All About That Glow

MY HIGHLIGHTER GAME

Here I was, going about my business as I played blog photographer while the sun was shining brightly outside and giving us the first clear blue sky in a couple of weeks, when I came across another blog post idea. Within 10 minutes I had finished photographing for this post. One of my biggest weaknesses when it comes to makeup are highlighting products, and I tend to be really specific about what I'm looking for. I spend ages swatching them in store on every bare patch of skin and quickly omit those that are too sparkly or too golden when the light hits them. In the case of products that are sealed, I turn them every which way to see how the light catches them.

So, all in all, I spend a really long time picking and choosing my highlighters. The Manizer was the only one that I purchased online, as I didn't have access to one in person, so my choice was all based on online reviews. All of the highlighters I have mentioned below are of course cruelty-free, and none of them are owned by parent companies that test on animals or sold in China, as per my beliefs.

SAVVY by DB Highlighter Trio

This was the first highlighter I bought, back when I had a very limited budget. I rarely use this one except for the warm flesh colour on the right of the compact, which is the shade at the top of the swatches. I take this one with me when I go travelling because the middle shade works nicely as a neutral blush which cuts down on the volume of my travel makeup supply. I'm not too fond of the lightest shade, as it has warm gold shimmer in it, as well as a silvery gold, and it drives me up the wall sometimes. 

Top: Milani Illuminating Face Powder in Amber Nectar

Bottom: essence Sooo Glow Cream to Powder Highlighter in Bright Up Your Life

The Milani face powder was bought at the DownUnder store, among many other cruelty-free products that I managed to find there, and you can read about it here. It just so happens that this was one of those products that I couldn't test. However, intrigued by the many reviews and references to it in youtube videos and blog posts, I had to see for myself what was so special about it. I was hoping that it would impart a much lighter shade than the swatch, but it works well as an illuminating blush. In fact, Milani should have named this one the 'Illuminating Powder Blush'. Using 'Face' in the name of this product is misleading if you ask me.

I seriously have a knack for finding products that just so happen to be discontinued, but so good that it baffles me as to why it was so. This is a perfect example of that. I discovered this one a little too late, but I was really lucky to be able to grab this at a makeup warehouse sale where it was the last one left in the box. I added it to my basket straight away, because I had swatched this in store one time and was really disappointed that they were all out of stock. It looks quite pink in the pan, but when swatched it looks more like a pinkish-white. It blends easily and I apply this either with a buffing brush, or my fingertips depending on how intense I want the highlight to be.

Top: Milani Foundation in Body Glow

Bottom: theBalm Mary-Lou Manizer

I saved the best for last, sorry, not sorry. Leaving the best things for last is like having a special treat after a good meal, and this is exactly what it is. The Milani Foundation in Body Glow is another one of these 'discontinued but oh so good' cases and it honestly astounds me as to why Milani no longer manufactures this one anymore. It's seriously the perfect highlighting product because you can use it on its own, on top of foundation, under powder highlight, and even mixed in with some foundation, BB cream or tinted moisturiser. There's so much product in the jar and a little really goes a long way. It blends so easily and dries reasonably quickly with enough time for you to blend it out. It is also really easy to layer thanks to the quick drying, though it's pigmented enough without needing another layer.

TheBalm's Mary-Lou Manizer is the latest addition to this part of my makeup kit and is definitely one of the best highlighting products that I've come across. Like the previous highlighter I spoke about, a little goes a long way. The colours are very similar too, and I like using this on top of the Body Glow for an intense glow. It is more pearly than glittery and applies like a dream either with a brush or your fingers, what with its buttery texture. It also lasts a very long time on the skin, even without use of a primer, which gives this a huge A+. I haven't had this product for long enough to use it as other than a highlighter for the tops of my cheekbones, nose, chin and cupid's bow, but I really love this gorgeous thing, and I think that I won't have need for anything new now that I've got the Mary-Lou Manizer.

Do you guys have any other cruelty-free highlighting products that you love and recommend?