If you're a beginner when it comes to highlighting here are 6 things you should know

Highlighting can seem pretty tricky when you first try it out. After all, there are so many styles of highlight and methods of application that it can quickly get overwhelming. As long as you get the basics down, like highlighting light points on your face — where light naturally hits — think bridge of nose, cheekbones, upper edge of lip, brow bone — finding the right highlighting method for you will be a breeze.
Whether you prefer liquid or powder or dewy to dramatic, here are some of the best highlighting tips on the web today that will get you glowing.
Advertisement
1. Use a liquid illuminator correctly by immediately blending into your foundation after application. (h/t My Makeup Party)
If you're new to the world of highlighters, you may be unaware that not every type will work the same way. Liquid illuminating drops are fantastic for achieving a subtle, dewy, healthy skin glow, but they can be troublesome to apply to a full set of makeup. The drops have a tendency to dissolve your full-face application, so the trick here is to take a flat or stipple brush and briskly blend into your freshly applied foundation. And we mean freshly applied, by the way. Don't pause to apply concealer — just brush it in ASAP.
2. Concealer makes a great matte highlight (h/t Pretty Casual)
Highlighting doesn't have to mean shimmer, shine and glow. Using concealer as a highlight is a common trick, and mastered by keeping one thing in mind. No matter your face shape, you'll want to figure out where the light strikes your face and apply your concealer there. This is usually your cheekbones, middle of your forehead, bridge of your nose and your upper lip. Applying concealer as a highlighter in these areas draws your face in and focuses attention to the center.
3. Use a wider brush to dispel shimmery powder over the area for a more subtle effect (h/t Eman)
When highlighting your face, it's important to be aware of what kind of look you're going for before selecting your applicator. Narrow, tapered brushes will give a concentrated, highly pigmented glow to the areas you've applied them, while sweeping highlighter on with a blending sponge or a fanned-out brush will give you a wider area of glow with a seamless, blended-in look.
4. For a vivid highlight,spray your brush or sponge with setting spray before applying (h/t Danika Nikole)
This technique may seem a little backwards, but it's an easy way for your highlight to get a more vivid, highly pigmented look while staying put for hours. Simply spritz setting spray onto your applicator before dipping into your highlight pan, and swipe onto the light-reflecting points on your face for an instant pop.
5. It isn't all about the face your eyes need some highlight too (h/t Michelle Tapia)
If you're new to the highlighting game, you may think that it's all about cheekbones and forehead. However, adding a little highlighter on the inner corners of your eyes brightens and widens everything for a fresh, wide-awake look. Take an eye shadow brush, and lightly tap highlighting cream or powder into the corners of your eyes and just under the arch of your brow-bone for a flattering finish to your eye makeup.
6. Double up your highlighters for an out-of-this-world glow (h/t Stephanie Lange)
For an eye-popping highlight that's out of this world, a lot of beauty bloggers and IG queens use this trick. Using a beauty blender, dab liquid highlighter onto your cheekbones gently. Once it dries, go over it with a dusting of powder highlight. The result is a multi-tone, eye-catching highlight that will look absolutely gorgeous.
Advertisement