theBalm Mary-Lou Manizer: Swatches + Review!

I know why bears hibernate during the winter (#biology). 

I understand why bears hibernate during the winter (#biology).

What I don't get is how life doesn't go into a world-wide communal hibernation during the Summer (#Cassie-ology); I am melting in this hot, steamy, unbearable (see what I did there?) heat that has recently consumed much of the United States.

So why am I reviewing a highlighter, you may ask? 

Shouldn't my sweat be providing enough of a 'glow' in the sauna that is the great outdoors?

Well... technically yes, but theBalm's Mary-Lou Manizer does so much more than make you glow. Take the jump below if you want to see why this little highlighter has been branded as infamous for being too darn beautiful!

I got this generously sized sample of theBalm's Mary-Lou Manizer in my February Birchbox (can we ignore my recycling of pictures? I THOUGHT WE WERE FRIENDS) and can honestly say that this is the thing that I look forward to putting on my face the most when I do my makeup in the morning.

If I'm being completely honest, I haven't been wearing a ton of makeup as of late. When I leave my blessed air conditioned apartment I basically put on the absolute minimum (foundation, contour, blush, and my brows) because I know that anything more will just feel heavy and about as ridiculous as putting on a fur coat to go grocery shopping.

However I make an exception for Mary-Lou Manizer; she demands attention even from my sweating pores!! 

Mary-Lou Manizer is a yellow-toned highlighter with an intense sheen rather than sparkle; it's these two factors that really set it apart from all other highlighters I've tried. It looks so much more natural against my skin with the golden undertones I develop during the summer (thanks Italian roots) and, I'm not sure that I need to point this out, but glitter isn't exactly natural so the sheen here blends a bit better with any sort of dewyness your skin may have (regardless of the season).

Please excuse my creased eyeshadow... the heat messes with me and I forgot the importance of eye primer.

Isn't that highlight beautiful though??

The sheen looks a bit sweaty in some lights which I actually love. It makes me look like my exercise regime includes more than doing cat-like stretches when I wake up and the occasional jaunt to the fridge or bathroom.

I use it, without fail, in my inner corners of my eyes and generously atop my cheekbones; Mary-Lou Manizer perks my face up and hides the fact that I spend most of my Summer days hibernating in the air conditioned cave that is my apartment with Galileo snoozing by my side (I tolerate his body heat because he's adorable).

Have you tried theBalm's Mary-Lou Manizer?

Love it? Hate it?

Do you wear less makeup during the Summer when the heat hits hard?

Do share!!

xoxo - Cassie