Today, I have for you the last installment in my blush/bronzer/highlighter collection!!  By the end of all these swatches, my arm was red and rashy LOL – it was quite a day!  But I’m really pleased with the photos and swatches, and I think I see some holes in my collection that need filling!!!  Mwahahahahaha… Oh.  Sorry!

Today we’re going to look at the highlighters/illuminators in my stash.  While I sort of feel like I have a fair amount, none of them really knock my socks off, so I feel like it’s lacking quite a bit.  But, you can make the call when you see what I’ve got I guess!

Clockwise from left: Bobbi Brown Nectar Shimmerbrick, Estee Lauder Shimmering Sands Gelee, Make Up For Ever Uplight in #23, Clinique Up-lighting in Bronze, NARS South Beach Multiple (sample size)

For some of you, these products will be more like shimmering blushes rather than highlighters – indeed, on me I usually wear Estee Lauder’s Shimmering Sands and Clinique’s Bronze as a cheek color rather than a highlighter/illuminator, though that might change this week.  You could probably layer these under a blush and still get the illuminating effect.  I know some of you that own Bobbi Brown’s Nectar definitely use it as a blush as well – for me it’s too light to do so.

MUFE’s Uplight is the real true ‘highlighter’ in the group, but it’s got glitter particles that make it more suitable for night than day.  Typically I use NARS South Beach Multiple as a compliment to my blush/bronzer, which gives a fantastic peachy-bronze glow to my skin (though it fades within a few hours).  Clinique’s Bronze Up-lighting, which has about 1/3 left and is the oldest product here, has a bronze-rose tone that gives a fantastic glow, but is pretty intense and needs to be blended out well.  The ‘Natural’ version of this product is a total winner, and I would recommend choosing that over this shade.

Swatches above taken with flash.  Left to right: Estee Lauder Shimmering Sands, NARS South Beach Multiple, Clinique Bronze Up-lighting,  MUFE Uplight #23, Bobbi Brown Nectar ShimmerbrickNatural light.  Left to right: Estee Lauder Shimmering Sands, NARS South Beach Multiple, Clinique Bronze Up-lighting,  MUFE Uplight #23, Bobbi Brown Nectar Shimmerbrick

While you can distinguish for the most part between each of these, I still always find luminizers and highlighters kind of funny, because at the end of the day they all look pretty similar when worn.  Clearly, Shimmering Sands darker rose-bronze tones  make it more of a bronzer/blush than a highlight, and could have been grouped as such, but I was trying to follow the names of products when posed with the ‘what goes where’ question.  NARS South Beach is sort of a lighter shade of Shimmering Sands, and Clinique’s Up-Lighting here is also along the same color lines, but leans more rose than bronze.  MUFE’s Uplight #23 is a champagne shimmer, and Bobbi Brown’s Nectar, while appearing quite coral on some skintones, looks downright pale pink on mine.

I also wanted to show a comparison between the two NARS Multiples (South Beach and Laguna) and Clinique’s Up-lighting, as they all are for the same kind of purpose – illuminate with a touch of color.  I had initially paired Laguna in this group, but changed it to the bronzer section as it is likely used that way by fairer skintones.

All swatches shown with flash.  Left to right: Clinique Up-Lighting in Bronze, NARS South Beach Multiple, NARS Laguna Multiple

Each of these are similar in their own right, but again – Clinique’s Bronze is actually more rose; South Beach is more of a pale bronzed rose; and Laguna is more brown.  They are all distinguishable when worn on the face.

And there you have it – my entire blush/bronzer/highlighter collection to peruse, condemn, laugh at – whatever suits your fancy   I hope it entertained you at the very least while I’m away!  I feel satisfied OK with the collection, but there are some new shades I’d like to add, while also eliminating some that have worn out there welcome.  I see room for some berry tones, as well as some neutral shades and lighter-toned illuminators that can be worn with blush/bronzer, and don’t overpower it.  Can you say ‘hooray’ for an excuse to shop!?

Final thoughts?  What shades are you coveting, if any?  What shades can you suggest I add?  Is my collection meager, just right, or too much?  Inquiring minds want to know??