To perfect your makeup and sculpt your face while enhancing or creating an air of vitality and light from your overall complexion, mix a foundation illuminator with or over your foundation. With a wide variety of textures, shades and effects, it's not easy to find your way around. Use this guide to find the best complexion illuminators available.
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Our selection
"Brighten up your complexion with L'Oréal Paris' Glow Mon Amour Liquid Drops. It's a highly pigmented formula with a light, fluid texture that will make…"
"Maybelline New York Master Strobing Stick adds a remarkable strobing effect to your face. It even provides extra dimension to the eye opening and offers…"
"Glam Glow Palette Highlighter is the result of a luminous, pigmented and ultra-micronized formula. Long-lasting, convenient and compact, it is the ideal complexion illuminator for…"
"Get a radiant glow with NYX Professional Makeup's Born to Glow complexion illuminator. Made with a vegan formula (no animal ingredients or by-products), it's lightweight…"
"This Onlyoily brand complexion illuminator palette has the advantage of being easy to apply. Even better, it seduces with its good value for money and…"
Brighten up your complexion with L'Oréal Paris' Glow Mon Amour Liquid Drops. It's a highly pigmented formula with a light, fluid texture that will make you look so natural and radiant!
6,32 £ on AmazonL'Oréal Paris Glow Mon Amour's highly pigmented liquid drops were formulated for easy application and a luminous glow. Blending seamlessly through the skin, this complexion illuminator provides natural-looking color that diffuses light with superior coverage.
Apply L'Oréal Paris Glow Mon Amour to your cheekbones, brow bones and the bridge of your nose for added depth and dimension. This complexion illuminator can be used alone, under foundation or mixed with a moisturizer for a natural glow. You can also add more drops for a customized look.
Maybelline New York Master Strobing Stick adds a remarkable strobing effect to your face. It even provides extra dimension to the eye opening and offers a slimming effect to the face.
6,40 £ on AmazonIts light, creamy texture and micro-fine pearls amplify the skin's radiance by accentuating specific areas. Master Strobing is easy to apply: simply sweep and blend. It accentuates specific areas to add depth while providing a targeted illuminating effect that sculpts the face.
In addition, the creamy formula of this complexion illuminator boosts skin's radiance and the strobing effect makes skin look like it's glowing from within. With this Maybelline New York product, you won't have to worry about side effects because it has been dermatologically tested.
Glam Glow Palette Highlighter is the result of a luminous, pigmented and ultra-micronized formula. Long-lasting, convenient and compact, it is the ideal complexion illuminator for vegans and sensitive skin.
8,78 £ on AmazonCreated with carefully selected ingredients, Lamora Glam Glow Palette Highlighter delivers long-lasting shine. Its creamy powder formula, available in 4 colors, fits into a slim, portable palette with a magnetic opening and built-in mirror. So you'll always be well equipped to illuminate your complexion!
For this product, you'll find champagne flair, golden rose, diamond dust and royal gold.. The formula is suitable for all ages and skin types. Furthermore, this complexion illuminator is easy to apply, sweep and blend for a perfect glow on the areas you want to highlight like cheekbones, nose, cupid's bow, brow bone and collarbone.
Get a radiant glow with NYX Professional Makeup's Born to Glow complexion illuminator. Made with a vegan formula (no animal ingredients or by-products), it's lightweight and moisturizing.
5,96 £ on AmazonNYX Professional Makeup Born to Glow is a liquid complexion illuminator; it will give your face a natural glow. With it, you can highlight the highlights of your face and give yourself a photogenic look. This is not your typical highlighter that will make you glow like the moon, rather it will give your skin a dewy look.
Lightweight and non-sticky, this complexion illuminator is easy to press and blend with your fingers. It dries completely within a minute and does not fade easily. You can mix it with liquid foundation if you want the whole face to look fresh. If you just want to highlight certain parts of your face, blend it with your finger on the spots you want to brighten.
This Onlyoily brand complexion illuminator palette has the advantage of being easy to apply. Even better, it seduces with its good value for money and will now more easily define your natural assets to perfection.
