Star Style:
Mainly thanks to Kim Kardashian, the highlighting trend is now a can’t-do-without in the make-up world. How else would one complement that perfectly contour-assisted chiselled face? Highlighting brightens the skin and helps define facial features, thereby shining an instant spotlight on your bone structure.
Make-up is a risky business. Everyone wants to avoid committing a faux pas, and this extends to highlighting as well. Done tastefully, it can transform your look. Done badly, the result can be clownish!
Stick It On:
Apply your make-up as you would normally, keeping in mind that highlighting succeeds foundation application and the contouring process.
Gently drag the highlighter stick across your cheek bones and along the bridge of your nose. With your fingers, blend the highlight in carefully to achieve a subtle glow. Remember: practice makes perfect, so don’t worry if you haven’t got it the first time – patience is key.
Tip: For a more pronounced, dramatic effect, add a bit of highlight just below the arches of your eyebrows, and onto the dimple of your cupid’s bow.
Tip: For a Rihanna shine-bright-like-a-diamond impact, a dab of powder highlight over your blended-in stick highlight is usually a good shout.
Powder Puff Girls:
Powder highlight may be less smooth to apply compared to a stick, but if you’re looking for emphasis, this should be your go-to. Powder highlighters are also great for oily skin as their signature soft texture will ensure you don’t look cakey after a while, but fresh-faced instead.
Brushes are also important to think about when using powder-based highlighters. An angled kabuki brush, for example, will contribute towards precision, while a fan brush can be used over areas such as the cheekbones, in a single stroke. A thinner brush is recommended for highlighting smaller areas such as the inner corners of your eyes.
Once you’ve applied your make-up as you usually would, dust a little highlighter onto your cheekbones and along the bridge of your nose.
Tip: For an airbrushed finish, don’t skimp on your base moisturiser and primer. Think of these as a combined canvas for the rest of your look.
Tip: Know your face shape and understand what areas you’d like to illuminate – don’t underestimate a highlighter’s power to make your facial features appear either slimmer than they are, or fuller.
