Hey everyone!

For some reason, I find it super interesting to see what highlighters other people have in their collection. Unlike lipsticks, bronzers or foundations, highlighter is something you need only a tiny amount of and it's very unlikely you'll be using it up anytime soon. So buying another highlighter, knowing you won't ever be able to finish it in your life, must mean something special. Right?

This post will include all my individual highlighters: powders, creams and liquids. Of course I have a few highlighters that come in a palette as well (like the Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow, the TheBalm Manizer Sisters palette and a few more face palettes) but I won't be showing you those today. Honestly I don't tend to use those just for the highlighter, but usually use the highlighters in there while I'm contouring/blushing with them anyways. So just single highlighters. Trust me, it's plenty of reading!

Powder highlighters:

Laura Geller Baked Gelato Swirl - Gilded Honey

This must have been one of the very first highlighters I bought, after TheBalm's Mary-Lou Manizer (which is broken and I got rid of, but still own in a palette). It was such a hype back when it first released and everyone kept raving about it. Even people that are now all about the blinding highlight said they loved this back then, even though it's nowhere near as blinding as some highlighters can be sometimes. I struggled to find my way with this highlighter, and definitely learned I need a fluffy brush or a fan brush with this highlighter in order to make it work. The undertone is quite a dark golden and if I pack it on too much, it will show that it's actually a bit too dark for me. But applied lightly and with a fluffy brush, you'll only really notice the gold reflects, which to me are perfect for an everyday look. Now that I know how to apply it, I really can't put it down, and it's one of my most used hihglighters recently, as it's sitting in one of my Muji drawers where I put my everyday products. I still think this is so worth checking out, even after highlighters sort of exploded on the market!

Kiko Glow Fusion Powder Highlighter - 01

This is an interesting one. I sort of had it on sale on Depop for a while, as I wasn't reaching for it anymore, but decided to put it back into my collection as I know I used to love it a lot one day. Again, it's a good everyday one, but I definitely recommend this for paler skin tones, as it will only show a white cast on deeper skin tones. With this post, I am deciding to put it back on Depop, and if I can't sell it I'll probably end up donating it. Not that it's bad, I just never really actually reach for it anymore.

Nars Highlighting Blush - Hot Sand

The only reason I picked up this highlighter (which I don't think is available anymore now they've released their newly-packaged & reformulated highlighters) is because of KathleenLights. She used to rave about this and I thought it looked like the perfect in-between highlighter. It's definitely a bit more intense, but nothing too crazy and I think it just has the perfect champagne undertone to it! The formula is beautiful too, and I find it stays on really well. Such a good shade that literally goes with anything I wear for blush, bronzer or eyeshadow.

Too Faced Love Light Prismatic Highlighter - Ray Of Light

A lot of people didn't like these highlighters as they thought they would be more blinding, more pigmented. I actually kind of like that it's not too in your face, especially with this rose gold one. It gives off such a beautiful sheen and whenever I feel like going for an all over peachy look, I'll always reach for this. Yes, the pigment isn't really there, but the reflect on it is amazing, so it's kind of unnoticeable when it doesn't hit the light, but when it does... It's stunning! Again, I went for the rose gold as it's un-like anything else in my collection. And I can never go overboard with it either, which I absolutely love.

swatches l-r: Laura Geller Gilded Honey, Kiko 01, Nars Hot Sand, Too Faced Ray Of Light

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed - Moonstone

I was actually going to check out Champagne Pop for my first Becca purchase, but I realised that one was so intense and I would probably never reach for it, I stumbled upon Moonstone and I was sold. It's such a me-colour, has a very neutral undertone (so nothing too gold, too silver or too champagne, just sits right in the middle). I love that it's not too blinding, again, so I can wear it for everyday looks. It's such good quality as it doesn't have chunks of shimmer or glitter in, but it's the perfect finely-milled formula to give off a subtle glow.

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed - Prismatic Amethyst

When I stumbled on this one in a Sephora last year, I couldn't not buy it! I had loved my Moonstone highlighter for a while and knew that the formula wouldn't disappoint. Just like the Too Faced one, this purple-reflect only shows up when it hits the light, so for many people this highlighter won't be intense enough. But I think you've gathered by now that I'm never all about the blinding highlights, and prefer a sublte one. I do keep this one more for special occasions like parties and festivals, as it's more appropriate to wear duo-chromes out of the office, in my opinion...

