Highlighter was always a step that, until recently, I dismissed as being a faff. A lot of the blushes I wear have a little shimmer to them anyway, so I always thought it was enough. Boy, was I wrong. Taking the extra fifteen seconds to add a little extra highlight to the tops of my cheekbones has made such a massive difference to how healthy and glowy my skin looks, I don't think I could be without this now.
Day to day, I reach for the MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Lightscapade, since it doubles as a powder to set my under eyes (score). This is pretty subtle, no glitter here, just fine shimmer veins, so you can use it as a setting powder, should the mood strike you, for an all over glow, but I like to build this up under my eyes and across my cheeks for a subtle, day to day glow. Slightly more subtle, but a similar concept is the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Dim Light, I don't tend to use this as a highlighter, but rather as a setting powder to soften the look of my skin, and add a natural glow. It's sister product Incandescent Light however, makes a great cheek and browbone highlight. Super subtle and no glitter.
A similar sort of finely milled powder, but one that's a lot less subtle, is the Topshop Moonbeam Powder Highlight. This is one I reserve for whacking out when I have a tan (HAH!) and for the summer, it's a bit more in your face, and pretty golden, but ever so pretty all the same. Another more summery product is the Benefit Sunbeam Liquid Highlighter, more subtle than the Topshop offering, but still gives a good golden glow. One of my holiday must haves. Another Benefit offering, I've fallen back in love with the Benefit Watts Up Cream Highlighter, which looks a bit bizarre when first applied, but is gorgeous when blended out.
The most subtle highlight in this roundup is the Rimmel Match Perfection 2-in-1 Concealer Highlighter. I use this when I'm going super au-natural, it just adds a little light. Following the same theme of subtlety, I am currently in love with the Smashbox Halo Highlighting Wand, a great super fast option for adding a little glow to the cheeks.
I mostly use the L'Oreal Lumi Magique Primer, for it's intended purpose, as a primer, but if I still have a little left on the back of my hand I'll add this to my cheeks and brow. It's not really shimmery, it just sort of adds luminescence. And another drugstore favourite the Revlon Photoready Skinlights, which looks fab when blended across the cheekbones with a stippling brush.
Next on my highlighter hit-list is The Balm's Mary Lou-Manizer highlighter! What are your favourite highlighters?
