Glamour glow

1 Lancome Pop n Cheeks in Coral Flirt $75. Photo / Babiche Martens

Highlighting powders are a lovely all-in-one way of sculpting and illuminating the face. You can either sweep a blush brush across the whole compact to bring a fresh sheen to the cheeks or carefully pick specific shades out for a more contoured approach to application, taking in the area above the cheekbone for illumination and using the darker shade for bronzer-like brushing. Come winter, when bronzing can look a bit dirty brown on fairer complexions, these powders provide an ideal freshening lift.

They're also a versatile addition to the makeup inventory, saving toting about separate blushes, powders and highlighters.

Our featured examples also make cute collectibles for gift giving.

1 Lancome Pop n Cheeks in Coral Flirt $75
So gorgeous to look at you might not want to run your brush over this palette from the O My Rose colour collection, but go on, this illuminator is just the thing for blushing beauty.

2 Clarins Collector Face & Blush Duo Compact $85
A lovely autumnal look in this clever two-tier compact, which is a highly practical mix of a beige face powder on one level and a blush combo on the bottom level. Both powders are decorated with sparkling gold ears of wheat, which add overall radiance or can be picked out to add sheen to eyelids.

3 Yves St Laurent Palette Y-Mail $113
This pearly finish face highlighter comes in its own mini tote bag, and being small would make a good addition to the handbag. With its gold case inscribed with the YSL address: 7 Avenue George V, Paris, it's pure designer indulgence for those with fair skins.