A makeup director shares his advice
Going by the latest Haute Couture shows in Paris and Milan, it seems that highlighting has evolved and become even more wearable. Backstage makeup artists have moved past the exercise of buffing the skin with finely-milled shimmering powders in gold, silver and bronze colours, and instead are reaching for liquid formulas that provide a glossy, healthy-looking sheen. As for the end result: skin looks heavenly, dewy and almost unreal, like it belongs on a doll. And we’re not alone in that thinking. “Luminosity brings out the youthfulness and glow of skin,” says Maybelline New York Makeup Director Nigel Stanislaus. “It mimics skin on vacation, which is fresh, optimistic and happy. Happy, healthy skin glows.”
Want to get in on the trend? Here’s how to correctly wear liquid highlighter.
#1 / Mix it up
The best thing about a liquid highlighter is that it blends in effortlessly, whatever base you have. “Use this on your own bare skin, or mix it with your moisturiser, BB cream or foundation to illuminate your complexion,” says Stanislaus.
Toolkit:
Maybelline New York Facestudio Strobing Liquid Illuminating Highlighter melts into skin like a dream and feels light to wear.
Blended with coconut water, Marc Jacobs Dew Drops Coconut Gel Highlighter refreshes the skin and offers a touch of radiance.
Tom Ford Illuminating Highlighting Pen is conveniently packaged in a slender tool that’s easy to carry and use on the go.
Maybelline New York Facestudio Strobing Liquid Illuminating Highlighter
Marc Jacobs Dew Drops Coconut Gel Highlighter
Tom Ford Illuminating Highlighting Pen
#2 / Think about your placement
Highlighting is all about strategically bringing attention to certain areas of your face, rather than using it all over. To avoid looking like you have oily skin, focus on just placing it on these spots: “apply the product to the features you want to highlight like the bridge of the nose (but not the tip), the ball of the eyelids, peaks of the cheekbones and Cupid’s bow for an illusion of fuller and rounder lips,” says Stanislaus.
#3 / Be age-appropriate
While there are no hard rules when it comes to makeup, Stanislaus has some expert advice: “in my opinion, women in their twenties to forties look great with dewy, radiant skin.”
#4 / Be consistent
Don’t forget to keep the rest of your body in mind when creating your dewy makeup look. “When applying a luminous skin finish, make sure there is consistency in your look by adding radiance and glow down the front of the neck and collarbone,” explains Stanislaus. “I also recommend [you] avoid applying any creams over a smoky eye makeup look, which may crease on the lids.”
#5 / Avoid your lips
It is recommended to dab a tiny bit of highlighter on your Cupid’s bow to accentuate the shape of your smackers, but Stanislaus doesn’t recommend applying it all over your lips. “You can absolutely wear a lip gloss but avoid a shimmer finish to your gloss,” he says. “You want to avoid an overload of the same texture on both your face and lips.”
Confused about highlighting? Follow this guide to get it right.
What’s your favourite product to highlight with, and why? Tell us in the comments below.
Main image credit: Getty
Iantha is BEAUTYcrew's Beauty Editor, and has been part of the team since the site launched in 2016. Besides pinky-nude nail polish and wispy false lashes, she has a healthy obsession with face masks and skin care ingredients. Her previous work can be found in Virgin Australia Voyeur, Women's Health, and SHOP Til You Drop.
