Top Highlighter Tips and Tricks

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Applying highlighter might seem easy but for many women, it can be a challenge. Where to place it? How to use it so it is flattering? here are the top highlighter tips and tricks so it becomes your own secret weapon.

Applying highlighter might seem easy but for many women, it can be a challenge. Where to place it? How to use it so it is flattering? here are the top highlighter tips and tricks so it becomes your own secret weapon.

Highlighter has become a cornerstone in the beauty industry, transforming makeup looks with a lit-from-within glow that accentuates facial features and enhances bone structure. It can instantly give your skin a vibrant glow, define your features, and create a natural-looking radiance. But, do you know how to use it effectively? 

Mastering the art of highlighter application can take your makeup game to a whole new level, offering a dewy finish that mimics the perfect, healthy sheen of well-cared-for skin. Whether you’re aiming for a subtle glow for the office or a dramatic glow for a special occasion, understanding the right way to apply highlighter is crucial. Here, we’ll share the best highlighter hacks, from selecting the right shade to applying it on the high points of your face, ensuring you achieve the perfect highlight every time.

A Guide To Using Highlighter

1. Understanding Your Skin Type and Face Shape

It’s essential to consider your skin type and face shape. Those with oily skin might prefer powder-based highlighter products that can last longer while providing a glow, whereas individuals with dry skin might find that cream or liquid formulas offer better results, giving a dewy look without emphasizing dry patches.

Your face shape also plays a critical role in where you should apply highlighter. Makeup artists recommend applying highlighter to specific areas that you wish to emphasize. For example, the bridge of your nose, cheekbones, brow bones, and the inner corners of your eyes are common high points of the face that can benefit from a touch of highlighter.

2. Choosing the Right Highlighter

Selecting the right highlighter shade and formula can make a significant difference in your overall look. Fair skin tones might opt for highlighter with a cool undertone, while medium to deeper skin tones look radiant in warmer undertones and shades. The L’Oréal Paris True Match Lumi Glowtion offers a range of shades catering to different skin tones, ensuring a gorgeous glow for everyone.

For a subtle sheen, a simple trick is to test the highlighter on the back of your hand under natural light. This method helps in finding the perfect match that will blend seamlessly into your skin, providing a natural, subtle glow.

3. Highlighter Application Techniques

To achieve the best results, consider your application technique and the tools you use. A fan brush or a fluffy brush is ideal for powder highlighters, allowing for a light, even application that can be built up to the desired intensity. For cream or liquid formulas, a damp beauty sponge or a makeup sponge can be used to dab the product onto the skin, creating a seamless blend with your foundation.

For a more precise application, such as highlighting the bridge of your nose or the inner corners of your eyes, a small brush or even your clean finger help you target these areas without spreading the product too widely.

4. Incorporating Highlighter into Your Makeup Routine

To integrate highlighter seamlessly into your makeup look, start by applying it on top of your foundation but before setting powder or setting spray. This sequence helps to avoid harsh lines and ensures that the highlighter melds with the base makeup for a more natural effect. For those with oily skin or who prefer a matte foundation, a light dusting of setting powder before the highlighter application can help manage shine without dimming the glow.

5. Advanced Highlighter Hacks

Taking your glow game beyond the basics, here are a few advanced tips:

  • Mix Highlighter with Foundation: For an all-over dewy look, mix a bit of liquid highlighter, like the Lumi Glotion Natural Glow Enhancer, with your foundation. This technique offers an easy way to elevate your entire face with a subtle, radiant finish.
  • Highlighter for Eye Makeup: Beyond the face, highlighter can be used to enhance your eye makeup by applying a touch to the brow bone and the inner corners of your eyes. This opens up the eyes and complements your eye makeup, taking it to the next level.
  • Contouring with Highlighter: Use different shades of highlighter to contour the face subtly. Lighter shades can emphasize high points, while slightly darker shades can help define areas like the cheekbones, even without the traditional contour powder.
3 tips to use highlighter to flatter your features

By following these tips and incorporating highlighter into your makeup routine in the right places and in the right way, you can achieve a lit-from-within glow that enhances your facial features and complements your overall makeup look. Whether you’re aiming for a subtle sheen or a dewy finish, these highlighter hacks and products like the L’Oréal Paris True Match Lumi Glow Nude Highlighter Palette can help you achieve a flawless glow for any occasion.

3 Ways To Use Highlighter

Here are three ways to use highlighter that will transform your makeup routine.

1. Lift Your Brows

One classic way to use highlighter is to apply it on your brow bone. This technique gives your face a lifted effect and a natural glow. By highlighting this area, you create a contrast that defines and lifts your brow, making you look more awake and youthful.

Just dab a little highlighter onto your brow bone, following the natural arch of your eyebrows. This method works best with a powder highlighter. It’s easy to blend and gives a subtle, natural finish. Remember to use it sparingly. An overdone highlight can look unnatural and harsh in daylight.

2. Plump Your Lips

Who doesn’t want plump, luscious lips? Well, there’s a trick for that – use a highlighter! Apply a bit of highlighter in the middle of your bottom lip for a plumping effect. Additionally, apply some on your cupid’s bow (the little dip above your upper lip) for definition.

