Let Me Glow - My Favorite Highlighters

If i had to pick a makeup item "type" that I am most fond of and one that is almost always guaranteed to peek my interest then highlighters or luminizers are definitively it (blush is a close second!)!

Come to think of it the same theme goes into skincare too because anything with "radiance" or "brightening" in the product name is on my radars almost all the time. It's not really surprising I guess since I often feel like my complexion is lacking it's own natural glow, which means I am always trying to produce it or "fake" it through some clever product maneuvering.  The key being in the word "trying"! 

After years of "beauty research" and blog stalking I have found that I am not alone in this "radiance" quest and beauty brands have definitively caught on to this notion as well - judging by the sheer number of products released for that purpose alone. 

The concept of highlighters is nothing new and the technique of applying them can get tricky, however the right formula, correct shade choice and some practice can really pay off. 

That being said I will admit that this is the type of product that is most likely to sway me into a purchase just based on design and/or packaging alone. They just make them too pretty...

Adding just a little sparkle at the appropriate areas can do wonders for your complexion and give you that "dewy but still glowy, yes this is my real skin and I sleep 10 hours a day, every day" kind of look that will flatter just about anyone. 

A great highlighter can perk up your complexion, accentuate your best features , and when used correctly even camouflage aging skin. Combining "the one" with a good contouring technique can literally transform your face and some say even mimic a subtle face-lift. The key again is knowing how to use it!

Applying the highlighter under the eyes, above the brows, and on the brow bone will add life and brightness to your face and in turn promote a healthier and even "younger" you. I also like to dust a very sheer amount to the top of my cheekbones for added definition and just above the Cupid's bow to mimic a fuller pout. Exercise caution though because a heavy hand and too much sparkle will just end up accentuating your flaws, enlarged pores or just make you look like a disco ball. Trust me - it's not a good look!

Even though I have an unhealthy number of highlighters and plenty of practice time, I am yet to master the perfect targeted approach but I am always  hopeful in upping my beauty game. 

Today I want to feature a few of my favorites that are definitively good at lighting me up :-)

*Benefit Cosmetics Moon Beam ($26.00, golden tone) and High Beam ($26.00, pink tone)

These two cult-products are probably well known to all of you and I have to say their popularity is well deserved. The versatility of these two are what makes them appealing to me - their liquid-gel like texture allows them to be added to foundations and moisturizers to create the "lit from within" effect but they also work equally well through targeted "dabbing" on features you want "noticed". The formula is low on the "frost factor" so it's relatively easy to work with and hard to mess up. I am sure all of us can appreciate that! 

The reason i love Moon Beam and High Beam is because I can easily control the "glow" from subtle to all out drama for night without too much fussing.
The Benefit Sun Beam is their bronzed princess counterpart and I have to say it too, is glowing on me :-)

A little bit goes a long way with these so the initial investment is certainly reasonable and worth every penny in my opinion.

Guerlain Meteorites in Mythic ($67.00 for 1.05 oz)

These pearly beads of light are a perfect example of my weakness when it comes to girliness, packaging and passion for the pursuit of "glowiness"! If I am completely honest with myself then I have to admit that the both Guerlain Meteorites and their voyage compact ($184)  were destined to be purchased by me regardless whether or not they worked for me. The luxurious, girly and captivating compacts and kaleidoscope like design caught my eye and it was love at first sight. Luckily for me these also turned to be one of those rare "mythical" products that both look amazing and preform beautifully too! I have several Meteorites from the various Guerlain collections but the original Mythic 01 are the ones I reach for most often! This is a very subtle, low-shimmer kind of highlighter which makes it ideal for daytime use and works amazingly well at just creating "beams of light" on your face. 

The secret of the Guerlain version of "glow" seems to be in the fact they combine both matte colour correcting powders and pearly light-reflecting pigments that work together to create the purest form of radiance. I have heard it described by many beauty bloggers as "Photoshop for your face" and I couldn't agree more. 

Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat Radiant Touch ($50.00 for 0.1 oz)

This makeup artist favorite has already reviewed (here) and even though it's probably misunderstood by most consumers, those who discover its purpose with the right technique will no undoubtedly love using it. The Touche Eclat is a targeted highlighter that is to be used on specific areas of your face that need some extra "lighting" and as such it will preform beautifully. This is not a concealer - in fact if you use it for that purpose it will do exactly the opposite of concealing and your imperfections will actually be "lit up" for all to see! Trust me - this is not a good look! 

The combination of the Touche Eclat with a good concealer will elevate your complexion to the spotlight level and with some practice this "dream duo" just might become a star in your makeup bag!

A more affordable "dream team" already exists in the form of the E.L.F Studio Under Eye Concealer & Highlighter ($3.00). This product boasts an amazing combination of a creamy concealer that covers both blemishes and red spots nicely while the non-glittery highlighter will add "light" in the best possible way. I am a huge fan, especially with a price tag that won't make you cringe at checkout! 

Paul & Joe Beaute Pressed Powder N 04 (lilac)

Paul & Joe Beaute and my own admiration for the brand and its products is rooted deeply in my appreciation of all things, whimsical, girly and beautiful packaging! I have made many regretful purchases in my beauty life, where the item in question had adorable designs and shiny, pink boxes but the product itself was underwhelming in results or performance. Paul & Joe Beaute luckily doesnt fit in that category and every product that I have tried from their collections impressed me beyond measure and never fail to put a smile on my face! 

The Paul & Joe Beaute Pressed Powder N 04 (lilac) is not exactly a traditional highlighter as it doesnt exactly luminize or add any significant sheen to your complexion but what it does do is brighten, correct and reflects light in the most flattering way. The light lavender colour acts as a brightener, covering up any redness or uneven areas on your face while adding dimension to the complexion and setting foundation. I would recommend this to anyone who uses a very matte base but wants to add some highlight while avoiding any kind of shimmer which can sometimes accentuate large pores and oiliness.
It really does work like a charm!

The last highlighter I want to mention is probably the most popular one among both beauty bloggers and makeup artists themselves and I can definitively see its appeal.
The NARS Albatross Powder ($33.00) is best described as a very light golden snow whose full beauty and potential are only visible out of the pan itself. In the pan its rather underwhelming and almost boring and I remember initially questioning my purchase before it even arrived. One swatch later and I was a definite fan!
The light golden sheen is almost opalescent on the skin and it does contain quite a bit of shimmer so using a light hand with this is essential. It can be tricky to find the right balance so experimentation is key but once you see what it can do for your skin you will realize all that playing around was worth it!

I hope you enjoyed this post :-)

What is your favorite highlighter!

XOXO

ANJA

Turn On the Light - Yves Saint Laurent Touché Éclat

Almost everyone that has even the slightest interest in beauty product knows about the famous Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat. Its popularity has given it "cult" status among the masses, so much so that Yves Saint Laurent reports that one of these elegant golden tubes is sold every 10 seconds. Regardless of your personal opinion on the Touche Eclat, those numbers are definitively impressive and only add to the hype surrounding its concept.
This hybrid of a concealer and highlighter promises its wearer to deliver brightness, radiance and light, and in turn contributes to its supposed powers to erase signs of fatigue and fine lines. These effects are strategic and meant to be targeted on the specific facial feature you want to emphasize and highlight.

Despite its popularity the Touche Eclat seems to be very misunderstood by many people who purchase this in the first place. Most of the complaints surround the fact that this product doesn't provide coverage and will not camouflage under eye dark circles like a conventional liquid concealer. It was reading these negative reviews that kept me from purchasing this for a very long time and it wasn't until I did some research of my own and visiting the Yves Saint Laurent counter that I discovered the ambiguity surrounding the uniqueness of the famous Touche Eclat. 