Dior DiorSkin Nude Air Illuminating Powder - 002 Glowing Nude

When I first saw this, I thought I was in heaven. This must be the prettiest highlighter I own, in terms of how it looks in the tin. The pattern has slightly faded so it's not that visible anymore, but it used to look so good when it was new, with the flowers all over. With the shade being perfectly in-between (kind of like Nars Hot Sand, but more glowy and a little more champagne), this must be the most intense everyday highlighter I own. I don't reach for it often anymore, as a few other highlighters have since come along (I believe I bought this back in 2016) but it's still one I can trust when I want a bit more glow on my face. It's so buttery in formula and blends out super nicely, it almost gives you that wet-look on the cheekbones. Super pretty, and I believe there's a very similar shade available in their permanent collection, so you might want to check that out if you're feeling spendy!

Dior DiorSkin Nude Air Luminizer Glow Addict - 002 Holo gold

Another limited edition highlighter from Dior, hooray! Now this is something special. It's peachy in undertone but has a pink reflect, it's super intense and glowy, which I don't go for that often, but wow. Just wow. It's so unique and so opaque, it's another wet-look type of a powder highlighter, and a little goes a long way. I love to put this in the inner corners as well, to add a bit more of an interesting pop of sparkle to the eye look. Really, when I wear this highlighter, I feel like a princess. Rightly so.

swatches l-r: Becca Moonstone, Becca Prismatic Amethyst, Dior Glowing Nude, Dior Holo gold

Mac Mineralize Skin Finish - Soft & Gentle

One of the OG highlighters of the beauty community! Back in the days, this must have been one of the only popular highlighters and literally EVERYONE AND THEIR MUM used to own one. I gave in after hearing about it for years and I did use it a lot when I first got it (like every other new makeup item in my collection, basically). I haven't worn it in yonks, but I do always think of it for a more glowy, night-out look. It's a bit more glittery that I would usually go for, and I think I could easily do without this one, but I'm still keeping it for the sake of it being a cult classic.

Bobbi Brown Highlighting Powder - Pink Glow

This was actually a highlighter my mum picked out for her (and I could use it as well) but she soon realised she would get an allergic reaction to it when she wore it, so it became mine. ^^ I have loved this one a lot and actually, I think I should wear it more often. It's got a gorgeous pink undertone (hence the name) and although this was a limited edition highlighter, they re-released it as a permanent item after the succes of it, it just comes in the standard black packaging. You should definitely go and check it out if you love your pink toned highlighters, this one is beautiful!

Fenty Beauty Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter Duo - Lightning Dust & Fire Crystal

I only really ever use this one when I want to go all out, although I must say that first layer of the left highlighter is gone and it's a lot more wearable now than I first thought. In combination with each other, this makes a great intense but still wearable glow. It was the first Fenty Beauty product I bought and although I really didn't need another highlighter with such a neutral tone, I'm glad I got to try it. I did realise while swatching it for this post, just how similar it is to the Mac Soft&Gentle, and with that I think I might put it up for sale on Depop as well! I'm just not getting the use out of it the way I expected it to, and maybe I should have picked up a different shade (this one is very pretty, don't get me wrong) as I have a very similar highlighter in my collection already, it was just so hard to decide it off the Sephora website without being able to swatch it. I'm in two minds about it, as it's gorgeous, but for the sake of making space I'm going to part ways with it...

swatches l-r: Mac Soft & Gentle, Bobbi Brown Pink Glow, Fenty Beauty Lightning Dust & Fire Crystal

Fenty Beauty Killawatt Foil Freestyle Highlighter Duo - Sand Castle & Mint'd Mojito

I was so excited when I heard about these highlighters so I picked up two out of three of them. They are very colourful, and I couldn't see myself wearing the pink/purple one. I went for this one in the first place, and rightly so, I thought it would be the most wearable out of them all. Although you can really build up that icy blue one for its pigment, applied with a fluffy brush and a light hand it becomes a lot more wearable than you'd think. I even wear this for popping into town, and I just think it adds something interesting to a very minimal makeup look. The beige toned one is slightly too dark in undertone for me so I have to apply it very carefully, but it makes for a great eyeshadow topper.

