In 2015, we fell in love with Laura Geller’s best-selling Baked Gelato Swirl Illuminator in the shade Gilded Honey ($28). So, in 2019, like many other fans, we were surprised to see it had been discontinued, but Geller had something bigger and better planned (of course she did!). This fall, after six years off the market, the iconic highlighter made its highly anticipated comeback, with some key updates and lots of celebrity fans (Debi Mazar, Melissa Gorga, Dolores Catania, Kyle Richards and Margaret Josephs, to name a few). Here’s the scoop.
The Benefits of This Best-Selling Highlighter
In 2021, Geller announced a pivotal shift for her namesake brand, catering exclusively to women over 40 with mature skin, and this highlighter was one of the products she wanted to update accordingly. That update included the addition of skin-care ingredients—hyaluronic acid, grape seed oil, vitamin E and vitamin C esters—to add hydrating and brightening benefits, as well as what she calls “a soft-focus finish that flatters mature skin.” I noticed it also adheres better to my skin and lasts longer.
One thing that hasn’t changed? The Illuminator’s artisanal manufacturing process in Italy, which involves it being baked on terracotta tiles for 24 hours to lock in those moisturizing ingredients. I love the soft-focus finish and silky texture of Laura Geller’s baked formulas, which blend so nicely into my skin without settling into fine lines. (The marbleized blush is a personal favorite, too.)
You can expect the same sun-kissed, lit-from-within glow that you got from the original formula, and there’s still no glitter, which we love. It provides just the right amount of pigment and diffuses light in the prettiest way to give the face that healthy, youthful luminosity we all crave. The gold-toned Gilded Honey shade flatters all skin tones, and you can use it anywhere you want some instant brightening, whether that’s your cheekbones, brow bones, Cupid’s bow, or even on your eyelids (though it’s not ophthalmologist-tested, so go at your own risk on your eyes!).
Real Housewives of New Jersey‘s Margaret Josephs says, “I hate to look shiny, but I love to look glowy because it’s youthful and it looks amazing. I love Laura Geller’s Illuminator because it’s creamy, it melts right into your skin and it doesn’t make you look dry. It lasts from day to night.”
