I've taken forever to decide how I feel about this highlighter - and I think the fact that I got the Becca one a day before I got this coloured my view of it. To make a fair call I decided to use this exclusively for the last ten days and set my Becca one aside.
I decided long before my trip to Sydney that I wanted this, but then BR sent me on a highlighter shopping mystery shopper mission to Sephora, who don't stock Too Faced, and so I got the Becca one there. I then found Mecca Maxima and was taken with how pretty this was, so consulted BR highlighter Queen Koni and she was pretty emphatic that I needed both, so I went for it :)
Now... although this review isn't super glowing, this is only because on me I prefer the Becca and keep comparing this to that no matter how hard I try. I do like this, and would have been totally happy with it had I not discovered Becca.
Too Faced Candlelight Glow comes in a 'vanilla' coloured plastic compact with pink and gold lettering on top of a pink chandelier. The compact snaps closed securely, and opens to reveal a good sized round mirror, and the product.
Candlelight Glow is split down the centre, with the left hand side a champagney shade and the right a rose shade. Both are embossed with a chandelier image over the top, which (of course) wears off as you use it.
Although visibly different in the compact, the two shades are very similar on with only a slight hint of pink in one and gold in the other. I mix the two for application, and get an overall rose gold shimmer to the highlight.
This is way more visible on application than in pictures, so it really depends on what you're looking for as to how you apply it. I took suggestions from several including applying it whole face under foundation (meh), whole face over foundation (Twilight) and using it as I use any other highlighter, and this is what I settled on.
After the rest of my face is done, i use a contour brush/ eyeshadow blending brush (I have a special one for highlighter!) and lightly dust this on my cheekbones, decolletage, down the middle of my nose and under my brow arches. Sometimes I've also used it as eyeshadow, or as inner corner highlight.
I've had to experiment so much to find my happy place with this, but I was determined to make it work because Koni is so in love with it and her calls are generally on point!
Like I say, because I fell in love at first sight with the Becca this one had a hard battle for my affection, but it got there in the end. It's a very pretty highlighter that has become my 'everyday' lately - I'm working from home and it's nice to add a touch of gorgeous to my mornings :)
This higlighter gives a very nice glow to the skin. Its got gold toned shimmers to it, which i suppose is what makes it look like you're in the glow of a flame. As long as you don't use a heavy hand with this product its fine for everyday, although it looks incredible under artificial lights so that's why i prefer it for night time. As for the 'duo' that this has, i dont really see too much of a difference between the pink and white shades. The white is a little more sheer and the pink a little more warm toned. I swirl them together anyway so it doesn't bother me. I think this is the perfect highlighter for night time, it just gives the face that extra oomph lol. Its not chunky shimmers in it either, and its super easy to apply, it doesn't get everywhere and make you look like a disco ball. It can be very subtle but you can build it up to your desired finish. The packaging is sooo cute as well, and it comes with an awesome sized mirror for touch ups through out the night :)
Tips: Swirl the duo together with a small fluffy brush and sweep onto the high points of your face, these being your cheekbones, nose bridge, brow bones and cupids bow. I usually only apply it too my cheek bones and cupids bow.