I don’t like matte highlighters personally, so I never reach for those. I also tend to prefer powder contour and bronzers over cream ones myself, and I very rarely contour these days.
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Contouring. It can make you look like your face is dirty if not done correctly
Blush topper? What in the world is that?!
Lol. For me, it’s a light, satin color blush that makes a too matte, darker blush behave!
A blush topper is a sheerer blush that is more shimmery, has a duochrome, etc. to layer over and change the look of more pigmented blushes.
How different is it then from a highlighter?
Not a lot, IMHO. Colors, mostly.
Basically they turn a matte blush shimmery. You could achieve the look by buying satin or shimmer blush imo
Matte highlighters as well as metallic/super shimmery highlighters. I don’t use these type of products in my routine for everyday use, I don’t have the time to work with them to suit them to how I want it to look.
Highlighter for sure. I like the *idea* of highlighter but in reality, it’s not always flattering (I think I do just prefer a natural finish to my skin). It’s also sometimes downright unflattering or hard to tone down. I prefer cream or liquid highlighters if I do wear them as they have a softer effect, at least for me.
I have very oily skin and avoid cream products as they tend to settle in my pores. I’m not much of a highlight person either, although that doesn’t stop me from trying! I haven’t experimented with contour either so I guess you could say that I’m just a blush gal.
Definitely bronzers. I won’t even buy a blush palette if it has bronzer in it because I won’t use it. I’ll use a highlighter for evening high on my cheeks and on my brow bone, etc. My makeup is pretty basic for day….ramped up for night lol.
I’ve kind of stopped contouring too. I just kind of got lazy about the extra step. So I’m not really sure what to do with my contour powders–if I should hang onto them or what. …I don’t all-over bronze either so I really can’t double duty my contour powders for that. Although really, bronzer and contour have different undertones so they really shouldn’t be that interchangeable (at least for me).
I love a shimmery blush too so I don’t know that highlight is all that necessary for me either.
matte highlighters, powdered contour (I prefer cream under my foundation, if I use it), cream blush (used to prefer creams, but aim for more semi-matte/satin finish so reach for powder with a bit of highlight).
I don’t like any cream cheek products. I’m kind of over the whole highlighting and contouring thing, though I still use them in moderation if I’m going out at night. The only cheek product I use on a daily basis is powder blush…these days it’s Clinique in the shade Cupid.
I completely agree with Seraphine’s comment.
I generally don’t like matter highlighters with the exception of Laura Mercier’s matte radiance highlighter which I LOVE for days when I need to look my professional best under office lights. I never contour but use bronzer to highlight angles gently. I also never use lip primer.
I rarely contour – it just doesn’t look natural on my round face and, as Pamela said, it can make your face look dirty if it’s not done well. So contour powders and bronzers aren’t big on my list of products (I have some but not lots) and they’re not things I reach for every often at all. I also agree about “blush toppers” – WTH??? Like we don’t have enough stuff piled onto our faces already? I like blushes like the MAC Extra Dimension ones because they have such a lovely glow and don’t need any “topper” to bring them to life.
Anything Liquid on the cheeks is a pass for me. My skin is too oily for that especially liquid highlighters unless I am using it under powder but that seems pointless to me becaus e when I do highlight I like to glow out! The powder always dims it down too much for me but I need to set it for staying power.
Highlighter. I have oily skin that gives me all the highlight I need. I also rarely wear foundation and concealer. Again, because I have oily skin and it just melts off.
Highlighters. I have never purchased a single one, nor do I intend to. To me, it’s always seemed a bit silly to put what looks like shimmery eye shadow on the rest of my face, emphasizing both my pores and oily skin. I’ve never really understood the fascination with having so many, either, but perhaps that’s just my utter boredom with the highlighter trend talking.
Cream products. Unless I’m doing a beach/pool makeup look where I’m not using much powder, my oil skin says…NO! Lol
Bronzer and contour. Nope and nope.
Contour products. I don’t get the hype on that trend.
Unless it’s formulated like ColourPop’s Cheek Shocks, I don’t bother with using cream products on my cheeks. Stuff needs to dry down on me or I have zero use for it! Also, what you listed above about matte highlighters; a big NO for me, too. I need at least *some* luminosity, y’know?
Honestly I thought I would love bronzer more but I just do it so rarely, probably because I haven’t found The One yet! I am on the lookout for a good bronzer though 🙂
I don’t use cream or liquid products on my cheeks at all – I find them harder to work with and my skin is super oily and large-pored anyway.
Contouring I could get into but it feels like such a fuss for everyday wear, and as a result I never learn lol
I just don’t use blush toppers, creams, or contour products. I am not the biggest fan of shimmery blushes either, but I do have one I like in my collection.
