As a lover of dewy, natural-looking makeup and the entire 'clean girl’ aesthetic for that matter, I tried TikTok's viral e.l.f Halo Glow Liquid Filter and it's truly changed my makeup routine and saved me a small fortune in the process...
Right now, the trendy look is dewy, sunkissed skin ala Hailey Bieber and to achieve this look, liquid highlighters and glow-enhancers have become a must-have. Perhaps the first of its kind to really burst on the scene was Charlotte Tilbury's Hollywood Flawless Filter, which triples as a foundation, highlighter and primer—but now a new glow filter has entered the chat—and TikTok reckons it's the ultimate swap.
Yes, I'm talking about the e.l.f Halo Glow Liquid filter. To define this product, think of a concealer that while making your skin look flawless, also nourishes and hydrates your skin—giving you a fresh, natural glow. It's also jam-packed with some of our favorite ingredients, from hyaluronic acid to squalane and has exclusively five-star reviews.
But is the hit glow booster worth the hype and more so, is it worth retiring your luxury filters for? Here's my honest verdict, plus a rundown on its formula and how to apply it...
As mentioned, Tiktoker's are comparing this complexion liquid to the Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter—which is high praise indeed—as it works as both a foundation and as a glowy filter-like highlighter.
e.l.f says it leaves you with a soft-focus-like filter on your skin IRL and describes it as a skincare-makeup hybrid. The best thing about it though is its versatility!
You can use it in four ways, either wear it alone, mixed with your fave non-comedogenic foundation, under your makeup like a primer, or on top as a highlighter.
So far it’s already a winner in the Beautyverse—especially since it’s under $15, unlike some of its competitors…
Personally, I love a dewy, natural makeup look—my makeup routine consists of a glow filter, foundation, concealer on my under eyes, powder, blush, blush and more blush—finished off with a liquid highlighter, mascara and some brow gel.
My goal is a glow for the gods which I can definitely say I achieved with the e.l.f Halo Glow. I applied it like a primer for my foundation, dotting it onto my cheekbones, nose bridge, forehead and chin.
I loved the fact the doe-foot was larger than others I've tried—it was easier to apply and didn't require me to go back to the bottle for a second helping. It blends beautifully and my foundation melts into it and crucially I don't get foundation piling. Instead, I'm left with a dewy, healthy-looking base that looks like my skin but way better. Even when I add powder there is no cakiness and the glow still shines through.
As e.l.f claims it can also be used to highlight, I also applied it on my cheekbones and nose with the help of a beauty blender and honestly it looks *chefs kiss*. It's so subtle but radiant—ideal if you're not a fan of glitters or really pigmented highlighters.
The only slight hang-up I have with this product is that it's slightly orangey, despite me using the fairest, coolest shade—but once it's blended out and paired with a foundation this is no longer an issue.
I feel the need to state that I am a die-hard fan of Charlotte Tilbury, I shamelessly buy every viral product of hers when my bank balance allows and have used the Flawless Filter religiously since it first came out.
Therefore I do not say the following lightly and while it hurts my soul slightly—I must tell my fellow budgeting beauty lovers that I could barely tell the difference between them.
Need evidence? In this picture, I am wearing e.l.f's glowy offering on the right and Charlotte Tilbury's on the left...
To really push each product to its glowy limits, I applied them as both primers and highlighters, on one side of my face. The results are a dreamy finish with no discernable differences. The Flawless filter is perhaps slightly shinier, but overall the effect is the same and the formulas both feature yummy skincare ingredients like squalene and glycerin and give the skin a radiant but subtle look.
Though there are some differences worth noting, the first; Charlotte Tilbury's Filter has a larger shade range and the second is of course the price point.
The Hollywood filter will set you back $44 /£36, while the e.l.f halo glow will only cost you $14/ £14 for the same amount of product. As far as I'm concerned, the value of the e.l.f glow booster is hard to ignore, especially when it leaves your skin comparably glowy and is similarly versatile.
The packaging is also a major point in e.l.f's favor. Anyone who has used the Charlotte Tilbury filter will know that while it has a pretty, gold lid and glass bottle, after time the writing on it rubs off. If you use a lot of cream products you will soon find that the red lettering transfers onto your hands and sometimes even your cheek. Not ideal when you've both just completed your makeup and dropped $40 on it. I have not found this to be an issue with e.l.f's...
So, in conclusion, TikTok is right once again. If you want that glass-like skin look, you cannot go wrong with the e.l.f Halo Glow Booster. It's the perfect product for glazed skin...though you might have to patiently wait for it to come back in stock...
If my word isn't enough to convince you, just peruse some of these fellow five-star reviewers: One happy shopper gave it five stars and said, “I am beyond stunned. I have the charlotte tilbury flawless filter. and did a side-by-side comparison on my face. I cannot spot a difference! It made my skin glow and I felt gorgeous. This is beyond worth it for the price. GET IT AS SOON AS IT GETS BACK IN STOCK BABES!!"
While another dubbed it a ‘Holy Grail’ product, before saying, ”This product did not disappoint! WOW, I absolutely love it. It goes on super creamy and feels hydrating on the skin. This is my new makeup bag staple. I have already told all my friends to buy this as well!!”
And of course, if you need more visuals, the consensus on TikTok is much the same, with videos racking up millions of views and likes for their first impressions of the new must-have glow filter...