Highlighter. What is it, how to use and apply on the face

Examining photos of models in magazines, we have long ceased to be amazed at their fabulous beauty - in Photoshop’s it’s still not possible to draw. But what is the secret of incredible beauties from the videos? Their faces are fresh, young and seem to glow from the inside! In fact, everything is simple, but you can achieve this effect yourself if you have a highlighter on hand. What is a highlighter, how to use it, which brand to give preference to - you will find answers to these questions in this article.

What is a highlighter and what is it for?

In the buzzwords that make-up artists skillfully juggle, it's no wonder getting lost. Just remember one thing, as something else has already appeared. Highlighter is another novelty of the beauty industry, which is designed to make women's faces even more beautiful. Highlighter literally translates from English as a “marker,” that is, an object that highlights an important color. Such is his principle of action in makeup.

With the help of a highlighter, having some experience and dexterity, it is easy to arrange color accents where necessary, distracting attention from problem areas.

When foundation and powder are used in daily makeup, they visually smooth the face and it looks like a lifeless mask. Natural curves are hidden, as a result of which the face loses its expressiveness. Highlighter is able to solve this problem.He makes his eyes more open, delineates his cheekbones, like that of Angelina Jolie, gives the lips some swelling, and the eyebrows - an additional bend.

1. It is indispensable in cases where an important event is planned for the evening, and traces of fatigue after a long day are already visible on the face.
2. It looks great in photographs, and therefore will come in handy in preparation for the photo shoot.
3. Highlighter can be used in daily makeup, but in moderation so as not to give the impression that you are awaiting the president's arrival any minute.

A fashionable novelty can work wonders. But only if it is used correctly. Otherwise, it can easily and easily spoil the face proportions, highlight problem areas or give the skin an unhealthy appearance. Of course, you need to use it carefully, after having familiarized yourself with the intricacies of the work and the rules of application.

How to use a highlighter for the face?

Highlighter is a make-up finish that sets its latest accents. If the skin is not perfect, then before using it, it is advisable to apply a tonal base as a base. This is a mandatory step for girls with oily skin. They are better off using a foundation with a matting effect, otherwise shining areas run the risk of turning into greasy spots. It is not necessary for young girls with even healthy skin to apply a tone. It is enough to cleanse the skin and use a moisturizer. On top of the highlighter, they usually no longer apply either powder or tonal base.

The highlighter itself is traditionally applied to the protruding parts, creating a glow effect. To get this result, it is important to know how to apply the highlighter on the face. Imagine that the sun is shining on you, what parts of the face will it touch in the first place?

• the back of the nose;
• the upper part of the cheekbones;
• convex portion of the eyebrows;
• middle of the forehead;
• hollows above the upper lip.

It is precisely on these areas that they impose a highlighter. It is also used on the inside of the eyelid to change the shape of the eyes and give the look freshness and mischief.

How to apply highlighter on the face?

There are different types of highlighters and a practicing make-up artist usually has several, because some are more convenient to apply with thin lines, others with wide sweeping movements. Naturally, in an ordinary cosmetic bag there is traditionally one, maximum for a highlighter. But regardless of the type, they are applied gently, and then they are shaded, giving the skin a natural shine.

So, we already understood where to apply the highlighter. It remains to figure out what effect will be achieved in each case. Regarding this new product, the main thing is not to overdo it. There is no point in daily makeup to lighten all areas, just one or two is enough and your face will immediately become fresh and younger.

Eyes

Deep-set or small and narrow eyes will seem to be larger if you apply a white sparkling strip to the middle of the moving eyelid. When you want to visually distance too closely set eyes from each other, put light accents in their outer corners.

Eyebrows

To visually raise your eyebrows and make your look a little more open, you can apply a highlighter under the eyebrow growth line. Be guided by their shape and use the tool only on the area that you would like to make more expressive (for example, at too low corners).

You should not resort to such a cosmetic trick if your eyelids hang slightly above your eyes. So you only draw attention to this feature.

