If there’s one thing that shouts summer, it’s a glowing complexion – think a lightweight, flawless foundation application and subtle makeup highlights along the high points of the face. If you’re unsure on how to apply highlighter, the trick is to find the right formula and colour to suit your skin tone – and popping it on all the right areas.
Chloe Turner, M·A·C education manager, shares how and where to apply highlighter below for a glowy natural makeup look, with the aim of looking luminous and creating the effect of lit-from-within skin.
STEP 1: HOW TO USE FACE ILLUMINATOR
“Good glow actually starts before you apply your makeup,” says Turner. “If you really want to achieve a glowy makeup look, I would recommend starting with an illuminating product like Strobe Cream – this hydrating formula can be applied on bare skin before foundation, or mixed in with your foundation then blended into the skin to achieve a gorgeous, glowing effect.”
STEP 2: WHAT TYPE OF HIGHLIGHTER IS BEST
“If you like a liquid formula, STROBE CREAM is my go-to, however for powder formulas – I wear this on night’s out – try MINERALIZE SKIN FINISH IN SOFT AND GENTLE, dusted along the high points of the face, across collarbones and down the centre of your legs,” says Turner. If you have never heard of applying highlighter to the centre of your legs, this clever trick creates the illusion of longer limbs, plus gives a gorgeous shine!
STEP 3: WHERE TO APPLY HIGHLIGHTER
As a general rule of thumb, you should apply highlighter wherever the light hits the face first (and the areas you want to accentuate), says Turner. “The areas that you should apply highlighter include the tops of the cheekbones, down the centre of the nose, the inner corners of the eyes and atop the Cupid’s Bow on the lips. Also, don’t forget your ears and décolletage!,” she adds.
STEP 4: HOW TO BLEND HIGHLIGHTER
When learning how to apply highlighter, one of the most common makeup mishaps we see is not blending it correctly. “Always ensure that you blend your highlighter with your blush so that it leaves a soft and gradual transition, not a thick stripe across your cheeks,” says Turner. With that comes an additional question – what brush should we use for highlighter? “I always recommend using the 133S SMALL CHEEK BRUSH, as it still gives you precision but also allows you to buff the product out and minimise any harsh lines,” she adds.
STEP 5: FIND THE RIGHT HIGHLIGHTER SHADE
“Another common mistake when it comes to applying highlighter is if you use a shade that’s too light for your skin tone – it can make the complexion appear grey,” says Turner. “It’s imperative that you use a highlighter that is in the same tone of your skin.
If you have a more olive complexion: Aim to use a light golden champagne highlighter such as Extra Dimension Highlighter in Oh Darling.
If you have peach tones in your complexion: Go for a soft pink champagne highlighter, such as Mineralize Skin Finish in Soft and Gentle, as it will blend in and complement your complexion.
If you have a deeper skin tone: Opt for Mineralize Skin Finish in Global Glow – Turner says it gives the skin such a gorgeous, caramel-like shine!