The discrepancy is that this in fact is not a concealer and therefore doesnt provide heavy-duty coverage nor does it promise it will. The Touche Eclat formula is unique in that it combines some features of a light concealer, colour corrector and highlighter and as such is suppose to add light wherever its applied and hide any imperfections you may have. The purpose here is to brighten and draw attention to a specific area and not cover or camouflage it.
Once I understood this I was completely on board and added this iconic product to my makeup collection with the highest of hopes!

Official Description;

The beauty secret of the world's top makeup artists and models, Touche Éclat is the original must-have for a radiant, flawless face.

Capture 8 hours of sleep with the click of a pen. With a few strategic strokes of this award-winning complexion highlighter—dark circles, fine lines and signs of fatigue virtually disappear. Powered by the radiance-boosting Luminocaptide Complex, skin is instantly illuminated, so you look rested and refreshed—even if you’ve been up for hours. Sleek and sophisticated, it discretely slips into a makeup bag for quick touch-ups anytime. It’s the one beauty essential no woman should ever be without.

Ingredients;

Water, Cyclomethicone, Glycerin, Talc, Paraffinum Liquidum (Mineral Oil), Peg/ Ppg-18/18 Dimethicone, Magnesium Sulfate, Trideceth-3, Methicone, Methylparaben, Squalane. [+/- May Contain: Ci 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), Ci 77019 (Mica), Ci 77492 (Iron Oxide), Ci 77491 (Iron Oxide), Ci 77499 (Iron Oxide), Ci 77007 (Ultramarines), Ci 77510 (Ferric Ferrocyanide), Ci 77742 (Manganese Violet), Ci 75470 (Carmine), "NF8897"].

According to the YSL product history, when the Touche Eclat was first released it was only available in a few shades but now they have expanded to a full 12 and therefore able to cover a larger demographic. Since I am very fair the shade selected for me was #1 Luminous Radiance and I have to say the colour match was flawless. The ladies at the YSL counter really know their stuff. 

The application of this does requires some practice and there is a definite learning curve. In fact when I first got this I was seriously disappointed because I found it extremely hard to work with but since this was fairly expensive I was determined to make it work one way or another. Sure enough once I mastered it my feelings changed completely and now I love it and use it on a daily basis. Basically the key to this is using it very sparingly and blending very fast, one area at a time, since the liquid dries very fast and can in turn become caky if not blended in properly. Personally I use this under my eyes and the bridge of my nose but if you look at the illustration above you can see all the areas recommended for highlighting and contouring, which is in essence what this product essentially does. And it definitively does it well!

Once I apply and blend, the finishing touch is a light dusting of the Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder ($26.00) and its sealed with no fading or creasing for at least 6-8 hours. 

I am very torn about the YSL Touche Eclat ($50) because I really love the formulation, the packaging, the longevity and even the feel on the skin however I feel like the price is extremely high for a highlighter even though the quality is excellent. I would say that it will definitively elevate and enhance your regular makeup look so if there is room for a splurge then by all means run to the YSL counter but if not wait for a sale or try some of the other similar products that are a bit more affordable. 

Some excellent alternatives are Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch ($7.99) and the L'Oreal Studio Secrets Magic Lumi ($12.99). 

Have you tried the Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat? Is it worth the splurge?

XOXO

ANJA  

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NARS Illuminators - Orgasm and Copacabana

Dear friends and fellow cosmetic junkies - I might have a slight glitter/shimmer problem on my hands!

The girly girl in me loves sparkly and shiny things and when I was younger if something had sprinkles on it then it was instantly upgraded in the coolness department. I still remember those terrible tacky glitter spiked "body gels" that I thought looked good everywhere and were perfect for literally every occasion. I can almost smell that cloying artificial lime scent again! Well that was a flashback I never want to have again!

So what does a girl with a deeply rooted love for sparkles do past the age the of 25?  Are we suppose to just outgrow it and forget it or is there a product out there that will satisfy our shimmer cravings without sacrificing any of the maturity we spent so many years developing?

