Strategic Highlighter Placement
When it comes to creating a radiant and glow complexion, highlighter is the ultimate secret weapon. While contouring focuses on sculpting and defining the face, strobing takes a different approach by strategically placing highlighter to accentuate and enhance your natural features. In this blog post, we will explore the art of strobing and guide you through the steps to achieve a luminous and dewy look by strategically placing highlighter.
1. Choosing the Right Highlighter:
The key to successful strobing is selecting the right highlighter that complements your skin tone. Opt for a highlighter shade that matches your undertones—warm tones generally pair well with gold or peachy highlighters, while cool tones can benefit from silvery or champagne shades. Consider your skin type as well—a powder or cream formula may work best for oily skin, while liquid or cream-to-powder formulas are ideal for dry skin.
2. Preparing Your Skin:
Before diving into the strobing technique, it’s important to prep your skin properly. Start by cleansing and moisturizing your face to create a smooth canvas. Follow up with a primer to ensure your makeup stays in place throughout the day. This step helps create a flawless base for the highlighter and enhances its longevity.
3. Identifying Your High Points:
Strobing involves highlighting specific areas of your face that naturally catch the light. These high points include the cheekbones, brow bone, cupid’s bow, bridge of the nose, and the inner corners of the eyes. Take a moment to identify these areas and visualize where you want to create a luminous effect.
4. Applying Highlighter to the Cheekbones:
Begin by applying highlighter to the highest point of your cheekbones. Use a fluffy brush or a fan brush to gently sweep the highlighter along the cheekbones, starting from the outer corner and moving towards the temples. Build up the intensity gradually, focusing on the areas that naturally catch the light.
5. Enhancing the Brow Bone and Cupid’s Bow:
Next, highlight your brow bone by applying a small amount of highlighter directly under your eyebrow arch. This technique creates the illusion of lifted brows and adds a subtle glow. Additionally, apply a touch of highlighter to your cupid’s bow—the curved area above your upper lip— to make your lips appear fuller and more defined.
6. Illuminating the Bridge of the Nose:
To create a more balanced and sculpted look, apply a thin strip of highlighter down the bridge of your nose. Start from the top and blend it out towards the tip of your nose. Be mindful of your skin type—if you have oily skin, focus the highlighter on the upper bridge rather than the entire length of the nose.
7. Brightening the Inner Corners of the Eyes:
For a fresh and wide-awake look, apply a small amount of highlighter to the inner corners of your eyes. This technique instantly brightens the eyes, making them appear larger and more awake. Use a small eyeshadow brush or your fingertip to precisely apply the highlighter to this area.
8. Blending and Softening:
To ensure a seamless and natural-looking glow, blend and soften the highlighter with a clean brush or your fingertips. This step helps to eliminate any harsh lines and ensures a smooth transition between the highlighted areas and the rest of your makeup.
9. Finishing Touches:
To complete your strobing look, apply a light dusting of translucent powder to set your makeup. This step helps to prevent any unwanted shine and keeps your strobing effect in place throughout the day. Optionally, you can also apply a setting spray for added longevity.
Conclusion:
Strobing is a versatile and flattering makeup technique that enhances your features and adds a beautiful luminosity to your complexion. By strategically placing the product on your high points, you can create a radiant and glowing look that catches the light in all the right places. So, embrace the magic of strobing, experiment with different highlighter shades, and let your natural beauty, glow, shine through with this illuminating technique.