Bright Base

Lately I've been all about illuminating primers. They've now become an unmissable step in my makeup routine. Not only do they add that extra glow, they also help my makeup apply better and last longer. Combined with a powder highlight over the cheekbones, brow bone, and down the bridge of the nose, plus a generous dousing of MAC Fix+, the final result is an almost otherworldly luminosity. Here are the four primers/liquid highlighters I've been rotating.

l-r: Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Moonstone, Nude by Nature Soft Focus Illuminator, MAC Strobe Cream, Laura Mercier Foundation Primer Radiance

Excuse the dust...

l-r: Nude by Nature Soft Focus Illuminator, Becca Moonstone, Laura Mercier Foundation Primer Radiance, MAC Strobe Cream

l-r: Nude by Nature Soft Focus Illuminator, Becca Moonstone, Laura Mercier Foundation Primer Radiance, MAC Strobe Cream

Nude by Nature Soft Focus Illuminator
The most affordable option and relatively generous in size ($22.95 for 50ml), the Nude by Nature Soft Focus Illuminator has a thicker, slightly moussey consistency than the others. (Admittedly, that could be in part due to the fact my tube is 3 years old and I probably should have thrown it out by now.) As a result, I have to use a bit more product to cover over my whole face before going in with foundation. It's a peachy gold that blends out so that it becomes nearly imperceptible, but still leaves the skin with an unmistakable golden pearl (especially noticeable around the nose). I'm not a fan of the smell which I find too strong, though the length of time I've had it could be a factor in the unpleasant scent. One thing I do really like about the Soft Focus Illuminator is after I apply a layer of it all over my bare, moisturised face, it makes foundation go on smoother and more easily, and prolongs the wear time of my makeup.

Ingredients: Aqua, Decyl Oleate, Glycerin, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, GlycerylMonostearate, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Extract, Beeswax (Cera Alba), Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Parfum, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate, Citral, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool, C.I.77019 (Mica), C.I. 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), C.I.77491 (Red Iron Oxide).

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Moonstone
For whatever reason I've always considered the Becca Shimmering Skin Perfectors as dedicated liquid highlighters, though the blurb on the back of the tube does say it can be used as a makeup base or mixed with foundation. Moonstone is a beautiful pale gold that doesn't leave any glittery or distinctively shimmery particles on the skin. It blends out to a pure reflective gleam that bounces light off the face. This is one of the more pronounced highlighters I have when used as a makeup base. I find it almost too intense, which is why I don't reach for it as much as the others. It's more manageable used sparingly and in targeted areas under foundation where you'd normally highlight, rather than applied to the entire face. It goes without saying it's also super effective as a regular liquid highlight over foundation. It has a floral scent but isn't anything too overbearing.

Ingredients: Water, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Homosalate, Glyceryl Stearate, Octyldodecanol, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane (Avobenzone), Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Trilaureth-4 Phosphate, Propylene Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Hamamelis Virginiana Witch (Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Water), Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Ceteareth-12, Ceteareth-20, Phenoxyethanol, Triethanolamine, Carbomer, Paraffinum Liquidum/Mineral Oil/Huile minerale, Glucose, Fructose, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Alcohol Denat, Dextrin, Sucrose, Urea, Propylparaben, BHT, Hexyl Nicotinate, Glutamic Acide, Aspartic Acid, Alanine, Aloe Barbadensis Extract (Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract), Butylparaben, Fragrance. May contain [+/-]: Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77499), Tin Oxide, Mica.

Laura Mercier Foundation Primer Radiance
One of my all time favourite primers. The texture is superb — not too thick and oily, not too thin and runny. It blends into the skin effortlessly, absorbing quickly and leaving the skin softly moisturised and prepped for foundation. It also helps to prolong the longevity of makeup and wards off disintegration and fading. Like my experience with all Laura Mercier base products I've tried, it feels like a high quality product that's been carefully formulated and tested to actually do what it says and make a real difference.

This is what I reach for on special occasions like weddings or when I want to give my skin a perfecting, luminous boost. The glow it gives is refined but unmistakably there. A colleague once asked me whether I'd done anything different to my skin on a day when I was wearing this with Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk. Need I say more.

The only thing I will say about the Foundation Primer Radiance is that it cooperates better with hydrating, oiler/thicker moisturisers. Occasionally if I don't moisturise my skin adequately, or if it's drier than normal, or if I pair this with the wrong foundation, I will experience some issues with the products reacting together poorly (i.e. the primer balling up in places, catching on dry patches, being a bit harder to blend out around the edges of the nose).

Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Hydrogenated Didecene, Glycerin, PVP, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Sorbitan Stearate, Mica (CI 77019), Cetyl Alcohol, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Propylene Glycol Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/ Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Propylene Glycol Isostearate, Glyceryl Isostearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Boron Nitride, Squalane, Caprylyl Glycol, Oleth-25, Ceteth-25, Tocopherol Acetate, Polysorbate 60, Retinyl Palmitate, Tin Oxide, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Triethanolamine, Tropolone, Butylene Glycol, Plankton Extract. May Contain (+/-): CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), CI 77491 (Iron Oxide).

MAC Strobe Cream
Featured in my last favourites post, there's been no change in my position since. I love this stuff. It's the most comfortable feeling on the skin — closest to the feel of skin care that really plumps the skin, soothes and moisturises. The texture isn't thick, gloopy or heavy on the skin at all. It's lightweight and you only need a small amount for the whole face. It is heavily scented which is a bit off-putting, but I can live with it. Strobe Cream is unique in that it isn't yellow/gold/peachy, but rather gives a pearly, pinky-white, ethereal glow. When this is applied to a bare face, it makes an immediate but subtle difference. The skin just looks better. More radiant, more evened out, halo-lit. Dullness is dialled down, brightness cranked up. As an added bonus, of the four primers here, Strobe Cream boasts the most skin care ingredients.

Ingredients: Water, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Cetyl Ricinoleate, Glyceryl Distearate, Trisiloxane, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Cholesterol, Jojoba Seed Oil, Steareth-10 Cetyl Esters, Cetyl Alcohol, Vitis Vinifera Fruite Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Morus Bombycis Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Saccharomyces Lysate Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hyalauronate, Panthenol, Ceramide 2, Xanthan Gum, Sucrose, Glycerin, Cyanocobalmin, Caprylyl Glycol, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Hexylene Glycol, Polysorbate 80, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Sulfite, Sodium Metabisulfite, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Linoleic Acid, Isohexadecane, Citric Acid, Fragrance, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Red 4.