Laura Geller Filter Finish Baked Radiant Setting Powder Review

Laura Geller Filter Finish Baked Radiant Setting Powder ($32 at Ulta) is new for Spring 2016 and I purchased it during a recent Ulta haul. As soon as I saw it in the store I was drawn to the beautiful color-correcting shades, the promise of blurring all of my skin's flaws, and the fact that it's Laura Geller because I love almost every product I've tried from her line so far. But I'm honestly left a little confused by this one...keep on reading and I'll explain.

Description: Droplets of pure pigments blur flaws, balance your skin tone and illuminate your face with a warm natural glow. Swirl it on liberally over your makeup - there's no such thing as too much - for the perfect finish.

Price/Where to Buy: $32 at Ulta.com and Ulta stores

Quick Verdict: I would use this as a highlighter but not as a setting powder. 

Filter Finish contains several different color-correcting pigments that are meant to even out your skin in a subtle way when blended together. Lavender brightens dull skin, while green neutralizes redness, yellow hides under-eye circles, and orange neutralizes blue tones. I swatched this in the store and fell in love with how smooth it was (like all of Laura's baked products) and it seemed to brighten the skin on my hand where I applied it and gave it that "lit from within" glow. I always seek out products that will brighten my complexion because my dry skin looks lackluster and dull most of the time and it usually needs a little help.

Based on the description, this is meant to be used as a setting powder all over the face and that "there's no such thing as too much".  Over the past few weeks, I've really put this to the test...I've tried it all over my face (from sheer to heavy) under my eyes, and as a highlighter and what I discovered is that I can't use it the way it's described...at all.

It's hard to tell from my swatch because I couldn't get the lighting quite right, but this has a really shimmery finish...one that you'd expect a highlighter to have rather than a setting powder. It seems to draw attention to, rather than away from lines, wrinkles, pores and uneven skin texture. When I used a lot, it actually gave my skin the illusion of more texture, rather than a soft focus blur. Under my eyes was the worst place to put it and made my fine lines stand out like crazy. When I highlight under my eyes, I like to use more matte highlighters and this has way too much shimmer for that area.

The funny thing is, when I first put it on inside the house, I liked the glowy effect it gave my skin (hence why I thought I liked it when I swatched it in the store), and it did seem to blur away my flaws. But the minute I went outside or into brighter, more unforgiving light, it was a totally different story and I could see absolutely everything I don't want to see. It looked almost frosty on my skin!

If I used a very light hand, it didn't emphasize my pores and lines, but it was also barely noticeable and wasn't enough to "set" anything. I found that it works best as a highlighter on my cheekbones and high points of the face, due to the amount of shimmer in the formula. When used in that way, it's actually really beautiful and gives a nice ethereal glow.

Overall, I really like this as a highlighter, but I think it's mis-marketed as a setting powder...at least for me. It's possible that someone younger with no visible pores or lines and a more flawless complexion could use this all over their face as a finishing powder to achieve a glowy look, but if you have anything to hide, this will just bring it out even more...especially if you follow the directions and use it liberally. I find that products such as Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Dim Light or Wet N Wild's Reserve Your Cabana have more refined shimmer and can be used all over without drawing more attention to textures in the skin. This just missed the mark when using it for it's intended purpose, unfortunately. It's a shame because I usually love everything Laura Geller! 

Have you tried this? What do you think? 

Laura Geller Filter Finish is available at Ulta.