If there’s one thing that I’ve perfected over the past decade as a beauty aficionado, it’s how to give myself a good glow. My highlighter collection is a thing of beauty and truly one of my pride and joys in life. That being said, throughout my years of collecting and comparing different formulas, I’ve realized that there are different types of glow-boosting products, and you may be drawn to one versus the other based on a variety of factors. So before we go any further, let’s understand what the major categories are, as well as the primary differences between the two.
When shopping, you may come across products labeled as highlighters and others as illuminators. “A highlighter is a complexion product designed to catch light on the high points of the face; cheekbones, bridge of the nose, brow bone, cupid bow, so the skin looks lifted, fresher, and more dimensional,” says celebrity makeup artist Christian Briceno. “It’s usually more reflective than your base products and often has a noticeable “sheen” finish that ranges from glassy to metallic, depending on formula and shade.”
