What Does High Pigmented Makeup Mean

Highlighters, shimmers, illuminators, strobing creams—how is one to go on it all straight?

Well, don't worry about the first two on the list. Nosotros're going to cover what the difference between highlighter and shimmer is in this post, as well equally whether or not they're interchangeable.

The Difference Between Highlighter and Shimmer

The deviation is that highlighters are intended for the high points of the face. They're complexion products.

In dissimilarity, when nosotros're talking about a shimmer, we're almost always referring to an eyeshadow.

Both highlighters and shimmers are intended to exist shiny, and either might exist referred to as "shimmery."

Just y'all wouldn't likely utilise, say, a dark blue shimmer eyeshadow to highlight your cheekbones.

Sydney Grace's Abyss—a dark blue shimmer — Sydney Grace's Abyss wouldn't make the best highlighter for the face.

It'south also worth mentioning that highlighter can come up in pulverisation, liquid, and cream form. Eyeshadow tin can come in all these forms besides. Just in this post, we're focusing mainly on pulverization products.

That being said, the overall rules and advice here stays the same for all forms of shimmer and highlight.

Are They Interchangeable?

Yes, highlighter tin can absolutely be used equally eyeshadow, and eyeshadows light plenty to burnish your skin can make smashing highlighters! But not all are ideal for the switcharoo.

The trouble is when a shimmer eyeshadow is also intense or glittery and when a highlighter is fabricated to be highly blendable and soft in pigmentation.

I'thousand fairly certain that nearly highlighters use a lower pigment-to-filler ration, which isn't bad news for this item production. Fillers makes the pulverization easier to spread and blend out, and nosotros can all use that in a highlighter.

Simply sometimes when you utilize a highlighter to the optics, it blends to cypher.

The reverse is true for eyeshadow. Sometimes the intensity of an eyeshadow merely doesn't look correct on the cheeks. Information technology doesn't spread in a way that's flattering.

You lot just have to detect the ones that work for you. To help, I'm starting you off with some tips and examples.

What Are Some Examples of Shimmers and Highlighters That Are Interchangeable?

First, an overall takeaway:

When choosing a highlighter to double as an eyeshadow, you'll want to choose a pigmented highlighter.

Either that, or yous'll want to pick something with something special in it that you'd dear to display on your eyes, similar especially sparkly micas that will look great under your date night restaurant'south low lighting.

Equally for shimmer eyeshadows that can work as highlighters, consider something in your collection that has a soft, shine formula.

Put less on the brush than yous would for your optics when first trying one out. You want to make sure both the color and the texture is going to work out before you really slap it on.

Examples

The kickoff example that comes to mind equally a highlight that tin can double as an eyeshadow is Ofra Cosmetics' famous, seen-from-space highlighters in shades like Star Island, Rodeo Drive, and Beam the Haters. These are known for doubling as adept eyeshadows.

A highlighter in my drove that looks stunning as a shimmer eyeshadow is Looxie Beauty'south Mimosa. It'south a peach with lots of tiny sparkles that work on both the eyes and cheeks.

(Keep in mind I don't mind tiny glitters in my highlights, but lots of people practise, and so take this with a grain of salt.)

Looxie Beauty's Mimosa, peach with gold mini sparkles — Looxie'southward Mimosa highlighter does double duty.

Now, let's talk shimmers that work as highlighters!

With a low-cal enough hand, you can probably get a lot of shimmers to work for you. But that doesn't mean some aren't more naturally suited for the job than others.

You can dip lightly into Vermeer from Anastasia's Modern Renaissance palette and get a lovely pinky champagne on your cheeks. (Try Primavera for this instead if you're a bit deeper toned.) Modern Renaissance is a versatile piece, and its shimmers are real multitaskers.

I'd besides recommend J.D. Glow's non-glittery shimmers as highlights; that is, if yous're okay with your highlights being more colorful.

I have the shade Peachy Keen from JD Glow, which is a nice peach duochrome with greenish-yellow reflects, and information technology'south shine enough to work beautifully every bit a highlight.

JD Glow's Peachy Keen—a peach that reflects yellow — JD Glow's Peach Bang-up works well as an unusual highlight because of its shine texture.

What Are Some Shimmers and Highlighters That Aren't Interchangeable?

Again, I have some tips first. And these tips are subjective. You may notice you disagree as you try things out. I'thou going the more than traditional route with my recommendations here.

If you have a lightly pigmented highlighter—i that sheers out and spreads well on the cheeks—it might not be in the cards to use it as a shimmer shadow.

Also, if you have a shimmer that's full of chunky glitter particles or is besides in-your-face up with its intensity, it may not brand for the best highlighter.

Okay, with that, allow's look at examples.

Examples

Essence makes a highlighter called Pure Nude, and it'due south famous for giving a more subtle glow. Information technology would show upwardly as barely there on the eyes, and so y'all'll probably desire to go on it to the high points of the face, not the optics.

Benefit'southward Watt'due south Up cream highlighter also isn't the best option for a shimmer. It'southward besides easily sheered out on the optics for touch.

Same for Clionadh Cosmetics' beautiful and unusual Aftershock highlighters. They're simply too sheer to make a scene as a chapeau shade. But both these products are lovely when used equally marketed—equally highlighters.

As for shimmers that don't work as highlighters, that's some other thing that depends on your preference.

Virtually people dislike any glitter on the cheeks, so these types of shimmers wouldn't be my first option when giving general advice.

And anyone who isn't going to the lodge should probably avoid highlighting with glitter-heavy, silicone-y shimmers that turns to a foil-like shine on the lids; it'll exist a stripe of chunky color on your cheeks.

That means eyeshadows like those you'll find in mail-Modern Renaissance Anastasia palettes (similar the original Norvina palette) won't be good to accomplish into for a highlighter.

Also, If you find a highly pigmented, beaming eyeshadow, like the second shade in e.l.f.'s Bite-Size palette in Foam and Sugar, it will emphasize pores, fifty-fifty if y'all have lovely skin.

And if you have acne that you'd rather hibernate, forget it.

e.l.f. Bite-Size palette in Cream and Sugar, with a particularly powerful shimmer. — That second shade from the left in this eastward.l.f. palette packs a wallop, and it might do less-than-favorable things for your complexion. Source.

Concluding Thoughts

I hope this was helpful to you lot as you sought to acquire the difference between shimmer and highlighter. Hither are the main takeaways:

The give-and-take "shimmer," when used as a noun, almost always refers to an eyeshadow.
The discussion "highlighter," when used in a makeup context, refers to a product you apply to your cheeks, olfactory organ, cupid'due south bow, etc.
Some soft shimmers and pigmented highlighters can play both roles.
Some chunky shimmers and less pigmented highlighters aren't as suited to play both roles.

I recall the most important affair I tin can share with you every bit a concluding thought is this: take fun experimenting! Now that you know you can use these things interchangeably, you might have a whole new utilise for something in your drove. For instance, I have a highlighter (JD Glow's Daddy, at present discontinued—deplorable!) that was far besides glittery to look skillful on my cheeks, but I put information technology on my optics and BAM! A stunner. It's at present my favorite eyeshadow.

How many things like this lie within your collection? Go take a second expect!