NARS is definitively well known across the blogosphere, so much so that a number of their product have already reached cult status in a relatively short amount of time. The quality of their products and clever marketing all contributed to the growth of their fan base. Nars Francois has perfected the balance between releasing trendy, cutting edge innovative products and building up their classic permanent collection with equally great formulations. Every beauty maven is bound to have at least one NARS item in their trusty makeup bag. I have a lot more than one...

It shouldn't be a surprise that it was NARS that answered my shimmer prayers and delivered a product that made the girl in me squeal and the the woman in me sigh with relief.

I am of course talking about the famous Illuminators, the product that promises to light you up from within, subtly enhance your complexion and overall just refresh the radiance of your own skin.

What it is:

A multifunctional face product that gives skin a refreshed luminosity.

What it does:
This light-reflecting liquid glides on to refresh and enhance the complexion, creating a shimmering incandescence. Wear it alone, or pair it with makeup to transform your skin from ordinary to extraordinary.

The complete set of these light-reflecting liuminizing liquids consist of 4 iconic shades - Orgasm (peach pink with shimmer), Copacabana (glistening pearl), Laguna (brown with gold shimmer) and Super    Orgasm (Orgasm on steroids)

The first one released was the Original Orgasm which proved to be a huge hit, and ultimately led to the release of the other three.

The entire collection can be used to highlight bare skin or mixed in with a base of your choice for various degrees of "grownup shimmer glow". Pretty much exactly what I was looking for!

The two NARS Illuminators I ultimately settled on are Copacabana and the original Orgasm. 

The added and very much unexpected bonus of this formula is the fact that it actually contains skin-loving ingredients. Combinations of skin care and makeup are always a huge hit for me.

Key Active Ingredients;

Polar Berries (antioxidant), Bissbolol (anti-inflammatory), Indian Frankincense (soothes & comforts), Vitamin B5 (conditioning) and Sodium Hyaluronate (hydration)

The formulation and feel of these liquid luminizers is a joy to use and I love how easy they are to work with. Goof-proof formulas are another thing I really appreciate when it comes to makeup products. My skills are nowhere near where they should be! 

Copacabana to me is very much like the Benefits High Beam but nowhere near as frosty, with less pink undertones and thinner texture. This makes the Copacabana easier to use and the final result looks to be a lot more natural then when I rely on the Benefit version for the same look. The formulation of this feels wonderful on my face, as the light gel simply melts into the skin, leaving a beautiful trail of moon dust behind.

I find that this luminizer works best as a strategic highlighter, meaning that I use it most often to emphasize individual facial features. I love smoothing this on top of cheekbones, my cupid's bow, highbrow and even the bridge of my nose. It just sculpts my face so naturally and allows me to at least fake my way to some kind of cheekbones.
Even though I would characterize Copacabana as a cool pink shade,  I do think that both skin tones warm or cool could make this work with a little bit of practice and the less-is-more approach. The shimmer in this Illuminator is more like a soft sheen but I can see how some people would find it too glittery especially if you take into consideration that the shimmer has the potential to emphasize any large pores on your skin surface. 

The Orgasm Illuminator is quite a different creature from the pearly Copacabana and as such is used in a completely different way.

The original Orgasm Illuminator description is;
A complexion enhancer that makes skin look instantly refreshed, radiant, and glowing. It lights your skin from within! Deceptively sheer and decidedly luminous, it magically transforms lacklustre skin into a remember-me, luscious complexion. Flirt with foundation, go it alone, or go neck-and-neck with your décolleté. The effect is, well orgasmic"

The Orgasm Illuminator stays true to the original Orgasm color - peachy pink with soft gold & bronze shimmer. Because of the nature of the shade I find that this luminizer truly shines by adding a general "glow" to the complexion, as opposed to targeting individual features. I achieve this  by adding a few drops of the Illuminator directly to my foundation or tinted moisturizer and then lightly patting on the excess to the top of my cheekbones. This gives the effect of "blushing cheeks" without using any additional blush or bronzer.

