This season, highlighter comes to the fore. So, put your matte powder deep in the makeup drawer and get ready to illuminate with diamond brightness. Of course, there is a multitude of highlighters on the modern market, so it can sometimes be challenging to pick the right one. And when you do, it's not guaranteed that you'll be able to use it properly. So that you won’t end up having a pancake face instead of heavenly glowy, we've prepared this comprehensive guide. It will help you not only pick out the best highlighting product but also learn to apply it to flatter you. We made a list of the best highlighters of the best brands from NYX to Makeup Revolution for creating yoga skin. Let's bring that glow on
*We may earn money from affiliate links on this page. Please check out our disclosure policy for more details.How To Apply Highlighter
There are many ways of how to use highlighter. Let's look at some of the best options.
In The Middle Of The Lid
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In addition to making your skin radiant, highlighter can also help to sculpture your face, visually changing the shape and size of some of its parts. If you think that your eyes aren't big enough, using illuminator will make them appear bigger. To achieve the effect, simply apply the highlighter in the eyelid center and blend the edges outward. This trick will instantly enhance your eyes size and make them look awake.
On The Cheek Apples
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In case you want to add more glow to your skin instead of accentuating the sharpness of your cheekbones, you can apply highlighter directly on the apples of the cheeks. Note that you don’t have to waive blusher or bronzer, as you can use highlighter right above them. Don’t overdo it though. A subtle touch will be more than enough.
On The Top Of Your Upper Lip
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Who doesn’t dream of a fuller and plumper pout? However, not everybody wants to turn to such drastic measures as plastic surgery or lip fillers. If you’re not into changing your appearance permanently, highlighter will become a great solution for you. With the help of a concealer brush, apply it on the utmost part of your top lip, which is also known as a cupid's bow. In addition, this trick will make your lipstick look clean and lips outlined more neatly.
On The Nose Bridge
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Are you unhappy with the shape of your nose? Don’t book an appointment for a rhinoplasty surgery yet if you haven't tried to correct it with the help of the contouring technique. To visually narrow down the nose, you'll need highlighter and contour powder. The foundation that's a couple of shades darker than your complexion will work too. The highlighter should go along your nose bridge while the contour should be carefully blended on the sides.
Into Moisturizer
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Do you know that lit from within look when your face literally glows with health? We bet you're more than wishful to achieve it too. Good news is that it can be easily achieved by mixing highlighter with your favorite moisturizer. After blending them together, just apply the mixture as you would normally do all over the face, and your skin will immediately become radiant and beaming.
In The Inner Eye Corners
Lack of sleep, stress, working overtime – all of these definitely won't make you look healthy and fresh. And what's the first thing that gives you away? Your eyes, of course. If you can't change your lifestyle yet, you can at least disguise its consequences. A small dot of highlighter applied in the inner corners of the eyes will make them look awake and lighten up the dark circles.
Below The Bone Of The Brow
Here's another technique that will help you to visually enlarge your eyes. Just touch the arch area below your brow bone with a bit of highlighter. It will create enough light above your eye, thus opening it up and making appear larger. However, you should remember to stay above the eyelid crease. Otherwise, it will look too flashy.
On The Cheekbone Edge
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Though, highlighter allows you to achieve not only a blurry effect. Depending on the areas on which you apply highlighter, you can easily add more sharpness and definition to your face with it. Simply draw a diagonal line that starts under the middle of the socket of your eye and goes up to the hairline. Don’t forget to blend the edges thoroughly.
The Top 10 Highlighters
Now that you know where to apply highlighter to achieve the desired effect, it's time to choose the best highlighter that meets all your preferences.
Nyx Highlighter Palette
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The Nyx Highlighter Palette with its color solution reminds of almost the whole Colourpop highlighter range. So, if you’re in doubt what shade to go for, it's a wise decision to grab the palette. Besides, you'll be really pleased with its quality, as the highlighter allows for easy and smooth application thanks to its buttery and soft formula. Moreso, as the shades have different hues and levels of intensity, you can play around with the various effects and finishes.
