My Top Five Highlighters

I love using a highlighter, especially for a night out or when I want to look a little more put together. By using a highlighter you really can make an impact by showing off & 'highlighting' your bone structure in a super flattering way. Highlighters are a very simple, quick way to give your face that ethereal, youthful glow. Especially in the winter, but also in the summer (with a light hand) for a beautiful dewy finish, Anyone can add a bit more life and radiance into their make up routine with a little highlighter, they come in cream, liquid & powder form, I usually opt for the latter as I prefer the results a powder gives me. 

1.Accessorize Baked Bronzer - Golden Sands. - A luminous peachy champagne shade with hints of bronze veining transfers onto the skin as a gorgeous pale champagne-gold, very soft and luminescent. What's best about the product is that there's no noticeable glitter just perfect shimmer which highlights the skin beautifully. 

2.theBalm - Marylou Manizer. - a seemingly innocent honey-hued luminizer that catches everybody’s eye. This highlighter, shadow and shimmer diffuses light so your skin looks softer and younger while adding a subtle glow. A stunning champagne sheen providing a beautifully natural glow.

3.Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector pressed - Opal. - A sequel to the cult favorite liquid Shimmering Skin Perfector, this creamy powder luminizer is like crushed gemstones in a compact. A gorgeous champagne shimmer, feels like butter, long lasting and natural looking.

4.No7 Vital Enlightening Highlighter - A flash of radiance with a super-soft, almost velvety powder gives a luminous, natural wash of colour. The peach undertones add warmth while the pink shimmer gives a youthful glow.

5.Kevyn Aucoin Celestial Powder. - A gorgeous, elegant shimmer powder for an angelic glow. Pearl powder provides ultra-light shimmer without looking glittery, and the soft, golden-apricot hue adds a whisper of colour. 

Highlighting and contouring your face makes a massive difference to a face you can change the whole shape, It can create perfect looking bone structure and hide or decrease other features - I wrote an easy Contour/Highlighter post HERE .

What's your favourite Highlighter?

bareMinerals 15th anniversary Mineral Veil

For 15 years, you've loved the translucent finishing touch of the award-winning Mineral Veil® finishing powder. This utterly weightless formula absorbs excess oil and minimises the appearance of fine lines and pores, infusing skin with softness and light. In celebration of the 15th anniversary, they created this limited-edition, flow-through brush filled with Mineral Veil® finishing powder. Sleek and easy to use, it provides instant touch-ups on-the-go for a fresh-faced, flawless look.

I have used mineral veil powder many times over the years as it gives me great coverage, but when I saw the lovely new limited edition packaging design of the for their 15th Anniversary housed in a circular disk with a flow-through brush for quickie applications on the go, I knew I needed it! 

bareMinerals has had a few innovate packaging perks over the years but this is probably one of there more creative pieces. I love it, no need to carry around a separate brush or spilling powder all over, all you need is this great little compact flip, apply and put back in your bag, my only negative is one it's limited edition - boo hoo.. Two I can't refill it once I've used it... If you would like to own one - be quick as they are selling out fast! £22.00 for 8g. Mine is coming travelling with me..

What's your go-to face powder?

My Top Five Setting Powders.

I really like face powders as I have normal/combination skin, I need a powder that will keep the shine at bay, that keeps my face shine free without looking cakey and unnatural. Here are my Top five if the moment.

1.Becca fine pressed powder - The ultimate “show off” compact. Beautifully packaged with its own zippered nylon pouch for protection in the handbag, this exceptionally fine, silky pressed powder is designed for portable touch-ups to reduce shine and freshen make-up. This micro-milled powder contains a superior, modified rice starch, allowing it to be applied as often as desired, without cakiness. Great product, Gives me a lovely lasting finish, lovely product for £9.00.

2.Clarins Ever Matte - The compact powder which effectively controls shine for hours, leaving skin fresh and flawless. Its ultra-fine, comfortable texture evens the complexion with a transparent finish. The "Shine-Stopper" complex combines the benefits of plants and purity of minerals to instantly matify the complexion, control shine and tighten pores. Your complexion is perfectly even, velvety-smooth and looks incredibly beautiful. Make-up hold is improved. This keeps me matte nearly all day, a beautiful compact with a great product £27.00

3.Rimmel Stay Matte - Stay Matte feels lightweight.  It glides on smoothly to provide even, natural-looking, long-wearing coverage that effectively conceals imperfections while revealing your natural flawless matte perfection.  And, because it is free of fragrance, oils, parabens and talc, and because it won't clog pores, it's great for all skin types. £3.99

