What do you like about powder highlighters? What don't you like?

Tell us what you love and hate about...

Powder Highlighters

I love them all! Subtle or glowing from space, I dig. Most highlighter formulas are very blendable and easy enough to work with, so I don’t find I have to worry about application and can just enough the effect. The only downside is when they emphasize skin texture, because it becomes a game of trade-offs for that otherworldly glow!

— Christine

9 Comments

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CeeBee Avatar

I adore them and am marginally obsessed. I don’t consider myself properly “made up” if I don’t have at least 1 highlighter on (though I limit it to my cheeks and eyes only) and I wear everything from subtle to full on mega blinding you can see this from the ISS. I love layering them with blush, over and under for different effects. Ofra, Lorac and the old Scott Barnes Diamond Dust are my absolute go to products.

Not a huuuuuuge fan of overly metallic finishes with glitter (love anything like Dior Hologlam though!) and I do have to admit that once you get down to it, most champagne/peach/gold/apricot/coral/pink/beige variations do tend to have a bit of sameness going on… I’m normally a huge Colourpop fan but I really didn’t enjoy their pressed highlighter formula.

Johanna Zamora Avatar

I usually just use my MUFE ivory blush as a highlighter.
Sometimes I use things from an eye shadow palette or will use a light foundation (I mix).

The metallic and super shiny wet/glow thing is a bit much.

I don’t have much texture, but do have some wrinkles and am just not about to emphasize those.

brendacr1 Avatar

I like powder because it’s easy to apply and great for transporting but I don’t like it if it highlights any imperfections. I like subtle highlights I don’t want to be seen from across the room. I’m always intrigued with new releases trying to see if there is something new that I need to add to what I already own.

Latika Avatar

As a highlighter junkie… I use a liquid as a primer all over my face…yes I know some may cringe.. either my Dior backstage or my Chanel.. and I place powder or a small amount of concealer/ foundation over it. I then layer my powder highlighters on high points of my cheeks. I recently had to let go of several Nars highlighters because they dried out and just became powdery and didn’t sit on my skin anymore.. I am a fan of spraying fix on my highlighters.. just don’t want a heavy application like I would on my eye shadows.. Honestly I just keep going back to my MAC extra dimension highlighters.. I have all of them. I also love the new Dior backstage face palettes and I panned my Pat McGrath.. she needs to honor us with a face palette of blush bronzer and highlighter while we are at it.

janine Avatar

I love them. I’m not big on shiny everything .. blush bronzer all super shimmery. It’s too much. Alittle glow is ok but I prefer matte blushes and highlighter. I love sparkle and seriously don’t worry about wrinkles. If you smile they don’t nortice the wrinkles and jowls.

The only con is I want to buy them all and I have plenty.

Ximena Avatar

I love that particular NARS’ powder highlighter formula. It’s so creamy and subtle, ideal for oily skin like mine!
I haven’t tried any other powder highlighters though. I’m not looking forward to either. I’m so in love with the NARS’ highlighters that i don’t need to look anywhere else.

DVa Avatar

I love them all too. Cream, liquid, emollient, powder…
I do find powder the easiest to use and control though.
I feel I have to plan ahead from the moment I pick my foundation.
For creams/liquids, I layer, and often start with them under foundation.
Many, with the exception of CT’s HFF (for example) can be tricky over top of foundation.
The trickier they are, the more likely I want to melt them on my skin, atop primer but under my foundation.
Powders can be added after the fact, or used alone atop my foundation. So, they’re easy.

Mariella Avatar

I pretty much love everything about powder highlighters. I especially like how easy they are to use – they don’t lift my foundation as I try to apply them. I like that they never seem to have that almost “curdled” texture I can get with cream or liquid products. I like how versatile they are (working as highlighters, brow bone highlighters, inner corner of the eye brighteners). I love how, if applied lightly with a large, fluffy brush, I can even use them all over my face, almost like a setting powder. Lots of love from me for this type of highlighter.

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