More About Liquid Highlighters

There are so many uses for liquid highlighters and they can be tricky sometimes. This post is dedicated to helping you use and apply liquid highlighters, because they truly make a difference in achieving the glowy/dewy effect. While for some liquid highlighters are used based on various special occasions, I believe that daily highlighting can be an important part of your makeup routine. Previously, I mentioned the glowy effect in past posts like in Glowy Skin 101 featuring the NARS Illuminator in “Copacabana” and in a post about the Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector. I wrote a similar post regarding liquid highlighters called What Makes You Glow about a year and a half ago, so this post can function as an update. :)

If powder highlighters are your preferences, perhaps you will find previous posts about them more helpful: Diorskin Shimmer Star in “Rose Diamond,” Wet n Wild “Reserve Your Cabana” (743A), Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in “Moonstone,” and Laura Mercier Matte Radiance Baked Powder Compact – Highlight – 01.

Pictured here:
Giorgio Armani Fluid Sheer #2 (sample)
Benefit High Beam
NARS Illuminator in “Copacabana”

Liquid highlighters can be used in various ways:
1.) LH’s be applied after foundation on your cheek bones, the bridge of your nose, and your cupid’s bow. You can blend in the liquid formula with your fingers or with a synthetic brush as well.
2.) LH’s can also be mixed in with your base makeup (foundation, BB cream, CC cream) and be applied all over your face. The great thing about this option is that you can control the glow factor by adding as little or as much as you need/want.

There’s no rules. Do what you prefer that day. For me, I like to mix in my LH’s with my base makeup; and, I like to do that because I think it’s just easier. I like to reserve my after-foundation-highlighting routine for powder highlighters.

As you can see, the Giorgio Armani Fluid Sheer #2 is a flesh-toned pinky shade that disappears into your skin or your foundation (when mixed in). It’s also more subtle this way. The Benefit High Beam and the NARS Illuminator in “Copacabana” are both white-pink, which makes them less user-friendly because they will do more harm than good if they’re not blended in well. All three are great with mixing in with base makeup, but I tend to lean towards the Giorgio Armani Fluid Sheer #2 most days, and the Benefit High Beam if I want my foundation to be a bit brighter.

Of course, highlighting is based on personal preference. Not all highlighters are created equal, and further research may be necessary depending on your skin tone and the look you are trying to achieve. When in doubt, go with a powder highlighter; however, it’s not to say that the LH’s are difficult to work with.

Face of the Week — feat. the Shiseido Sheer & Perfect Foundation

Just a quick face of the week/day post here — it’s been cloudy and rainy for a few days here, and I felt inspired to work on adding some glow to my makeup routine. Recently, I got a sample of the Giorgio Armani Fluid Sheer in #2, and I’m itching to get the full size. This was all the glow I needed while the weather in Texas transitions to fall.

Urban Decay B6 Vitamin-Infused Complexion Spray
To prep my skin for another dreary day, I sprayed the Urban Decay B6 Vitamin-Infused Complexion Spray onto my skin and patted it in. It’s marketed as a product that “contains the first patented, stabilized form of topical vitamin B6, which absorbs oil, minimizes pores and reduces redness.” Surprisingly, it calmed down my dry and irritated skin from the weather change; and, kept my skin looking and feeling happy throughout the day. I also sprayed it over my base makeup and I was pleased with the results.

Shiseido Sheer & Perfect Foundation & Giorgio Armani Fluid Sheer in #2
I mixed equal parts foundation + the fluid sheer and applied it to my face using the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush. The Fluid Sheers adds an “illuminating veil of radiance” that’s subtle, but makes a big impact on the overall look of your skin. This “unique, translucent formula is available in a range of versatile hues including makeup base shades, correcting shades, and radiance boosting shades.” #2 is perfect for adding luminosity, dewiness, and radiance without looking like a pageant queen, for sure.

Illamasqua Powder Blusher in “Katie” & the MAC 129 Blush Brush
Because I was having a lucky day and I could skip concealer, I went onto blush. I was in the mood for a super-pink blush to add onto the glowy base, so I opted for “Katie” and applied it with the MAC 129 Blush Brush. I’ve had this brush for nearly 10 years and it’s still going strong with proper care. It’s the brush I reach for the most when applying blush.

Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler, Shiseido Nourishing Mascara Base, & Fasio Hyper-Stay Mascara Magne-Plus Curl Long Mascara
Eye routine was kept simple, but I needed to secure the lashes. I used the KOJI lash curler for awhile and now I’m back to my Shu Uemura curler. It’s still the best and worth the money. With the replacement pad, I can use the same curler for like, 3 years. As usual, after curling, I applied the Shiseido Nourishing Mascara Base and just another Japanese mascara in current rotation. For my brows, I’m trying out the Etude House Brow Color. I got this on eBay from a Korean seller.

La Mer Lip Balm & Benefit Ultra Plush Lip Gloss in “A-Lister”
To continue on the simple routine, I applied the La Mer Lip Balm before applying my newest favorite gloss by Benefit — “A-Lister.” Nothing compliments glowing skin more than dewy lips. It’s such a clean and fresh way to keep your makeup simple — all the while looking sophisticated. I like the effortless look, and it was perfect for such a dreary and rainy for days.