No.1 Bronzer, Blush and Highlighter

Bronzer, Blush and Highlighter are makeup items I don't necessarily consider essential but I think they just give your face that little bit extra. They can make a makeup look go from simple to red carpet ready instantly! Extra steps in your makeup application can really give that added something to your look, by enhancing your natural features and drawing attention to particular places. A bronzer will give that sun-kissed glow and can be used to give definition, when contouring cheekbones or places you want to appear more streamlined or slimmer. Highlighter will draw attention to certain features by giving that 'glow' and 'dewy' look where the light would hit your face. With blush you have to be careful not to apply too much, when applied lightly to the cheeks it gives a pretty flushed healthy appearance. I don't use all these products on a daily basis, I tend to save blush and highlighter for more special occasions, but they are all subtle enough to get away with using everyday if you want to!

I've picked my favourite bronzer, highlighter and blush to share with you today; Hoola Bronzer by Benefit, Mary Lou-Manizer Highlighter by TheBalm, and Hot Mama! Blush also by TheBalm. These are my three go to products for a well defined and polished base. I like the shades and formulas of all these items and think they compliment each other perfectly!

Out of all three of the above mentioned products, Hoola Bronzer is the one I would most definitely miss the most! First of all, the design of the packaging stays true to Benefits bold, girly personality, with its simplicity and stand-out colour, making it a beautiful piece to have on display. Also the 'box-style' packaging makes it easier to travel with less risk of breaking the bronzer inside. What I like most about this bronzer is the 'pure matte' colour which comes across beautifully on the skin without being shimmery and too attention-grabbing. The brand states that it gives a "healthy, natural-looking tan" which I agree with. The colour is a subtle shade that I think would work with many skin tones and is very build-able if you wanted a deeper tone. A soft natural-bristle brush is included which is perfect for contouring! It's small and flat; so easy to chisel out the the cheekbones and define smaller areas like the sides of the nose. The product is easily blend-able and stays in place for a long time. Only a little is needed for good colour pay off so you will definitely get your moneys worth! Hoola Bronzer also won NYLON Beauty Award 2014 and 'Best Bronzer' in STYLIST Beauty Awards 2016!

Mary Lou-Manizer is described by the brand as: "highlighter, shadow and shimmer (that) diffuses light so your skin looks softer and younger while adding a subtle glow." I love this highlighter as I think it gives you just the right amount of shimmer without looking too glittery! Also the shade is a beautiful champagne like golden colour which pays off well on the skin. The product is very pigmented so a light hand is needed if you just want to achieve a 'natural glow'. Otherwise the highlighter is definitely build-able and blends well if you want to turn it from a day to night time look. I usually go for all matte makeup products, but I think this gives a really pretty shimmer when I add it above my cheekbones, under my brow bone and on the cupids bow. I don't like the overly glittery look so I think the Mary Lou-Manizer is just the right amount of shimmer to catch the light and enhance without looking too intense. The product stays on well throughout the day and doesn't move around the face. Unfortunately my highlighter has broke a bit on the side, but thats to be expected of most compacts if you drop them! Like all TheBalm Cosmetics the retro style packaging is eye catching and works well with the product.

Not being a massive blush fan myself, I can't say I have a lot of blushes to compare this product to! But what drew me into this particular blush was definitely the beautiful warm toned peachy shade that seems to look almost 'goldeny' rather than the bright pinks and reds I've come to dislike. The Hot Mama! adds a subtle splash of colour to the cheeks with a hint of shimmer, it gives off a natural flush that can be built up for a bolder look. TheBalm describes it as a blush and highlighter tucked into one. This product definitely has good colour pay off and pigmentation and will last a while! The retro packaging, again gives TheBalm it's distinctive trademark look and I love the size of the mirror and the amount of product you get. My only criticism I would have of this blush is that I would have preferred it to be a matte formula; I think there's sometimes a bit too much shimmer on my face if I use it with my Mary Lou-Manizer highlighter. However the brand does say it is a highlighter and blush, so its works perfectly fine used alone if you want a more every-day look!

Above I have swatches of Hot Mama!, Mary Lou-Manizer and Hoola on my hand. You can see from the picture how well the colours all work together and the pigmented colour pay off. If you want more information about these products you can find it on TheBalm Cosmetics and Benefit Cosmetics websites here: Benefit and theBalm. Let me know if you've tried any of these products and what you think of them in the comments section below!