Is the saying "May God honor his face" permissible when mentioning the great Companion Ali ibn Abi Talib, may God be pleased with him, and is it one of the innovations of a certain sect?

Ibn Kathir mentioned that singling out Ali with "peace be upon him" or "may Allah honor his countenance" is common, and that its meaning is sound. However, he stated that there should be equality among the Companions in this regard, and that the two Shaykhs (Abu Bakr and Umar) and Uthman are more deserving of it than him if it is for glorification. This indicates that singling him out with that is not recommended, but not forbidden. There is no reported statement prohibiting it, and it is not exclusive to a specific group; rather, it is found in the speech of many Sunnis.