Liquid Highlighters vs. Powder Highlighters

[lynnpossible]

Which is better ? Which do you prefer to use? and why?

[Ninasa88]

I like both! If i want it to realllllly glow ill use liquid and then powder on top. If not i normally just use liquid highlighter since i find alot of powders tend to emphasize texture

[Anonymous]

Honestly, I’m only saying this because I have done quite a few makeovers and I noticed what I’ve heard for years, on older skin, you’re better off using a cream glow lotion type. Powder, even the creamy powder, really seemed to Not look as good, this observation came from the customers themselves. They noticed the difference. But again, people can use whatever they prefer. I stick with the girls and we can wear whatever they want! we are all still beautiful. Just wanted to share my experience. I’m sure either one will work.

[fatimamummy]

@lynnpossible  As others have said, it is personal preference and the look you are going for. For everyday looks I prefer powder highlighter because I can apply it within a few seconds using a fan brush. For formal looks I may go for cream or liquid highlighter and often set them with a powder highlighter depending on how much of a blinding  glow I want 😉

[WinglessOne]

@lynnpossible  I use cream and powder highlighters. Which one I reach for depends on the look I want to achieve, since all forms of highlighters can accentuate my skin’s texture if I don’t moisturize well enough. Cream highlighters give me a dewy finish I can’t get from powder highlighters. But if I use a facial oil or COOLA Sun Silk Face Sunscreen Drops with SPF 30 and Hyaluronic Acid 1 oz / 30 mL on my face, I’ll have a dewy base for powder highlighters. And I prefer to travel with powders. 

My favorite powder highlighters are various shades of NARS - Highlighting Powder. They’re not chunky glittery and they’re long lasting on my skin. They’re particularly nice to use in my hollow tear troughs to mask darkness: I like to lightly apply the shade St. Barths either over or under my concealer. I also have a Laura Geller Baked Gelato Swirl Illuminator in the iridescent shade Diamond Dust that’s not subtle at all (not glittery but very bright) and easy to overdo if I’m not careful, but it’s a fun shade. I also have (and like) highlighters by Illamasqua, Fenty, and Becca, but NARS makes my favorites. 

For cream highlighters, my favorites are PAT McGRATH LABS Skin Fetish Highlighter & Balm Duo Bronze  and RMS BEAUTY - Luminizer X Quad Highlighter Palette. I have a Glossier Haloscope highlighter that gives me a more subtle glow. 

Sometimes I layer cream and powder highlighters. The RMS Living Luminizer (included in the X Quad) and the balm end of the PMG Skin Fetish highlighter are excellent bases or top coats for powders. And I have a couple of blushes I use as highlighters: NARS - Blush in Taj Mahal and HOURGLASS - Ambient Lighting Blush Palette - Ghost - the Strobe Blush shade Brilliant Nude, which is a more obvious sparkly highlight on me. I don’t have any Hourglass Ambient Strobe powders (those are marketed by Hourglass as highlighters), but I do have 3 of their finishing powders (Ambient Lighting Palette); I use the finishing powders more as subtle glow-from-within brighteners than highlighters, if that makes sense. 

[SportyGirly125]

@lynnpossible It’s personal preference. I even like to layer powder over liquid for longer lasting power. I find it quicker to apply powder when I am in a hurry but for special occasions I like the extra glow with liquid and powder on top. 

[loveyall]

@lynnpossiblei like liquid because I have texture on my skin. Powder highlight tends to emphasize texture.  There are some luminous powder "highlights" that are subtle and are for all-over application. They create a glow-from-within look aka more natural vs bling. These do not show my texture. I've used both hourglass (ambient lighting) and Laura mercier ( candle light glow) for this.  For liquid I use color fx or Josie maran--both of these are considered clean by sephora standards.  My mom loves the Marc Jacobs Dew Drops (I do, too). Hope this helps!

[PenelopeBT]

I love and totally agree with your comment! Powder highlighters can easily accentuate texture, fine lines and acne, so you have to be careful. I definitely prefer liquid or cream highlighters for a more natural, lit from within look. However, if you have oily skin, layering a powder highlighter on top of a liquid one can give it more staying power. My current favorite highlighter is the RMS BEAUTY - Living Luminizer.

[loveyall]

@PenelopeBT. I'm going to try that out!! Thank you!