In my opinion the Orgasm Illuminator reaches its true potential on darker skin tones or even a tanner version of me.  Because of this I am hoping to get a lot more use out of this product this summer.

*Word of caution to those of you with oily skin - if you over-do it with either one of these Illuminators, the oiliness can easily become exaggerated, especially by flash photography. 

My final conclusion is once again mixed! Even though I love the grown up shimmer these products provide I can't say that they are a must-have makeup item. That being said I do appreciate the skincare focus in the formulation of these liquid highlighters, which means that for once makeup can be said to be good for your skin.

The price tag for me is quite reasonable ($36) considering the amount of product you get (1.1-1.2 fl.oz.) and the fact that such a small amount is needed to provide the desired result I expect these little tubes will last me for quite some time.

You can purchase the Illuminators and other NARS products directly from their website or as always at Sephora. 

I hope you guys find this helpful!

Have you tried the NARS illuminators? Do you have a favorite NARS product? 

XOXO

ANJA

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Makeup I Didn't Miss Out On - MAC Crew Highlighter

I am always late for things! It really doesn't matter how much I try to plan things out, keep an eye on the clock or engage other people to help me, my fashionably late status remains unchanged. 

Its no surprise that I am like that in the makeup world as well. I cant tell you how many times I see a picture of a blush or a palette, fall in love with it only to find out that it was a limited edition...from last year! My vain soul dies a little each time that happens. 

To cheer myself up and distract my thoughts from all those beautiful pieces I missed out on, I decided to feature the limited edition items I was smart enough to get when they were actually released.

First up is the MAC Crew Highlight powder, which was a part of the Hey Sailor! 2012 collection.

The best way I can describe this for you is a multi-colored highlighting powder, composed of three shades -  soft matte peach, satin-like yellow toned pink and a cool satin-like lavender-pink. There was an off white over spray but that disappeared after a few uses and didn't really interfere with the intended color anyways. These can be used swirled together and also individually, as eyeshadow accents. The design is obviously nautically inspired and as usual played a huge role in my decision to purchase this. What can I say I am a marketing guys dream customer!

The combination of all three shades swirled together produce a faint yellow-toned coral pink, which to me is too soft to work as a blush but too strong to be a regular highlighter. The finish is somewhere between matte and satin, depending on the the way the light hits my cheekbones but can come off chalky if I over-do it. Either way it definitively has that understated feel and look to it so if you are going for something that 'enhances' rather than highlights then MAC Crew is definitively a good choice. 

The texture of the powder itself is very soft and looks to be very finely milled meaning that fall-out is minimal, blend ability is at an all-time high and wear time can be quite long (8 hours over a primer). I know that MAC released this as a highlighter but for me this is better described as a brightening powder since the finished result is extremely subtle and pretty much the opposite of shimmery. On my cheeks it produces a luminous soft-pink glowy sheen that looks equally lovely both during the day and night. 

Overall I am happy I got this when I had the chance because if i didn't i know I would have regretted it but I would be lying if I didn't admit that it didn't live up to my expectations. That awkward stage between a highlighter and a blush is mostly to blame. 

What do you think about the Crew highlight? How do you feel about MAC Limited Editions? 

XOXO 

ANJA

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The Hero Club of the Month - June

I am sure most of you are familiar with the staple "Monthly Favorites" post, which shows up on almost every beauty blog out there (at some point anyways!)

Well as usual I am "late to the party" but never one to be left behind, I decided to unveil my own line-up of HERO products and things that really made a difference in my girly struggles this month anyway!

Since my skin has been going through some kind of freak-out stage this month, I was forced to break out some heavier-duty foundations to cover it all up. I rediscovered an old favorite, MAKE UP FOREVER Mat  Velvet + Matifying Foundation, which preformed amazingly and actually made me wonder why it was forgotten in the first place. I love the fact that it provides medium to full coverage, remains undetectable, lasts a good 8 hours or more and leaves a "real skin" finish. It covered all redness, blotchiness and breakouts but didn't melt in the humidity either.  Perfection in a bottle and one that will not be put back in the vanity drawer.