Fenty Beauty Killawatt Foil Freestyle Highlighter Duo - Mimosa Sunrise & Sangria Sunset

Then I also decided this one would be interesting, maybe not to highlight as such (I am quite pale so it takes a lot of bronzer or tanning to make the orange work as an actual highlighter, although it's possible if you're a bit more tan than me) but I've seen people create such interesting eyeshadow looks with it. For a more editorial look I'd definitely try and make the fuschia work as a blush and connect the orange highlighter with the outer corner of the eyes. It's a fun one to have around, but hard to use as a highlighter on the daily, as it's a lot more pigmented in terms of colour than the previous one, which gives more of a wash of colour if you want it to.

swatches l-r: Fenty Beauty Sand Castle & Mint'd Mojito, Fenty Beauty Mimosa Sunrise & Sangria Sunset

Liquid & Cream highlighters:

Nyx Away We Glow liquid highlighter - 04 Crystal Glare

I'm currently still using the last bits of this for my Project Pan, and I've loved using it so much over the summer period. It's such an easy one to wear, even over top of powders. I hate the applicator though but it's alright for a drugstore priced one. It comes in 8 or 9 shades so there's definitely one for everyone, and it's easy to build up, so you can choose how intense you want it! It's not one of those liquids that sets immediately when it's on the skin, but you have a few seconds to blend it out before it sets. I do find that with any liquid highlighter, it's always best to blend before moving onto the other cheek.

TheBalm Mary-Dew Manizer

This gives you a lovely glow that we're all used to from the powder version, but it's so hard to work with it! Unlike the Nyx one, this does set very quickly and if you're not careful, yu end up with dots on your face for the rest of the day. I find I really have to apply it in one swipe so that I don't get patchiness, and have to work really fast with it. Once it's on and it's blended as much as possible, it looks great though.

Barry M Liquid Chrome highlighter drops - Beam Me Up

If any of these is intense, it's this one! This is so metallic and pigmented, people can see my highlighter from outer space. I don't reach for it that often, for that reason, but whenever I feel adventurous, I will go for this highlighter. You need the tiniest amount and it gives you such a metallic glow, it's just insane. Lasts very well too, so if you're into that, I highly recommend you checking these out before spending a lot of money on the ones from Cover FX or any other high-end brand that does these type of liquid highlighters.

swatches l-r: Nyx Crystal Glare, The Balm Mary-Dew Manizer, Barry M Beam Me Up

Benefit High Beam (mini)

An oldie, but a goodie! I can't believe I've only just tried it out though. It's really easy to work with and especially this mini one is so handy to apply highlighter very precisely: on the brow bone, on the inner corners, the cupids bow... Such a nice pinky undertone as well!

Benefit Watt's Up (mini)

I used to have the full sized stick one, but I completely used that one up! You know when something is good if you go through it entirely. I got this in a set at Christmas so I'm happy it's back in my life, although I don't reach for it that often anymore, mainly because it's in a pot and not in a stick. Way easier to swipe or dab it on my face, rather than going in with my finger or a brush.


BareMinerals Crystalline Glow highlighter stick - Shimmering Crystal

This product must be one of the only from the brand I don't really like. It's a great one for editorial makeup looks on my blog or instagram, but I feel like it's not designed to stay put all day. It's a very slippery consistency and I feel like it disrupts the makeup underneath when I sweep it across my cheekbones. The shade is really nice though and I loved it for the festival season, as it has this gorgeous peachy shift and lots of glitters, but it's just not one I reach for on a daily basis...

Zoeva Strobe Gel - Eos

Last but not least, a very odd one out. I've not seen a lot of brands do this type of gel highlighter, but I know some of them do. I was so curious to try it out and I decided to go for a peachy on from Zoeva. I can tell it's got loads of product in, and I'll be able to use it for a long time. It has a gorgeous gold reflect in and as I've told you in the past, I prefer to apply this with a brush so that the glitter particles spread out evenly. It gets quite patchy with your finger and quite overpowering with a spunge (as it soaks up a part of the gel and you're only left with glitter on your cheeks). When you know how to use it right, it's a gorgeous one.

swatches l-r: Benefit High Beam, Benefit Watt's Up, BareMinerals Shimmering Crystal, Zoeva Eos

Lots of love,