Highlighter has become VERY modern for all beauty gurus and makeup lovers in general. There's been challenges for the whole face highlight and everyone really wants that blinding glow. It is usually a staple in every makeup lover's makeup looks. And at this point this is such a universal product, you can buy a fairly good highlighter from any brand depending on if you have a budget or any of those additional factors. Some people just prefer not to spend tons and tons on their highlight but whatever can work. Highlight is a really nice add on to any makeup look because there's many highlighters that are more and less pigmented. Some are made to build up the product and are more sheer, while others are blinding by the swatch. It all really depends on the brand and how you apply it.
So to start off, application of highlight is usually best with either a highlighter brush or fan brush. The highlighter brush is usually a round diffuser brush with super-soft, tapered bristles for easy application. Then the fan brush is just a fan shaped brush that easily sweeps over when applying the product. Fan brushes are also used for other application in some cases. For example, a larger fan brush with more bristles can be used for contour, or bronzer. But going back to highlight, those two main brushes would be best for application.
When applying highlight, the areas to cover for sure are above your cheekbones near the eye area, this brings out your cheekbones. Then you can apply as well on the bridge of your nose, to make it appear straighter, on your chin to accentuate it and make your lips look bigger, on your cupid's bow (top of upper lip), to make the upper lip appear bigger, and possibly some on your forehead to help bring dimension. Another main area to focus is your brow bone, so pretty much below your brow and above your eyelid, to make your eyes look more open. These are all of the parts of your face you can apply, but most people for a more subtle look will mainly stick to applying on the brow bone, above cheekbones, and nose.
You know which brushes to use, where to apply, but what about the actual product. Literally all brands have some sort of highlighter. Some high end brands include Anastasia, Too Faced, Becca, Kat Von D, Nars, Smashbox, Dior, Hourglass, Tarte, Ciate, Stila, Benefit, and many more. Some drug store brands include Elf, Milani, Pixi, Physicians Formula, Essence, Maybelline, NYX, Rimmel, and others. In my opinion, the top 5 best high end highlighters would be The Anastasia Sun Dipped Glow Kit, The Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector, The Dior Diorskin Nude Air Luminizer Powder, Ofra Blissful Highlighter, and The Jouer Powder Highlighter. I would say that the top 5 best drugstore highlighters would be The Elf Baked Highlighter, The Wet N Wild Mega Glow Highlighting Powder, The Physicians Formula Mineral Glow Pearls Powder, The Essence Pure Nude Highlighter, and Pixi Glow-y Powder by Petra + Aspynovard.
This was kind of long, but now you will know how to blind everyone around you and know the basics of highlighters, the brushes, good products, and where to apply it!
So to start off, application of highlight is usually best with either a highlighter brush or fan brush. The highlighter brush is usually a round diffuser brush with super-soft, tapered bristles for easy application. Then the fan brush is just a fan shaped brush that easily sweeps over when applying the product. Fan brushes are also used for other application in some cases. For example, a larger fan brush with more bristles can be used for contour, or bronzer. But going back to highlight, those two main brushes would be best for application.
When applying highlight, the areas to cover for sure are above your cheekbones near the eye area, this brings out your cheekbones. Then you can apply as well on the bridge of your nose, to make it appear straighter, on your chin to accentuate it and make your lips look bigger, on your cupid's bow (top of upper lip), to make the upper lip appear bigger, and possibly some on your forehead to help bring dimension. Another main area to focus is your brow bone, so pretty much below your brow and above your eyelid, to make your eyes look more open. These are all of the parts of your face you can apply, but most people for a more subtle look will mainly stick to applying on the brow bone, above cheekbones, and nose.
You know which brushes to use, where to apply, but what about the actual product. Literally all brands have some sort of highlighter. Some high end brands include Anastasia, Too Faced, Becca, Kat Von D, Nars, Smashbox, Dior, Hourglass, Tarte, Ciate, Stila, Benefit, and many more. Some drug store brands include Elf, Milani, Pixi, Physicians Formula, Essence, Maybelline, NYX, Rimmel, and others. In my opinion, the top 5 best high end highlighters would be The Anastasia Sun Dipped Glow Kit, The Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector, The Dior Diorskin Nude Air Luminizer Powder, Ofra Blissful Highlighter, and The Jouer Powder Highlighter. I would say that the top 5 best drugstore highlighters would be The Elf Baked Highlighter, The Wet N Wild Mega Glow Highlighting Powder, The Physicians Formula Mineral Glow Pearls Powder, The Essence Pure Nude Highlighter, and Pixi Glow-y Powder by Petra + Aspynovard.
This was kind of long, but now you will know how to blind everyone around you and know the basics of highlighters, the brushes, good products, and where to apply it!