Happy Thursday, Y’all!
I’ve spoken about my personal favorite spring lip trends HERE. In the spirit of the new season, I’m really loving things that can work to create a glowy, soft-focused brightening effect to the skin. I think that adding in a few key products will give your complexion a little pearlescent pick-me-up! All links are included in each product description*
Note: Some of the photos might have flash. The softness of these products made photography difficult to show the full dimension and glow when used on the face.
Highlights/Strobing Products:
bareMinerals Loose Highlighting Powder in “Clear Radiance”
If you’re on the hunt for products that give a soft, ethereal look to the skin….you’ll love this powder. I’m all about the glow-from-within look and this product delivers exactly that. The powder is soft and finely milled, which sits on the skin to create a beautiful sheen. It doesn’t emphasize pores or texture, so it would also look great on aging skin. If I wanted to wear highlight for work or an interview, this is my main go-to. I like to apply this to the high-points of my cheeks, my brow bones, and the tip of my nose if I’m feeling a little more fancy. The “Clear Radiance” shade has a pinkish undertone with a perfect subtle hint of soft, pearly glow. So much gorgeousness! Oh bareMinerals, how I love thee!
Swatch of Clear Radiance: (I had to take this one with flash—I couldn’t get a photo to show the pearly dimension of the powder. It definitely performs best on the face!)
Benefit Cosmetics — Dandelion Twinkle Powder Highlighter
This highlighter is also a gorgeous option for creating a soft, natural sheen. It also has a subtle pink tone to it with a pearlescent luminosity. I feel that this highlight can be built up a little bit more than the bareMinerals one, especially if you use a more dense highlighter brush. It just has such a great formula with a soft consistency to create an effortless glow. I highly recommend this one! (It can be purchased full-size for $30 USD or mini $16 USD)
**Also, if you’re craving that highlight but want to avoid the more luminous finish, I absolutely LOVE Benefit’s Dandelion Shy Beam Liquid. It has that gorgeous pinky-nude shade to it, but with a MATTE finish in a liquid form. It’s super easy to work with and I apply it by tapping it in lightly with my fingertips or using a damp sponge. It is such a unique formula and I especially love to use it to highlight my brow bones for a fresh, bright-eyed effect. I’ve also used it as an under eye brightener for my dark circles as well!
Swatch of Dandelion Shy Beam Liquid (to the top and left) and Dandelion Twinkle Powder (to the bottom and right)
MAC Cosmetics — Strobe Cream in the shade “Pinklight”
I love this product for so many different reasons—-its such an awesome multitasker and can be used in several different ways. First you can use it as a moisturizer/primer, the cream is very moisturizing and gives the skin a brightened, plumped look. I especially love using it like this on days when my skin looks dull and needs a little radiance added to it. (Bonus: it has a subtle scent of fresh laundry!). It can also just be worn alone on no-makeup days for lit-from-within glow, applied to specific areas in a sheer layer, or concentrated areas to highlight after face makeup is applied. If the pink tones aren’t really your cup of tea, there’s an additional 4 shades to choose from (I want the peach one next).
I put a good amount of the Mac Strobe Cream on my hand in the photo below to see the sheen in action:
Essence Cosmetics —“Be My Highlight” shade
Ahhh this highlight is SO unbelievably good and affordable (less than $5.00 USD). I was genuinely shocked when I finally got to see this little gem in action. It comes as a little dome-shaped compact, but transforms into the most silky, butter-like powder. It sits on the skin beautifully and gives the most angel-like luminosity. I would say that of the products mention in this post, this product has a more light champagne tone to it. For medium to deep skin tones, the sister product to this is the “Sunlighter” shade. Also gorgeous and I will reach for this one out quite a bit as well. Because the formula is so smooth and seamless, I will multitask these as an eyeshadow or to give dry areas on my skin a very light dusting with a large powder brush. (When used sparingly, this effect is somewhat similar to the Hourglass finishing powders or the new Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Glow Powder).
Swatches of “Be My Highlight” on the top and “Sunlighter” below
*Other Honorable Mentions:
Too Faced Chocolate Bar Eyeshadow Palette- Use the Shade “Champagne Truffle”
I am definitely not suggesting you purchase an entire palette for 1 shadow, but if you happen to have this palette on hand—experiment with using the large panned pinkish shade “Champagne Truffle” as your highlight. It gives off a beautiful pearly sheen to the skin to help achieve that ethereal glow. [That being said, this is a FABULOUS palette for creating just about any eye look with its wonderfully neutral shade range. If you’re on the fence about purchasing –DO IT. It’s SO good.]
I just love a good multitasking product!
Photo of the Champagne Truffle swatch, shade in the pan, and the entire palette overview
Worth the Splurge: Hourglass Cosmetics Ambient Lightning Powder – “Luminous Light”
I’ll keep this one short and sweet due to the price:
This strobing powder is definitely more luxe and high end. It’s a gorgeous formula that blurs yet brightens the skin in such an indescribable way. It just a stunner and it would probably be my product of choice on aging skin. (Available in Regular and Mini Size HERE)
Swatch of Luminous Light:
**Purchase my (very affordable) Brush of Choice to Apply Powder Highlighters HERE.
So these are my favorite pink/pearl highlights that really give that natural glow! I have highlights in my collection that are a little bit more bold and bright for special occasions, but I tend to reach for the more subtle ones day-to-day. Let me know if you want a separate post on these!
What do you look for in a highlight? Comment below to discuss your favorites!
You glow, girl!
xo
Jena
FTC: This post is not sponsored. Opinions are honest and my own. Some links are affiliate.
Jena J Beauty 