We’re already into Summer 2014 makeup collections, and I love it! Summer is such a fun time for makeup collections because it’s all about simplicity, glowing skin, eyes, and lips, and bright shades. As part of the NARS Summer 2014 “Adult Swim” Color Collection, they are releasing a brand new NARS Illuminator in Hot Sand. If anyone does highlighting, it’s NARS. They have some of the best and most popular glowing shades out there in the makeup industry. The popularity of their famed “Orgasm” blush has been made into everything from an illuminator to a lip gloss. Hot Sand is no exception to the typical gorgeous, glowing products NARS puts out. I’ve got full swatches of Hot Sand inside, as well as a quick tutorial of how I apply liquid illuminator and where I apply it for that perfect glow…
[Press sample.]
Hot Sand is described as a “peach-champagne,” and I’d say that is a pretty accurate description. What I love about this particular shade is the warmth it has. A lot of illuminators tend to look chalky or strange on my skin because they are cool-toned and too pink. This one is very flattering across the board for a lot of skin tones because it’s warm, but it’s not too warm. It makes neutral and warm undertones even warmer, and it adds a soft, ethereal glow to skin that needs some warmth to it.
Hot Sand has a really fantastic formula. It’s a liquid, and the texture is nice and smooth. It’s non-sticky and it doesn’t run too thick or too thin. It’s incredibly pigmented and a little bit of product goes a long way, so this will last you quite awhile. I used a dime-sized amount on my hand for swatches, and it was more than enough. It blends well and imparts an extraordinary glow to your skin that is both subtle and sexy at the same time. It is the perfect product to perk up skin that is tired and dull.
You can see above what my skin looks like before I add highlighter. It has a very matte-finish to it and sort of lacks that extra “oomph” to the skin. Adding an illuminator will bring my skin to life and make me look youthful and refreshed.
My favorite way to apply illuminator and highlighter is a Beauty Blender. I use mine for literally everything: foundation, concealer, blending out my contour, highlighting, you name it. You dampen the sponge underneath water until it grows in size and squeeze all excess liquid out of it so that it’s just damp.
You can see above where I apply Hot Sands Illuminator. I like to dot it at an angle toward my temples on my cheekbones, down the center of my nose, my brow-bones, on my chin, and in the middle of my forehead. I place the product on my finger and dot it where I want it. Then, to blend it all out, I use my damp Beauty Blender.
Blend, blend, blend. I use a stippling motion to pat and roll the product into my skin. It actually looks like a second skin once you blend it out well. I love that the product doesn’t sit on top of your skin and emphasize imperfections and pores. A lot of highlighters can really emphasize bad skin and wrinkles, but this one does a great job of “melting” into the skin well.
The end result is really gorgeous, healthy, glowing skin. I am always admiring highlighted skin when I see it. From every angle, even the sides, the illuminator hits the light and looks gorgeous. It’s a great trick to wake up your skin and make it look like you just came back from a nice long vacation. Even if I am in a rush these days, highlighting my skin is a priority of mine!
Ways to Use This Illuminator:
- Add it to your foundation and mix for a dewy-finish.
- Apply it to your cheekbones, brow-bones, center of nose, cupid’s bow, chin, and forehead for a highlighted look.
- Mix it in with your body moisturizer for glowing skin.
- Apply it to your decolletage for shimmer around your neckline, collarbones, and shoulders.
- Pat a very small amount down the center of your lip color to make your lips look larger.
NARS Hot Sand Illuminator is part of their limited edition Summer 2014 “Adult Swim” Color Collection. The collection releases at NARS boutiques and is available online at Nordstrom on April 15th, 2014. Each Hot Sand Illuminator retails for $30.00 USD for 1.10fl oz.
Here is a stunning promotional picture from the NARS Summer 2014 “Adult Swim” Color Collection:
It’s all about the glow!
[ALL PHOTOGRAPHY ON THIS SITE IS TAKEN BY REBECCA KAZIMIR. NO PHOTOGRAPHS ARE TO BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION.]
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Sam says
Hi! This looks great. At what stage of makeup do you apply the illuminator on the cheekbones? Is it straight after the foundation or after setting with powder and putting on blush?
BeautyGala says
You can honestly do either. I know some people say that you can’t or shouldn’t apply liquid over top of powder, but unless you are apply gobs of powder, it almost always looks perfectly fine on the skin. I personally apply it on my cheekbones after I use setting powder and blush and pat it with my finger or a small brush. I hope that helps!