Just like picking out an outfit, before you start your makeup you have to ask yourself, “What kind of look am I in the mood for today?” Some days you might be after more of a my-skin-but-better kind of glow, and other days you might be thinking Roll me around on a plate of glitter, please. Regardless of the glow you want, know there’s a way to achieve it. Read on to learn how to highlight based on your personal preference.
A Dewy Finish
For a fresh, healthy looking complexion, makeup artist Wendy Rowe says properly hydrated, moisturised skin is the key to a glowy finish. To achieve the look, mix a drop of liquid illuminator with your moisturiser before applying it. Or, if you prefer only specific areas to be dewy, use your fingers to tap a shimmer-free highlighting product (like a balm or stick) onto areas you want to pop, such as your cheekbones and brow bones.
Buy now Glossier Haloscope, £18
A Matte Highlight
For those of you who hate shimmer and shine, but still want your features to standout, try highlighting with concealer instead. Either use a contour palette or a matte concealer two shades lighter than your skin tone, and then begin applying it with a sponge or stippling brush to the high points of your face. Makeup artist Mary Phillips suggests placing the concealer right where the light would hit (in the centre of the forehead, highpoint of the cheeks, and under the eyes). This kind of highlighting pairs nicely with contouring to further bring the light toward the centre of your face.
Buy now Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Cream Kit, £42
A Shimmery Glow
If you’ve completed your makeup look and want to add a little something extra, lightly dust your face with a powder or cream-to-powder shimmery product along your cheekbones and under your brow bones. Using a fan brush to do so will diffuse the powder for a more subtle effect. Mary then suggests dusting a matte powder over the center of your face (middle of your forehead, around your nose, under your eyes), while letting the rest of your skin shine where it should.
Buy now Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Highlighter, £32
A Glow to the Gods
If you're looking for a full-face of glam, then this ultimate level of shine is for you. Use a beauty sponge or a highlighting brush dampened with setting spray to apply a cream-to-powder highlight for a truly pigmented glow. Start with the tops of your cheekbones and brow bones and keep on applying over your cupid’s bow, down the centre and on the tip of your nose, and around your temples. If you accidentally make your skin too lit, take down some of the highlighter with foundation.
Buy now Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter, £26
