I've been doing makeup since I was barely a teenager. You know the drill. Secretly borrowing (okay, stealing) makeup from my mum's vanity, experimenting with colours I definitely had no business wearing, and somehow convincing myself frosted blue eyeshadow was the peak of sophistication.

Needless to say, there were some questionable looks.

But every smudged eyeliner, mismatched foundation, and overdrawn brow taught me something. Makeup wasn't just something I wore. It became something I genuinely loved learning about. I found myself watching endless tutorials after school, saving Pinterest boards before Pinterest was even cool, and spending way too much time swatching products I couldn't afford at beauty counters.

That obsession eventually snowballed into creating beauty content of my own. Specifically, avant-garde makeup. Think editorial looks, graphic liners, abstract face art, and makeup that was definitely more "gallery exhibition" than "coffee run." It pushed me to understand textures, pigments, lighting, and how products actually perform under different conditions.

So trust me when I say this.

I know ball.

I've tried drugstore gems that outperform luxury products. I've also tried luxury products that were... all packaging and no personality. A hefty price tag doesn't automatically impress me anymore.

Which is exactly why opening the Givenchy Prisme Libre Highlighter Powder felt like such a full-circle moment.

Givenchy Beauty has always been one of those brands sitting comfortably on my beauty wish list. Every time I'd walk past the counter, I'd stop for "just a look," knowing full well I wasn't leaving with anything. Their lipsticks? Stunning. Their fragrances? Instantly recognisable. Their entire aesthetic somehow manages to feel timeless while still being effortlessly cool.

It's one of those beauty brands that feels aspirational without trying too hard.

So when I finally got the opportunity to review the Givenchy Prisme Libre Highlighter Powder, I won't lie... I was excited.

But I was also prepared to be brutally honest.

Luxury makeup has a habit of setting incredibly high expectations. Sometimes it lives up to them. Sometimes it doesn't.

After wearing this for the past few days...

Yeah.

I totally understand the hype.

The first thing I noticed wasn't how shiny it was.

It was how not shiny it was.

Hear me out.

Some highlighters walk into the room before you do. One swipe and suddenly your cheekbones could probably guide ships home. They're fun for a full glam moment, but they're not exactly something I find myself reaching for every single day.

The Givenchy Prisme Libre Highlighter Powder takes a completely different approach.

Instead of sitting on top of your makeup, it melts into your skin.

The glow looks like it's coming from underneath your complexion instead of being painted across it. It's soft, diffused, healthy and almost impossible to overdo. You know when someone walks past you and you catch the light hitting their skin just right? That's exactly the effect.

It's giving expensive skincare.

It's giving "I drink enough water."

It's giving "maybe she's just naturally glowing."

And honestly?

That's my favourite kind of highlighter.

I also unintentionally stress-tested it because I applied it differently every single day.

One morning I used my usual fluffy highlighting brush. Another day I literally tapped it on with my fingers because I was running late (classic). On another occasion, I used a damp beauty sponge just to see if it would work.

Every. Single. Time.

The finish stayed beautiful.

It never looked patchy. It never grabbed onto texture. It never left that obvious stripe sitting across my cheekbones screaming, "I AM WEARING HIGHLIGHTER."

Instead, it just blended into everything else on my face like it belonged there.

Honestly, that's probably the word I'd use to describe this product.

Effortless.

Not effortless in the sense that it's boring, but effortless because it doesn't demand perfection from you. Whether you're someone with an extensive brush collection or someone applying makeup in the backseat of a Grab five minutes before an event (we've all been there), it somehow works with you instead of against you.

And that's (unfortunately) rare.

Of course, there's real innovation happening behind the scenes too.

Product Deets

The Givenchy Prisme Libre Highlighter Powder is a dual-tone illuminating powder that delivers up to 24 hours of multidimensional glow, alongside 24 hours of hydration and comfort. It's infused with skincare-inspired ingredients that help keep skin feeling comfortable throughout the day, so your glow doesn't come at the expense of feeling dry or tight.

What I found especially interesting is Givenchy's Prismatic Light Technology.

Instead of relying on chunky glitter particles, the formula combines blurring powders that help smooth the appearance of the skin with ultra-fine light-reflecting pearls that create dimension every time the light catches your face. The result isn't glittery or metallic. It's refined.

Even standing near a window, taking selfies in natural daylight, or walking under warm restaurant lighting, the glow never crossed into disco ball territory.

It simply looked... expensive.

And if you've ever been personally victimised by highlighters that magically reveal every pore you didn't even know existed, you'll appreciate this even more. Somehow this formula gives luminosity while still making the skin appear smoother. That's not something every highlighter can pull off.

The marbled design isn't just there to look pretty either. Swirling the dual tones together creates a balanced finish that doesn't lean too icy or too warm, making it incredibly wearable.

The collection comes in four shades:

• Lilac Pink

• Rosy Gold

• Pearly Gold

• Coral Copper

Each one is designed to complement different skin tones while still delivering that naturally radiant finish rather than an overly frosted effect.

Over the past week, I've found myself reaching for it even on days when I barely wear makeup.

Concealer.

Brows.

Mascara.

Lip balm.

A little swipe of this highlighter.

Done.

It's funny because those are usually the products that earn permanent space in my makeup bag. Not the products that only come out for special occasions, but the ones that quietly become part of my daily routine without me even realising it.

That's exactly what's happened here.

I keep reaching for it because it doesn't require me to think.

It just works.

And honestly, isn't that what we all want from our makeup?

Something that makes us look a little more awake, a little more fresh, a little more put together without demanding a 20-step routine.

Final Thoughts

The Givenchy Prisme Libre Highlighter Powder was awarded Editor's Choice for Best Highlighter at the Fathom's Finest in Beauty Awards 2026, and having spent more than plenty of time with it, that recognition is more than well deserved.

It isn't trying to reinvent highlighting.

It simply perfects the kind of glow most of us have been chasing for years.

The glow that doesn't scream.

The glow that catches people off guard.

The glow that has someone asking, "Wait... what highlighter are you wearing?" because they genuinely can't tell where your skin ends and the makeup begins.

Those are the products that stick with me.

Not because they're the loudest.

But because they quietly become impossible to replace.

So yes, teenage me, the one secretly borrowing makeup and dreaming about luxury beauty counters, would be absolutely losing it right now.

And current me?

Current me is already wondering how I'm supposed to go back to my other highlighters after this.

Givenchy Beauty, you officially got me.

No notes.

Get your hands on Givenchy’s Prisme Libre Highlighter Powder at Sephora Malaysia for RM259.00 each.