My Highlighter Collection!

After asking on social media whether anyone would actually be interested, I found myself a mere twelve hours later filming my whole highlighter collection for all my fellow glow-getters out there. It was touch and go at some points and if you make it past even just the highlighter palette section of this video, I have a huge amount of respect and gratitude for you. This video allowed me to finally fulfil my dream of bathing in a pool of highlight as after swatching a countless amount of powders, creams and liquids, I was glowing from top to bottom. Do not fear though, I have got your back, so if check out the description box of the video you will see I have given the minutes for when each section starts and ends so if you are all about the cream formula and powders don't interest you, just skip to your preferred time.

So if you want to see what highlighters I have purchased over the past few years and which are my go-to one's for a blinding glow, then check the video out! I would love it if you could like, sub and leave a comment with your channels in the comment section below.

What highlighter's would you recommend?

The Battle of the Highlighters

It is no secret that highlighters are very much the in  thing right now. Highlighters are the perfect way to fake a healthy glow on dull days and personally, my face does not feel complete without a dousing of highlight on my cheeks bones and the tip of my nose. It seems like everybody and their nan are on the ultimate expedition to find that ultimate glow so look no further as I am about to give you a full rundown on some of my favourite highlighters that I have been loving over the past year. So let's get straight into it as I have a feeling we could be here for a while...

For starters, I had to mention the MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft & Gentle as this was actually my first proper powder highlighter and the culprit for my ongoing glow obsession. I always recommend this powder to anyone that hasn't ventured into the highlight sphere before as it is a subtle champagne-peach shade and cannot be overly done yet it is still achievable to gain that ultimate glow. It isn't exactly cheap (£24 to be exact) but it definitely is not on the higher end of the market when it comes to price and this pan will last you a good year. As you can see, I actually have mine in the old packaging as it has lasted me that long and obviously there is the fact that I am highlighter whore and I never stay loyal to one which is probably pretty obvious due to this post. 

Next up is the Mary-Lou Manizer from theBalm. This is a much coveted highlight that has previously sat neatly in between high street and high end price tag as it could be purchased in both Debenhams and Superdrug however it now costs £17.49 which I'm pretty sure has increased, most likely because Mary's popularity has grown dramatically in the past couple of years thanks to the blogging industry. Mary-Lou boasts a gold gleam with a subtle shimmer that breaks into a champagne gold when applied onto the cheeks. I recommend this to a lot of highlighter lovers as it seriously adds a bit of oomph to the complexion plus it looks beautiful on a variety of skin tones - trust me. I have used this during the midst of winter when my face is so pale, I'd give Snow White a run for her money, as well during the peak of Summer when I transition from deathly pale to just pale. If you are looking for a champagne highlight that makes those cheek bones pop - check this out!

This next one is probably my all time favourite highlighter to the point that you can see in the picture above that I have almost hit pan. The BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfecter Pressed in Moonstone is probably the most talked about highlighter of 2016 alongside its sister Champagne Pop, and it isn't difficult to understand why. The colour is of course a beautiful pale gold with cool-silvery undertones that looks literally like liquid gold on the skin. However, it is the formula and finish of this highlight that sets it above its competitors. The formula of this powder is so finely milled it quite honestly feels like liquid and takes on a similar appearance when on the skin, to the point that your cheeks actually glisten when adorned with this BECCA beauty and seriously, I cannot get enough. I find whenever I wear this I seriously get addicted to the glow to the point that I am low-key applying this everywhere  on my face and I have no shame. It costs a hefty £32 but seriously I would not even hesitate to purchase this again - this is desert island stuff people! 

The Charlotte Tilbury Bar of Gold Highlighter looks gimmicky but still offers the incredible quality that parallels all of her other products - seriously can Tilbury do any wrong? I purchased this originally as I love how small and compact the product is and felt that this would be the perfect travel sized highlighter and I was not wrong. The swatches of this do not do the gold justice, I honestly feel like a goddess when I wear this and I am never going to complain about that. The only downside is that the product costs £32 (gulp) for a pitiful 4.5g however if you are a regular shopper of Charlotte Tilbury products, this would come at no surprise. I wouldn't recommend this as a first time highlighter but if you are highlighter obsessed like me and are on the hunt for a true gold sheen - this is your gal. 

