It peaked in 2016 when the Kardashians revealed their favourite hack to looking ‘snatched’, and our Instagram feeds were plastered with influencers, models, celebritiess and our girlfriends alike — all sporting a blindingly bright beam of highlighter across their cheekbones. It was clear the highlighter had arrived, and it was here to stay.
Today, the highlighter has evolved from being confined to just our cheekbones— we’ve slathered it across our faces, run it down our nose bridges and right into our décolletage. It has been reintroduced in many formats – from glow serums (multitasking heroes that nourish your skin while adding an instant glow) to shimmer oils, illuminating primers and more. While the golds and rose-golds remain eternal classics, highlighters in pearlescent whites, subtle baby pinks and even magenta and lilac have made their way to the beauty hall of fame.
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Regarding new-age beauty influencers, it’s no secret that highlighter is the product du jour. Think glazed, glossy skin, or iridescent, multi-chrome finishes on the lids and face and maybe on the lips too, for good measure. Navigating through the plethora of highlighters in the market today and picking the right ones for yourself can seem daunting. These highlighter hacks will help you achieve the glow of your choice:
For a subtle, dewy glow
Want that minimal, barely-there luminosity that makes your skin look healthy and naturally radiant? When all other beauty tips for glowing skin fail, trust this simple method to deliver results. Ditch powder highlighters and opt for glow-giving primers and illuminators instead. These hydrating creams deliver instant plumping and smoothening action to your skin and blend with micro shimmer particles that go under your base to make it look truly lit from within. Perfect for daily wear, throw a strobe cream in your handbag to get glowing skin in minutes, whenever you need.
For a sun-kissed glow
Every season can be hot girl summer when you’ve got the right beauty tricks up your sleeve (and in your makeup kit). To channel your inner beach babe, make sure you’re stocking up on these makeup products: bronzers, shimmery body oils, and loads of highlighters in warm hues of gold, brown and even tangerine if you have dusky skin. Dust off bronzing powder below your cheekbones and on the sides of your nose, jawline, neck and décolletage. Then slather some shimmer oil across your limbs and finish off with highlighter over your cheekbones, nose bridge and forehead.
For a super-snatched glow
If Instagram beauty gurus have taught us anything, it’s that highlighter can be strategically used to add dimension to your face, accentuate your features and giving an illusion of a more lifted, slimmer structure. To nail this look, start with a relatively matte base. Skip the glow-boosting primer here and go for a matte foundation. Next, add bronzer or contouring powder below your cheekbones, under your jaw, and on the sides of your nose to create subtle ‘shadows’. Follow up with a powder highlighter on the high points of your face such as your cheekbones and the tip of your nose. Sweeping outwards from the centre of your cheekbones in slanted, upward motions will give you a lifted look. Oh, and a tip to instantly brighten up your face? Brush some highlighter across your brow bones too.
For an all-over glazed glow
The glazed skin trend has dominated TikTok for the past few months, but what exactly is it? Nothing but super glossy, ultra-hydrated skin, the glazed effect can be achieved with a strategic mix of moisture-rich skincare and light-reflecting makeup. To create this effect, start with hydrating and moisturising your skin. Hyaluronic serums, rich creams, and even lightweight oils are your allies. Once your canvas is set, follow up with an illuminating primer, a sheer foundation or a skin tint to even out the complexion. When it comes to blushes and highlighters, cream and liquid formulations are your best bet for this look. Go all out with strobe creams and liquid highlighters with finely-milled sparkles for the best results.
Cover Image : Instagram/@makeupbyriddhima
