I've been really enjoying products that leave a nice sheen to my skin without the glittery mess.
The ones mentioned in this post have been great at perking up my dull winter skin.
The Pixi All Over Magic compact is made of rubber so it can get dirty easily, but it's great for travel because of it's thin and sleek design. Each palette comes with 5 different shades, which you can use on the eyes, cheeks, face and body. The texture of all 3 powders are very soft and delicate. Therefore, they can get dusty when you swirl the brush into the pan. So, I prefer to pick up the product by using the brush in a tapping motion to prevent any messiness. They look frosty when swatched on my hands, but they actually emit more of a dewy finish when worn on my face. I didn't have any issues with wear and they last on my cheeks for at least 8 hours when worn over foundation and setting powder.
Pixi All Over Magic Brightening Radiance Powder ($24 for 7.09g/0.25oz): Even though I have a warm, medium complexion, Brightening Radiance is not too pinky or too cool for my skin tone. It works nicely as a highlighter for the cupid's bow, bridge of the nose and top of the cheekbones. You just need to use a little bit of the product and it'll leave a gorgeous glow to the skin without being glittery or too shimmery. Be careful because if you over apply it, it can look chalky. So, less is more!
Pixi All Over Magic Bare Radiance Powder ($24 for 7.09g/0.25oz): This one is peachy and more forgiving on my NC30/35 skin tone if I over apply it. It's too light as a bronzer for me, but I love it as a highlighter. It's very easy to work with and applies smoothly onto my skin. It's also very versatile because I can wear it alone without having to worry about it being chalky. I can also pair it over a matte blush when I want a brightening effect. (I heavily swatched it on my hands, so it may look really pigmented, but when applied on the face, the color of the highlighter does not disrupt the color of my blush.)
Pixi All Over Magic Rose Radiance Powder ($24 for 7.09g/0.25oz): This one acts more as a blush and doubles up as a highlighter. It leaves a flush of color and a rosy radiance to the skin. I apply it using a fluffy brush like the Louise Young LY06 because it disperses the product evenly.
Physicians Formula Happy Booster Glow & Mood Boosting Powder in Translucent ($13.95 for 11g/4oz): This one gives a natural glow and has a more pink undertone. Therefore, it works well as a highlighter on those with a cool skin tone. The texture of the powder feels very silky and applies smoothly onto the skin. It's suppose to have a "sweet scent of violet," but I don't detect any fragrance during application. When compared to the Pixi All Over Magic powders, the Physicians Formula one is more subtle. It also has a bottom compartment that contains a mirror and a brush, which does its job when you're in a hurry and on the go. However, I still prefer a full size brush that's round and fluffy like the MUFE #140, which I will talk more about towards the end of this post.
Sonia Kashuk Bare Illuminating Bronzer in Goddess 40 ($12.99 for 7g/0.24oz): This one also has a mirror and a brush in the bottom compartment. The bristles feel softer than the Physicians Formula one, but it's still not as soft as the SK full-size black handled brushes. Also, I find the travel brush to be too thin to evenly cover the cheek portion of the face.
As for the product, it looks metallic in the pan and the texture reminds me of Mac Superb, which I reviewed in a previous post. However, it's actually not as frosty as the MAC one, which leans more peachy rose and has a high sheen finish. The Sonia Kashuk one warms up my face and leaves a youthful glow without being too orange or shimmery when applied with a fluffy brush. (If you use a dense brush or swatch it heavily, then it'll look more frosty and bronzey gold.) The product is easily buildable so you can adjust according to your preference. The formula is different from your traditional pressed powders. It doesn't make a mess in the pan and it feels more moisturizing when applied to the skin. This bronzer brings me back to summer and gives me a healthy, sun-kissed look like I just came back from a tropical vacation. I'm so in love!
I've been using the Charlotte Tilbury Powder & Sculpt brush ($49), which is made with a mix of squirrel and goat hair, to apply Pixi's Bare Radiance. The tapered tip makes it great for applying highlight to the top of the cheekbones. You can also use the side of the brush if you want to cover a bigger portion of the cheek area. For more comparison pictures, click here.
As for the Make Up For Ever #140 ($34), it's smaller, shorter and rounder at the tip. It deposits and buffs product evenly onto the top of the cheekbones without covering too much area of the face. I've also been loving it to sweep Pixi's Brightening Radiance down the bridge of my nose and cupid's bow. The bristles are made of synthetic material. So, it's great for applying liquid and cream highlighters as well.
Note: The Pixi All Over Magic powders can be purchased on their online store. The Physicians Formula Happy Booster Powder is available at Drugstore.com and Target. The Sonia Kashuk Bare Illuminating Bronzer is available only at Target. The Charlotte Tilbury Powder & Sculpt brush can be purchased at Nordstrom. The MUFE #140 can be purchased at Sephora.
What have you been using to highlight your day?
*This post contains affiliate links. None of the products mentioned are sponsored.