Finally, do not kill me as I am about to mention a product that costs an arm and leg to ship to the UK but it was soo worth it. The ColourPop Pearlized Highlighter in Wisp appears seemingly inexpensive as it technically costs under £7, although it actually costs a bomb when you add in the shipment charge from the US as well as the tax and all those nitty gritty details. I wish nothing more that ColourPop would create a decent stockists in the UK but do look around if you are wanting to purchase this as some UK sites do sell it but maybe with a slightly increased price. However, despite it's actual inexpensive status, the glow from this little while pot is incredible and the shade is seriously stunning as it offers a beautiful gold with a subtle peach undertone that only adds to the glow on the skin. The consistency of all ColourPop products is seriously odd as they look like a powder yet apply like a cream therefore I would recommend to use a synthetic brush when using any of their products to achieve the ultimate colour pay off. ColourPop offer a wide variety of highlighters that are all seriously beautiful so do go and check them out and pray along with me that they become even more accessible in the UK.

...and breathe. If you read all of that, I love you and will add you to my 2017 Christmas card lists.

I hope you enjoyed this run down of my favourite highlighters and please leave a comment below!

What is your favourite highligher?

July Beauty Favourites

Another month is over and already we are in August. If I blink again, I am scared that it will suddenly be Christmas! July seemed to fly by and considering I spent the first half of it loving life in Toronto, Canada, I say it has been a pretty good month also. I made a lot of new discoveries beauty wise as I finally visited my first every Sephora and most likely spent a combined total of three hours raiding each stand, swatching highlighters and lusting over a million of their rollerball fragrances. Thank the heavens each product I purchased made it on the journey home back to England where they take front stage in my collection. The majority of the favourites pictured above were purchased in Canada but nevertheless, most of them are available to purchase in certain stores and online for any UK readers out there. 

First up, is a product from a brand that I haven't ever tried but has always caught my attention. The Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Poured is a cream version of their renowned Opal pressed highlighter. The colour is a beautiful pale gold that gives a natural, glowy look to the skin without emphasising pores. The thing that I love the most about this product is the wear time. This lasts pretty much all day and doesn't eat away at your foundation leaving the base patchy, much like other similar cream highlighters. I apply this to the tops of my cheek bones and down the bridge of my nose using my ring finger and am always surprised about how beautiful it looks. The formula is easily bendable and looks far from cake-y. If you are after that instant J-Lo look, seriously track this down!

The Tarte Amazonian Clay Blushers are the best formulas of blush out there. Seriously, I would happily own all of these and never buy another blusher again. The product claims 12 hours of wear which is no lie. After application, that flush of colour is here to stay. I purchased a number of these from Sephora and already want to buy more. I have been wearing the shade Glisten throughout July and seriously cannot get enough of the perfect dusty-pink with a ever-so-slight shimmer dressing my cheeks. You can actually purchase a few of the shades from the UK QVC so I seriously recommend checking that out. I have got a blog post coming soon which focuses on my Tarte blush collection so watch this space. 

I have another fragrance favourite this month which I already regret not purchasing the larger size of. The Elizabeth and James Nirvana White fragrance was created by none ever than Mary-Kate and Ashley. I am not sure if I love it so much purely for that reason or wether it's because it has a perfect blend of musk and peony which are two of my favourite ingredients in scent. I love the sleek Gold and White packaging twinned with the easy rollerball applicator making it perfect for travel. Although the scent is heavy, I would happily wear this all year round and may have to make a cheeky online order for the biggest bottle they do and pay the ghastly oversea delivery charges, as honestly it is worth it. If you are heading to a Sephora soon, please pick this or the black version up as you really do need it in your life.

I have also been loving the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer in Luminous Bronze, a brand that are always killing it in regards to their cheek products. I barely even looked at this product before purchasing it as I knew I would love it, just the same as their blushers and powders. The beautiful mix of highlighting powder and deep bronze is perfect for warming up the complexion and giving a subtle and healthy glow. Don't let the powder in the pan deceive you, it may look like their is barely any bronzer in there but trust me, this is seriously pigmented. The trick is to go in with a light hand and a large fluffy brush  and dust the product all over the high points of the face for the perfect bronzey-glow. The shade range is limited as there are only two to choose from but luckily this isn't too dark for my pale skin.

Finally, is a mascara that has potentially reached holy grail status. The Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara (weird, I know but I won't go on about it) is one of those products that has you hooked from the first use. I seriously could not get over how much length this gave me with serious volume. I have been using it everyday for the past month and it still continues to create long, black, thick lashes all day, everyday. The thing that I love the absolute most is that it does not shed in the slightest. I have had way too many love affairs with mascaras in the past that always end with me being fed up of having to remove little balls of black off my cheeks that just isn't worth the decent volume. If you are after a new mascara that will possibly change your life then please do give this a go.

I hope you enjoyed reading about my monthly favourites.

What has been a favourite product of yours from July?