Some girls are blusher fiends, some girls are loopy about lipstick but I am definitely a highlighter girl. It's the one product that makes me weak at the knees and I always seem to lust after the sheen and glowy gorgeous-ness that it has to offer. I buy them like they're going out of fashion. I love the fact that with a light swipe of highlighter on the tops of the cheekbones, browbones, down the centre of the nose and on the cupid's bow can bring your face back to life, add dimension and make you look impeccably healthy and polished. It's by far my favourite beautifier, name a highlighting product and I will probably will have tried it. So for anyone who is looking for the perfect highlighter for their skintype or if you just like lusting over glowy gorgeousness like I do, then read on chickadees...here's a look at my favourite highlighting products (note - these are my favourites for applying OVER foundation but I will soon be doing a post on the best highlighters to apply UNDER foundation for a more subtle glow so stay tuned for that).
I decided to group them into Powders, Cream formulas and Liquid formulas. I thought this would make it alot easier for people to decipher which ones would be best for them with regards to their skintype. So basically, if you have oily skin then powders will be more suitable for you, if you have dry skin then the cream or liquid formulas will work best with your skin and if you are lucky enough to have normal skin, then you can go mad and try any of them! So my favourite powder formulas are pictured above.
Best for night time use are:
Prestige Mineral Bronzing Powder in Pure Shimmer - This is a great bargain buy in my opinion, it creates a gorgeous effect that is more of an intense sheen, better suited for a more dramatic night time look. You really have to tailor your highlighter to the time of day as you can get away with alot more at night. Great for all skintones.
MAC MSF in Soft & Gentle - Alot of people go mental over MAC MSF's and I know alot of you guys collect them. I love this warm shade and it's so flattering, it's another one more suited to night time use because it has a high level of sheen perfect for creating chiselled cheekbones by precision applying on the very tops of the cheekbones. With this highlighter, less is more...apply it lightly for a really sexy glow on your cheeks. I would say this is more suited to medium to dark skin tones, it's a bit too warm for paler skin tones.
Smashbox Softlights in Highlight - This powder can double as a blush for paler skintones and for medium skintones it will add a lovely warmth to the cheeks that is super subtle. It is more peach toned and the sheen it creates is so subtle, it's perfect for daytime use!
Nars Albatross - I've mentioned this product many times before on my blog and I still stand my statement that it's the best powder highlighter I have ever tried. It's perfect for daytime use AND night time use. It mimicks the effect you get on your skin when in candlelight and everyone knows how candlelight makes everything look like it's bathed in warm yellow tones, it seems to diminish flaws and just looks really beautiful. It suits all skintones, you only need a smidgen to create a subtle glow that undetectable even in daylight.
Next up are the cream formulas:
MAC Cream Colour Base in Pearl and Shell - I will group these two together since they are essentially the same formula but in different shades. Basically the Pearl shade suits all skintones whereas the Shell one is more suited to medium/tanned to dark skintones. I would only use that when I have a tan. They both have to be applied lightly to get the right effect. I always rub them into the back of my hand, then apply ONLY the excess that's left on my fingers. Just tap that into the tops of your cheekbones in a semi circle from the outer corner of your cheekbone up round the outside of your eye socket. This will catch the light and lift your face, putting emphasis on your cheekbones. Don't apply it to the apples of your cheeks, this will just look too shiny. All the emphasis should be on the high points of your face, that's what will give you the 'polished' look.
Chanel Creme Illuminator in Moonlight - As you can see, I have hit pan with this one! I've had it for years and I still really rate it as a highlighter. I would say it's very much like Benefit High Beam but in a cream formula. I love using this as a brow highlight and it can also be used on the lips with a bit of clear lipgloss over the top...it's a great multi-purpose product. I've even used it down my shins to create a lovely sheen down them. Great for travelling if you want an all in one product! This is perfect for all skintones as well.
Please note that the swatch of MAC CCB in Shell looks ALOT darker in the above swatch than it is in real life. I just had to layer it to get it to show on cam.
On to the liquid formulas which are both great for day or night:
Rouge Bunny Rouge Seas of Illumination Highlighting Liquid in 009 - This has the longest title I have ever seen but MAN, is it amazing. I love the luxurious packaging, the imaginative name but best of all, I love the colour and formula. It's a goldy bronze colour and perfect for summer time when I have a bit of a tan. It's a really light formula, easy to blend and has an amazing effect on the face. This stuff is expensive but I have used it loads and there's only a tiny bit gone. This bottle is going to last for a long, long time. It feels like pure luxury to use and sometimes, us girls need that!
Just check out the yummy deliciousness of the swatch...
Benefit High Beam - This ethereal pale pink liquid highlighter has been a favourite of mine for a few years now. I think it looks gorgeous on my skin whether I'm slightly paler and also with a tan. It gives my cheekbones a lovely glow and the pale pink shade is just so flattering and pretty, my skin looks so alive and healthy when I wear it.
So there it is ladies, my top picks of the highlighters in my collection (and it's a BIG collection). I'm sure there's something there to suit everyone really. I find that the most important thing to remember about highlighter is that often the less you apply, the better it looks. Remember, you can always go back and apply more if you want to amp up the glow. I wouldn't be without my highlighters, they are a quick fix when your skin looks dull or lack lustre and I'm sure my love affair with them will go on and on and on and on......
Heidi Klum in NIKOLAKI by Nick Verreos/David Paul, Models of The Runway, Season 7
It was a NIKOLAKI ivory silk jersey side-cowl draped one-shoulder dress with a contrasting black silk Duchesse strap.
Model Dominique in the original long silk jersey and silk Duchesse one shoulder NIKOLAKI gown
I think she looked GORGEOUS! And stood out amongst all the models in their black slip dresses. I am sure the director and producers (and lighting people) were not so happy that she was wearing white but I am happy it was "approved".
