Highlighter ♡

Want your skin to glow? Radiate? Want to appear fresh and angelic everyday? It's so simple--all you need is to highlight!
I just recently in the past year discovered the true difference that a highlighter makes and now I do it every single day. To be clear, highlighting is a technique that uses pearlescent powder to accentuate the places on your face that naturally catch light.

First of all, you need a highlighting powder. This can be a translucent powder, eyeshadow, pigment, or a powder or creme stick that is specifically meant for highlighting. They're pearlescent with a bit of shimmer and are a variation of white, cream, or beige. Products that are specifically meant to be used as highlighters are usually meant for all skin tones, such as the one by Physicians Formula (that I've been dying to try). It's a bit pricey, but I still know I'll buy it one day. It can be found at Target. For now, I actually use an eyeshadow for my highlight and I'm very pleased with it. It's the Color Icon Eyeshadow Trio in "Eggshell" by Wet 'n Wild! It can be found at Walgreens for about $3 and it comes with shimmery gold, shimmery brown, and shimmery pearl shadows all in one compact. I use the pearl one that says "Browbone", so I guess it is meant to be a highlighter because that's one of the places that highlighter is traditionally placed.

Physicians Formula Powder Palette Mineral Glow Pearls in "Transluscent"
& Wet 'n Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Trio in "Eggshell"

I like to use an eyeshadow brush to apply highlighter in the eye area as well as the rest of my face, but you could also use an angled bronzer/contouring brush for the cheekbones if you'd like. Both of these types of brushes are made by e.l.f. cosmetics which I strongly recommend. Just keep in mind that the $3 studio line brushes are of much higher quality than the classic $1 elf blushes. Spend the extra $2 and you'll be very pleased. E.l.f. products can be found online or at Target! An added tip is to do all of your other make up before adding a highlight. This is the last thing I apply before finishing spray.

e.l.f. Eyeshadow C Brush & e.l.f. Studio Angled Foundation Brush

First, apply some just under the arch of your eyebrow and blend it in all across your brow bone. Using a highlight under the brow after penciling them in creates a bit of contrast and consequently some extra definition to your brows while also brightening up your whole face. To finish off your eye highlight, dab some in the inner corners of your eyes. This gives some whimsy to your make up and gives the illusion of a more open eye. Next, I like to add some highlighter on the top outer bone of my cheeks, at the most protruding part of the bone which is under the outer part of my eye and above my blush. Make sure to apply the highlighter right where you think the light shines on the the top of your cheek. Next, I do my nose. For some people, this can accentuate a larger nose so it's not for everyone. Try it out and see if you like the results! What I do is go back to using my eyeshadow brush and make a straight line down the center of my nose. This makes my nose look longer and thinner and the shimmer always catches the light and makes me feel adorable. I use any excess highlighter and quickly brush it across the center of my forehead and the bottom of my chin, where the bone is.

With highlighter, just remember that you're simply adding some shine to the parts of your face that already protrude and reflect light. This just makes it seem slightly exaggerated and deliberate in a magical looking way. I absolutely love using a highlighter, and it's really so easy! I hope it also becomes one of your favorites after using my tips~