I love when they give you a really glowing, luminous sheen–where the shimmer is so fine that it doesn’t read as shimmery, just glow! I’m not so keen when they emphasize pores!
— Christine
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I’m pretty neutral when it comes to the texture of a highlighter. What matters most to me is that it’s not too cool and not too shimmery. Doesn’t matter what shape or form it comes in.
I like when powders are so finely milled that they literally look like you patted your face with oil (in the good, naturally dewy kinda way). Some powders (like the Becca highlighters) are finely milled, but can be so intense that you can actually see what there highlight was placed. I have a shimmer brick by Physicians Formula that is so finely milled, but diffuses so nicely on the skin, that it just looks like a real glow on the cheek bones.
I definitely don’t like when there is glitter in highlighters. I feel that it makes the texture chunky, makes it more difficult to blend out and make look natural and just isn’t flattering to have glitter sitting on the face, especially since every time I’ve tried, the glitter migrates all over my face.
I must try this one – do you have one particular colour?
It’s the Physicians Formula Shimmer Strip Nude palette. there’s two choices, either natural or warm. I have natural and it honestly can give you a bunch of different highlight shades, since there’s 12 little variations all throughout it. It comes in the cutest packaging too (although a little bulky, I depotted mine and it bent the pan so I’m dealing with cracking :/) but it’s such a buttery formula. it’s only $14 and you get a ton of well pigmented product!
I have that one, too. It’s a great highlighter. Good choice!
They don’t seem to show up on my skin 😛
Monica
This is my perfect type of highlighter because they’re quick and can be subtle or dramatic. My favorites are Wet N Wild Reserve Your Cabana, Hard Candy Tiki, and Mary LouManizer.
Rave: They tend to be very easy to apply, and I like to apply highlighter after blush so if it’s a cream that can be a problem.
Rant: They can also tend to be very intense and less natural looking than creams or liquids.
I love highlights in general. I just tend to stay clear from the ones that are too light and cool toned.
I’m not a fan of those containing petroleum byproducts (especially when they use “fancy” terms in an attempt to get it by consumers-ie, Becca) and/or talc, particularly HE brands. Aside from that, I’m more concerned with the end result, although powders are definitely more convenient!
I love how some highlighters just give the skin this beautiful glow. I love that sun kissed dewy effect. I love Becca highlighters but i feel like sometimes its just too intense. The Topaz highlighter from Becca has a love/hate relationship with me. I like it sometimes and sometimes I dont. Too much shimmer. But the Rose gold highlighter from Becca is just perfect
As an olive girl, medium bordering on “tan”, I am cursed with large pores of course! So I ALWAYS look for any indication in your reviews that a highlighter emphasizes pores at all, because then it’s something I won’t waste time or money on. I need mine to be finely milled, no glitter, just glowy and dewy and fresh.
Rave: Powder highlighters are my favorite type. They’re great for oily skin, it’s easy to control how much you use, and they give a beautiful finish. There are matte versions available in powders, too.
Rant: No huge negatives for me. I don’t like ones that are crumbly or have chunky glitter. I don’t like a lot of fallout.
I prefer creams or liquids, but like the convenience of powder.. as long as they are super finely milled and do not cast whitish where they are placed.
The perfect glow is a rave and making your pores look like craters is a rant for sure. That and disco ball face!
I generally don’t use a highlighter, but I would like one that is subtle and finely milled and not with a ton of glitter on my face.
I like the glowy look they give, but I draw the line at turning your cheeks into high beams or disco balls (*cough*ChampagnePop*cough*). That look works for some people and I have no judgement on other people liking that, but I personally like the more subtle look from highlighters like the “Glow” from Charlotte Tilbury’s Filmstar Bronze & Glow or some of the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powders. And yes, emphasizing pores is a no-no!
I can’t really rant at all about powder highlighters. I prefer them because my skin is super oily and creams just aren’t for me. I love strong, shimmery highlights, but I only put it on the high points of my cheekbones, tip/bridge of my nose, and really dramatically on my cupid’s bow. I like to keep the rest of my face natural or matte looking to avoid the greaseball look.
My biggest problem with powder highlighters is in finding one in the right color without opting for a pure white. Then… there’s the glitter or overabundance of shimmer in many powder highlighters and that’s not a look I’m comfortable with (even though it looks great on others).
I want a subtle, translucent sheen. I think a sheer highlighter with violet would be my best option, but I don’t know if such a thing exists that meets my requirements. Something like the NARS Dual Intensity eyeshadow in Cassiopeia but without those little micro-glitters. Sigh…
Elf has a whipped one in lilac in their little squeeze tube. Doesn’t take much. But I think it looks pretty natural.
Thanks! I’ll check it out when I get the chance.
A comment on another thread had me loking at Looxi Beauty. She has a highlighter called Ever After that she describes as “beige with a violet undertone.” May be somethng that would work for you.
Thanks! I discovered Ever After and Luna… I’m in love!
I don’t like when the shimmer/glitter particles are visible, and I also hate how some powder highlights tend to migrate on my face (I have these problems with the Becca powders, surprisingly)! I love that they’re easy and quick, they require a lot less work than a liquid or cream highlight. My favorite one has the be TheBalm Mary-Lou Manizer.
I feel like i need to mention the matte highlighters, I looooove them, they changed my routine a lot a few years back. I love to get that lighted effect underneath my eyes, nose, chin, forehead and cheekbones.
And of course I love shimmery highlights as well, for everyday use I choose a fan brush or a more subtle highlight, and for special occasion a more dense brush to get more glow and colour. I also love that it’s easy to use, so more people are opted to try highlighters, cause come on, in general they make us look prettier. My favourite highlighters are: Mary Lou-Manizer, Mac Soft & Gentle, Make Up Store Savannah, Mac Lightscapade.