When I think of the best liquid illuminators to have kissed my skin, I’m immediately reminded of Midas, a mythical king who had the power to turn anything he touched into gold. After the joy of transforming bathtubs and bedroom furniture to gold subsided, Midas realized the gift was a curse: When he hugged his child, they too turned into a gold statue.
Despite Midas’ fate, I do think there’s genuine wonder in caressing something and making it glow brighter than it already is, enhancing our environment with a little shine. I have a special adoration for Milk Makeup’s Bionic Glow, a liquid illuminator that makes my complexion look lit-from-within. The name alone satisfies my sci-fi loving self, while also speaking to its super ingredients that support healthy skin. The formula is so good, it just won a 2022 Allure Beauty Award for Best Liquid Highlighter.
“The name ‘Bionic Glow’ was inspired by the natural skincare superpowers of the reishi and snow mushrooms in the formula,” says Jessica Blanco, MMU SVP of Product Development and Packaging. “We wanted a name that gave a superpowered and naturally powered vibe for this skincare packed, 90% natural formula, that also contains vegan plant-derived collagen, hyaluronic acid, and pea protein.”
I love the way the weightless formula illuminates my complexion in one caress, while nourishing my skin. “This formula provides a hydrating veil that can be used all over your face and body for glowy, healthy-looking skin,” says Jessica. In two mesmerizing shades—Virtual, a luminous peach, and Reality, a radiant bronze—Bionic Glow effortlessly melts into my skin.
How to Wear Bionic Glow: Our Best Liquid Illuminator“Both of these shades were designed to work with all skin tones,” says Sara Wren, MMU Director of Artistry. “Reality can be worn as a glowy bronzer on fair-to-medium skin tones or as an allover golden glow for deeper tones. Virtual gives a pink champagne glow that works well as a traditional highlight on all skin tones and looks so beautiful on the tops of your shoulders or collar bones for a sexy, subtle body glow.” What makes Bionic Glow a staple in my makeup routine—besides its enticing luster—is its versatility. "The thinner texture is seamlessly blendable and really easy to work with, no matter what your skill level is,” says Sara. “I like to start with a bit of product on the back of my hand and gently tap it onto the high points of my face with my ring finger.” Bionic Glow is also versatile enough to mix seamlessly with my other makeup and skincare staples. “You can mix it with your foundation or concealer to give both a glowy boost,” says Sara. “I love to mix it into my body lotion when I need some super quick body bronzing.” The possibilities are endless, so I’m here to show you a few ways to add this award winner to your routine. Below, six different looks that highlight the possibilities of Bionic Glow. |
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1. Moonlit MuseBionic Glow in Virtual has such a gorgeous payoff on my face, but it becomes truly magical when activated on my body—I feel moonlit when I wear Virtual on my chest. I brought out its pink tones by layering it with Lip + Cheek Paint in Quickie on my cheekbones for a juicy berry effect, and then dabbed some on the bridge of my nose to catch the light. |
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2. Honey HarmonyI rarely use foundation because of my acne-prone skin and prefer to keep things simple. But I was excited to try Sara’s recommendation of mixing Bionic Glow in Reality with my foundation to create a luminescent, harmonious skin finish. I loved the effect, which I amplified on my eyes with Color Chalk in Jump and KUSH Mascara to accent my lashes. For even more shine, I added a coat of KUSH Lip Glaze in Nova. |
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3. Terra CopperI adore a transitional makeup moment, so I amplified the same look to show how it could be tweaked for a nighttime vibe. With Lip + Cheek Paint in Swerve sitting pretty on my cheeks, I added a mixture of Bionic Glow in Reality and foundation for a burnt-caramel blush. I also applied Reality on my chest and collarbones to create a copper spotlight on my complexion. |
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4. Mellow + MoisturizedI love the beautiful way my skin shines on its own here. To get this look, I mixed Bionic Glow in Reality with moisturizer to showcase its radiance for a natural, sensual look. With Color Chalk in Bounce in the corners of my eyes more KUSH Lip Glaze in Nova, I channeled romance at golden hour. |
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5. Bionic EclipseLiquid illuminator and mattifying primer are surprisingly good together: They balance each other out for a toned-down, dreamy effect. I layered Bionic Glow in virtual over Pore Eclipse Mattifying Primer to soften my skin’s texture without blocking Bionic’s glowy essence. Topped with double-winged eyeliner, this look gave me celestial-being-emerging-from-an-eclipse vibes. |
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6. Teleport to MarsI intensified the previous look by mixing Bionic Glow together with Bionic Blush in Teleport and Beyond. The coral-plum combo birthed a fiery magenta shade, reminding me of red smoke on Mars bathed in light. |
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Meet the Experts
Jessica Blanco (she/her) is the SVP of Product Development and Packaging at Milk Makeup. In her role, she seeks out the new, useful, and functional to create our revolutionary and highly innovative Milk Makeup products.
Sara Wren (she/her) is the Director of Artistry at Milk Makeup. In her role, she does all the makeup artistry and direction for our Milk Makeup global campaigns, educates the staff and field team on application methods, stars in the brand’s social media videos, and travels to different markets spreading Milk Makeup’s good vibes. When she’s not on set, Sara loves experimenting with DIY hair colors, eating tacos, watching basketball, and scouring for vintage cosmetics to add to her impressive collection.
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