What on earth were we doing before highlighting? There’s talk that this trend, like them all, is on the way out, but while I can picture a world without the shimmery, sparkly, glittery cheekbones I can’t seem to imagine life without the glowy, dewy luminous faces that a cream or liquid highlighter achieves.
Sensai is a range I discovered while travelling and the sleek black and gold compact containing a gold-toned cream highlighter lured me straight in. The fact that I had heard Lisa Eldridge mention a Sensai product had nothing to do with it. The lid is slightly curved and feels delightful, if a little plasticky, in my palm. I want this to be so, so good. As it happens, it’s quite good. The texture can’t be faulted but the slight gold glitter pulls it back from RMS status. I’ve noticed that it feels fancy enough that I end up saving it “for best” which makes the ritual of an evening-out makeup a special moment of me-time.
I tend to lean more towards golden based glow products in the summer time and cooler, silver tones in the winter and spring. Kjaer Weis’ glow compact in Radiance is so beautiful it’s like holding a piece of covetable jewellery and the cream itself is certified organic. Radiance is a cool toned highlight that almost looked silvery-grey on the shelf, but once applied it leans pearly-pink on the skin. It’s subtle and easy to apply, like each of these products, with the warmth of your fingertips. Let’s get real; I bought all my KW products initially because of the packaging, it’s just stunning, there’s no denying it. The beauty is I keep using them all because they’re good, solid makeup. Stylish and functional. Damn those Danes.
Lastly a quick mention to Tom Ford’s Shade and Illuminate Glow Stick. I’m putting my hand up and confessing, Caroline Barnes made me do it. After watching her apply this in a video I thought it looked too good to be true; cream highlighter and blush in one stick-form product. And it is as good as I hoped, only the shade combination definitely isn’t (for me). This is more a shimmery bronzer meeting a tangerine-red blush. How I wish this would be released in some more shades – I’m seeing a cool toned pink blush and pearly highlight, and perhaps a coral blush and champagne combo too. The textures are spot on and the packaging is sleek, travel friendly, and glam with the gold edging, but the current colours just aren’t going to suit everyone. Are you listening, Tom?