6,39 £ on AmazonThe Onlyoily Shimmer Highlighter Powder Palette is water resistant. It brightens skin color for a healthy glow. It's a powder highlighter, blush and bronzer all in one, instantly gives you a sculpted, radiant face. Because of the size, you can carry it in your purse for your everyday makeup routine.
Plus, the shades blend with skin for a natural finish. And thanks to the lightweight formula, you can increase the intensity and still feel comfortable wearing more color. The highlighter/contouring shade of this complexion illuminator will give your skin a subtle shimmery finish. Plus, the satin blush adds a pop of color.
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The best complexion illuminator in 2021
The best entry-level complexion illuminator
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A great complexion illuminator
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| TOP OF THE TOP | CHEAP | TOP OF THE LINE | EXCELLENT | VERY GOOD | |
In accordance with our commitment, this buying guide does not contain any sponsored products. |
9/10 |
8/10 |
8/10 |
8/10 |
7/10 |
| OUR SELECTION |
L'Oréal Paris Glow Mon Amour
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Maybelline New York Master Strobing Stick
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Lamora Glam Glow Palette Highlighter
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NYX Professional Makeup Born to Glow
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Onlyoily Shimmer Highlighter Powder Palette
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Brighten up your complexion with L'Oréal Paris' Glow Mon Amour Liquid Drops. It's a highly pigmented formula with a light, fluid texture that will make you look so natural and radiant!
|
Maybelline New York Master Strobing Stick adds a remarkable strobing effect to your face. It even provides extra dimension to the eye opening and offers a slimming effect to the face.
|
Glam Glow Palette Highlighter is the result of a luminous, pigmented and ultra-micronized formula. Long-lasting, convenient and compact, it is the ideal complexion illuminator for vegans and sensitive skin.
|
Get a radiant glow with NYX Professional Makeup's Born to Glow complexion illuminator. Made with a vegan formula (no animal ingredients or by-products), it's lightweight and moisturizing.
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This Onlyoily brand complexion illuminator palette has the advantage of being easy to apply. Even better, it seduces with its good value for money and will now more easily define your natural assets to perfection.
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Weight
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60 mg
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9 g (200 mL)
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'-
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23.81 g (18 mL)
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60 g
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Application
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All over face
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On chin, cupid's bow, bridge of nose, top of cheekbones, brow bone and forehead
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On cheekbones, nose, cupid's bow, brow bone and collarbone
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On cheekbones, cupid's bow, and décolletage
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For all skin types
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Texture
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Liquid
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Stick (creamy)
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In powder
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Liquid
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In powder form
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Result
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Boosts radiance, adds depth to your features and illuminates light-catching areas
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Gives a delicate, iridescent touch of light to your complexion (strobing effect)
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Lasting shine
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Radiant, hydrated, and radiant skin with subtle highlights
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Lightening skin color
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Specificity
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Easy to apply
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Easy to blend, gives a strobe effect
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Delivered with a step-by-step guide
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Veganic formula with quick-drying but long-lasting
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Waterproof and durable
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Choosing a shade of illuminator that is about two shades lighter than your skin tone will give a more natural look. You can also find the perfect illuminator for your skin tone by looking at your skin tone. Just as your skin tone is important to consider when choosing your foundation or concealer, so is your skin tone when choosing a skin illuminator. If you have fair to very fair skin, choose a pink or a pink with golden highlights. However, if you have medium to tanned skin, an iridescent beige would be ideal. Finally, very dark skin will look great with an iridescent light brown or iridescent beige.
While it's undeniable that you can achieve a luminous glow with the right illuminator, not using the right makeup tools and brushes could hinder the expected result. When it comes to applying a complexion illuminator, a fan-shaped makeup brush is your best bet for finding perfection. This uniquely shaped brush applies a light layer of product to your face for a natural glow. If you're applying liquid or cream, try blending the product with a makeup sponge instead of a brush.
When considering a complexion illuminator, lighting should always be a consideration. Simply put, if you're spending the day in a soft, dimly lit environment, go for a really bright complexion illuminator. On the other hand, if you spend a lot of time outdoors during the day, choose a more subtle illuminator that won't look as harsh in the sunlight. Either way, consider taking a photo of yourself before you leave the house to see what your face looks like with a foundation illuminator.
