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We Tried E.L.F. Cosmetics’ Halo Glow Liquid Filter — Here are Our Honest Thoughts

ELF Halo Glow product shots on a colourful background
Shoppers Drug Mart

When it comes to beauty products, there are a few factors that snag our attention amid the sea of options out there. A makeup product that offers skincare benefits? That’s appealing. An affordable drugstore dupe for a viral product with a luxe price point? Count us in. So, when we first heard whispers about a so-called “face filter” that TikTok beauty aficionados love (and maybe love even more than a high-end counterpart), we had to try it for ourselves.  

Enter: the E.L.F. Cosmetics Halo Glow Liquid Filter

Described by E.L.F. as a “glow booster that creates a luminous, dewy complexion” that offers the “soft-focus effect of a social filter,” the Halo Glow Liquid Filter is also infused with hydrating ingredients like squalene and hyaluronic acid for skin-loving benefits. Halo Glow comes in eight shades for versatility across many complexions, so our team decided to put the hype to the test on our range of skin types and skin tones.

Related: We Tried Rare Beauty’s Liquid Blush on different skin tones and here are our honest thoughts.

How do you use the E.L.F. Cosmetics Halo Glow Liquid Filter?

Before we share our results, we thought we’d address the question that came up most frequently when discussing the product, which was a totally new addition to the beauty routine of a few of our testers: “How do you use a liquid filter?” 

According to the E.L.F. website, the answer is multi-faceted — you can wear the Halo Glow Liquid Filter in four key ways:

  • On its own. If you want a touch of sheer coverage and a soft-focus effect, you can wear the Halo Glow alone. E.L.F’s pro tip? Blend the product in with the bottom of an angled face sponge.
  • Under your foundation. For a luminous look when you’re wearing foundation, you can start with the Halo Glow as a base.
  • Combined with foundation. Another option if you’re wearing foundation is to mix the Halo Glow with your foundation (use a blending brush) to give your foundation a bit of a dewy glow.
  • As a highlighter. The Halo Glow also works as a subtle light-reflecting highlighter. Just use a concealer brush to apply it on the points of your face where you’d usually use highlighter (think: cheekbones, brow bones and the bridge of your nose).

Check out our video review and tutorial on Slice.ca’s TikTok below, and read on to see what our Slice staff had to say about E.L.F. Cosmetics Halo Glow Liquid Filter. (Note: all of the shades of the E.L.F. Cosmetics Halo Glow Liquid Filter that we used are available at Shoppers Drug Mart for $18.)

@slicedotca this is not a drill, go grab this RIGHT now 🤩 #elfhaloglowliquidfilter #hollywoodflawlessfilter #dupes #makeupreview ♬ Aesthetic – Tollan Kim

See also: How to get the glowy, ‘clean girl’ makeup look.

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Dragana Kovacevic with ELF Halo Glow

Dragana Kovacevic

E.L.F. Cosmetics Halo Glow Liquid Filter in Light/Medium, Shade 3

“E.L.F.’s latest Halo Glow complexion booster promises to deliver liquid filter-like results, but don’t call it a foundation. While I personally wore it on top of my Saje Wellness Glow On Face Oil and applied it as I would a foundation (I used shade 3), you can also wear it under your foundation, or apply it to choice areas as a highlighter. The internet’s been a-buzz with testimonials that compare the drugstore product to the more expensive Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter (Sephora, $58), and I was curious to see how my skin would respond. 

“In addition to promising to create a soft-focus look, it’s also infused with ingredients like squalane and hyaluronic acid to help smooth out the skin. For my own test, I applied the product very lightly on my cheeks, cheekbones and under my eyes and blended it with a blender (hoping to mask some rosiness and my dark, sleep-deprived undereye circles). The end result wasn’t overly dramatic (nor was I necessarily looking for this), and it felt great on my dry skin (read: light). 

