Highlighting your face can be a great way to subtly illuminate it for a fresh and glowing look. But if you’re not careful, it can also leave your skin looking unnatural and like the Tin Man. With the right makeup tools and a little know-how, you can highlight your face in a way that looks natural and glowing rather than looking like a glitter bomb hit your face. Highlighter sticks are a great tool for getting that subtle glow and can easily be used along with other products in your routine such as foundation or blush. They’re also compact and easy to carry around in a bag for touch-ups on the go.
A highlighter stick is a creamy highlighter that melts into your skin for a soft and natural glow. They’re typically formulated without glitter and have fine shimmer particles that create a radiant luminosity when blended with your fingertips or a fluffy eyeshadow blending brush. They’re usually available in a wide range of shades to match your complexion, and some can be mixed with your foundation or blush for a strobing effect. Highlighter sticks are also ideal for a more targeted highlight and tend to be less messy than powder highlighters which can leave your skin feeling chalky.
To apply a highlighter stick, start with clean hands and then gently glide the product over your face. The warmth of your fingers will help to melt the product into your skin, so use a light hand for the most natural-looking glow. Then blend out any hard lines with a makeup sponge, a soft brush or your fingertips. A highlighter stick is also a good option for more’strobing’, which is an extreme version of highlighting that is meant to illuminate the high points of your face for a dramatic and glowy look.
For a bright and fresh look, lightly swipe the highlighter stick across the tops of your cheekbones for a natural-looking glow. A quick swipe down the bridge of your nose will also brighten and slim your face. You can also add a small pop of highlight to the Cupid’s bow (the area where your upper lip takes a dip) and to the center of each eyebrow for a more lifted and awake look.
A highlighter stick can also be used as a eyeshadow by dabbing it on the inner corners of your eyes to brighten them and make you appear more awake. You can even smudge a highlighter on the brow bone to frame your face and make it look more youthful. Avoid using highlighter near the waterline or in the center of your lips, as this can cause a patchy or uneven look. It’s best to apply your highlighter after your foundation and blush for a fresh and radiant look. You can also mix your highlighter with your foundation for a luminous primer or even wear it alone to achieve a naturally glowing finish. Remember to avoid any highlighter products that contain parabens, phthalates, formaldehydes and mineral oils as these chemicals are known to irritate the skin. Instead, choose a highlighter that contains natural ingredients such as mica and shea butter to ensure a safe product for your skin.