The Highlight of my Day

Image from www.the-cosmetics-campus.com

Good make-up is about contouring. I don't know very much about make-up but I know that. Gold star for me.

As you can see from the slightly scary, but ever-so-helpful demonstrative illustration above, contouring does exactly what you should want your make-up to do - enhance your natural beauty, not hide or alter your looks.

And what better way to let your natural beauty shine through than highlighter? Not the kind you use to annotate your books. Neon yellow face-paint = only acceptable at raves and Thai full-moon parties.

So here are a few of my favourite highlighters (expect to see a lot of Benefit in here, they're my ultimate make-up crush).

High Beam luminescent complexion enhancer

Moon Beam iridescent complexion enhancer

Both £18.50

Images from benefitcosmetics.co.uk

I think your preference between these is likely to depend on your colouring and your style, but I personally love and own them both. They both look great on any skin tone, and can be used to highlight brow bones and cheek bones, though I also sometimes use them on my cupid's bow and around my eyes (carefully!) I use high beam when I'm going for a paler, pinky look and moon beam for more of a warm, healthy glow.

They are applied with a small brush, and then I dab with fingers. They also last a long, long time as you only need a small amount, so here's to value for money.

Benefit Miss Popularity Highlighter

For some reason I can't find this on the Benefit website any more but I estimate the price at about £15-£20.

Image from www.marieclaire.com

This highlighter is a pale, shimmery dust applied with a dabber. It's pretty subtle and I use it in the arches of my brows and down my nose, which makes it appear narrower. A very clever little trick, even if I do say so myself. It's very subtle, I promise.

Wakeup Makeup Palette by jelly pong pong

If you're not acquainted with Jelly Pong Pong yet, seriously, it's a friend you want to make. Soft, creamy make-up in gorgeous shades designed for convenience and comfort. And Gwen Stefani's a fan. And she's hot. I got this palette in a gift bag at The Clothes Show Live in Birmingham, but it's also available on their website. So this palette is amazing because it means I don't have to take my primer and my highlighters around with me. Wakeup Makeup is the truth; it features an eye brightener, a face brightener and a selection of eyebrow powders with applicators. Use on cheekbones, brow bones, and even the cupid's bow and down the nose for all your contouring needs in one portable compact. Amazing.

Another trick to open up eyes is to line the bottom with white eyeliner, as this makes them appear larger, see? You can also do this with any eye-safe highlighter as they tend to be more subtle but as long as you blend your eyeliner, you're good to go. For this I recommend the original, the best, the dream: Chanel.

Chanel Le Crayon Khôl Eye Pencil
$28, Buy here.
Image from chanel.com

If you liked this post, and would like more info on make-up to make you look your brightest and highlight-est, follow this link.

Shine your brightest!

Ciao for now,

Charlotte