The quest for glossy, luminous, lit-from-within skin is nothing new, but it’s only within the last decade that highlighter has shimmered its way into the mainstream beauty lexicon. Previously only used by makeup artists and insiders, highlighter could be found illuminating the stage, screen and catwalk, but not our makeup bags. Fast forward and now almost everyone will know what a highlighter is, even if they don’t own one yet.
Highlighter works to amplify the areas where the light would naturally hit your skin. It is best applied to the so-called “high points” of your face, including the cheek and brow bones, as well as the nose and cupid's bow. Done well, it gives your complexion a dewy, silk-like finish that can otherwise only be achieved by sitting by soft candle light.
It almost goes without saying that highlighters are no substitute for good skincare. If you want your skin to be radiating the kind of glow that ignites compliments, you’ll need to be taking your routine seriously – double cleansing and introducing a liquid exfoliant is a good place to start. Highlighter and skincare can, however, work hand-in-hand, each supporting the work of the other for enviable luminosity.
Just like foundation, blusher or bronzer, highlighter comes in a number of different forms. For a grown-up look, we recommend steering clear of anything too overly shimmery, or with heavy glitter particles. Opt instead for something that sits on the sophisticated side of sparkle: satin, luminous and iridescent are all your buzzwords here.
As for the formula itself, cream is our top pick over powder. “Highlighting with powder can look too harsh and heavy, as well as being prone to patchiness,” says Katie Levy, Pro Makeup Artist at Trinny London. “It’s powders that give highlighters a bad reputation, which is why so many people shy away from them.” Highlighter settling into and amplifying fine lines, especially around the eye area, is a common gripe with powders, causing the overall effect to look unnatural.
“You don’t need to worry about any of these factors with a cream, as they blend easily into the skin for a soft, believable finish,” adds Katie. “They make your complexion look a lot fresher.”
Focus your highlighter on the areas the light would naturally touch as you move. If you’re unsure, sit by a sunny window in front of a mirror. Slowly rotate your face and take note of which parts glisten in the light. Highlighting with makeup is essentially replicating and amplifying this effect. Or, follow our expert-approved guide…
“Applying highlighter beneath the brow is a clever way to make this area look more lifted,” says Katie. You could add a small amount just above the brow too to really elevate the area.
The cheekbones are the most common place to highlight, and will help to create the illusion of a more defined bone structure. “Imagine working in ‘“C’” shape,” explains Katie. “The curve begins on your brow bone, and ends on your cheekbone.” Knowing where to apply blush (more on the apples than on the cheek bones) will prevent any overlap.
Adding a dash of highlighter to the bridge of your nose can be very pretty, but be wary of going overboard. “If you go all the way along the nose with highlighter it can make it look too long or too oily,” warns Katie. “Naturally, your whole nose wouldn’t catch the light, just part of it.”
Eyes feeling tired and heavy? A dab of highlighter on the inner corners will work in tandem with your concealer to brighten the eye area, helping you to fake a full eight hours.
“If you want your lips to look fuller, wash a little highlighter across your cupid’s bow,” says Katie. “So, when you add colour to your lips, they naturally come forwards.” A dot at the middle of your lower lip line will amplify the impact, but, remember, a light hand is key. “You don’t want this area to look sweaty, so be subtle with it. Just dusting the lips with your finger or brush after you have applied the rest of your highlighter is perfect.”
Katie shares her top tips for applying highlighter like a pro…
Using the section above as a guide, think about where you want to place your highlight. Having a plan of action before you start applying can avoid any mishaps and save you time.
Using your fingers or a brush, pat your highlighter onto the skin, starting with your brow and cheek bones. Then, tap with your fingers, or buff with a brush, until you achieve a soft-focus finish. The final effect should be diffused glow, not harsh, stripe-like lines.
Take any remaining product on your finger or brush and softly apply this to the bridge of your nose, the corners of your eyes and your cupid's bow.
How much highlighter you want to apply is really down to personal preference. But to avoid overdoing it and to give yourself less chance of needing to touch up any mishaps, start with as little product as possible. The beauty of cream highlighter is that it’s buildable, so it’s easy to layer additional product if you feel you need it. Remember, it's harder to take away what’s already there than it is to add more.
Whether you apply your highlighter before or after foundation will depend on the look you’d like to achieve. “If you want to give your highlighter the best chance of catching the light, and make it a prominent part of your makeup look, apply after foundation,” advises Katie.
“But, if you’re after an all-over dewy glow, then what you could do is mix a little highlighter with your base. This is a lovely tip if you have a special event to attend, as you can bring it across the face, neck, chest and even the arms to give luminosity to the skin.” For the best of both worlds, you could mix highlighter with your foundation and apply on top, using the second application to draw extra attention to the high points of your face.
There isn’t a right or wrong way to glow but there may be a better option for your skin type or the look you’re going for. Ultimately, it’s up to you which highlighter you choose and what you like, so check out the best highlighters for the job, below.
