The goal: an effortless, lit-from-within glow. The road to getting there? Highlighter. This subtle-yet-powerful product is a makeup must-have for bringing light to the high points of your face and giving your complexion that fresh, radiant finish. Whether you’re going for a natural dewy look or full-on glam, highlighter makeup instantly elevates your makeup—that is, if you know how to use it. Best part? You don’t have to stick to your cheeks when it comes to highlighting. We’ve spent some serious quality time with our (extensive) highlighter stash and have discovered a few unsuspecting places to pop on extra shimmer. Plus, we’ve tapped makeup artist Shreni Patel to share her pro tips for highlighter application to maximize the shimmer and shine. Below, we’re breaking down exactly where to apply highlighter on the face, how to get that perfect glow, and how to pick the best formula for your skin type and makeup style. What Does Highlighter Do? If you’re more of a matte makeup devotee, you may be new to the concept of highlighter. According to Patel, highlighter is a makeup product with a sheen or glow that is applied to the "skin and high points of the face to reflect light and create a luminous glow." More specifically, highlighter helps to enhance your bone structure by catching the light on the high points of your face—think cheekbones, brow bones, and the bridge of your nose—creating a lifted, sculpted effect without the need for contouring. It also adds instant dimension and radiance to dull or flat-looking makeup, bringing your overall look to life. Highlighters come in several forms, including cream, powder, liquid, gel, and stick, so you can play around and see what type of highlighter best suits your makeup preferences. Highlighter vs. contour While you can highlight without contouring (and vice versa), the two makeup techniques typically go hand in hand because they're in direct contrast with each other. Highlighters are available in pearl, icy pink, rose gold, peach, bronze, copper, and champagne shades that work to accentuate areas like the high points of your cheeks, brow bone, and cupid’s bow. Contour, on the other hand, should be a few shades darker than your natural skin tone to help create more depth and give the illusion of more defined features, like a slimmer nose or sharper jawline. Together, highlighter and contour help shape, define, and balance your face for a more dimensional look. Where To Apply Highlighter On The Face Applying highlighter in the right places can completely transform your look. Here’s a simple guide to where to put highlighter for a naturally glowing finish. 1. Cheekbones Your cheekbones are the classic spot to apply highlighter, creating a reflective, light-catching effect when you turn your head. “If applied to your cheekbones, highlighter makes them look more prominent and lifted,” says Patel. Apply your highlighter of choice above the blush area, sweeping toward the temples. 2. Brow bone You may not be able to clock eight hours of beauty sleep every night, but popping some highlighter below your brow bone and above your eyebrow arch will make you look wide-eyed and well-rested. Highlighter can be used to “create bigger and brighter eyes if applied to the brow bone and inner corner of the eyes,” says Patel. Focusing a highlighter around your eyebrow can give the appearance of a mini eye lift. We love the NYX Professional Makeup Wonder Stick Contour and Highlighter Stick. It’s an easy-to-use dual-ended stick with a creamy consistency that delivers major glow. 3. Inner corners of the eyes While you’re highlighting your brow bone to look more awake, “don’t forget to hit the inner corner of the eye with some glow,” says Patel. “It can really make the eyes look more open and bright!” 4. Bridge and tip of the nose A touch of highlighter down the bridge and on the tip of your nose can create a subtle sculpted effect and add dimension to your face. For a lengthening, slimming effect, draw your highlighter down the bridge of your nose in a long, thin line and blend, advises Patel. Pro tip: If you have oily skin or enlarged pores in this area, go easy on the shimmer—too much can emphasize texture rather than enhance your glow. Instead, go for a soft satin or finely-milled formula. 5. Cupid’s bow Dab a small amount of highlighter onto the center of the upper part of your lip—aka your cupid’s bow. To accentuate your lips and create the appearance of fullness, softly apply it with your finger or a brush. When the light catches, your lips will look especially plumped. Apply a tiny amount of highlighter just on the curve of the cupid’s bow to catch the light beautifully, and pair perfectly with lip gloss or a bold lip color. 