“Still, I did see some nice coverage of my chosen areas and would happily use this product when I’m going out and looking for a little more oomph in my makeup routine. Next, I’d also play with using even more product to amplify the filter effect for those special occasions.” – Dragana K., Producer-Editor, Slice

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Mali Raja with ELF Halo Glow
Mali Raja

E.L.F Cosmetics Halo Glow Liquid Filter in Medium, Shade 4

“As someone who owns the *expensive product* that this was rumoured to be a dupe for, I was so intrigued – did E.L.F. really successfully create a product that works just as well or better, for a fraction of the price? The answer is heck yes

“The day I received this, I woke up not feeling the most confident in my skin because I had broken out overnight, and thought with this giving me a ‘glow’ it might emphasize my blemishes. I tried it out (in shade 4) on a nearly bare face and was shook, shocked and astounded. This product exceeded all my expectations, giving me the most beautiful base by illuminating my skin. I finished off with my everyday makeup routine, using tinted moisturizer, blush and lip gloss. Except, instead of looking like I’d completed my basic makeup routine, the Halo Glow Liquid Filter made the products on my face pop way more than usual. 

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“The only downside I saw was that the product seemed to melt into my skin after a few hours of being outside, so I’d recommend setting your makeup well, and bringing a compact with you for light touch-ups, especially if you’ll be out in the sun (AKA, sweating). 

“However, for the price and initial result, this seemed like a fair trade-off. Trust me when I say you need to grab this in your summer shade, winter shade and maybe even throw in a shade to use as bronzer. I can’t wait to have a beautiful summery glow all year round, thanks to this product.” Mali R., Content Creator, Slice 

Related: 10 best sweatproof makeup products.

Tracey Moore with ELF Halo Glow
Tracey Moore

E.L.F Cosmetics Halo Glow Liquid Filter in Medium/Tan, Shade 5

“When I first opened up the Halo Filter (I used shade 5), I stared at it in a bit of confusion it looks like a concealer applicator, but the bottle is the size of a foundation. I’m trying to make my way onto Beauty TikTok, so I haven’t come across any tutorials on this one.

“Improvising, I slathered it all over my face and dabbed it into my skin with a beauty blender. The result was a dewy glow and the illusion of baby-soft skin. I went on to layer on my foundation, but instantly regretted it the dew became muted and I liked the way it looked on its own. I love this for a no-makeup makeup day or attempting that impossibly fresh clean girl makeup glow.” – Tracey M., Digital Content Strategist, Slice  

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Ria Ankrah with ELF Halo Glow
Ria Ankrah

E.L.F Cosmetics Halo Glow Liquid Filter in Medium/Tan, Shade 5, and Deep/Rich, Shade 7

“This product is a must-have for my new fall and winter everyday makeup look! It made my skin look super glowy, moisturized and overall healthy — without feeling congested and like I had a full-coverage foundation on (I used shade 5 and shade 7). 

“The first few minutes after applying it, my skin looked a tad bit grey, but it dissolved and camouflaged nicely with my complexion. If you have oily and acne-prone skin like me, I suggest using a matte powder before and after to make sure this product stays intact for 5+ hours. 

“Might I add, that besides this being a great dupe for the Charlotte Tilbury product… the price point is amazing! Shoutout to E.L.F. for this awesome product that I’ll definitely be adding to my everyday makeup routine!” – Ria A., Community Manager, Slice & W Network

See also: 10 must-visit wellness retreats in Canada.

Sharon Miki Chan with ELF Halo Glow
Sharon Miki Chan

E.L.F Cosmetics Halo Glow Liquid Filter in Fair/Light, Shade 2

“Here’s my problem: I’m self-conscious about my face (hormonal acne is apparently my lifelong BFF, and I often look a little tired). However, because of said hormonal acne and tiredness, I try to avoid (and rarely have time to apply) a full face of foundation. So, when I heard about this magic filter that could add a bit of hydration and glow without being a heavy foundation, I couldn’t pull out my beauty blender fast enough.

“The Halo Glow delivered (I used shade 2). While it’s not a miracle worker (it can’t eliminate my acne and redness), a little makes a big difference in making me feel more put together and look less tired. While it does definitely add a more polished effect and coverage when mixed with a bit of foundation, I’ve been using it on its own as part of my quick everyday routine.” – Sharon C., Editor, Slice

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All products featured on Slice.ca are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy through links in this article, we earn an affiliate commission.


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