Massive Beauty Purge Project: Cream Highlighters
I recently fell in love with cream highlighters all over again thanks to a certain drugstore beauty brand, but even my new favorites didn’t escape the big beauty purge this year. Today’s post is going to be a quick one, because I don’t own that many highlighters in cream formula to begin with. Even so, do I really need them all? Most definitely not, no matter how pretty they are.
STARTING POINT:
Physicians Formula Butter Highlighters* ($10.99) – I received these in all four colors available at the time: Pearl, Champagne, Pink, and Rose Gold. There was another shade released exclusively for Ulta and Physicians Formula website in December, but I don’t have it. As I said in my review, these are out of this world amazing, and well worth the money if you are looking to add a new highlighter to your collection. The formula reminds me of a high end product: it provides very impressive pigmentation and staying power on the cheeks. Plus, they smell like vacation! [aka coconuts and vanilla]
e.l.f. Cosmetics Beautifully Bare Highlighting Stick in Champagne Glow* ($4) – e.l.f. Cosmetics is one of those insanely affordable drugstore brands that can be a hit or a miss. However, these highlighting sticks are most definitely one of the brand’s latest hits! This twist-up pen format makes the product portable and easy to carry around in your makeup bag for touchups, and it’s also travel-friendly. The effect is not as bold as PF highlighters, these give off more for a natural dewy glow, so you’re into that, I recommend giving one a try.
Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Poured in Opal ($19) – I received this highlighter as a gift a couple years ago and hadn’t even opened it yet. I know re-gifting is not very classy and I feel kinda bad about it, but I heard this is a good product so I might as well let someone else enjoy it. It’s better than having it sit in my drawer collecting dust until it goes bad, or worse – forcing myself to use it when I clearly didn’t even think about it until now.
The lone survivor: Physicians Formula Butter Highlighter in Pink.
WHAT’S LEFT:
I genuinely like all of these, but in the end I decided to only keep Physicians Formula Butter Highlighter* in Pink, because it’s the most flattering shade for my skin tone. It’s also the only one that I love wearing as an eyeshadow, even though normally pink eyeshadow is not my thing. I love the e.l.f. pencil as well, but I only ever used it for traveling or as part of my gym bag. The company recently released a brand new Active Collection, that includes a really nice face palette with a mirror, which has since become my new gym bag staple.
I must say, I love this series so far! Ideally, I hope to purge all of my makeup by the end of February and only keep products that I truly love and use often. The hardest part was detaching myself from items that have sentimental value, and yes, sometimes makeup can be precious! But if I don’t use them, what’s the point of holding on to them, right?
Do you have a favorite cream highlighter? Have you tried any of the products mentioned above? Let me know in the comments below!
*Indicates PR samples.
I own the pink PR Butter Highlighter also, and it too is the one I use most often. But seeing your swatches, I love the Champagne shade too!
Pink one is so pretty on the skin, isn’t it? I wear it as an eyeshadow too, even though it creases like crazy haha 🙂
You are ruthless. My husband wishes I could be too!
I sure am, haha 🙂 It was hard though.
I am liking your series too, very personal and indeed helpful
Thank you!
I’ve seen so many good things about these! I still want to try! Maybe the ones you decided to keep!
Honestly, all of these are wonderful. I’m getting rid of them because I just don’t use them.
I like the description of the formula of the PF ones but I don’t love the shades.
They added another one to the mix called Iridescent. It’s a pink base with a rainbow shift 🙂
I love the pink one. I have heard that the Iridescent is worth tracking down too. I wish Ulta would just stick them already.
I saw swatches of the Iridescent one and they look beautiful. But I dont think I would use it often.
I haven’t tried any of these yet..Well really wish to try
There’s a first time for everything 🙂
I might have to try the e.l.f one since it’s only 4 bucks! I definitely need to purge some of my makeup, though. It’s just so hard haha!
Give it a try and come back to thank me later 🙂 It’s a great highlighter and very subtle.
I feel like I would have wanted to keep at least 2 of those, lol!
I wanted to keep them all, but I just don’t use them really 🙂
that elf one is more my speed.
It looks very pretty on the skin!
Decluttering feels SO wonderful, doesn’t it?! I don’t own many cream highlighters or other products because I just don’t really like that extra step, lol
It most definitely does! I know what you mean by extra step, I didn’t use highlighters myself until maybe a couple years ago, but I really got into it now 🙂
I think you made a great choice!
Thank you Yvette!
I want to try that rose gold!
It looks very beautiful on the skin, and definitely not as bold as it swatches 🙂
I love seeing people document their purges. I’m a hoarder and I’ll probably never do a deep and sweeping purge of my own collection, but seeing other people do it is really satisfying.
Right? It’s the same reason I love watching slime videos on IG – it just feels so satisfying 🙂
PH has such beautiful packaging. I’m not a highlighter person, but I definitely feel the urge to clean house!
Yes, their packaging is beautiful and these particular highlighters are top notch.
I’m not a highliter person but I’m intrigued by cream ones. I would give it a try!
They are easy to use, especially if you don’t use a lot of makeup normally. That way they adhere better to the skin.
Great review. I’ve never thought of owing a cream highlighter!
Thank you!
I have the one cream highlighter – Lancome Glow Subtil, which I love SO much, I couldn’t bear to think about parting with it! I only wish I had a backup, but I got it in a Sephora Faves kit, and don’t like the idea of paying full-price.
I know what you mean about not wanting to pay full price, I always feel that way when I get mini lipsticks and eyeliners.
Wow! You know how to declutter! I’ve been trying to purge product from my collection, but I haven’t been as cut throat as you. Reading this made me realize I am not really a fan of cream highlighters, I should go back and get rid of any that I own!
Haha, happy to help!
I’m going to have to go back through all your old posts! I’m in a massive need of a purge as well. I have so much makeup and really..how much can I put on my face ?