What Is Highlighter and Why Use It?
Ouqian
Jul 03,2025
Highlighter is a makeup product designed to reflect light and enhance the high points of your face. Whether it's in powder, cream, stick, or liquid form, highlighter adds dimension, radiance, and a youthful glow. It's not about sparkle—it's about mimicking the way light naturally hits your skin to give it a luminous finish. When applied correctly, it can lift your features, accentuate your bone structure, and bring your complexion to life.
Types of Highlighters and How to Choose
There are several types of highlighters on the market, and each offers a different effect and texture. Choosing the right formula depends on your skin type, the makeup look you’re going for, and the level of glow you want.
Liquid highlighter: Offers a radiant, dewy or matte finish. Great for dry skin or for mixing with foundation. Liquid highlighters give a “lit from within” glow and blend easily into the skin.
Powder highlighter: Best for oily or combination skin, or for those who want a soft-focus or buildable glow. It’s easy to layer and blend, and usually applied after foundation and setting powder.
Cream or stick highlighter: Ideal for normal to dry skin. These are easy to apply directly to the face and blend with fingers or a brush. They offer a slightly more natural, skin-like finish and are convenient for touch-ups.
Where to Apply Highlighter on the Face
Highlighter works best when applied to the high points of the face—the areas where light naturally hits. Here’s a breakdown of each target area and what it does for your features:
Top of the cheekbones: The classic placement. It lifts the cheeks and adds structure. Sweep the highlighter in a “C” shape from the outer corner of your eye to your temple for a seamless glow.
Brow bone: Applying a small amount just under the eyebrow arch opens up the eye area and gives your brows a lifted appearance.
Inner corners of the eyes: A dab of highlighter here brightens your gaze and makes your eyes appear more awake and refreshed.
Bridge of the nose: Lightly apply down the center to create the illusion of a straighter, more sculpted nose. Avoid the tip if you don’t want to draw too much attention.
Cupid’s bow: Highlighting the dip above your upper lip adds definition to your lips and makes them look fuller and more pronounced.
Chin center: A light touch here helps balance the glow across your face—especially if you've already highlighted your forehead or nose.
Forehead (center or above the brows): This can make the face appear more open and dimensional, but use sparingly if you have oily skin.
Collarbone and shoulders (optional): For events or off-the-shoulder outfits, a sweep of highlighter on your collarbones and shoulders can enhance your body contours and photograph beautifully.
How to Apply Highlighter the Right Way
Proper technique makes all the difference. The steps may vary slightly depending on whether you're using cream, powder, or liquid highlighter, but the basics are the same.
Start with a prepped face: After skincare and foundation, apply concealer, blush, and contour (if using). Highlighter usually goes near the end of your routine.
Choose the right tool:
Use a fan brush or tapered brush for powder
Use fingers, a makeup sponge, or a duo-fiber brush for cream or liquid formulas
Tap or sweep lightly: Use light motions—press into the skin rather than dragging to maintain the glow and avoid lifting your foundation underneath.
Blend into skin: Whether it’s cream or powder, the key to natural-looking highlight is blending. No harsh lines should be visible.
Set for longevity: A light mist of setting spray locks in your highlighter and makes it melt into the skin for a seamless, radiant finish.
How to Choose Highlighter Shades Based on Skin Tone
Your skin tone also determines which highlighter shades look the most natural and flattering.
Fair skin: Go for pearly white, light pink, icy champagne, or soft peach tones.
Medium skin: Opt for rose gold, soft gold, champagne, or peachy-pink shades.
Olive skin: Warm gold, copper, and bronze tones complement green undertones.
Deep skin: Rich gold, bronze, copper, and deeper peach or terracotta hues create the most radiant finish.
Frequently Asked Questions About Highlighter
Should You Apply Highlighter Before or After Blush?
There’s no strict rule about whether highlighter or blush should come first, but a few smart techniques can give you a more polished look. If you're using products with the same texture—like powder highlighter with powder blush, or liquid with liquid—try applying highlighter first. This trick helps your blush blend gently over the highlighter, giving your cheeks a natural, glowing transition.
On the other hand, if you're using a mix of formulas, the general rule is to apply liquid or cream products first, then layer powder over them. This keeps the powder from clumping or looking uneven on top of a wet base.
Should Highlighter Be Applied Before or After Foundation?
The ideal timing for highlighter depends on the type you're using and the effect you want. In most cases, especially when using cream or powder highlighter, it’s best to apply it after your foundation. This lets the highlighter sit on top and reflect light exactly where you want it.
However, liquid highlighter gives you more options:
Apply it before foundation for a subtle, lit-from-within glow.
Apply it after foundation to highlight specific areas like cheekbones or brow bones.
Or, mix a few drops into your foundation for a soft, all-over radiant finish.
Where Should You Avoid Putting Highlighter?
Makeup is all about creativity and what makes you feel confident—but for a natural-looking glow, placement matters. Avoid applying highlighter on areas where you don’t want to draw attention, like areas with texture, fine lines, or active breakouts. Instead, stick to the high points of your face—cheekbones, brow bones, nose bridge, and cupid’s bow—for the most flattering, light-catching results.
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