Golden, glowing, shimmering highlighter makes you look young, fresh and lovely. But only if you get it right.
Thankfully, doing that is not so tricky after all. You simply need to learn a few basic rules and then follow them. The first, (and possibly most important) rule is to choose a highlighter that suits your skin tone.
Sarah Tammer, celebrity makeup artist and gal pal of model and founder of the beauty brand LUMA Jess Hart, reveals there’s a dead simple way to do this.
“As a general rule you should opt for a highlighter two shades lighter than your natural skin-tone,” says Sarah.
“This is where a lot of people go wrong,” she adds.
Next rule – placing it in the right places. Get that right and you’re halfway there.
Makeup artist and M.A.C ambassador Nicole ‘Pinky’ Thompson says highlighter is perfect when applied to (pay attention now) the apples of the cheeks (that’s the high point when you smile hard), the bridge of the nose (that’s the line straight down the middle), the cupid’s bow area of the mouth (that sweet spot smack in the middle of the top lip), the inner eye (right in the corner there) and the outer side of the brow bone (basically the outside half of the eyebrow).
Next step, and this is also an important one, you need to apply just the right amount of highlighter.
Pinky, author of Making It Up (New Holland, $49.95), says highlighter looks most heavenly when it’s applied with a very light touch so that it just ‘glazes’ the skin.
“Use a large soft brush for a sheer and even coat, or your fingertips for a more restrained application of highlight where you need it,” she says.
Once your highlighter is applied ensure to blend. Step back from the mirror and see that you’re happy with your results. Then, spritz with a hydrating spray. Finally, pat your skin with the palms of your hands. This will refresh and also set your makeup yet leave you with one seriously fresh finish. Sweet. One last thing to bear in mind.
It’s always best to keep your highlighter appropriate to the environment. On that, just a touch for daytime, particularly if you work in an office or a conservative environment. Outdoorsy events such as picnics and weddings and you can step it up a little. After dark and the world is your shiny, shiny oyster. Apply as much as you fancy and shine like the diamond you are.
This article originally appeared on WHO
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