Highlighter Guide

Sorry I have been MIA recently. I have had a crazy week at work, but I am so excited to be back with at least one post per week! Today's topic of conversation, highlighters. And obviously I am not taking about neon yellow markers you get at Office Max. I am talking about the shimmery awesome that you swipe across your cheek bones to reflect light. Today I am going to talk about some of my favorite highlighters, as well as the different kinds of highlighters.





Powder

These are definitely the most popular. Becca is considered the authority on all things highlighter, and I do love theirs, but it is a little to expensive for me. If you want to invest in the best of the best the Becca Cosmetics Shimmering Skin Perfecter Pressed (pictured on the right) is the way to go. Ringing in at $38 it is an investment, but it is also silky awesomeness. I love the shade Moonstone. You apply these powders like you do all other powders with a brush. I love this Japonesque Contour and Highlighting Brush ($19), which you can buy at Ulta. As far as a more affordable highlighter, I love the ones in the Lorac Pro Contour Palette (1 shimmer and 2 matte highlighters, Plus three contour shades and a brush for $45), or the source Lorac Iight Source Illuminating Highlighters ($22) If you are looking for an inexpensive alternative, I do love the BH Cosmetics Carli Bybel Palette (which has 10 super pretty eye shadows and 4 stunning highlighters) for $14.50, or a fan favorite is Colour Pop's highlighters ringing in at $8 each.

Cream
Once again Becca is incredible, but pricey. You can find their cream highlighter the Becca Cosmetics Shimmering Skin Perfector Poured Crème ($38) by clicking the name of the product. Creams in general are really a cream to powder. They are usually in a compact and are put on using a blending sponge (like the infamous Beauty Blender $20), or a compact liquid makeup brush like the Coastal Scents Elite Foundation Brush ($12.95). I do have a cream blush palette, It is to die for! I love the Pur Minerals Moonlight Glow Strobe and Highlight Palette ($34) which comes with 3 creamy amazing shades and is pictured on the left! If you are looking for an inexpensive alternative I recommend the Makeup Revolution HD Pro Cream Contour Palette ($18) which comes with 4 highlight and 4 contour shades.


Liquid
So for liquid highlighters I actually haven't found anything I love as much as Becca Cosmetics Shimmering Skin Perfecter Liquid ($41). However you can find travel sized versions of this product at Ulta and Sephora if you want to try it before you invest a ton. I also love and use the Temptu S/B Highlighter Makeup (pictured on the right, $10). The only one I like that is a cheaper brand is the NYX Born to Glow Illuminating Primer ($14), which is a primer, but I like to use it over my makeup too. It has a similar effect to the Becca, but it's less bold. Just like the cream you can use a compact liquid foundation brush, or you can use a sponge to apply, or your fingers! I do not recommend using your fingers for cream highlighters, but for liquid you can easily tap it in using your fingers.

Another option (which I do and love) is I will often use a shimmering body powder, a shimmery loose pigment mineral eye shadow, or even a shimmer pressed eye shadow. I take a little of it on my makeup brush and I mix it in with a moisturizer. It creates a DIY liquid highlighter that you 100% control the shade and density of the shimmer. Plus it is hydrating and set into the skin a little better. I often use Mica Beauty Mineral Eyeshadow pigments or even Bare Minerals Eye Shadows!