I thought I would share about something near and dear to my makeup-loving heart: highlighters. There is just something about a beautiful highlighter that makes me very, very happy.
All of the highlighters that I will be sharing are similar in that they are soft and finely milled. Many of these can be applied as a blinding highlight, but they can also be used to just add a bit of brightness and glow to the face. You may notice that many of these highlighters have a pink element to them. I find a highlighter with hints of pink is so beautiful and provides a different kind of softness and ethereal glow.
Bottom: Becca Vanilla Quartz, Becca Prismatic Amethyst, Colourpop Monster
I have six highlighters to share with you all: two from Becca, two from MAC, one from NARS, and one from Colourpop. In the top row from left to right, we have NARS Highlighting Blush in Albatross, MAC x Pony Park Extra Dimension Skinfinish in Sky’s the Limit, and MAC Extra Dimension Skinfinish in Beaming Blush. Bottom row, we have Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Vanilla Quartz, Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Prismatic Amethyst, and Colourpop Super Shock Cheek in Monster.
NARS Albatross is what I would describe as a white gold shade. It looks almost white with the smallest hint of gold in the pan, but it buffs out to reveal a beautiful, warm yellow-gold shimmer.
I really wish MAC would bring back the MAC x Pony Park collection because this highlighter is absolutely stunning. Sky’s the Limit is so hard to describe because it has elements of both silver and gold as well as pale orange, apricot reflects. I honestly don’t know how to describe this, but the wet effect it gives is absolutely stunning.
The other MAC Extra Dimension Skinfinish is part of the brand’s permanent collection. Bleaming Blush is described as a pink that breaks gold. It’s a more peachy gold that I really love during the summer for that gorgeous golden hour glow.
Becca Vanilla Quartz is described as a creamy, light gold shade with pink pearl. Since this highlighter has both gold and pink in it, the combination of the two creates a very ethereal glow. The pink hues make this great for winter, but since it’s balanced by the gold, it can be used during the warmer months as well.
Becca Prismatic Amethyst is described as a pale lavender with gold, violet, and rose duochrome pearls. I really love this highlighter because the amethyst duochrome provides a nice brightening glow. Don’t worry about it looking too purple on the skin! It looks quite natural on the face, and I recommend it during the cold winter months for that innocent, rosy effect.
Last but not least, Colourpop Monster is described as a light pink with opalescent duochrome flip. This highlighter is straight up pink, but don’t be scared. The pink provides a beautiful wintery glow to the high points of the face without looking overdone because of the duochrome effect. I typically prefer powder formulas when it comes to highlighter, but I am also a fan of this highlighter’s bouncy formula because it’s soft, easy to blend, and doesn’t contain any chunky glitter.
I’ve included a slideshow below of single-swipe swatches as well as blended swatches. I also added photos with the brightness turned low so you can see the glitter reflects and duochrome better. You’ll notice that some of the blended swatches are barely noticeable in the regular light photo, but I think that just goes to show how finely milled and natural looking these highlighters are. They provide a soft, brightening, lit-from-within effect versus an obvious highlight.
What are some of your favorite highlighters? Highlighters are one of my favorite makeup products, so I’m always happy to hear about new recommendations!
