Auric Glow Lust + Smoke Reflect Review

Hey guys! Today I am reviewing the first products of Samantha Ravndahl’s brand Auric Cosmetics. I love Sam, she is one of my favourite beauty influencers and is someone I look up to in many ways. So when she announced her brand I immediately knew I had to pick up some of the products. I purchased three products and I’m going to break down everything for you guys.

So let’s start with the brand itself. Auric is a luxury, sustainable and cruelty-free makeup brand. There is also a real focus on inclusivity, which I’ll go into more detail with the Glow Lust. As with any luxury brand, that means that the products come with a higher price tag. Even though Sam is Canadian, her business partner is American and the distribute centre is in the US. All prices are in American on the site, so while my total was $123 US for three products, I had to pay more because of the exchange rate. I also had to pay $15 for shipping AND I had to pay $43 in duties because they weren’t prepaid. So in total, I paid around $200 CAD for three products. RIP my bank account. The price was in the back of my mind while testing out these products.

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The first product is the Glow Lust. This is a liquid luminizer that is meant to give shine and hydration. It can be worn alone, mixed with a product or on top as a highlight. It comes in seven different shades that are skin-tone-based. So instead of it being gold, silver or pink the shades range from light cool beige to deep neutral. I love the shade range and how the shades aren’t numbered as well.

I love this product. The most similar product is the Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter, which just expanded its shade range. The Glow Lust comes with a pump that is easy to control so I can pump out a bit or do a full pump. Also, the packaging is just so luxurious. The bottle is glass and has gold drip detail. The gap is a pain to get off though. The Charlotte Tilbury cream has a doe-foot applicator. So it’s easy to use on top of foundation but not as easy to mix in with other products.

The Charlotte Tilbury formula is shinier but doesn’t dry down completely. Auric’s Glow Lust adds the most beautiful glow from within look but it dries down and sinks into the skin. This helps it last throughout the day. I also loved adding it to my matte foundations because it adds a subtle glow to them. The only thing is that I wouldn’t necessarily say it hydrates my skin. But I don’t mind because ya girl is oily. The Glow Lust is $45 US, which is pretty on par with the Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter. There is a lot of product so I think this would last me forever. And that packaging is so luxe, so that’s where part of the price is going towards.

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The other product I got was two shades of the Smoke Reflect Duos. These duos come with a creamy-matte shadow and a micro-glitter pressed eyeshadow. There are three shades. Defiance is bronze/gold, Temper is rose gold and Ego is silver. I didn’t get Ego since I don’t wear much silver eyeshadow. I will say that these shades are different than what you typically expect with those names. The cream Defiance is browner than orange bronze. Temper’s cream is only slightly pink. But I think the idea of having a cream and a pressed shadow is quite creative. I can think of a dupe for this product that has both the cream and powder off the top of my head.

For some reason, I thought the creams would be metallic but they’re not. They are more matte with a slight glimmer to them. They are also subtler than I thought. When I think of cream eyeshadows my mind goes to Colourpop or Hourglass. These are not like that and shouldn’t be compared otherwise you’d be disappointed. Once I got to understand the formula I grew to appreciate them. They would the best as a base for the glitter. Because by themselves they’re pretty plain – which I guess could be nice for an everyday look. Using a brush applies a sheer wash whereas using my finger is where I can make it look most similar to what it looks like in the jar.

The shimmers are what sold me on this product. It’s the most beautiful glitter ever. I can use a brush to create a gentle scattering of glitter or use my finger to create a very impactful look. They don’t have much basic colour to them, but that’s because they’re designed to go on top of the creams. I’ve worn them with other shadows and they look great. So overall these duos work best when you use the pressed glitter and cream together. These duos are $39 US which is pricey. A product like Hourglass’ Scattered Light could give you a similar effect with one product and it’s much cheaper. So while I do like it and think it’s pretty, I don’t think it’s necessarily worth it.

So what are my overall thoughts on the brand and what would I recommend. First, if you’re on a budget, you don’t need these products. Auric is a small brand, and I’m sure as they grow the shipping and duties will probably decrease and therefore be more affordable. But if you want to try something, I would recommend the Glow Lust over the Smoke Reflects. I think they are other products on the market that can give you a similar effect. But the Glow Lust is beautiful and there isn’t anything like it on the market. But it’s also a simple product that I see myself using every day and therefore getting my money’s worth.

Do I wish that the products were cheaper? Yes but I also understand why they are pricy. They are trying to be a better option for luxury makeup that is often not cruelty-free or inclusive. Like if you were comparing this brand to Dior or Armani then I would recommend Auric over those others. I am excited to see where Sam’s brand goes. I probably won’t be able to afford to purchase every launch but I will be cheering her on because I love her.

Let me know what you guys think about Auric and these products. What piques your interest? Do you think the products are good or too expensive? Let me know in the comments.

xoxo

Lea