4.Chanel Les Beiges -  Free like a breath of fresh air. Spontaneous like the perfect getaway. Enveloping like a caress of light, reveal the healthy glow of each woman and provide a sensation of lightness, well-being and freshness. Les Beiges compact powder gives your skin the fresh, pure radiance of days spent outdoors. The fine, lightweight and antioxidant powder shields the skin from environmental stress and sunlight thanks to its SPF 15 / PA++ sun filter. Its ultra-protective formula, enriched with cotton flower and white rose plant cells, becomes one with the skin. It is gentle on all skin types, even the most sensitive. The Healthy Glow Sheer Powder also features the iconic CHANEL compact case, dressed for the first time in beige, the timeless and exclusive beige. Its big mirror, with a larger inclination angle. Love, love, love! The packaging is to due for and the powder is pretty amazing too! Gives great natural luminous coverage - love it! Quite pricey at £38.00 but its Chanel..

5.Bourjois Healthy Balance - A unifying powder that evens out and boosts the radiance of your complexion whilst taking care of your skin.With Asian fruit therapy formula to restore balance to the skin: the Sharon fruit smoothes and moisturises dry areas, whilst Yuzu fruit absorbs excess shine. Its ultra fine, blendable texture provides a light and undetectable finish on skin. Includes a handy large mirror ideal for achieving the perfect make-up result! Available in 4 natural shades for all skin tones. And it’s good for my skin, Hypoallergenic formula, Non comedogenic, Dermatologically tested gives a lovely natural finish to my skin keeps me matte for a good 6hrs+ great product for £8.99.

What's your favourite mattifying powder? 

Becca Shimmer Skin Perfector pressed powder in Opal.

A sequel to the cult favorite liquid Shimmering Skin Perfector, this creamy powder luminiser is like crushed gemstones in a compact. A Gorgeous peachy bronze Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Opal, with no glitter just a beautiful sheen. It suits all skin tones but personally I think it leans slighty warm making it perfect for taking on holiday and showing off your tan! (or if you fake it!)

It's a multi-task product and looks amazing over the eye lid, The Pressed formula is packed with a variety of multi toned pearl particles that give the skin a creamy powder like application- it doesn’t settle into fine lines and wrinkles! it also stay put all day long.

It's comes in four shades one of which is rose gold - I'm hoping to pick that one up VERY soon! Available online or from Space NK for around £30.

What is your favourite Highlight? 

Ever Matte Mineral Powder Compact by Clarins.

The compact powder which effectively controls shine for hours, leaving my skin fresh and flawless.
Its ultra-fine, comfortable texture evens the complexion with a transparent finish. This powder feels like silk, it leaves my skin looking and feeling Amazing.

My complexion is perfectly even, velvety-smooth and looks incredibly beautiful. Make-up wear is improved. It sets my liquid foundation perfectly, never looks cakey, it covers with just a light dusting I don't need much covering just my T-zone and blending the excess out over the rest of my face.

The "Shine-Stopper" complex combines the benefits of plants and purity of minerals to instantly matify the complexion, control shine and tighten pores. It makes my fine line softer and generally just improves my whole look.

I have recently been using quite a few Clarins products and have not been dissappointed with anything, it really is a brand that hit's everytime, I think it is seen as a 'older persons' brand but I must disagree the products are great for Teens to More Mature ladies! The price of £26.00 I think isn't bad as it will last a long time and I would pay that for the gorgeous packaging alone, it is so luxurious.

What's your favourite setting method? 

MUA Luxe Powder Brow

How do you define your brows do you prefer a Pencil, powder, wax, mascara or all of them? The newest brow tamer on the block is the MUA Luxe Power Brow.

Groom yourself to perfection with the 2 in 1 shape and highlighter pen. Apply the shade of your choice using one side of the pen, and finish with the highlighter under the arch to give eyes and instant lift. 

They are available in 3 shades a Dark brown, Mid brown & Fair costing just £3.00! I have heard some mumbles that it is a possible dupe for the smashbox brow tech to go? 

Will you be picking one up?

Pür Minerals 4 in 1 mineral powder

I really like the packaging on this product - it’s compact has a good size mirror in the lid and it’s really sturdy. I hate flimsy packaging on products like this but Purminerals have got this right. It comes in a great selection of shades, The shade I have is Light and it’s a great match for my complexion.

