Scrolling over the celebrity makeup done by professionals all over the social media, I couldn't help but wonder how stars achieve such god-like skin. Are they born with the perfect skin, or do they have their makeup done by gods? It's definitely fun to imagine that such thing could happen. 

For somebody like me who works on a regular 8-5 job, getting myself a makeup artist isn't simply feasible. Besides, doing so might break my bank. Fortunately, with a good array of makeup products, tools, and a little bit more time to practice, you and I can achieve those selfie-worthy looks. 

Our skin, which serves as the base of our face makeup must be of great importance. Just like having a good pair of shoes, how we do our face makeup can make or break our entire #FOTD. With that in mind, I'm sharing you my favorite illuminators, specifically highlighters and bronzers from SEPHORA PH which can easily go together with our choice of foundation.

I got these illuminators from Sephora, one of the best beauty stores ever, to test how they can affect my makeup look. It's my first time to use the products featured in this post, and I chose them because I am curious on how they look and partly because of their popularity. Basically, I wanted to know if these products are worth the hype and if they could stick to what they claimed on their description.

Famed for their signature ‘backlit’ look, BECCA is the secret to a flawless, photo-ready finish. Uniting BECCA’s best-loved Shimmering Skin Perfector in shade ‘Opal’ – adored for its phenomenal illuminating capabilities – this collection is the perfect way to fall in love with BECCA, as well as an indulgent gift for any make up maven. Choose from Light/Medium or Medium/Dark Shadow & Light Brow Contour Mousse, then discover how to sculpt your favourite features with the creamy Lowlight/Highlight Perfecting Palette and dewy, rosy Beach Tint. The collection is completed with an angled brow brush for precision application of the brow enhancing duo.

 Lowlight/Highlight Perfecting Palette 

The moment I saw the pallette, I instantly  adore its packaging. Its compact container is sturdy yet very sleek. It also comes with a mirror so there's no need for one to go somewhere to use the product. However, I wish it has more details on it such as its ingredients and manufacturing date. Other than that, the product works so well. 

The lowlight portion which has the consistency of a mouse is easy to blend and long lasting. You can easily make a noseline with it using your fingers! Its color also looks very natural, so when applied on the skin, it doesn't look like you have this fake noseline. lol

On the other hand, the highlight is also very blendable and yes, it does look very natural on the skin. It feels like the shimmer and the glow that it gives is part of your skin. I'm also amaze how the lowlight and the highlight can easily match different skin tone. I tried using it on my friend who has a warmer skin tone and it works for her. It does work for me who has a lighter skin tone so it's a great bonus for the palette. 

 Medium/Dark Shadow & Light Brow Contour Mousse with Angled Brow Brush

 This is the product that I'm most excited to try in the kit. I can't live without filling in my brows and I'd love to try a good angled brush. The brush, as well as the contour mousse and highlighter works so well and they are so easy to use together. I bet this one's a great buy for both amateur and professional makeup artists.

 Beach Tint in Watermelon

Among all of the products in the kit, this is the only one that has a scent. It's not mad about the scent because it smells good and its just a faint fruitty scent. I love how it gives a natural redness to the lips and cheeks, but I found out that it's not that long lasting. :(

However, its very hydrating especially when used on the lips. It didn't feel sticky too, which is a handsome plus for the product.

Shimmering Skin Perfector

I don't have so much to say about this product other than it is amazing. It gives out a gorgeous glow on the skin which could make anyone achieve a goddess-like complexion. I love putting this as a highlighter on the areas where the light hits my face. 

Sweep some powder on your cheeks for a subtle glow. Betty-Lou Manizer comes in a shimmery shade and acts as a shadow or bronzer. Use it to highlight your cheekbones and facial contours. Betty-Lou Manizer contains a creamy texture that glides on. If you desire that youthful radiance, this compact powder does the job. 

 Good packaging to any beauty product is always a good thing. theBALM Betty Lou Manizer is a good example. Look at how pretty they created its container. The visuals and the ideas behind it is simply stunning! The word play involve is also very well-thought. However, let's talk about if the product itself can be a good balance of its packaging.

The bronzer is placed inside a compact container with a mirror. theBALM claims that it can work as a highlighter, shadow or as a shimmer. It also claims that the product has a maximu staying power. I tried using the product and I'm glad that it didn't disaapoint me. It is effective as a highlighter, shadow and as a shimmer. To check its longevity, I did wipe a swatch of the product to see if it comes off easily. I am stunned that it stayed true to its claims! With or without a primer, the bronzer works so well particularly when used as an eyeshadow. If you are looking for a good bronzer, theBALM Betty Lou Manizer might be the best for you.

I found it a bit difficult to look for the products above here in the Philippines. Sure there are a number of stores that offer them online, but it's best for us to go where we can be sure of the products' authenticity. After trying out the illuminators above, I can say that they are a must have product that you and I can purchase at Sephora. Though they are somewhat pricey for some, it's not a big deal since I'm pretty sure that what one has to pay for is worth it. So do the products above live to the claims given to them? I'd say that the answer would be a 90% yes. If you want to try them yourself, you can always check what Sephora has in store for you. 

love lots,

Tin