If there’s one category of beauty products in the whole wide world that really gets us going, it’s glow-inducing heroes. With the unwavering popularity of subtle dewiness to Jell-O skin and the most recent, glazed donut skin – highlighters and illuminators have taken the front-row seat in our makeup routine. A holy-grail formula can take a dry, dull, flaky complexion and turn it into glowing, Glossier-model skin in one fell swoop.
However, today’s glow is more about effortlessly dewy skin with a glass-like gleam rather than a glittery “futuristic alien Barbie” vibe – so using the right products at the right places is key to slaying it. This means it’s super important to know the difference between highlighters and illuminators. Keep scrolling for a quick makeup lesson. Thank us later!
Highlighter Vs Illuminator: What’s The Difference?
Knowing what differentiates an illuminator from a highlighter could be the difference between looking like a radiant goddess and a disco ball. The key difference between the two complexion heroes is that highlighters are meant to be applied strategically on the high points of the face and illuminators, on the other hand, help in creating the illusion of light across the skin. Illuminators are formulated with fine pearl particles in lower concentrations while highlighters contain a high concentration of glittery particles. This is the reason why highlighter is preferred for a more intense glow and is applied only on areas where light naturally hits and illuminators are more versatile and can even be applied all over the face. If you want a glow so bright that they’ll need sunglasses and emphasise your bone structure, then a highlighter is the product to call on. But if you want a natural-looking, lit-from-within radiance, we recommend opting for an illuminator.
Where Should You Apply Highlighter And Illuminator?
There’s no denying the fact that illuminators are more versatile as compared to highlighters and can be used in a multitude of ways. You can apply an illuminator by mixing it with your moisturiser or foundation to majorly up your glow game, or alone straight on the skin to nail a dewy glow. You can also apply it as a primer before you proceed with your foundation or concealer to amp up the shine. Likewise, if you veer toward a subtle glow rather than a blinding shine, trade in your highlighter with an illuminator. Apply it on the high point of your face to subtly glister in the sun. Highlighters are applied on the high points of the face like on the cupid’s bow, on top of the cheekbones, temples, below, and above the brows, and on the bridge of your nose. For glow-skinned devotees, you can layer on a highlighter over an illuminating to spot an all-over radiance while also emphasising specific features.
If You Love That Golden Glow, You Are Going To Lose Your Sh*t Over These Illuminators And Highlighters
Glow To The Gods
Here’s the illuminator that’ll ruin all other glow-giving products for you. The creamy, liquid formula acts as a primer to achieve an impossible glow skin or can even be used as a highlighter to nail a modelesque bone structure.
Shine Bright!
NGL, we’re indisputably obsessed with this highlighter. The reason? It’s highly pigmented and imparts a gorgeous sheen. Our fave thing about this holy-grail product is that it also doubles as an eyeshadow and can be used to try the hot-right-now glittery eye makeup.
To Steal The Spotlight
Say hi to the highlighter that is a serious crowd-pleaser and has reached viral status. It feels undetectable, and the glow factor is buildable, totally believable, and super wearable. We’re totes in love with the doe-foot applicator, which makes it easy to dot the perfect amount onto the strategic spots we wanna highlight.
For A Glazed Glow
If you are all about a subtle glow that practically guarantees compliments, this is the product to call on. It’ll let your complexion shine through with a beautiful glazed glow and is super lightweight.
You glow girl!
Featured Image: Instagram
