The Journey to Highlight Nirvana

"I wanna make my cheek look like a beacon of light and hope."
- inspiring words from makeup icon Jeffree Star.

If you've ever been in possession of any type of highlighter, there's an enormous chance you wanted to take the whole compact and smear it all over your entire face (and quite possibly your entire body). I want pigment. I want to be seen from space. I want my boyfriend to be able to see his reflection in my cheeks. I didn't spend $30 on this circle of sparkly powder for me not to be glowing like an angel that just fell from the heavens. 

First, lets talk pricey highlighters. If you have a couple of extra dollars or just feel like treating yourself, here are some of the best. 

Anastasia Beverly Hills Illuminators

$28 at anastasiabeverlyhills.com

These new highlighters are actually on the cheaper end of expensive. They come in four colors, Peach Nectar, Riviera, So Hollywood, and Starlight. They're described as "A filter for your complexion, this brush on  mosaic of brightening powders impart a lit-from-within glow."

Look at this. LOOK AT THIS

On dark complexions.....I CANT....LOOK AT THIS...OMG??!!

The government is going to confiscate all of these. It's just honestly too good..too pure for this planet..It must be some sort of alien substance, there's no other way. 

Next, we have the brand new Urban Decay Illuminated Shimmering Powder

Urban Decay Illuminated Shimmering Powder, $30 at Ulta Beauty

This highlighter is made of the most aesthetically pleasing shimmers and perfect shades. They come in three different tones so these are great for any skin color.

This shade swatched on a darker tone is Luminous, which is actually the lightest color of the three.

User reviews

Value: "Lovely, And A Lot Of Product For The Price."

Design/style: "I Love The Feel Of This Product."

Size: "So Light Weight And So Delicate!"

Even though this just came out, it's already getting rave reviews, go swatch it and see if it makes you feel those special highlighter emotions



 Becca x Jaclyn Hill Shimmering Skin Perfector® 

Shade Champagne Pop, $38 at Sephora

User reviews

Value: "I Love The Product Just Not The Price."

Ease of use: "It Is Buttery, Smooth, SUPER Easy To Work With."

Design/style: "I Really Enjoy The Look Of This."

Size: "The Compact Is A Nice Weight."

It's described as "A creamy powder highlighter that absorbs and reflects light for the ultimate natural glow. Find refined luminosity in any light. This bestselling formula is enriched with ultra fine luminescent pearls that absorb, reflect, and refract light so your natural radiance is never lost."

This one might also be from another planet... Too good for planet Earth.. 

Now, let's move on to the more reasonably priced goddess powders that match up pretty close to these ones.

First, let's talk about Elf's Baked Blush.

$3 at Target

Pinktastic is the most raved about shade.

Elf's $3 Pinktastic vs MAC's $32 Soft and Gentle 

LOOK AT THAT BEAUTIFUL ANGELIC GLOW




This baked blush is a  MUST HAVE even if you can afford more, definitely a necessity. Especially for $3, you can't really get any better than that. It can be used as an eyeshadow too, like most highlighters.

The next dupe is Hard Candy's Baked Trios

$9 at Walmart

This is the highlighter I currently use;

It's applied on my cheekbones, nose, under brow, chin, and nose.

I use the shade 3x a Charm, but I only use the lightest color for highlight, I don't mix them, but I use the darker shades as eyeshadows. I pretty much put the lighter color all over my face, i just put more on my main highlight points. There are four different shades so there is one for every skin tone. For only $9, this highlighter really looks and feels like an expensive department store powder. 

The last affordable highlighter, that I also have personally used and LOVE is Forever 21's Tri-Color Illuminating Bronzer.

$5.90 online at Forever21.com

      

This trio is similar to the Hard Candy trios. Since there are three different colors, it really can be worn on any skin tone. It is very pigmented. 

Applied on my cheekbones, nose, under brow, chin, and forehead.

You wouldn't expect any makeup products from a clothing store to be better than average, but seriously..SERIOUSLY..This one is amazing and DEFINITELY worth $5.90, I almost feel guilty for paying so little for something that has been sent down from the heavens.

Personally, I only use powdered highlighters. Liquid highlighters can be more pigmented, but can end up not blending as easy (especially if you use setting powders) and getting cakey. There are some good liquid ones no doubt, but they really only work well for someone that uses minimal setting powders. To make baked powdered highlighters more pigmented, you can wet your brush and apply it wet. 

Another tip to get a long lasting pigment is to very very lightly set your face with a normal powder, and then press your highlighter into your semi wet foundation. Always press, not sweep, if you're trying to have a deep pigment. 

I wish you luck on your journey to a state of perfect highlighter happiness.