If you still can't figure out why your foundation illuminator doesn't look as good as you'd hoped, the problem could be the foundation you used. As a general rule, you should match similar formulas to each other. If you are using a powder foundation, use a powder foundation illuminator. If you use a liquid foundation, opt for a liquid illuminator.
To keep your health as safe as possible, you should be careful about the ingredients in the foundation illuminator you plan to buy. To this end, avoid products that contain multiple silicones, paraben, and other chemical agents or endocrine disruptors. You will find a list of ingredients to avoid below in this article.
Complexion illuminators in cream and liquid form often come in squeezable tubes like a skin moisturizer, or tubes similar to lip glosses with a sponge applicator inside. One of the main ingredients in this type of complexion illuminator is a moisturizing component that gives it its beautiful subtle, creamy texture.
Applying this type of complexion illuminator is not difficult as you just need to blend it on the skin with your fingers. This format is mostly suitable for home use. This is because this format of illuminator is more likely to spill into your bag compared to the stick format.
Stick illuminators, on the other hand, are more durable. This is because there is beeswax or kerosene in their formula. They come in a twisted form like a pencil and can be applied directly to the skin. For best results, you can smooth the illuminator onto the skin using your fingers. The warmth of the skin will help "melt" the illuminator stick for a better, smoother and more even result.
This format is best suited for people who are frequently on the go or traveling. This being that this type of complexion illuminator is less messy than the one in oil or cream form.
Dry complexion illuminators can be pressed or loose. The former are similar to face powders and eyeshadows while the latter are similar to translucent face pigments and powders. Dry illuminators are a bit more difficult to use, they are not as subtle as creams and can accentuate the texture of dry skin. As a result, they are best used on well-moisturized skin without dry patches or fine lines.
The main ingredients in this product are the legendary reflective particles, made from very small glass-like compounds. These include calcium sodium borosilicate and natural mica. Some may also include a moderate amount of transparent pigments.
The purpose of the complexion illuminator is to give radiance to the entire face. In fact, the principle is to envelop the face with a luminous veil for a natural look. Versatile and easy to apply, the complexion illuminator can enhance the functionality of other cosmetic products on the face. You can even mix it with your foundation for a more even application.
Even when applied to oily skin, complexion illuminator will not add shine to the skin. However, a complexion illuminator does not conceal. If you're going to hide imperfections like pimples, for example, this product won't help you.
The role of the blush is to enhance the face of colors. It allows to have a good mine by coloring the cheekbones. Thus, it allows especially to refine the round faces and to balance the long faces. Its main advantage is that it is suitable for all skin tones, thus highlighting absolutely all skin colors.
However, blush has its limits. Indeed, it can only be applied on the cheeks. Apart from that, its application requires expert hands at the risk of ruining all your makeup, because blush is the last to be applied on the face.
If you want to bring light to the shadowy areas of your face, with the most natural look especially during the day, add an illuminator to your foundation. Indeed, there is no better way to give a luminous aspect to the complexion and sublimate your makeup. On the other hand, if you want to change the shape of your face, choose a blush instead.
For a younger look
Who wouldn't want to look young for as long as possible? While the fountain of youth may be a pipe dream for some, a complexion illuminator can help you achieve a rejuvenating effect in no time. The ability of an illuminator to bring out the glow on your face will surely make you look younger. You can simply add it to your cheekbones and create a subtle glow to look more glamorous and fresh.
To beautify the face
A complexion illuminator does not work like a concealer to hide imperfections. However, it can be used to beautify the face while hiding fine lines and wrinkles. You can apply it under your eyes to brighten the area, then leave the house looking confident and composed.
To plump up the labia minora
Simply add a complexion illuminator to your lips to make them look healthier, fuller and more attractive. Top it off with the lipstick of your choice to bring out your outfit and natural beauty.
To refresh the face
You can easily enhance and refresh your features by using a complexion illuminator on your cheekbones, jawline or forehead. This can help you look better. You'll also be surprised at how beautiful you look again!
