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Gone are the days of heavy contouring and thank goodness for that. Instead, more and more women are taking a more minimalist approach to their everyday makeup look with the help of one incredible product: highlighting concealer. Also known as liquid highlighter (or more simply, highlighter), this forgiving, simple-to-apply product is a light reflective makeup that, when applied, provides a luminous, brightening effect to all of your best features.
So, just how do you use a highlighting concealer? Molly Leahy, bridal hair and makeup artist at Blushing Brides Boston, explains the basics: “Highlighter should be placed on areas that you want to be more prominent,” Leahy says. “The most common places to put highlighter for a glowing effect would be on the cheekbones, brow bones, inner corner of your eye, middle of the forehead, bridge of the nose and cupid’s bow.”
Since everyone’s face is different and we don’t all wish to highlight the same features, Leahy advises working with your own unique beauty to make a highlighter work for you. “If you have a large nose you might not need to highlight it or if you have a small chin you might want to dab a little at the center to give the illusion that it’s fuller,” she says. “Use highlighter in the places that you want to personally make stand out.”
Another nice thing about highlighter is that there is no one right way to use it. Most often, it is applied after concealer and foundation as a lovely finishing touch. In this case, Leahy says the best results are achieved when you use the same formulation of highlighter as foundation. For example, if you use a powder foundation use a powder highlighter. Likewise, if you’re using a liquid foundation and a powder highlighter then simply dust some translucent powder over the areas you wish to highlight first, she says.
Another cool makeup trick: “Mix 2-3 drops of liquid highlighter (like Benefit Cosmetics High Beam) in with your liquid foundation,” Leahy says. “This is great to give your whole face a beautiful luminescent quality if your foundation tends to be a little too matte. Be careful not to put too much in though or you will look greasy.”
Once you start experimenting with highlighter, chances are you’ll flip over the pretty, warm glow it gives your skin–an especially lovely thing to have once the weather turns arctic.
For more beauty tips, check out what is BB cream? and 23 beauty memes that will make your day a whole lot better.