Nose

Apply the product on the back of the nose only if it is perfectly even. Any distortion will only become more noticeable after clarification. But with the help of a highlighter you can make a wide nose visually narrower. But it’s easy for a snub nose to add a couple of millimeters, putting a remedy on his wings.

Cheekbones

This is the most successful and popular place for applying highlighter.If you are not particularly versed in the intricacies of makeup, then this can be done. Just put emphasis on the highest points of the cheekbones and your face will already become more expressive.

Lips

The amazing secret is Cupid's arc. This is a dimple over the upper lip, which, when clarified, miraculously makes the lips full and juicy. No man likes lipstick on female lips. Want to seduce a loved one? This trick will surely draw attention to your lips, while preserving their naturalness.

Types of Highlighters

Like tonal foundations, shadows and lipsticks, highlighters come in several forms. Different texture and method of application make this or that look most convenient for use on different parts of the face and for achieving different goals.

Highlighter Pen

A very convenient option for lightening small areas - the corners of the eyes, the area above and below the eyebrow. A thin brush through which the product is squeezed out gently and evenly distributes the highlighter over the skin. By consistency, it looks like a foundation with shining splashes. This form is convenient for continuous wearing in a cosmetic bag - a tight-fitting lid will prevent the product from leaking under any circumstances.

Liquid Highlighter

Most often, in this form, the product is found in small glass bottles, like nail polish. Sometimes you can find it in tubes and bottles with a dispenser. With this highlighter it is easiest to create the effect of wet skin. It is very malleable distributed and covers the face like a light veil. For application, you can use a brush applicator, sponge or just a fingertip.

Compact palette

It looks like a tool like regular shadows. In a palette there can be only a couple of flowers or a whole dozen. Such a highlighter is applied with a wide brush to large areas and a small one - to the area near the eyes.

Flickering balls

Amazing remedy! In the box, the balls with the shimmer look like small, sparkling grains of pollen from the magic elves, with which they crush their wings. Usually in the package there are balls of several colors, but when applied with a wide brush, they give an even beautiful shade. It is convenient to use such a tool on the cheekbones, chin and forehead. For application on small areas it is better to choose something else.

Shimmering powder

Loose in a box with a powder puff or in a denser form, such a powder is applied with a brush of convenient width to a particular area. This tool is convenient to use at home, but not too much to take with you.

Loose powder brush

The “trick” of such a tool is that the flickering powder is in the cavity of the handle of the brush. Otherwise, such a highlighter is no different from traditional powder.

Cream Highlighter

The tool can be found in the form of sticks ("fondant" packaging). This product creates a very delicate coating and is suitable for accurately delineating individual areas.

Highlighter Brands

Every self-respecting cosmetic brand produces at least one highlighter, or even several of its types. Confused in the choice is easy. Which brand should I prefer?

L’oreal

This French company produces a liquid highlighter in a tube with a narrow nose with a volume of 30 ml. The color scheme of the product is presented in three shades: radiant pearl, radiant gold and natural pink. It contains many flickering particles that give the skin a delightful, truly pearl, radiance. The product practically does not smell, but it has amazing durability. The cost ranges from 600 rubles.

There is also a solid highlighter in the Loreal catalogs, consisting of three colors and an excellent highlighter pen in a shiny golden design.

MAC

At this legendary company, one can meet the discussed product of two types - in the form of compact pressed powder or in the form of a pen. Both products have a long shelf life, and the powder also has an impressive amount - it will last until the end of life.The powder is not friable, but with some creamy effect, lies even with your fingers and does not crumble. You should not expect ultra-shine from the product. But it is ideal for daily make-up. Only the price "bites" - for the beauty you have to pay about 2500 rubles.

Maybelline

The brand pampers its fans and offers them a highlighter in liquid and cream form. Both products create a pleasant unobtrusive radiance and are sold in Russia in two shades - pink and golden. They do not have large radiant particles, so they can be a great solution even for daily use.

Elegant black packaging beckons, and the price order pleases - depending on the place of purchase, the tool will cost from 500 to 650 rubles.