To look more awake
There are many ways to "fix" a tired look and using a complexion illuminator is one of them. For makeup to help you look fresh and more awake, a complexion illuminator is a great product to apply to the face. Apply it to the center of your chin, your nose and your hairline to look more fresh and ready for a special occasion or an urgent meeting at work, for example.
For beautiful eyebrows
Let your eyebrows enjoy a perfectly clean and enhanced look with the help of a complexion illuminator. This can make them bolder to stand out well.
In our opinion, the best brands of complexion illuminators in 2022 are :
NYX Professional Make Up was born in 1999 in Los Angeles. The products of this brand are sold in over 70 countries, including France. It has more than 3,000 references, including vegan formulas, tested and approved by make-up artists.
Created in 1909, L'Oréal is the world leader in cosmetics. Given the great diversity of its ranges, there are both waterproof eyebrow pencils, complexion illuminators, felt pens, sweatproof and ultra fast drying. Overall, it is one of the best consumer brands.
This Italian professional cosmetics brand was founded in 1997. It offers a wide variety of makeup and body care products. Kiko is most popular because of its nail polishes, complexion illuminators, eyebrow pencils, foundations, etc., for women of all ages.
Maybelline is a leading makeup brand, founded in 1915 by Tom Lyle Williams. Offering an array of makeup accessories such as eyeshadows, eyebrow pencils, complexion illuminators, etc., the brand is a reference among professionals of amateurs.
Erborian skin care brand combines the effectiveness of traditional herbal medicine with sophisticated Korean technology. The company was born in 2007 with the goal of creating innovative and easy-to-use products to enrich your skin care routine, including its iconic BB creams and CC creams.
The diagram below will help you to get an idea of the typical prices for each price range (entry-level, mid-range and high-end).
However, more expensive does not necessarily mean better.
We therefore advise you to always consult our ranking before deciding, rather than blindly relying on price ranges.
Apply foundation and concealer first
Foundation and concealer will create a more even canvas for your foundation illuminator. Use a sponge or makeup brush to blend your foundation. If you have dark circles or minor imperfections, concealer will add extra coverage to those areas and draw more attention to the highlighted area.
Apply complexion illuminator to the top of your cheekbones
Take a blush brush or kabuki brush to apply a bit of foundation illuminator to your temples all the way to the top of your cheekbones. You can apply one coat for a subtle effect or multiple coats for more intense highlights.
Apply a little complexion illuminator to the middle of your forehead
To accentuate the middle of your forehead, you can sweep a little foundation illuminator from there to the bridge of your nose. Start at the center of the hairline on your forehead and sweep down. If you want a more dramatic effect, sweep the illuminator all the way down the bridge of your nose, but this is optional.
Fix your complexion illuminator with an illuminating powder
The first step is the cream illuminator and the second step is to define your dewy goodness with a highlighting powder. This will enhance your look, give your overall appearance a more polished 3D finish, and also keep your illuminator on longer.
Don't forget to use a setting spray
A primer will keep your makeup in place. A setting spray will literally guarantee that your makeup won't move until you wash it off at the end of the night. If you want to look flawless from sunrise to sunset, a good setting spray is essential for your makeup bag.
On your cheeks, always applyilluminator above your cheekbones, never below. Then, you can help refine your nose by applying an illuminator directly to the bridge of your nose. As for the eyes, help yourself look more awake by putting a little illuminator in the inner corner of them. Finally, you can achieve the illusion of fuller lips by applying a touch of highlighter on the cupid's bow.
In case you have acne-prone skin, it's best not to usecomplexion illuminator. If you still want to use it, apply it to your face very sparingly. This remark is equally valid for skin with slight imperfections and dilated pores.
It is a tool very much used in makeup, especially in the strobing technique. The principle is to create a play of reflections on the face, highlighting the radiance of certain key areas. Thecomplexion illuminator is mostly used to bring radiance to everyday life.
Think of always applying the complexion illuminator on a healthy skin. In such a case, you can use it directly on your day cream and that too without foundation. However, it is also possible for you to put your complexion illuminator just before applying your foundation.
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