I have been working as a waitress for a bit so I was under constant lighting in slightly mirrored rooms, so there were a plenty time where I examined myself and just reeled back in shock at how dull and lifeless my skin looked. Granted it was already like that, but when you work in customer service all day, people tend to suck you dry of all positive emotions, y'know?
Anyway, I love highlighting and face powders. Like, if I lost all my makeup (knock on wood) the first thing I would repurchase is a Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder or Mary Lou because I cannot deal with life if I don't pack my face on with that stuff every time I wear makeup. Yeah, I'm odd but here are my top picks to help you emulate Arwen's gorgeous glowing skin-naturally dark red lip combo, or Galadriel's unearthly matte(!) but ethereal skin. Well, as close as I'll ever get anyway.
Beware, over use on words: glow, shine, lit from within, wonderful and gorgeous.
As a setting powder, I just can't go passed my Nars TRLRPP for a fantastic oil controlling but glowing powder. Other favourites are also the Ambient Lighting Powders by Hourglass. I'm sure you've heard enough about these so I'll just put it out there that Ethereal Light is a wonderful alternative to the Nars one, however do keep in mind it is not made to set makeup, just as a finishing product.
Hourglass's Luminous Light is a favourite for when I want a subtle highlight or when I'm going outdoors. The ultimate favourite highlight is the Mary Lou, needless to say, here is a review. Topshop's Glow in Polish is a must for when I have long days as it is pretty, long lasting and stays in place. As far as liquid highlights go, I adore using Face Of Australia's Mineral Therapy Illuminator in Angel Mist although it is very runny, so I just mix it with foundations for in-built glow or to lighten them up a bit.
With Elven folk, they not only have the prettiest face structures, but presumably best all over skin glow as well. So don't be afraid to dust some glitter or shimmer onto collarbones, decollatages, arms, legs, feet and pretty much anywhere skin is visible. I love using my Models Prefer Soft Touch Mineral Powder in Soft Focus for body shimmer (it's also a dead ringer for Hourglass's Dim Light) as well as OM She Aromatherapy Dusting Powder in Nymph for an oomph of warm-pink glow where needed.
I don't wear too much eye makeup when my face is shiny, but when its subtle, i like to use Maybelline's Color Tattoo in Barely Branded all over my lids or as a base for matte shadows. Anything with shimmer works really, as with most things in this post.
And to balance out the super pale glow that Elves got going on, pair the look with some sheer, dark lips a la Arwen, whose makeup artists used Clinique's Black Honey for her pretty lips. Personally I'm not that big of a fan of the pinkish undertone, so I love using Revlon's Lip Butter in Fig Jam which is similar but leans more brown and darker for some real impact.
So there you have it - some products to assist my Elven goals, or as my sister likes to imply, helps me attract a guy as good looking as Thranduil with Legolas's gentlemanly behaviour. Navaer, readers!! xx