Highlighting Breakdown: Exactly What to Apply Where
So you can finally see the light.
![Zendaya](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/aJnhsMdUP5QkRtxaMpDDTB-415-80.jpg)
If you're mystified by highlighting, fear not—we're right there with you, which is why we're decoding the contouring technique, once and for all.
Here, celebrity makeup artist Kira Nasrat helps us map out exactly where on the face you should be strobing for a sculpted, lit-from-within glow this summer.
1. Keep your skin fresh and hydrated. "Highlight looks best when your skin looks fresh and hydrated," she explains. "The last thing you want to do is highlight dry, flaky dull skin." To prep the skin, exfoliate then hydrate your skin with a moisturizer. Once it's moisturized, you can even out your skin tone with a lightweight foundation or concealer if needed.
2. Choose the right formula. Powder is best for oily skin while cream-based formulas are best for dry skin, she says."Try to stay away from products that look glittery," advises Nasrat. "It's supposed to look like a pretty sheen, not a disco ball on the cheekbones!"
1. Tom Ford Shade & Illuminate Highlighter & Shader Duet, $80; shop.nordstrom.com.
2. Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow Face Sculpt & Highlight, $68; shop.nordstrom.com.
3. Don't overdo it. "Highlighting should be subtle and should give the effect that your skin is glowing and dewy," says Nasrat. The trick is start with a small amount and remember you can alway layer more if need be.
Stay In The Know
Marie Claire email subscribers get intel on fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more. Sign up here.
4. Apply the highlighter with your ring finger or a flat synthetic concealer brush. "I apply highlighters by first warming the cream between my fingers then pressing onto the skin," she says. "This helps the product melt right in to the skin."
Follow Marie Claire on Instagram for the latest celeb news, pretty pics, funny stuff, and an insider POV.
Lauren Valenti is Vogue’s former senior beauty editor. Her work has also appeared on ELLE.com, MarieClaire.com, and in In Style. She graduated with a liberal arts degree from Eugene Lang College, The New School for Liberal Arts, with a concentration on Culture and Media Studies and a minor in Journalism.
-
Taylor Swift Trolls "Godkids' Sperm Donor" Ryan Reynolds Amid 'Deadpool' Release
Proof that they're besties.
By Iris Goldsztajn Published
-
Zendaya Delivers a Podium-Worthy Pre-Olympics Gown
She's shining brighter than the City of Lights.
By Halie LeSavage Published
-
'Love Island USA' Star Kenny Rodriguez Is Not "Playing Around" with His and JaNa Craig's Romance Outside of the Villa
The prince and princess of season 6 have remained the cutest couple since filming wrapped.
By Quinci LeGardye Published
-
This Valentino Perfume Is the Best Fragrance of 2024, According to Beauty Experts
It's a layerable, floral fragrance.
By Samantha Holender Published
-
Is Colostrum the New Collagen?
Doctors and wellness professionals have a lot to say about TikTok's supplement of the moment.
By Gabrielle Ulubay Published
-
TikTok Is Making "Unsexy" Beauty Products Seem Very Appealing
There's more to worthwhile products than pretty packaging.
By Halie LeSavage Published
-
Fendi's First Fragrances Are Designed for Fashion Obsessives
It's finally available to shop.
By Halie LeSavage Last updated
-
Why Beauty Experts Are Calling Out Youthforia's New Foundation
This isn't the way to do inclusive shades.
By Halie LeSavage Published
-
The 32 Best Hair Growth Shampoos of 2024, According to Experts
Rapunzel hair, coming right up.
By Gabrielle Ulubay Published
-
The 20 Best Hair Masks for Damaged Hair, According to Experts and Editors
Healthy strands, here we come!
By Gabrielle Ulubay Last updated
-
How Often You Should Wash Your Hair, According To Experts
Keep it fresh, my friends.
By Gabrielle Ulubay Published