Highlighter: why it is used and how to choose the right one

• What is this
• Kinds
• How to use
• How to choose

The material was commented on:

Anna Kartashova, creator and creative director of Annbeauty;

Elena Mytskikh, art director of the White Fox chain of beauty salons.

Modern beauty standards favor high, sharp cheekbones and glowing, healthy skin. Highlighter will help with this. It is important to know how to choose and how to use this product correctly. Beauty industry experts shared their life hacks.

What is highlighter

Highlighter is useful for adding volume to lips and highlighting key points when contouring.

Highlighter is a cosmetic product that is used to give the skin a radiant effect and create an optical effect of enlarging certain facial features or areas of the body. Typically, highlighter has a soft cream or powder texture that contains small pearlescent particles or glitter.

It is applied to the prominent areas of the face and body such as cheekbones, upper cheeks, forehead, nose, collarbones, shoulders to give the skin a healthy and fresh look. Highlighter can also be used to create certain makeup effects: adding volume to the lips or highlighting key points when contouring.

What is a highlighter for?

The highlighter reflects the light. It is applied to those areas that you want to visually enlarge or “bring into the light,” in contrast to the sculptor, who is used in those areas that you want to visually hide and “bring into the shadows.”

In this way, you can achieve the effect of visual correction of the face and add more volume:

1. lips, and make their contour clearer,
2. eyes, and make them more expressive, visually increasing the distance between them,
3. cheekbones,
4. collarbones.

You can also “highlight” the back of the nose, making it more elegant.

Thus, a highlighter is a multifunctional product that helps you create the perfect shimmering makeup.

How is highlighter different from concealer?

Highlighter and concealer are two different products that each serve different purposes in makeup. If a highlighter gives radiance to the skin due to the shimmering particles it contains, then a concealer most often has a creamy, dense texture and hides skin imperfections.

In some cases xhighlighter and concealer can perform a similar function. A concealer that is lighter than your base skin tone, when used correctly, can highlight certain areas, bringing them out of the shadows. For example, the area under the eyes, where many people may have dark circles from lack of sleep or facial structure, can be refreshed by highlighting with concealer and visually brought to the fore a little, thus achieving the effect of narrowing the face.

Types of highlighters

Solid highlighter should be used with caution by those with dry and dehydrated skin

The product is available in different textures, so it can give different effects and suit different skin types.

• Powdery. Usually it is a compactly compressed powder or loose powder. It applies easily with a brush or sponge and provides intense shine.
• Liquid. It has a runny texture and usually comes in tubes with an applicator or bottles with a pump. The liquid highlighter easily mixes with foundation or cream to create a more intense or natural glow effect, depending on your preference.
• Cream. Usually presented in the form of a stick, cream in a jar or compact pad. A cream highlighter can give a glass skin effect.
• Highlighter pencil. ABOUTTypically comes in stick form with cream or liquid contents. It is ideal for precise application to specific areas of the face, such as the corners of the eyes or the arch of the brows, to create dramatic accents.

How to use highlighter

Apply powder highlighter with a special brush or sponge.

The method of use depends largely on the type of highlighter chosen. If you choose cream or liquid textures, try to apply the product before powder products.

Cream highlighter

Depending on the intensity of the shade, it can be applied before or after foundation.

1. Do not combine cream highlighters with self-setting foundations with a powdery finish.

2. Apply highlighter:

3. directly,

4. using a brush, picking up the product from the stick,

5. warming up the product first on your hand, and from there applying it to your brush,

6. fingers.

3. After application, set with either powder or powder highlighter – this will enhance the shine\ and it will last longer.

Liquid highlighter

1. Add a few drops to your foundation to make it more radiant.
2. Using your fingers or a brush, apply highlighter to the high points of your face.

Powder highlighter

1. Apply with a special brush (small domed or fan-shaped) or sponge. A damp sponge provides the most intense shine.
2. Typically, powder highlighter is applied after all other powder products at the final stage.
3. Try to actively blend the product so that there are no streaks left on your face.

How to choose a highlighter

For dry skin, it is better to choose liquid and cream textures – they will apply easily and will not emphasize dryness

Makeup artists recommend paying attention to the following points:

• Skin tone. For a warm tone, highlighters in golden or peach shades are suitable. For pink, it is better to choose highlighters with cool shades – silver or pink.
• Skin condition and type. For dry skin, you should choose liquid and cream textures. Powder highlighters are better for oily skin – they will help absorb excess oil and prevent shine.
• Consider the purpose of use. If you are looking for a highlighter for everyday makeup, it is better to choose a product with a soft and natural glow. For special occasions or evening makeup, a more intense and shiny highlighter is suitable.
• Test on skin. The purpose of highlighter is to add shine, not color. To test, apply the product to your cheek or the inside of your wrist.