You can purchase it here

With finals, classes, all-nighters and feeble attempts to figure out Calculus, this month has been very rushed and I've had to make every minute count in order to balance everything out. Unfortunately that meant that makeup-play was very limited and I've had to stick to a fairly simple, low maintenance look every day. This is where a forgotten Benefit Velvet Eye shadow came in - "Fawn Over Me" is a perfect neutral color that manages to define my eyes without being boring and best of all it takes mere minutes to perfect. 

For your very own click here 

Whether you are up all night partying or studying or panicking, the result is always the same - lack-luster, dull, sallow and just plain drab complexion. The cure or remedy would of course be a good night sleep and vitamin spiked smoothie but when that cant be scheduled i rely on the beautifully scented By Terry Or De Rose Elixir Extreme to bring me back to life. The price tag is a tad ridiculous ($170) but I cant deny the fact that it does work beautifully and smells like a true summer rose garden. I use a few drops to mix in my foundation, layer it on as a primer or on the days i am really rushed I just wear it by itself. It definitively gives a true illusion of health and radiance without being all obvious about it. 

In an attempt to calm and heal my skin I dug deep into my stash for some skin pampering and discovered a mask I purchased around Christmas that lay forgotten and lonely. Since my complexion is suffering from the whole trinity - redness, reactivity and irritation, Origins Dr. Weils Mega-Mushroom Skin Relief Mask seemed like a perfect fit. I was impressed after just one use! My skin felt soothed, hydrated, cooled and in general a lot more comfortable. The results in the mirror were just as promising too - the redness was almost completely gone after 10 minutes. The instructions say to leave on for 10 minutes and then tissue off, however i like rinsing it off just to make sure its removed completely. Its a little pricy ($45 here) but it made such a difference for me that i don't even care about that aspect.   

Have you tried any of these? What are your HERO products this month?

XOXO


ANJA

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Chantecaille - Limited Edition La Baleine Blanche Highlighter Palette

At first glance this may seem like another one of those "incredibly beautiful collector pieces" that are wonderful to look at but confusing & difficult to use!

I have many of those - things that were just too pretty to pass up, exciting to own & display but ultimately bound to end up collecting dust, crumbling and being forgotten in a random vanity drawer :( Well I was determined to stop this cycle of collecting and accumulating pretty things, spending a fortune on products that i simply cant use and figuring out a way to get the most of my rather large stash of "dust collectors"

Chantecaille is a wonderful brand and i own a lot of their stuff that i use on a daily basis. The quality is impeccable, the ingredients are great, the attention to detail is amazing but most importantly their brand philosophy is something i can get behind. Which is probably why i have so many pretties from them.

The La Baleine Blanche compact is meant to be used for facial highlighting although the 4 shades can also be used individually as well (eye shadow?). The colours are pearly matte white, soft metallic gold, champagne taupe and golden light brown - all of which combine together easily with any blush or powder brush. On cheeks it imparts a luminous glowy dewy sheen but also appears natural & matte too, which is something i didn't think was possible. The texture is so creamy and luxurious that it glides on so effortlessly that its almost goof-proof!

Its become one of my favourite highlighters and i am so glad that i finally mustered the courage to stop admiring it and actually start using it. And its still beautiful to look at, both in the mirror and the compact itself!

Chantecaille La Baleine Blanche ($113) is not in stock on their official site but it can still be purchased on Strawberry Net here.

Other Chantecaille products can be found on their official site here.

How do you guys feel about "collector pieces" like this?

XOXO

ANJA

P.S. If you enjoyed this post and want some more Princeza Beauty Musings, please consider following me through GFC, Bloglovin, Pinterest or Twitter! Insert "happy dance" here :-)