Secrets to Applying Liquid Highlighter: Expert Tips and Must-Know Techniques
Are you a makeup lover looking to add a healthy glow to your skin? Look no further than a liquid highlighter. Liquid highlighter gives skin an ethereal radiance that mimics an all-natural light source, perfect for enhancing a wide range of skin tones. In this guide, we’ll walk you through expert tips and must-know techniques, including preparation, tools needed, and choosing the right shade.
Preparation
- Cleanse and moisturize your skin before applying liquid highlighter. This will ensure that your skin is smooth, hydrated and ready to receive the product.
- Consider using a primer, particularly if you have oily skin or if you will be wearing the highlighter for an extended period of time. Primer helps to control oil production and creates a barrier between your skin and the highlighter, preventing it from slipping or fading throughout the day.
- If you have dry skin, you may want to apply a light layer of facial oil prior to applying the highlighter. This will help to create a dewy, healthy-looking finish, and the highlighter will be more easily absorbed into your skin.
- Shake the liquid highlighter well prior to use to ensure an even application.
Tools Needed
- A beauty sponge or foundation brush: Both tools offer precision application, allowing you to apply the highlighter exactly where you want it. Sponges are ideal for a more natural, blended finish, while brushes offer a more concentrated application.
- Your fingers: If you’re in a rush or don’t have any tools on hand, your fingers will work just fine. Just make sure to wash your hands beforehand to ensure that you’re not transferring any bacteria onto your skin.
- A small stippling brush: This type of brush is perfect for creating a subtle, glowing effect. Use the brush to softly stipple the highlighter onto your cheekbones, brow bone, and cupid’s bow.
- A fan brush: A fan brush is perfect for creating a more dramatic, yet still natural look. Use the brush to dust a light layer of highlighter over your cheekbones, down the bridge of your nose, and on your brow bone.
Choosing the Right Shade
- Consider your skin tone: If you are fair-skinned, opt for a champagne or pearl-toned highlighter. For medium skin tones, choose a gold or rose gold-toned highlighter. For darker skin tones, choose a bronze or copper-toned highlighter.
- Consider your undertones: If you have cool undertones, opt for a highlighter with a silvery or icy finish. If you have warm undertones, choose a highlighter with a golden, peachy or pink tint.
- Consider the occasion: For a daytime look, choose a highlighter with a more natural finish. For a night out or a special event, opt for a highlighter with a more intense, shimmery finish.
- Consider your personal preference: At the end of the day, makeup is all about having fun and expressing yourself. If you love a certain shade or finish, go for it! Experiment and have fun to find the perfect highlighter for you.
Application Techniques
Liquid highlighter is a great way to add some shimmer and glow to your makeup look. However, figuring out how to apply it can be daunting, especially if you're a beginner. Here are some application techniques to follow:
- Use a foundation brush or makeup sponge to apply a small amount of highlighter onto the high points of your face, such as your cheekbones, bridge of your nose, cupid's bow, and forehead.
- Blend the highlighter into your skin using a tapping motion, and don't drag it across your face. This will ensure that the highlighter sits seamlessly on your skin.
- If you're using a liquid highlighter that's too pigmented, mix it with your foundation or moisturizer to create a more subtle effect.
- Don't overdo it with highlighter. If you find that you've applied too much, simply use a clean makeup sponge to blend it out or use a bit of powder to tone it down.
Remember, a little goes a long way with liquid highlighter. Start with a small amount and build up gradually until you achieve your desired look.
Targeted Highlighting
While applying highlighter to the high points of your face is a great way to add some radiance to your look, targeted highlighting can take your makeup game to the next level. Here are some tips:
- Apply highlighter to the inner corners of your eyes to make them look brighter and more awake.
- Add a touch of highlighter to the center of your eyelids for a subtle pop of shimmer.
- Highlight your brow bone to give the illusion of lifted brows.
- Apply highlighter to your collarbones and shoulders for a glowing, dewy look.
Don't be afraid to get creative with your targeted highlighting! However, make sure to blend the highlighter seamlessly into your skin to avoid any harsh lines.
Blending Techniques
Blending is key when it comes to liquid highlighter. You want to make sure that the product sits seamlessly on your skin without looking patchy or streaky. Here are some blending techniques to try:
- Use a damp makeup sponge to blend out the highlighter on your face. This will help the product melt into your skin for a more natural-looking finish.
- If you're using a brush, use circular motions to blend out the highlighter. This will help prevent any harsh lines.
- Make sure to blend the highlighter under your eyes if you've applied it there. This will prevent the product from settling into fine lines.
- If you've applied too much highlighter, use a clean makeup sponge to blend it out or use a bit of powder to tone it down.
Blending can take some practice, but with time, you'll get the hang of it!
Setting the Highlighter
Setting your highlighter will help it stay in place all day and prevent it from smudging or fading. Here's how to do it:
- After applying your highlighter, use a clean makeup sponge to blot over the areas where you've applied it. This will help remove any excess product and prevent it from looking too shiny or greasy.
- Use a translucent powder to set the highlighter in place. Simply dip a fluffy brush into the powder and dust it over the areas where you've applied the highlighter.
- If you want a more intense highlight, you can spray some setting spray onto your brush before picking up the powder.
- Make sure to blend out any harsh lines after setting your highlighter.
Setting your highlighter may seem like an unnecessary step, but it can make a big difference in the longevity of your glow.