Fenty Beauty Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter
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Fenty Beauty Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter has caused just as much of a stir in the industry as the Jeffree Star highlighter. The formula is amazing – buttery and rich while staying power largely exceeds what you’d expect for highlighter. Though, the hue can be rather controversial, as this vivid gold will flatter not everybody. However, if you apply it lightly and blend well, you'll get a beautiful warm honey glow that looks quite natural.
NARS The Multiple In South Beach
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NARS is known for creating really iconic products, and this makeup highlighter is no exception. Its creamy formula is made to melt into your skin becoming a single whole with it. Due to this, the apexes of your face will gain incredible yet natural sheen. The longevity of this highlighter amazes too making it totally worth the splurge.
MAC Extra Dimension Skinfinish Highlighter In Beaming Blush
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The MAC highlighter won't cause you any troubles applying it. You can easily run a big fluffy brush with the product all over the peaks of your face and get a startling glow without looking overly shiny. Thanks to the sheer formula, it's very hard to overdo it. The color range allows you to match the shade to your skin tone perfectly.
Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Highlighter
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If you haven't tried the Becca highlighter, we can say with confidence that you haven't tried the highlighter at all. It's gained world popularity for good reason. The formula is creamy and buttery yet the finish is velvety. What's the best thing about it is the glossy radiance it gives. But, be careful with it. Apply it lightly so that not to blind everybody.
Huda Beauty 3D Palette
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Usually, we don't find highlighter palettes particularly handy, as they often contain one or two shades that you hardly if ever use. However, we can't say the same about the Huda Beauty Palette. The formula is wonderful with a nice subtle sheen. All of the four shades are equally useful and flattering, so you may not worry that any of them will be gathering dust.
MAC Strobe Cream In Pinklite
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If you prefer liquid highlighter formula, then the best option for you is MAC Strobe Cream. It doesn't make your complexion oily while giving it a flawless subtle sheen. It's invisible on your skin, as it melts in it seamlessly. This MAC highlighter is a go-to product of many makeup artists and models, and we surely know why.
CYO Cool As A Coconut Cooling Bronzing Stick
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With CYO highlighter makeup looks natural and sheen. It has a weightless gel formula with a dewy finish, which is not particularly long lasting but allows for effortless re-application. The golden shade, however, won't probably suit very pale skin tones. Though, girls with deep complexion will find it extremely flattering.
Sleek Distorted Dreams Palette
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Another highlighter palette that contains everything you need and nothing extra. The formula is very much like the Wet n Wild highlighter – powdery and creamy with a glossy finish. You might think that the colors aren't wearable. But, as the formula is quite sheer, none of them gets off the rails. On top of that, the Sleek highlighters are very easy to apply and blend, which also adds up to the benefits of this palette.
Stila Heaven's Hue Highlighter In Kitten
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If you like the Ofra highlighter, then you'll definitely love the Stila Heaven's Hue Highlighter. In addition to attractive packaging, it provides you with a dewy and glossy touch. This highlighter is all about glow, not color. So, take care when applying the product, as it's very easy to overdo it. However, the end result is so amazing that it's worth the effort. Bloggers certainly choose it not for nothing.
Glowing and radiant skin always looks attractive and desired. But, unfortunately, you can't always achieve it without resorting to makeup tricks. And that's when highlighter comes into play. Having all the useful information we've provided you with, you have no chance to end up with dull or unhealthy complexion. So, use it wisely.
FAQ: Highlighter
Why is highlighting important in makeup?
Highlighting is very crucial when contouring because it pulls the light back into your face.
You don’t want to go overboard it. Most people appear like the Tin Man because they use too much highlighter.
Is highlighter and bronzer the same?
Bronzer is applied first, followed by blush, and highlighter goes the last. Bronzer should be applied slightly below the cheekbone, blush should be applied to the apples, and highlighter should be applied to the upper cheekbone. For extra full-body definition, dab some shimmer bronzer or highlighter over your collarbone as a final step.
What is the best highlighter Colour?
Typically, highlighters are pink or peach in color. Pale to light complexion, as well as light to medium skin, look best in pink tones. Those with pale complexion can use highlighters with lilac undertones to brighten their natural skin tone.
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