlighting Fluid | Pearly Glow

*Since taking these photos, Auric announced that Morganite was reformulated to be 10% lighter and slightly more neutral, so please take that into account when looking at tone differences. However, the formula is still the same. I’ve since ordered the new Morganite since the original was a bit too dark and peachy for me and am happy to compare the previous shade to the new one if requested!

PRICING

When comparing similar types of products that can serve very similar purposes, direct pricing comparisons can be helpful. Here’s the breakdown of the ones contained within this post:

Brand	Retail Cost	Product Amount	Price per mL
Lisa Eldridge	£27.00 (~$37 USD)	13 mL / 0.43 oz	~$2.85 / mL
Charlotte Tilbury	$44	30 mL / 1.0 oz	$1.47 / mL
Auric	$45	35 mL / 1.18 oz	$1.29 / mL
Chanel	$48	30 mL / 1.0 oz	$1.60 / mL

PACKAGING

Packaging can make a big difference for me when it comes to the experience of using a product and therefore if I’ll want to reach for one product over another. Since all of these products have different delivery methods, I definitely wanted to touch base on this!

The Lisa Eldridge comes in a weighted frosted glass bottle with a smooth matte gold cap that screws on very securely. The product is delivered via a shorter, quite large doe foot applicator, which picks up a decent amount of product upon pulling it out of the bottle. I really have zero complaints with the LE packaging as it feels very sturdy and delivers the ideal amount of product for the way I like to use it, which is applying to the tops of my cheekbones.

The Charlotte Tilbury also comes in a clear glass bottle with a ridged shiny rose gold cap. I absolutely hate the closure mechanism with this packaging because as soon as I think I’ve screwed it on securely, it kind of “pops” and is loosely screwed on again – I basically have to stop just short of twisting it as much as I think I should. I don’t know if I have defective packaging or if this is normal, but it’s definitely something that deters me from using it more often. The product is delivered via a long, thin, almost slightly pointed doe foot applicator and picks up much less product than the Lisa Eldridge. This is a product I also tend to just apply to the tops of my cheekbones, but I have to dip into the product 3-4 times to get the amount I want for both cheeks, which is another drawback for me.

The Auric comes in a frosted glass bottle that has a smooth black cap with gold detailing. The cap is extremely secure – probably the most secure cap I’ve ever had – and while it was initially a little difficult to get off, it has loosened enough over time to not be an issue. It doesn’t snap on, but it settles directly into the grooves on the bottle such that the cap is flush with the bottle. The product is delivered via a pump that gives you complete control over how much product you dispense. I know Samantha Ravndahl talked extensively about how much work went into selecting the best pump, and honestly, you can tell. I want all of my pumps to be this smooth and precise!

The Chanel comes in a square glass bottle with a smooth black cap that has the Chanel logo on top. This cap snaps on, which gives immediate feedback that it’s fully closed. The product is delivered via a pump, though not nearly as smooth as the Auric one – it can almost feel at times that it’s about to get stuck. However, it never has for me, and I’ve not had an issue with getting out only the amount of product I want – you just have to be a bit more mindful while doing so.

FORMULAS

The Lisa Eldridge is quite a liquidy formula that spreads easily and evenly. After about a minute or so, it does start to set down to a thin film on your skin. This product has multicolored pearls throughout the formula that have what Lisa calls a “twinkly” effect, and that’s actually the perfect way to describe it – it’s not an immediately blinding highlighter (though it is very buildable if you want that), but it catches the light in a really special and unique way. I love that you just look like you’re glowing when you’re indoors, but you definitely get more of a shine in direct sunlight. This highlighter is really flattering on the skin and could offer some additional longevity because of how it sets down. As for the color (Crystal Nebula), it does not noticeably alter my skintone when blended out, so I think the 4 available shades are pretty flexible (though I’d love to see this expanded in the future).

The Charlotte Tilbury is also a liquidy formula that spreads easily and evenly – no complaints here. I don’t find that it necessarily sets more than other typical liquid products, so bear that in mind if it’s important to you. This product has no discernible shimmer or pearls in it. If applying a thin layer, it will give a healthy glow, but if you build it up too much, it can have a more metallic look. It’s still flattering if placed appropriately, and I do enjoy the effect – I just don’t use it as often because of the packaging gripes I detailed above. The shades won’t stretch across as many skintones because they do have a little more opacity in the base – that being said, there are 12 shades to choose from, though they definitely seem to cater to the lighter end of the spectrum.

The Auric is a totally different formula – much thicker in consistency and has enough body to hold its shape upon dispensing. Still spreading easily and evenly, you can definitely feel the moisture this product provides with the added squalene and glycerin. It gives an almost satiny, glossy appearance that looks really smooth on the skin, and both the finish and fluidity make it such that it kind of glides over any skin texture instead of enhancing it, which is rare for a highlighting product. This product has a bit more base pigment, though can be sheered out or built up, and comes in 7 shades. The brand states that they are flexible shades, and based on the marketing images, that truly seems to be the case. I think this is the way to go if you have skin texture concerns and especially if you have drier skin. This is also the only one that I would say could be mixed in with moisturizer and would look the most natural on true “no makeup makeup” days.

The Chanel is the thinnest and most liquidy of the four formulas – it will readily run off your hand or down your face – and it’s for that reason that it’s also the most sheer. This product will give you the gentlest glow out of those in this post, though I wouldn’t actually say the most flattering. Upon application, it looks like it’s going to give you the most beautiful pearly glow. However, I find that it dries down quite quickly, and upon doing so, leaves behind noticeable (and not always the most evenly dispersed) shimmer. You can’t really tell if you’re putting this under foundation – which is how I recommend using this one since it tends to just slide on top of or pick up your base products – but it’s something to note. The shade (Pearly Glow) is actually the best out of all of these products for my skintone, and while there are only 2 shades available, it really is such a sheer formula that it can probably work for most people. Lastly: If you know Chanel, you know the smell. This is actually the biggest deterrent for me using this product because it is intensely fragranced and actually will give me a headache (which many fragrances don’t do), especially since it does linger. Please beware of this if you are sensitive to scents – and maybe even if you typically aren’t.

I’ve included motion clips of product swatches in the slideshow below, so be sure to give it a moment to load if you’re interested in seeing how each one looks on the skin and reflects light.

FINAL THOUGHTS

I really hope this is helpful and provided some clarity regarding the differences amongst these products! If you asked me today which I would choose – Lisa Eldridge and Auric are the most enjoyable to use and have the most flattering, sophisticated formulas in my opinion. I would select Lisa Eldridge for a slightly more noticeable highlight or special occasions, while I use the Auric on a very regular basis due to both the elegant satiny/glossy finish and hydrating properties. The Auric is a formula I use to both highlight (Morganite) and bronze (Pyrite).

Do you have a favorite? Please leave your thoughts below!