Best of 2010 - Highlighters

Any reader of my blog knows I've been all about the glow this year.  I have been on the quest to find that perfect 'oh my skin always looks like this' glow from within.  Part of that has been about skincare...yada yada.  But the more exciting part has been about highlighters!  Here is what I've tried this year, and I think we can all agree that if I'm not glowing by now, I might have a problem. 

Best of 2010 - Highlighters

From top left: Tarte Glam natural cheek stain; Tarte Smooth Operator illuminating serum; N.Y.C Color Wheel in Pink Cheek Glow & Translucent; NARS Orgasm Illuminator; Benefit It Was the Perfect Alibi eye & cheek highligher; Lorac Perfectly Lit in Spotlight; ELF All Over Color Stick in Persimmon; Benefit Hollywood Glo; Benefit High Beam; ELF Shimmering Facial Whip in Citrus, Toasted & Spotlight, NYX Jumbo Pencil in Cottage Cheese; Benefit Eye Bright; Sheer Cover Lip to Lid Highlighter in Pink & Bronze, Tarina Tarantino Sparkle Powder; MAC Mineralized Skin Finish in By Candlelight

Favourite Highlighter 2010

It's a tie (I couldn't help it!)

Lorac Perfectly Lit in Spotlight

I love this product and am so happy to have found it.  I wrote a full blog post you can read here, that will give you a more detailed review.  Suffice it to say...this gives you a gorgeous glow & is not too sparkly or over the top for use during the day.  Love all around.  The only one downside is the price, this retails for about $32CAD..but a little truly does go a long way.  

Next favourite

Hard Candy Bronzer in Tiki

Again any regular reader will also know my love for this product.  This is not a bronzer but gives a beautiful gold highlight that I think would suit most any skin tone. I did a full review on this as well, which you can read here.  Hard Candy is available at Wal-Mart & this retails for less than $10CAD...pretty hard to beat, you have to try it!

Honourable Mention

NARS Illuminator in Orgasm & ELF Shimmering Facial 

Whip in Toasted

These are surprisingly similar, although I will admit that the NARS has a better golden/bronze colour & is easier to blend than the ELF.  Given the price difference however ($30 vs $1) you will have to judge what will do the job for you.  I daub a little on my cheekbones, etc. with my finger & then just lightly rub in circular motions to blend.  If I am using powder foundation I apply these first & the result is really pretty.  These are also great on hot summer days, when I don't wear as much make-up but still want a little glow.  

Least Favourite

Tarina Tarantino Sparklicity Pure Sparkle Powder

This came in my Glitz & Glam kit that I bought in Florida.  Can anyone guess why I don't prefer this product?  I am a little beyond the age where this would be cute, the picture pretty much says it all for me.  I am thinking my 13 year old niece might like to wear this for her dance/cheer competitions.  Otherwise, it's just not for me..way too much sparklicity for this girl. 

Any highlighters you swear by?  I would love to hear about them!  I thought this was going to be my last 'Best Of' post, but I have o.n.e. more coming...stay tuned.

I finally got it - Lorac Perfectly Lit powder in Spotlight

I will take a minute to rave about one of the best things I got on my trip.  Some of you might remember that I blogged about wanting the Lorac Perfectly lit powder in Spotlight a while back.  (read original post here) 

Well I got it in my Glitz & Glam kit from Sephora.  I knew that I wanted a few things in this kit so I decided that I would buy this rather than full sizes of a few products I had never tried.  

Oh and it is all that I thought it would be and more.  This powder is very finely milled and goes on like a dream.  I apply it with a small flat top brush, but any small powder or blush brush would do well.  I have worn it both under & over both liquid and powder foundation and it gives you a beautiful 'glow' no matter how you wear it.  My favourite result so far, was over top of my primer and underneath my mineral make-up.  It looked beautiful  if I do say so myself.  Kind of that glow from within look.  This powder does not look sparkly or iridescent to me, rather just provides a nice youthful dewy sheen to your skin. 

It is not easy to get a picture of this...hope you can see it!

I know some people who have reviewed this powder say they use it all over their face.  I personally think that might be too much of a good thing.  I use it on my cheekbones & then sweep what is left on my brush down the bridge of my nose, beautiful! It is similar to the Hard Candy bronzer in Tiki, which is definitely cheaper and in my opinion is still worth trying.  But I think the Hard Candy bronzer has a bit more shimmer and isn't quite as fine as the Lorac.  

I will definitely be re-purchasing this powder in the full size.  Let me know if any of you have tried it!

This is the product description from the Sephora website, where it retails for $32:

Perfectly Lit Oil-Free Luminizing Powder
What it is:
A silky, oil-free powder luminzer.

What it does:
Perfectly Lit Oil-Free Luminizing Powder instantly puts your face in its best light, giving your skin a luminous Red Carpet glow. This oil-free, velvety powder brightens and evens, helping skin appear naturally radiant. This unique luminizing powder helps diminish the appearance of imperfections by optimizing the effect of light, for a youthful, luminous, glowing complexion.

What it is formulated WITHOUT:
- Sulfates
- Synthetic Fragrances
- Synthetic Dyes
- Petro-Chemicals
- Phthalates

Size: 0.34 oz