If there’s one makeup category I will always have room for in my collection, it’s highlighter. And when it comes to Dior Backstage Glow Maximizer, I have two palettes that I find myself reaching for in very different ways: 001 Universal Glow and 004 Rose Gold Glow.

Both give that beautiful Dior glow, but on my skin, they don’t look quite the same. And between the two, Rose Gold Glow is definitely the one I reach for more.

Top 4 shades near the wrist- 001 and lower 4 shades 004

Dior Backstage Glow Maximizer 001 Universal Glow

001 Universal Glow is the more classic highlighting palette for me. It gives that unmistakable high-shine effect and has shades that can be mixed and matched depending on the look I’m going for.

What I notice most, though, is the shimmer.

On me, the shimmer particles feel a little more noticeable and chunky compared with 004 Rose Gold Glow. I can get a beautiful glow from it, but I find that using 001 takes a little more effort because I have to be more mindful about application. The more noticeable shimmer can emphasize skin texture, so I tend to be more selective about where and how much I apply.

The palette also has a brown shade that, personally, doesn’t work as well for me on the cheeks. It can look a little muddy once applied, so instead of using it as a bronzer or cheek color, I mostly use that particular shade on my eyelids.

And honestly, I love it there.

It adds a soft, luminous dimension to the eyes and gives me another way to use the palette without forcing the shade to work as a cheek product.

Generally a nice palette but can emphasize skin texture. More like the usual readily available highlighters in stores.

Dior Backstage Glow Maximizer 004 Rose Gold Glow

Now, 004 Rose Gold Glow is where my personal preference really comes in.

The glow from this palette looks different on my skin. Instead of giving me a very obvious shimmer, it gives what I would describe as a hydrated or almost moist-looking glow.

Not oily. Not greasy.

Just that beautiful radiant finish that makes the skin look naturally fresh and well cared for.

The shimmer particles also feel finer to me, and I find that they don’t emphasize my skin texture as much as the shimmer in 001 does.

That’s probably the biggest reason I reach for 004 more often. I can apply it more freely without having to think too much about whether the shimmer is going to emphasize texture.

I feel like the shimmer is just finer and doesn't emphasize my skin texture as much.

One of my favorite ways to use 004 Rose Gold Glow is to swirl my brush over all the shades in the palette, picking up a little bit of everything, and then sweep it over my blush.

But unlike how I normally apply highlighter just to the highest points of my cheeks, with 004 I like to take it across my whole cheekbone area.

I don’t just concentrate it on one small spot. I sweep it over the entire cheekbone, allowing the glow to blend into the blush.

I love what this does to the finished look.

Instead of simply adding highlighter on top, it creates this subtle color-shifting effect, almost like the blush catches the light and shifts into a soft pinkish glow.

Because I’m covering more of the cheekbone, the radiance looks much more seamless. It gives that fresh, polished, almost “I spend a lot of money on facials and beauty treatments” kind of glow.

You know that skin that just looks incredibly radiant and well cared for?

That’s the effect I’m after.

It’s especially pretty when the light hits the cheeks because you get that rosy luminosity without the finish looking overly sparkly.

How I Use Them

With 001 Universal Glow, I tend to be more selective with placement because of the more noticeable shimmer. I usually keep it to the high points of my cheeks, and the brown shade has become more of an eyeshadow for me because I find it looks muddy on my cheeks.

Honestly, I rarely use 001 these days simply because I enjoy 004 so much more.

With 004, I don’t have to think about it as much. I can swirl all the shades together and sweep them across my blush and entire cheekbone area, and the finish still looks soft, radiant, and seamless to me.

My Personal Favorite

Rose Gold Glow is the one I reach for most often.

I simply enjoy using 004 more. The finer particles, softer rose-gold radiance, and more forgiving application make it easier for me to get the finish I want.

I love that I can sweep it across my cheekbones and get that ethereal, fresh-skin effect without having to be overly precise with placement.

It’s the kind of glow that makes the skin look so radiant and well cared for that you might think, “She must spend a lot on facials and beauty treatments.”

And really, that’s exactly the effect I want from my highlighter.

If I had to pick just one for my own collection, I’d pick 004 Rose Gold Glow.

Thanks for dropping by, and may the glam be with you always!