I’m curious why you don’t contour anymore, Christine. Is it due to time or are you just tired of the trend?
I don’t use powder to finish my face at all. It always looks good on Youtube stars but I can’t get over the thought of putting something on my face to matte it out once I’ve gone out of my way to moisturize and luminize, and get an overall youthful glow. I don’t want to look like a disco ball (that can also be aging) but I do like powder highlighters (not matte).
I use powder contour, although I’m open to cream, but I’m afraid it will just move the foundation on my skin around, or worse, get patchy with too many *wet* items piled on each other.
I am testing other products, usually one at a time per cheek, so I do not contour as to not interfere with testing!
Totally understand!
I didn’t even know there was a thing such as ‘matte highlighters’ – doesn’t that defeat the purpose of a highlighter? Maybe it’s just me? I use a blush that incorporates a bit of shine (which is not to say I don’t buy highlighters because I do – they are so pretty!)
Any color lighter than one’s skin can be used as a highlighter, including mattes. As long as it’s lighter than the rest of one’s face, it will bring those features forward (highlight them).
I completely agree!
I agree and had the same thought. Matte highlighter seems like an oxymoron. (like non-alcoholic beer, decaf coffee, and veggie burgers).
I guess I’m into the hype since I do use a highliter on top of a strong blush to diffuse/blend a bit but didn’t know what it is a blush topper. Mere coincidence! Now I do feel like a pro! If I only could ever master that perfect smoky eyeshadow! Lol!
Unnecessary things I would say highliter and contouring but I do love my highlitgher and have tons so I will continue using them even when the hype is far long gone and them some! ??♀️
Highlighters are so pretty! I’m just a tad too old to pull them off I think! I don’t see it as hype. – keep on keeping on doing what you love : )
I’m old too 54 but have pretty decent skin and why not? I docwear very minimum though. Is fun! 🙂
I say do what you love and feel good about right?! : )
do wear…typo. Oops!
Lol! True. Love the comparison. Decaf coffee why even bother. I bought some low fat yougurt and do not see much interest on them no one eats them those things are flat out tasteless.
Right! I agree!
No way will I ever use contouring. I have cheekbones of my own and I just rely on them to do their thing for me. I don’t use primer or foundation. I use a natural finish blush (not matte) and occasionally will use a bit of highlighter high on my cheekbones. That’s it for my routine.
I don’t get primers – I like how it makes my skin feel but I don’t see that it makes my make up last longer. If I forget it no big deal – eye and face. Also, setting sprays – same deal. Many make my skin feel greasy and I have fairly dry skin. I don’t see what the hype is about.
Contour for sure!
I’m an oily gal who has always struggled to remain matte. Highlighter seems contrary to my purpose. Also, I’m 47 now and any powders that I put under my eyes just make me look even older – I don’t need that!
I’ve gone about the last 10 years not wearing much in the way of makeup and boy, has my skin changed in the intervening decade! Now that I’m getting back into makeup, I’ve been struggling to make it look good.
I have oily skin, so I never use cream contours. I rarely use cream blushes or highlighters. I rarely use matte highlighters. I don’t use bronzers very often, maybe half a dozen times a year, tops.
Cream cheek products (not yet, at least), contour (cream or powder), and blush toppers.
There are a few cheek products that I never use:
Bronzers/contour products – definitely unnecessary on my pale, porcelain complexion.
Shimmery or matte highlighters – tend to emphasise pores that I don’t generally have
Finishing powder – I have a setting powder and that is fine with me.
Cream blushes – I prefer a powdered blush.
I never wear bronzer, blush, and highlight at the same time. I usually choose 2 and roll with it. I feel like putting on too many face products turns out looking muddy or overwhelming. I also pass on cream products in favor of “creamy” powder products that look much more flattering on my oily skin.
I wouldn’t say unnecessary, because I use it on special occasions / night outs, but contour. Defo not for everyday For me.
Duo chrome highlights with green/ blue, lavender hues. I prefer mine on the natural side. But I love them on other people when they do the rest of their makeup and it goes with it. Very edgy.
Probably contour products, cream and powder. I have a narrow face so I find that process pretty useless
Bronzing & contouring- I have high cheekbones & a squarish face so I really don’t need contouring. No one in Asia wants to be bronzed. If I get a palette with a bronzer/contour shade I just use it for contouring.
I find contours and highlighters unnecessary, but still fun. There are definitely days I forget them and it’s nbd. Bronzer is a must though, generally powder with little to now sparkle.
Contour maybe? I don’t use it regularly.
I think I’ve contoured my cheekbones twice, so I’d have to go with that.