Highlighter a.k.a. illuminators are one of my favorite makeup products because they allow you to manipulate the way light hits your face and accentuate your best features. Also, anyone can apply a highlighter. You do not have to be a makeup artist on a Hollywood set to to apply this product. But in case there is a chance you did not know the basic areas of where to apply a highlighter here is the rule of thumb: Your cheekbones, brow bones, the bridge of your nose, forehead, chin, and your cupid’s bow. Illuminate those areas of your face you want to accentuate or bring forward.
But there are a lot of highlighters or illuminators to choose from, and picking one can be hard. If you are picking a highlighter for the first time you have to be wary of your skintone. Someone who is pale skinned would want a highlighter that has a sheen or is pearlescent. The light pigmentation will add just enough radiance to their complexion without making them looking like an Eskimo. Someone with a deeper complexion would want to look at highlighters which are deeper in color would want to choose a highlighter that is bronze in color or maybe a rose-gold color. Be sure to choose a highlighter with lots of pigmentation and stick with the warmer hues of color.
Like many people, I am more light-medium skinned in the winter and have a medium skin tone during the summer. So I keep a light colored highlighter and a warmer colored highlighter. I have four highlighters that I really like using. And since we are deep in winter I will start with my two favorite lighter shades of highlighter:
BOBBI BROWN’S SHIMMER BRICK IN ROSE:
Bobbi is very well known for her Shimmer Bricks, and they come in various colors. This compact comes with four shades of pink and one white color which together reflect radiance and light. Basically you take your brush and sweep the brush across all five shades and apply. There are some who use the Shimmer Brick as a blush, but I prefer to use it as a highlighter (Just a matter or preference). The payoff is great and it is very easy to apply. The Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick retails for $48.00, and may be purchased at Macy’s, Nordstrom’s, Sephora and www.bobbibrowncosmetics.com.
URBAN DECAY AFTERGLOW IN SIN:
This champagne colored highlighter reports to last eight hours and I will testify to that. It is a super-soft, long-wearing, blendable powder highlighter. The formula of the highlighter is very smooth and buttery. There is very little glitter in it, and has a very beautiful sheen which looks natural. It goes on sheer and blends in easily so that you can apply just a little or a lot. This color is great for during the winter months when my skin is not as deep. The Urban Decay Afterglow in Sin retails for $26.00 and may be purchased at Macy’s, Sephora, ULTA and www.urbandecay.com.
– Now onto the months when my skin is more medium toned.
MAC EXTRA DIMENSION SKINFINISH IN BEAMING BLUSH:
The MAC Extra Dimension Skinfinish is a liquid-powder highlighter which gives a luminous, well-defined finish. This creamy powder has been formulated for ten hours. It left my cheekbones luminous and well-defined. And the formula of this highlighter is smooth and buttery. The color I chose, Beaming Blush is described as being a pinkish gold. On my skin tone, it is more goldish-pink. Either way it is a beautiful color which lasts all night long. It retails for $33.00 and may be purchased at any MAC Cosmetic store or www.maccosmetics.com.
LANCOME GLOW SUBTIL SILKY CREME HIGHLIGHTER IN COLOR 06 (GOLD MINE):
This is a buildable cream highlighter with light-diffusing particles which delivers a natural-looking, soft-focused glow. The highlighter has a delicate-refined glow and illuminates your natural skintone. It may be applied for a subtle look or layered for an intense glow. It is enriched with a unique blend of skin conditioning agents and light-diffusing particles making it an easy to apply formula which melts into your skin while remaining non-greasy and non-tacky. I like this highlighter because not only does it highlight, but it adds a bit of bronze. It feels like a little cloud, and goes on your skin so easily. The Lancome Glow Subtil Creme Highlighter retails for $30.00 and may be purchased at Sephora, Macy’s and www.lancome-usa.com.
There are the highlighters I have been using over the past couple of seasons. As you can see, each highlighter or illuminator has its own positive attributes and reasons why I like them so much. What is your favorite highlighter and why?
Lubna M Umar says
Love these highlighters ! I swatched the Urban Decay one at Sephora and I instantly liked it! Great post x
themisslubna.com
Erica S Katsanis says
Thanks Lubna! The Urban Decay highlighters are to die for and I love their pigmentation.
Erica