This powder covers like a dream. It builds up quickly and covers every blemish, imperfection and pore leaving your skin looking like it’s been photo-shopped, It gives great coverage without looking powdery at the end of it, it’s incredible. It works as your concealer, foundation, powder and SPF all in one and makes a great base for your blusher and highlighters too.

More than a mineral foundation, 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Makeup Foundation is a natural mineral makeup concealer, powder and SPF 15 protection all in one. The cornerstone of the Pür Minerals line, this mineral makeup foundation is pure mineral pigment ground to the smoothest texture and bound with organic shea butter and vitamin E. This full-coverage mineral foundation is good for your Skin.

Pür Minerals are the brand to watch, I've tried a few of their products recently and can't fault them, if powder isn't your thing then try their CC Cream it is amazing! I will definitely be trying more products in the future! If you want to try this brand you can buy them online or from your local  Marks and Spencer  beauty hall for £24.00.

Have you tried this brand?

Urban Decay Naked Skin ultra definition pressed Finishing Powder

It’s the next evolution in Naked Skin. The powder with the World's longest name!..... Designed to be virtually invisible once applied, our high-tech, jet-milled powder has an insanely silky texture that feels amazing on your skin. Optical blurring pigments instantly minimize imperfections, diminish shine and create a stunning soft-focus effect that looks professionally retouched. 

Unlike powders that leave skin looking chalky or cakey, Naked Skin Finishing Powder gives you a radiant complexion and NATURAL-looking Naked coverage. It feels like silk on the skin, so soft & creamy.

The packaging is a gorgeous gunmetal and champagne custom compact it is lovely looking, it even has a Naked-embossed push button. The top compartment includes a full-size mirror, perfect for on-the-go touchups and a separate compartment underneath holds the applicator sponge. When you’re done applying, just slip the case into the pretty carrying pouch to keep it protected in your bag. 

The colour 'Naked Light' is a perfect match for my skin & gives me a flawless finish, I usually use the sponge to dab the powder where I need it, then I blend the powder in & out over the rest of my face with my RT powder brush. It has pretty good lasting power on my face, I can get a good 7-8hrs of shine free face.

It is quite expensive for powder at £22.00, but it's Urban Decay and for a high end brand it's about average and I expect to pay it, the packaging is ultra sleek which is an added bonus when I need to powder my nose in public!

Have you tried any of Urban Decay's new Naked Skin range?

Bourjois Java Rice Powder

Bourjois' Java Rice Powder is back! To celebrate Bourjois' 150th anniversary this year, Bourjois are re-releasing their first ever international best seller- the iconic Java Rice Loose Powder. 

This radiance boosting loose powder is feather-light and can be used alone or to set your make-up. Available in one transparent shade, this unique power will bring radiance to any complexion. It really does give a fantastic glow to the skin.

The vintage style packaging is inspired by the original Rice Java Powder packaging from 1879, making it a must-have collector's item. It is adorable, I wish it had been pink though! I'm a sucker for pink packaging!

It has a slight shimmer, but it doesn't look sparkly on the complexion, it just adds a wonderful light to the skin for a glowy, super flawlessly soft look. It is a universal shade that suits all skin tones. 

You can pick it up for £9.99, I got mine from Superdrug, but I'm guessing Boots & other stores will stock it?

What's your favourite setting powder? 

Estée Lauder Chic to Cheek

Estée Lauder Chic to Cheek Tone Correcting Powder is an innovative beauty product that helps to refine skin tone and give a natural appearance. I mainly use this under my eyes to set my Concealer, it gives a lovely brightening effect under my eyes.

The powder contains four different shades in one palette that is suitable for all skin types and is ultra-light on the skin. Estée Lauder Chic to Cheek Tone Correcting Powder, it effortlessly gives your complexion an even, beautiful glow. I really love this product and have been taking it everywhere - as it's really versatile as you can even apply as a face powder to avoid a shiny T-zone during the day. 

The four different powders of different colours; pink, blue, yellow and green, used separately can correct -  green for redness, yellow for dark circles, Pink Brightens, Blue neutralises. But they can be used together on bare skin or over make-up to correct natural skin discolouration and reduce the appearance of an uneven skin tone. 

This was a bargain as its RRP was originally £56! I picked it up a couple of months ago on Fragrance Direct for around £5? As it has been discontinued, but if you feel you really need it, I have seen it on eBay, Amazon & a couple of make up websites recently. 

Are you a fan of Colour Correction products?