With various fancy make-up terms floating around in the beauty world on the daily, it can be hard to separate the truly great ones from the fads. One technique that everyone loves, regardless of their skill set, is highlighting. Highlighting creates a bright, glistening glow that we all aim to achieve naturally, but might not necessarily succeed. It can give a sun-kissed shimmer that looks au naturel or create a high-beam look for a night out. Follow our easy guide to nail the trend.
How to apply highlighter
Highlighter should be applied on all the high points of your face—you only want to highlight where the sunlight naturally catches your face. Remember, avoid areas of your skin that have bumps from fresh acne, as it can actually play up the blemishes.
Start by focusing above your cheekbones. The highlighter should start in line with the outer corner of your eye, angling up and into a sideways U-shape, which ends slightly above the end of your eyebrow. Next, apply a dab in the centre of your forehead in line with the middle of your brows. Make your nose appear thinner by dabbing a small amount to the tip. Make your eyes appear bigger by apply highlighter in the inner corners of your eyes and then finally a small amount on your cupid’s bow will make your lips pop and look slightly bigger.
When choosing a colour, the easy rule of thumb is to use warmer, golden tones on darker skin complexions and cooler, icy colours with pink undertones on lighter complexions (here’s a detailed guide for first-timers). Read on for the 101 on the different textures of highlighters and which works best for you.
Types of highlighters
Liquid highlighter
Liquid highlighter is helpful if you have dry skin or live in a colder climate since it can make your skin appear more hydrated. The liquid formula can be problematic for oily skin since it can feel slippery throughout the day. It’s also not hot-weather friendly, so avoid it if you live in a warm climate or are going to be sweating, since nobody wants shimmer running down their cheeks. Liquid highlighters aren’t as concentrated so you can go heavier with the product and blend out, but just remember that any liquid formula requires a bit more skill than powder so practice before using it for a night out.
How to apply: Apply liquid highlighter after your foundation and concealer, and before powder, blush or bronzer. Generally, you don’t want to apply a liquid over powder or your make-up will look patchy. Use a blending sponge and carefully dot it on the points of your face that you want to bring out, and using a dabbing motion, blend it out.
Cream highlighter
Cream highlighter is a great in-between formula and ideal for normal/combination skin. It creates a natural everyday glow. Cream highlighter is a safe choice in any climate, but if you are nervous about the consistency, try a cream-to-powder formula, which is user-friendly for a beginner.
How to apply: A cream highlighter can be applied after foundation and concealer, and over or under powdered products, depending on how much shimmer you want. Apply it under for a more natural look and on top if you want that gleaming effect that Kim Kardashian is famous for.
Powder highlighter
A powder illuminator is probably the easiest formula to use and lasts all day. It’s ideal for warmer weather and if you have oily skin, it will help give you the glow without the oily shine. A powder works best during the day, since it will be less oily on the skin compared to a liquid or cream. Just remember that this formula is usually intense, so go easy on it.
How to apply: Using a medium, angled synthetic brush, dab the brush into the powder and swipe it onto the skin and blend out.
Have a look at the slideshow below for a selection of highlighters we love.
Haven’t been able to pick a concealer that matches your skin tone? Has your face been breaking out even when you don’t overload your skin with different products? We’re going back to basics with ‘Beauty 101’, our series that’ll be your complete guide to everything beauty. Make sure you don’t miss a single story.
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