I’ve come around to them; I like the dewy finish they can give, but I find that I still reach for powder highlighters the most–probably they’re just the most foolproof and what I have in my vanity drawer (vs. cream or liquids).
— Christine
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I like how natural they can look but a lot of times I find that when applying, they remove the makeup underneath
Love: That some cream highlighters can give a “glass skin” effect. Plus, they work very well with BB/CC creams for a more natural looking glow usually.
Hate: Some of them can lift or disrupt foundation. This is a deal breaker for me if they do this. Also, some are too glittery and look garish.
At the end of the day, I still prefer powder highlighter, especially baked geleé ones!
Ooh! First!
Additional question: Do you think cream highlighter can offer benefits not seen in powder highlighters? What are they? (Recommendations are welcome, too!)
Liquid or cream is better than powder for dewy/glassy finish or for dry flakey skin texture. Browse temptalia for recs
I love the dewy and glass like finish I can only achieve with my cream and liquid highlighters. My top two favorite highlighters happen to be a liquid and a cream.
What are your two favorites?? Inquiring minds would like to know!
They can look nice in swatches. I’d like to try some but my base is powder – I use foundation minimally and powders don’t expire easily. For easy layering I just use powder highlighters.
I don’t often use cream highlighters. They tend to be more subtle, and don’t hold up to oily skin as well as powders. That said, I do have some pretty duochrome ones that I really like.
I love the shine and metallic look that a cream highlighter gives. I especially love the lite colour pop ones . Acting up is gorgeous and for the price point it’s amazing. As I get older, I feel like creams give me a dewy , younger look.
Love: don’t emphasize flakey skin as much as powders. Dewy finish is nice!
Hate: less lasting power but this can be fixed by setting with powder highlight. Have to be careful not to disturb foundation underneath.
I’ve never tried one that I liked! They’ve all emphasized texture and were both difficult to blend and difficult to build up. Which is weird, because I love cream blush, and you’d think I would enjoy the dewiness of a cream highlight.
When I use them in conjunction with cream blush if I put on first the blush blocks it out and if I use it last it dilutes rhe blush where applied.
I’m in my 60’s and find that powder highlighters don’t work well on my dry, textured skin and can emphasise my lines. I’ve been using RMS Beauty Living Luminizer for years and adore it. I dot it on over my cream blush and blend it in with my beauty blender. It looks so natural and pretty, and lasts all day. It also works beautifully over powder blush. It’s a brilliant product with four gorgeous colours to choose from.
I prefer cream highlighters and the dewy glow they give to my skin. I don’t like shimmer or glitter or anything too obvious. The cream highlighters I use provide a natural radiance that I love.
I had never even considered using anything but powder, that is until I used Pat McGrath’s stick highlighters. They leave a very dewy highlight which I like for my 60 year old skin, but I do find they seem to wear off faster than powder.
The only cream highlighter that I’ve found that doesn’t disturb product underneath is the ColourPop super shock highlighters. Everything else I have to put on under foundation so it doesn’t lift it. I definitely prefer powder highlighters because they’re just easier to work with.
Creme and liquid highlighters do seem to be the WTG with more mature skin. By mature, I mean age 30 and up. That has been my personal experience. The powders certainly can emphasize lines and texture.