VDL Lumilayer primer review and demo

I’ve been having a super highlighter kick lately and one of my go-to products have definitely been the VDL lumilayer primer.  I was introduced to VDL through the face shop Canada and they sent me a couple of the brand’s products, including this one which is their best sellers.  They have a couple of versions of their primers but I was sent this hydrating version since I am dry skin. So let’s see how these will preform!

Full name of product:
VDL lumilayer primer

Limited edition/ Permanent?:
Permanent

Description of product:
“Voluminous face injected with light 
Violet Lumilayer Pigment, made by combining skin-brightening red light and blue light for clean and clear skin, creates an intensity that illuminates the face and highlights features.
Radiance that lasts all day
Gently illuminates the face to make skin tone look brilliant all day long.”

Price:
21,000 won

Amount of product:
30 mL

Duration before expiration:
1.5 years

Country of Manufacture:
Made in Korea

Where to buy:
Thefaceshop Canada (in stores and online)
Amazon
Jolse
Yesstyle

Ingredients:
Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Neopentyl Glycol Diethylhexanoate, Butylene Glycol, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, CI 77891, Magnesium Sulfate, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Sorbitan Sesquiisostearate, Panthenol, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Phenoxyethanol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Distearyldimonium Chloride, Tocopheryl Acetate, Stearic Acid, Tin Oxide, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Benzyl Benzoate, Citronellol, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Fragrance

How to use:
 Before applying your base makeup (foundation, BB cushion, etc), use a thin layer of the lumilayer primer for a subtle glow underneath your foundation.  You can also use it on top of your foundation for a strobing/ highlighting effect.

Packaging:
VDL to me is almost like the MAC of road shop brands.  They aren’t as cheap as Etude House but they aren’t as high end as Hourglass, they are the perfect balance.  The glass bottle for this lumilayer primer has a nice high quality feeling to it and the gloss bottle actually has the same pinky purple iridescent as the primer itself.

The bottle also got a really nice pump whoo whoo!  No having to buy a separate bottle!  Okay, we getting a little too excited over here haha.

Color/ Pigmentation +Texture:
I remember buying the Mac strobe cream when I was in high school and had to return it because it was so shimmery.  That was when I figured that I really don’t like chunky shimmers for any face products and luckily this VDL primer has super fine shimmers!!  It is so fine that it blends into the skin and makes my skin look like it is naturally glowing on its own.  There is a little bit of bigger gold shimmers but if you are to use this underneath foundations, you won’t notice it as much.  If you were to dab it top of your foundation, you would see the bigger shimmers but it is still natural enough where people would second guess.  As for the color, it has a white base with a glowy pink and slightly purple undertone.  Texture wise, this primer is super lightweight and absorbs into the skin very quickly. I wouldn’t rely on this solely just this primer for moisture since it won’t be enough if you have very dry skin like me but it gives just enough where your foundation won’t look cakey.

Okay, let’s try this primer on :).

Here is my skin with nothing on it. And yes, I do realize I could have put some lip balm on LOL.

One pump will give you enough for half your face.  I’d say a good pump and a half will do the trick and keep in mind I got a fat forehead.

Before…

And after!

Can you tell the difference?  I definitely can.  It almost looks like I turned a light bulb on the left side and forgot the right side haha.  If you’re like me and don’t wear makeup 5 days of the week but still want a glow up, this is definitely the product for you!  I also think the slight purple undertone definitely helps brighten my yellow undertone skin as they are opposites on the color wheel.I look alive! LOL  And if you squint, I’m wearing burgundy mascara :O. What do you guys think of that glowww

Fragrance?:
The primer has a very light and clean scent, almost the scent of cucumber.  Smell-o-scale: 4/10 and the fragrance go away after application.

Pro:
-super fine shimmers
-very brightening
-texture doesn’t interfere with foundation
-can also use on top of foundation for extra glow

Con:
Nothing really…

Repurchase?:
Yes!

Stars given out of 5:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Overall thoughts:
It is definitely safe to say this is easily a holy grail.  It ticks off all the criteria that I want in a primer/ highlighter and this just is so good.  I definitely understand why this is the best selling product from VDL and I kind of feel like I’ve been sleeping under the rock.  The lavender undertone works wonders and I can even wear this if I’m lazy with makeup for a real-life filter.  Two thumbs up and welcome to the approved family kiddo :).Product gifted by the face shop Canada.  Not sponsored.