Do you enjoy "highlighting blushes"?

YES! I love a blush with enough shimmer to double as a highlighter, but I’m routinely “more shimmer” over subtle as a personal preference. I also find they’re easier to apply than more matte blushes, so that is another bonus!

— Christine

29 Comments

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Mariella Avatar

I do but I just think of them as shimmery blushes rather than “highlighting” blushes (this seems to be a recent term). My favourite MAC finish always used to be the Sheertone Shimmer formula and in recent years, their Extra Dimension blushes because I do like a glowing finish. I don’t really think of them as “highlighters” though – just as blushes with shimmer (far less confusing!)

Lauren Avatar

The only shimmering blush I have is NARS Orgasm, which all in all isn’t really that shimmery. I adore my matte blushes and think they look natural and natural is more my style (other than when I go out on the weekends and like more fun looks). Subtle highlight can look good, but I dislike my overpowering (imo, not to those who love the stuff) highlights that look like I got in a fight with the shimmer all over my cheeks so have never cared to mix it with my blush.

Raye Avatar

Yes! One less step is helpful on some days. Or similarly I’ll use highlighters designed for deeper skin tones as a shimmery blush. I’m fond of the Dior Luminizer in Rose Gold and the Hourglass Rose Gold Flash for this reason.

Anne Avatar

I like a shimmer blush, too, but unlike Christine, I reverse the application process. Every year about this time, I pull out my Armani sheers (4 of them) and mix them for various blush looks, then apply a dusting of ‘moist’ powder over them. I have a few translucent powders that aren’t matte, but aren’t shimmery, either. They tone down the Armani sheers, which don’t look too shimmery indoors, but are a bit too shimmery in natural sunlight for my taste.

Had Dior included a rose pink in the shade range of their new highlighter blushes, I’d have made the proverbial mad dash to buy it. I dodged a bullet, budget-wise.

Jessica Avatar

I have hormonal acne, so it’s a hit or miss for me. When I’m not experiencing a breakout on my cheeks, I do enjoy them, but when I am, I avoid them like the plague. For that reason, I don’t own a lot. I’ve really been enjoying cream blushes b/c even if there is a little shimmer in them, they don’t emphasize texture as much as a powder blush with shimmer. I still use a regular highlighter with them b/c generally I want to be super glowy, but there are times when I find that the shimmery blush itself is enough.

Jessica Avatar

Christine, is it possible when you do these types of questions to tag the item in the picture? There are times when I know what it is and times when I do not. If it creates too much extra work, please don’t worry about it.

Alecto Avatar

Try doing a Google image search — it’ll ask you to enter the URL of the image, then it’ll find other instances of that image. That usually solves the mystery.

To get the URL of the image, right-click on it and select “copy image location.”

xamyx Avatar

Only if I’m contouring with color, which is the actual purpose of a “sculpting blush” (and that’s the reason they don’t tend to blend out well on the apples of the cheeks). That said, I typically use a more “natural” contour product, and opt for an account highlighter.

Ana Maria Avatar

I’m usually into matte or satin blush finishes, I definitely don’t like something too highlighting or shimmery. But I sometimes enjoy a golden-peachy blush with a tad of highlights (like MAC Springsheen), makes my face more vibrant.

Lily Kelley Avatar

Th only shimmery blushes i like are the Extra Dimension blushes from Mac. They give a beautiful soft glow to the skin.

Genevieve Avatar

To be honest, I am often confused about whether a cheek product is a highlighter or a blush or both. And the reality is that I like to see and swatch the shades for myself before purchasing. I din’t really like a full on shimmer at all. As it is pretty difficult here in Aus to have access to good quality affordable blushes like in the Colour Pop range to test, it is tricky.

Bonnie Avatar

As long as it’s not ridiculous. A subtle shimmer, like Orgasm, can be really pretty, but a full-on highlighter type shimmer is a no for me. I use highlight for that, and I tend to keep that much shimmer a little further back on my cheekbone than my blush.

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