If you’re looking for an incredibly lightweight, buildable powder highlighter that you can use for your face and body, this is for you. It has a fine shimmer that creates a gorgeous luminosity on the skin.
Mixing and matching highlighter shades can be helpful when trying to find the most flattering one for your skin tone. With this palette, you get four powder shades that provide a soft, lit-from-within glow that you can easily build up when you want more intensity.
If a subtle glow that melts into the skin is what you’re after, you’ve met your match with this liquid highlighter. Liquid highlighter can be used all over the skin as a luminous priming base before foundation, or you can apply it to more specific areas for a targeted glow.
Achieving the glow you want comes down to the formula you select and where you apply it. If you prefer cream or liquid-based highlighters, using your fingers is key for those types of products. The warmth from your hands will help to melt the product into the skin. Always remember to start with clean hands and use your fingertips to lightly press the liquid formula into the high points of your face for a seamless, natural glow.
If cream products intimidate you, powder highlighters are also great, especially when you have oily skin. When working with a powder formula, use light application with a medium-sized fluffy brush, which will help to disperse and blend the highlighter onto the high points of your face, creating a diffused glow versus a harsh line of shimmer.
The way you apply powder highlighter is going to differ from the way you apply liquid highlighter. Here’s how to use the latter in your makeup routine.
Even out your complexion and cover up any imperfections with the L’Oréal Paris True Match Super-Blendable Foundation in a shade that matches your skin tone. There are 47 shades, in warm, neutral and cool undertones to take the guesswork out of shade matching. Dot the foundation onto your cheeks, nose, chin and forehead. Then, blend out toward your hairline and down toward your neck with your makeup tool of choice.
Contour and blush are two great ways to add color and definition to your complexion. To find your perfect shade of cream contour, opt for a concealer that is two shades darker than your skin tone. We suggest a full-coverage formula, like the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Full Wear Concealer up to 24H Full Coverage. Take a damp makeup sponge and buff the cream contour below your cheekbones, onto your temples, and down the sides of your nose. Top off your cheeks with a cream blush, like the L’Oréal Paris Glow Paradise Lip and Cheek Tint, blending the color starting at the center of your cheeks and going back toward your ears for a subtle lifting effect.
Pick up the L’Oréal Paris True Match Lumi Glotion Natural Glow Enhancer and dot the shimmery liquid above your cheekbones, at the inner corners of your eyes and above your cupid’s bow. Blend the liquid out with a fingertip to melt the product into the skin for a seamless shine.
To keep up with your dewy, luminous makeup look, set your makeup with a spray instead of a powder. Spritz your face with the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Spray & Set Makeup Extender Setting Spray four to six times in “X” and “T” motions to extend the life of your look.
If you’re partial to powders, here’s how to highlight with one.
Before you can highlight, you need to perfect your base. Start with a brightening primer, like the L’Oréal Paris Prime Lab Up to 24H Dullness Reducer, or a pore-reducing primer, like the L’Oréal Paris Prime Lab Up to 24H Pore Minimizer. Both will help to smooth your skin and extend your makeup look.
After applying your primer, opt for your foundation of choice. If you like something with a little bit of glow, try the L’Oréal Paris Infallible 24 Hour Fresh Wear Foundation. If you like matte skin, try the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Up to 24H Fresh Wear Foundation in a Powder.
Use a matte bronzer, like the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Up to 24H Fresh Wear Soft Matte Bronzer and dust it along your cheekbones, forehead and jawline with a fluffy brush. Then, brush a peachy blush, like the L’Oréal Paris True Match Blush in Barely Blushing onto the apples of your cheeks for a natural-looking flush.
Now is the part you’ve been waiting for — reach for the L’Oréal Paris True Match Lumi Shimmerista Highlighting Powder and use a small fluffy brush to dust the powder onto your cheekbones, your brow bones, the bridge of your nose, and your cupid’s bow. You can also add some to the inner corner of your eyes to brighten your eye makeup.
If you’re working with all powder products or all liquid products, apply highlighter to your cheekbones before you apply your blush. When you apply the blush over your highlighter, it will help to seamlessly blend the two together, creating a smooth, luminous application. If you’re using powder blush and liquid highlighter, apply the liquids before you apply your powder products.
Liquid highlighter can go on before foundation to create a luminous base or after foundation to highlight specific areas. You can even mix it into your foundation to sheer out coverage and sport a glowy base. The reason is that liquid highlighters and liquid foundations have a similar consistency which lets them blend and layer well together.
As for powder highlighter and cream formulas, these are best applied after foundation to ensure your makeup looks even. (Don’t forget to apply cream formulas before you set your foundation.) If you’re wearing powder foundation, such as the aforementioned L’Oréal Paris Infallible Up to 24H Fresh Wear Foundation in a Powder, apply any highlighter after you’ve completed your base.
Once you’ve chosen your highlighter, knowing where to apply it (and where not to apply it) is the next step. Below, check out the eight areas of the face to apply highlighter for a natural and seamless glow.