This trick works best with a cream highlighter. It’s thicker and more pigmented, adding a little extra volume to your lips. Just make sure to blend it well and use clean fingers to avoid any unwanted smudges or bacteria.

3. Brighten Your Eyes

Eyes are the window to the soul, they say. So why not make them look as bright and beautiful as possible? A little highlighter can do wonders in this area. Apply a small amount of highlighter in your inner eye corner and a bit under the eye for a brightening effect.

Liquid highlighters are fantastic for this purpose. They are easy to apply, blend well, and give a more intense glow. It’s like having a little ray of sunshine in your makeup kit.

Applying highlighter might seem easy but for many women, it can be a challenge. Where to place it? How to use it so it is flattering? here are the top highlighter tips and tricks so it becomes your own secret weapon.

Remember, the key to a great highlight is all about blending. Regardless of where you apply it, make sure to blend it well for a seamless, natural glow.

So, there you have it – three ways to use highlighter to lift your brows, plump your lips, and brighten your eyes. But remember, every face is unique. Experiment with different techniques and types of highlighters to find what works best for you.

Whether it’s a powder, cream, or liquid highlighter, each has its unique benefits and can be used to achieve different effects. So, play around with them and discover your perfect glow.

Applying highlighter might seem easy but for many women, it can be a challenge. Where to place it? How to use it so it is flattering? What type of highlighter is best?Here are the top highlighter tips and tricks so it becomes your own secret weapon.

Should Women Over 40 Use Highlighter?

Absolutely! Women over 40 can and should use highlighter if they enjoy the radiant, youthful glow it can bring to their complexion. Highlighter, when applied correctly, can accentuate the high points of the face, like the cheekbones and brow bones, bringing a lit-from-within glow that’s flattering at any age. The key is to adapt your makeup techniques and products to suit your skin’s needs and your personal style.

The other day I interviewed celebrity makeup artist Laura Geller, who has her own makeup brand, and she agreed that highlighter can be used even when you have mature skin but it needs to be low glow, not a frost. “Apply it under the brow and in the inside corners of the eyes,” she advises. If you want a frosty glow, Laura Geller says to avoid the area underneath your eyes because a frost highlighter will make the lines much more noticeable.

Here are a few tips for women over 40 to make the most out of their highlighter:

  • Skin changes after you hit 40. It’s common to experience drier skin as you age, so cream or liquid highlighter formulas can be particularly flattering because they provide a dewy finish without settling into fine lines or dry areas. These formulas can also blend more seamlessly into the skin, offering a more natural-looking glow. However, if you have enlarged pores, applying highlighter on top of them might make them more noticeable.
  • Create a lifting effect by focusing the application on the high points of the face. Areas like the cheekbones, under the brow bone, and the inner corners of the eyes are great places to apply highlighter. It’s generally advised to avoid areas with fine lines or wrinkles, as highlighter can draw attention to these areas.
  • A subtle approach is often more flattering, especially for everyday looks. A touch of highlighter can go a long way in brightening the face and adding dimension without looking overdone. The key is to blend well, ensuring there are no harsh lines or obvious makeup edges.
  • Proper skincare can significantly enhance the effect of highlighter. Hydrated, well-moisturized skin provides a smooth canvas for makeup. Using a hydrating primer can also help to minimize the appearance of pores and fine lines, allowing the highlighter to glide on smoothly and stay put. I’m a huge fan of Laura Geller’s Spackle Primer and Hourglass Veil Primer.
  • Apply sparingly and strategically. Fingers, brushes, and sponges can all yield different results. Fingers are great for warming up cream products and tapping them gently onto the skin for a blended look. A fluffy brush can apply powder highlighters with a light touch, and a damp beauty sponge is ideal for dabbing or stippling on liquid formulas without disturbing the foundation underneath.

Favorite Highlighters

Here is a list with some of my favorite highlighters:

Applying highlighter might seem easy but can be daunting. Where to place it? How to use it so it is flattering? Here are the top highlighter tips and tricks so it becomes your own secret weapon.

More Makeup Tips For You

Applying highlighter might seem easy but can be daunting. Where to place it? How to use it so it is flattering? Here are the top highlighter tips and tricks so it becomes your own secret weapon.

Please share!

TV Host, Speaker & Author

Jeannette Kaplun is a Latina mom of 2, TV host, author and blogger. She's the founder of Hispana Global and has appeared on Good Morning America, The Steve Harvey Show, Despierta América, Hoy Día, CNN en Español and The Chew. Previously she co-founded Todobebé and hosted the Emmy-nominated Viva la Familia TV show on Univision. Jeannette's work has been featured in prominent media outlets such as Forbes, The Huffington Post, Today Show Parenting Team, Parents Latina, Univision and Telemundo. She has also been a speaker at industry conferences and events, sharing her expertise on content creation, branding, and entrepreneurship. She serves as Special Advisor to The Bank of America Institute for Women's Entrepreneurship at Cornell and was included in the Forbes #Next1000 2021 list. She won the Iris Award for Instagram of the Year in 2021. Jeannette lives in Miami with her family and Maltese dog, Snoopy.

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