6. Chin and center of forehead (optional) Highlighting the center of your forehead can keep your makeup from looking flat (a common beauty blunder associated with too much bronzer) because it adds balance to the glow across the face. Plus, it can do wonders in brightening up your entire complexion. Application here should be very sheer and natural-looking rather than powdery, as too much can make you look overly shiny. One of our favorite techniques to achieve a subtle glow is to mix in some liquid highlighter with foundation and tap it on with a makeup sponge. How To Apply Highlighter Like a Pro Choose the right formula Powder: Powder highlighters are best for oily or combination skin, as they can help control shine without feeling heavy. They're also great for bolder looks since they typically have a more intense pigmentation and buildable shimmer that can be layered for maximum impact. The NYX Professional Makeup Buttermelt Powder Highlighter comes in eight stunning shades that melt into the skin beautifully without looking cakey. Cream or Liquid: Cream and liquid highlighters are Ideal for dry or mature skin types since they won't accentuate texture or fine lines as much. They also provide a more natural finish, making them perfect for no-makeup makeup days. We love the Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Acqua Highlighter for its weightless, buildable formula and pearly glow it leaves behind. Stick: Go for a stick highlighter if you're looking to achieve an on-the-go glow or if you're seeking more targeted application (such as on the cupid's bow or brow bone). The L'Oreal Paris Lumi Le Glass Glow Highlighter Stick is a must for glassy skin lovers who love an easy-to-use formula that offers a multi-dimensional finish in just one swipe. Use the right tools Brush: A fan or tapered brush is best for powder highlighters. These brushes pick up just the right amount of product and allow for precise, controlled application on your cheekbones and other high points of the face. Fingers: Tap a cream or liquid highlighter into the skin with your fingertips. The warmth of your fingers helps blend the product seamlessly for a natural, skin-like glow. Sponge: For a subtle, dewy finish, use a damp beauty blender to gently press cream or liquid highlighter onto your skin. This technique softens edges and melts the product into your base makeup beautifully. Blend well Make sure your highlighter looks natural by pressing or buffing it into the skin. This helps the product melt seamlessly into your makeup, avoiding any harsh lines or patches. Ultimately, the way you apply and blend it depends on what product you are using. “If using a cream or creamstick, I really like to use my fingers and tap the products on lightly, creating a buildable glow as I find that it blends so much easier,” says Patel. For an all-over glowy look, Patel recommends using a damp beauty sponge and a liquid highlighter. “You can [...] bounce it wherever you want for a really flawless and glowy finish.” With powder highlighters, Patel recommends using a slightly damp brush to get the shiniest, most reflective finish. “I like to use a tapered style blending brush that is on the smaller size as it can apply product in a very specific manner, get in the small spaces, and get saturated color payoff.” When highlighting the nose or cupid’s bow, Patel reaches for a small, flat lip brush for a super precise application. Build gradually The key to making sure your skin doesn't end up looking overly-shimmery is to build your highlighter makeup gradually. Start light by applying a soft layer of highlighter first, then add more only if you want extra glow. This approach is especially helpful for daytime or natural makeup looks where subtlety is key. Tips For Different Skin Tones Fair skin “Pink, champagne, and silver icy tones can really complement cooler skin that has any pink or red in it," says Patel. These shades brighten without looking too stark or frosty, blending seamlessly with lighter complexions for a fresh, luminous finish. Try the Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Wear Vitamin-Infused Highlighter in the shade Halo Glow, an icy champagne that features micro light-catching pearls for a perfectly luminous finish. Medium skin If you have a medium to deep skin tone and warmer undertones, “gold, bronze, and peach tones work so beautifully,” notes Patel. These colors complement your natural undertones and create a sun-kissed radiance that looks effortlessly glowing and vibrant. The Urban Decay Face Bond Luminizer Waterproof Glow Drops in PCH is a peach rose that brightens the skin for an all-day glow (plus, it can be used on the face and body). Deep skin For deeper skin tones, rich golds, coppers, and deeper bronzes provide a stunning, natural-looking radiance. These warm, vibrant shades enhance your complexion with a luminous glow that pops beautifully without looking ashy or dull. We're big fans of the L'Oreal Paris Lumi Le Glass Glow Highlighter Stick in Glassy Sunset Amour— a translucent deep terracotta—for giving glass-like skin in an instant. Next Up: 4 Highlighter Hacks for the Glowiest Skin
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