I digress, this post is not about Stabilo Highlighters, although I feel like these were my only companions during the exam period *shudders* But in fact the makeup product aside from mascara that I couldn't live without, the beautiful creations in the makeup industry that allow me to resurrect as my alter-ego, the angel Gabriel, with my etherial glow.
As an 18 year old, I feel like most girls my age when it comes to the finish of their make-up, are more fond of a matte finish with pretty full coverage to cover up the joys that come with being both a teenager and a teenage girl for that matter (if you get my gist?) However, personally I much prefer a dewier complexion.
This all begins in the base of the makeup, underneath my foundation I use my trusty Mac Strobe Cream and Mac Fix+.
Without sounding like a condescending mother, obviously using a dewier-based foundation rather than matte formula foundation will give you a dewier look.. Most people make the mistake of thinking that a dewier foundation= light to medium coverage and that matte foundations equate to full coverage but I disagree!
I use Nars Sheer Glow in the shade Mont Blanc, this foundation can provide quite light coverage if you use a small amount and a gentle hand, but it's definitely buildable and can be applied in layers to provide a really full coverage foundation, (Kimmy K eat your heart out.)
I use a Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge to apply my foundation, to add to the dewiness, I spray the sponge with some Fix+ beforehand just to make the application a lot smoother. This sponge is an amazing dupe for the highly-raved about Beauty Blender (also half the price!)
Now moving onto my babies (the highlighters themselves, I'm no mother). When it comes to highlighters, you can obviously get them in both powder and liquid form. In addition there are two types in my eyes, there are the ones with a pearlescent (silvery) undertone and ones with more of a golden undertone.
When I first delved into the glorious world of highlighters, I began with the pearlescent highlighters, my first liquid one was Benefit's Highbeam, with its nail polish-like applicator, it's very easy to apply, just dab a few dots along each cheekbone, a few dots down the bridge of the nose, under the arch of each eyebrow and on the cupids bow (or paint your whole face in my case) and you're good to glow (geddit?) (I'm so sorry). I then discovered the MUA- Undress Your Skin Highlighting Powder. Powder formulated, as the name suggests, this is another pearlescent highlighter, which I use every day to highlight the inner corner of my eye to brighten my lil' eyeballs up and make me look more awake! (And a bloomin' bargain at just 3 pounds!!) However, unlike Highbeam I found that this powder formulation didn't really have a lot of staying powder on the old cheekbones. So with that in mind, I tried a little something.. Putting Highbeam on first and then the MUA- Undress Your Skin Highlighting Powder over the top of it. KAPOW. Get your shades out, your cheekbones are blinding these highlighter-less peasants.
However, unsatisfied with my pathetic highlighter collection, I branched out a bit. Seeing as I had started with Benefit, I thought I would try another of their highlighters, this time Watts Up went straight in my basket (dare you to read that not in THE voice, you know the one don't lie). And this was when I discovered the delights of golden-toned highlighters. This highlighter comes in packaging shaped like a light bulb (witty) and is in a stick form, I simply rub my ring finger on the top of it to warm the product up and then dab it (who am I kidding.. SMOTHER IT) onto my cheekbones. Very easy to blend, this highlighter is rather fabulous if you're on the market for a golden-toned highlighter. But alas! I still wasn't satisfied.
Then I found Mac Soft & Gentle, this was the game changer.
I'm not gonna lie I did just open up a thesaurus tab, and typed in 'beautiful' to try and find more elaborate and fancy-sounding words to try and describe this highlighter. But I'm gonna go with how I would honestly describe it, and that is ABSOLUTELY F*CKING INCREDIBLE. Like seriously, this highlighter was frisbee-d down to me from the heavens by Angel Gabriel himself. Definitely my favourite highlighter, if you're only looking to wear one highlighter at a time, like a normal person.
But guess what I did next.. That's right. I put Watts Up on first and then Soft and Gentle over the top, and there you have my favourite highlighter combo ever.
Now I'm aware that there will be some make-up pro's out there thinking, jheeze Kez, these golden toned highlighters are a bit dark for your Casper the Ghost skin tone aren't they?? And to be honest you're probably right! But I do bronze up my face alot and sometimes wear a slightly darker foundation, so that helps to make the highlighter blend into my skin rather than looking like two rose golden stripes on my face..
MUA, Undress Your Skin,
Benefit, Highbeam
Mac- Soft and Gentle
Benefit, Watts Up
But don't be thinking that this highlighter addiction has come to an end, oh no.
Last Friday, my mum and I ventured into the make-up mothership that is Selfridges, and i just happened to stumble upon the Charlotte Tilbury counter??? What are the chances?? The lovely makeup artist proceeded to apply some of the Filmstar Bronze & Glow Palette to my cheekbones...
Lets just say, as soon as I can justify spending 49 pounds (where is the pound sign on a mac keyboard?!!) on a bronzer and highlighter duo, then I will be right back at ya with a new highlighter review
Kez xxxx
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