Having trouble finding the post that has your glow powder recipe. Now that I’ve seen how fabulous you look in full harsh sunlight, I’ve decided to try some, too.
–Natasha

Thanks, Natasha, that’s a wonderful compliment. I appreciate it!

It’s really very simple to do and there’s no hard and fast rules. Remember you are just tweaking it to be right for you.

I sparkled in sunlight before it became popular from the Twilight series!

I became more conscious of doing this on a regular basis when I came across an article about Inman. She said that the beautiful glow she has is done with makeup. I had thought it was natural — and she is certainly beautiful! So I began to experiment with highlighting my face as she does. Younger people naturally tend to have this glow because they have a T-zone. But I have never had any discernible oil in my skin.

So yes, as you commented in another post to me, it is a bit of magic.

Why I mix my own
Loose and compact facial shimmer powder has been around off and on for a long time, but in general, I find it too shimmery for an all over look. Often it is available during the holidays, so is made for more of an evening look. I wanted something I could wear daily, that would take me from day to night.

And not all illuminating powders are created equal or are the right depth or tone. So one day I just decided to mix what I had on hand together until it was the right depth and tone and amount of sparkle, because it gave me more control over the amount of shimmer, and I’ve been doing it ever since.

What is shimmer or illuminating powder
First, it is not a frosted look. Frost tends to accentuate negatives, whereas illuminating powder tends to obscure them.

Shimmer or illuminating powder has some degree of glitter/shimmer in it. I prefer the tiny glitter. Illuminating powder generally has less shimmer and is easier to use for the entire face vs. highlighting only some of it. But the color isn’t quite right.

It comes in loose or compact forms.

Many mineral makeup lines, including Bare Escentuals and Aromaleigh, have foundations or ‘powders’ with various amounts of shimmer. Some are more silky than others; most offer more coverage than I’m looking for.

The original one I had was loose and silvery, from Viviane Woodard. If it were still being made, I’d still be using that in my mix.

Why use it?
It is a fresher look.

While some lines are promoting a matte look right now, it isn’t a look I desire.

At one time, a few years ago, a matte look was promoted as the only look. Now, it is one of several choices, and I’m not sure how many will take it up. Someone with a lot of oil in their skin will not stay matte, even if they start out that way. Someone whose skin is not oily should set matte finish with a damp sea sponge — which, of course, takes some of the harsh matte away.

But there is a difference between a shimmer look and having a T-zone.

How do I use it?
I use this as the last step of my makeup, before blush, over cream or liquid foundation, in place of non-illuminating loose powder to set my makeup, but this could be the last step after mineral foundations too. With minerals, if you are wearing mineral foundation, I would only use this as the last step at the top, not for the entire foundation.

I apply very little. I use a powder brush sparingly, but a fiber optic brush would work as well.

Recipe for the mix
Container
I use a jar that had loose powder in it, once upon a time, and it has a little screen to filter how much your brush picks up, but any container would work that has an opening easy to use a brush with — or that you could sprinkle some out onto a jar lid, for example, then use it.

How much do I make at a time?
I might mix up the whole container (like I did the last time) or a smaller amount. When it’s gone, I make more.

If you are unsure of what look you are going for, make up a smaller amount, enough for a week or two. You can always throw more color or plain powder in to tweak it.

It’s kind of like making frosting, if I add too much shimmer, I have to add more plain powder, so the batch gets bigger.

This batch could have had a little less glitter in it, but I tossed in too much of one kind and had to add more base powder — and I was going to overflow the container!

Gold or silver shimmer?
You would determine for your own skin tone, if you prefer gold or silver shimmer and use it with any loose facial powder or mineral powder/foundation that is the right color for your skin tone.

Mine has some gold, because I had it sitting around, but I balance it more toward silver.

What kind of shimmer?
You can use any dry shimmer you have on hand, so long as the shimmer/glitter particles are small.

It’s a good way to use up things that are just sitting around.

Some body glitter (which tends to be bigger glitter)…some of those glimmer powders for the body either in a shaker or in a wand with a brush (these are sometimes less money than ones made for the face)…minerals…even some eye shadows (white or off white with glitter)…toss it into the mix.

Why mix it with a powder/mineral?
Facial powders are generally very finely milled and silky, which allows for ease of application.

Using this as a base, you can control the amount of glimmer.

What shade of powder as the base?
Use what works for your skin tone. I mix what I have on hand from various gwp and etc.

Light beige, beiges, pinks or peach, all work fine. I think there is even some green correcting powder out there, which could be thrown in the mix. Guerlain Meteorites Powders, with the little pearl balls, have all different hues in the balls.

If you are very deep complected, you can work with a bronzing powder to start with. One of the bronzers I have is the exact color of one of my daughter’s complexions. Many bronzers are illuminating anyway.

My current mix includes These are all loose powders.
Laura Mercier’s Star Dust powder — this is very pretty, but too shimmery and a bit too golden dark for me to use alone.
JLo’s shimmer powder which is white and quite sparkly. The sparkles are a nice size (small), but it is very light.
Stilo’s sparkly body powder in the pink color.
Clinique illuminating powder again, too dark alone.

How much glimmer do you use?
It doesn’t take much!

Start with the base powder, about half the amount you’d like to finish with, in case you have to keep adding more. Add a bit of glimmer. If you add too much, add some loose powder. Test it on the back of your hand until it looks like the right mix.

What I like about mine
It is very silky to the touch. Some minerals or powders are rough or dry feeling if you rub them between your fingers. Go for silky.

Other ways

Sometimes you can get this look by using one of the shimmer compacts lightly over plain loose powder. Today I double dipped in Elizabeth Arden’s shimmer powder compact, which is really lovely, after I used my own mix. A single dip would have been better.

For a fast look that is really excellent, Mary Kay offers highlighting and bronzers with a separate compact. These can be used as eye shadows also. My compact is filled with both highlighting powders (one pan has 2 matte; the other pan has 2 illuminating). I sweep my brush over all four and apply it up the center of my face. The lighter shades of bronzers would be my color. You could make a compact with a highlighter and a bronzer. The brush with this compact is good too. (Sold separately.)

Have fun!
Use it in place of loose powder — either over your entire face or to highlight the edges or the middle. I use my mix all over. Then if I want, I re-highlight up the middle as the last step with the Mary Kay or some other one I have. I contour or bronze only occasionally.

Karin

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Aromaleigh, Bare Escentuals, Brushes, Clinique, Guerlain, Highlighting, Mary Kay, Mineral, Techniques, Viviane Woodard