The 8 Highlighters That Keep Our Glow-On-Go
A bomb highlighter is the embodiment of black girl magic. The shades, accents and sizes are endless but sometimes finding the one for you can be a struggle. For us brown skin girls, the key is to choose illuminators that are on the warmer side and stay away from whites and pinks. We are so thankful for products that instantly brighten our faces and lights up our lives.
We want the sun and the stars to see our highlighter so we found eight fire products that will make certain the world sees your phosphorescence. Keep reading for more.
*This list is specially curated by the xoNecole team and some links are affiliate links. If you purchase an item from an affiliate link, xoNecole might earn a small commission.
TOM FORD Skin Illuminating Powder Duo
Saks Fifth Avenue
Alexa, play "Tom Ford" by Jay-Z. Not only is the song a bop, this highlighter will have you glowing like the top of the Chrysler building. The application is as smooth as cocoa butter. It captures the two most flattering parts of your face that catches natural light.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Sun Dipped Glow Kit®
Macy's
Anastasia Beverly Hills' Glow Kit should low-key be renamed "Ultralight Beam" because the glow is just different. If you're a beauty buff, you know these are in high demand and it's because it is unmatched.
The shades in this kit include:
- Bronzed (Amber with a penny metal finish)
- Tourmaline (Warm taupe with a rose gold finish)
- Moonstone (Radiant quartz with a pearl finish)
- Summer (Luminous sand with a white gold finish)
Black Radiance Artisan Color Baked Bronzer
Target
Black Radiance was designed for our skin so we absolutely love to see it! Their Artisan Color Baked Bronzer makes you radiate from the inside out. What more can you ask for at this price point?
BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector Liquid Highlighter, 1.7 fl oz
QVC.com
Liquid highlighter can be tricky but this Becca formula has luminous pearl pigments which makes for a beautiful blend. The product is great to use for a natural look and you can also build on it for a super beat.
MAC Mineralize Skin Finish in Gold Deposit
MAC Cosmetics
The OG of makeup brands, MAC, has a slow-baked highlighter destined to give you that sun-kissed luminosity. The skin-finish is both natural and dimensional.
Milani Baked Highlighter
Milani Cosmetics
Between the pigmentation and the price, we can't help but be here for this highlighter. The warm undertones make it ideal for melanin. For the best look, grab your fan brush and sweep the product across your cheekbones, cupid's bow and bridge of the nose.
black Up Sublime Light Compact Powder
Macy's
You already know that when it's by us it's most definitely for us. black|Up is the first French beauty brand dedicated to women of color. If you're going for a natural shimmer, this compact powder will get you together.
e.l.f. Jelly Highlighter
e.l.f.
e.l.f.'s Jelly Highlighter is one of my favorites because it can be used in various ways. I use it mostly on days when I don't feel like doing makeup so it serves as a standalone glow-getter.
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Featured image by Joce Blake/xoNecole
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Joce Blake is a womanist who loves fashion, Beyonce and Hot Cheetos. The sophistiratchet enthusiast is based in Brooklyn, NY but has southern belle roots as she was born and raised in Memphis, TN. Keep up with her on Instagram @joce_blake and on Twitter @SaraJessicaBee.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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How A Stay At Switzerland's Luxurious 7132 Hotel Reminded Me To Live The Life I Deserve
Sometimes, as women—especially as single Black women—we simply need to be reminded that we are deserving of living a life we dream of. Even if that means creating it for ourselves. I recently set out on a weeklong trip to Switzerland, a trip I’ve been wanting to take for years, and near the end of my visit, I had an epiphany.
“DeAnna, this is the life you deserve,” I thought to myself as I took in the gorgeous bathroom in my suite at the famous 7132 Hotel and Thermal Spa. It was one of the most luxurious hotels (and bathrooms) I had ever stayed in—and that’s saying a lot for someone who often travels for work.
To help you better understand why this was such a mental awakening for me, I first need to give a bit of my backstory. I’m in my late thirties. I’m an attorneyand a journalist. I own a home and have traveled the world extensively. Essentially, I’ve done everything in life I set out to do. However, when it comes to dating, I struggle. Not because there is anything wrong with me per se, but because my career and “lifestyle” often create problems in my romantic relationships.
View from my hotel room
Courtesy
I’ve been told everything from, ‘I can’t continue to date you because you seem to choose your career over wanting to settle down and have kids’ by a man after only the second date to ‘Maybe if you just sat down somewhere for a while, I’d actually wife you’ by someone who has honestly never proven themselves to be the settle down type. And these are only a handful of the things I’ve been told over the years.
It’s been frustrating, to say the least, and there have even been seasons where I purposely dimmed my light in hopes that my career wouldn’t push away potential suitors. I know what you’re thinking, “Girl, why would you even consider that? If they’re for you, it won’t matter what you do.” Hey, don’t judge me, but also, I one hundred percent agree.
My hotel bathroom
Courtesy
That’s why this recent moment in Switzerland was right on time. When I first walked into the hotel to check in, I was blown away by the surrounding beauty. It was a five-star property with one of the world’s most famous thermal bathhouses. Yet, it was something about seeing that 90% of the hotel’s guests were couples, that forced me to sit back for a bit of introspection—while soaking in the thermal spa, of course.
As I went through the mental conversation, there was a battle of sorts. On one hand, I knew that being able to partake in experiences like the one I was having at that moment was important to me. I knew that, at times I actually love being able to dabble in the finer things—after all, I’ve worked hard to be able to afford them. On the other hand, and sadly, I knew that sometimes being a single Black woman that publicly showcases her “luxurious” habits can intimidate men and even scare them off from pursuing you under the guise of them feeling like they “can’t do anything for you, because you have everything.”
My hotel room
Courtesy
So, what is a girl to do?
Do I minimize/hide the life and experiences that I have? Do I play down the hard work I’ve put in to get where I am professionally? Or, do I risk being single in exchange for being able to have said life, without backlash?
Luckily, the joy that I felt while being at this property won. There was something about taking a full day to simply pamper myself at the bathhouse and in my in-room steam shower and soaker tub, indulging in cuisine from a 2-star Michelin restaurant and doing all of this while surrounded by an amazing group of Black women that reminded me—this is certainly the life I was meant to live and that I deserve. Even if it means that right now, I’ll just have to provide it for myself until the right partner comes along. And honestly, I’m okay with that.
Restaurant at 7132 hotel
Courtesy
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