Nyx

The cosmetic brand has seriously hit the production of radiant products. Only cream highlighters in his arsenal of 9 shades (3 for warm, cold and neutral). The volume of 6.8 is excellent! Anyway, a larger number will not be able to be used by any girl alone.

Offers Nyx a whole palette of portholes with seven shades. Blue is also present in it, because now rainbow radiance is fashionable. The quality of the product at the height is a dense highlighter, without a large shimmer, which allows you to create both a light glow and a good “wet” effect.

Another Nyx highlighter option is a stick of deliciously delicate, cool pink. This is the only color option, but it is simply wonderful and versatile. Weight 5 grams, the price is about 700 rubles.

The brand also has a solid highlighter in five shades. Pretty dense, poorly typed with both natural and synthetic brushes, but laying down with an even moist shine.

Lancome

No, it's just something incredible! In the new spring collection, Lancome introduced a highlighter in the form of a rose ... So natural that it simply cannot be distinguished from a living one. To have one on the dressing table is a fabulous pleasure. The product has a powdery consistency, is easily applied with a brush and shines with a delicate pink glow. But the price will break the ladies heart - about $ 60 apiece.

The brand’s arsenal also has old highlighters of various colors in the form of baked powder. But after the release of the star news, they don’t even want to look at them.

Mary lou

The naughty Mary Lou was not a greedy girl at all. She presented only two shades of highlighters in the form of powder - pink and gold. But the volume pleasantly surprises - as much as 8.5 grams, which is a lot for a highlighter. The texture of the product is soft, it just melts under your fingers, which may cause a problem with the distribution over the skin at first. It is important not to capture a lot, otherwise the face will shine with a greasy shine. But having adapted, you can create a very delicate shine.

Dior

Dior - such a Dior! French highlighter released in the form of powder. Packaging, as always, is beyond praise. Previously, the product was available in one color, now there are two of them and both have been added to the main collection - they are already bestsellers! Pretty weighty, monumental box, soft brush. Everything feels style and unique charm. Filling, of course, is also on top. Soft, creamy texture, not chalky. Gives an even pink-beige shade. The first application leaves a slight radiance, but the second and third layer can easily achieve the effect "so that it can be seen from the moon."

Weight 6.5 grams, it is spent economically, which can not please with a price of almost 4,000 rubles.

Catrice

The well-known brand also decided that one highlighter is not enough. Therefore, in his collections you can find a pen, and friable, and compact powder. All three options are very softly shaded, do not crumble and are quite resistant. The last released highlighter in the form of compact powder looks like a mosaic of cold tones. But on the skin gives a pleasant calm radiance.

Essence

You can talk a lot about classic highlighters, which Essence has plenty of (and powder, and stick, and pencil). But why? If the novelty just overshadowed all its predecessors.This compact powder consists of 4 colors - blue, yellow, bronze and red. Wow! On the face shines with a translucent, delicate, even light. Despite the extravagant appearance, the tool can be safely used daily. The price is more than affordable - about 300 rubles.

Mary kay

This company offers fans three types of highlighters in sticks and baked powder. Sticks - gold, bronze and silver - give the skin a calm, not intense glow. And the powder will create a slightly brighter image. For application, you can use a brush for highlighter, and just fingers.

Benefitit

And here he is - a completely liquid highlighter. Benefit launches it in pink, bronze and natural colors. A thin brush is very easy to remove and apply. There are no difficulties with shading. At the same time, this packaging option is not the most ideal. It is possible to dry the product on the neck. It is also inconvenient to extract residues when the brush ceases to cope with it.

Eva

Eva has a classic highlighter in the form of compact powder, but all brands have such means. Therefore, it is better to dwell on another tool from its catalog - a pencil. It is very convenient to apply, optimal for continuous wearing in a cosmetic bag and will tweak your makeup in just a couple of seconds.

Highlighter and concealer what is the difference?

It’s almost impossible to keep up with the fashion industry. But we will try. Turning to the free translation, we can find out that the word "highlighter", as we have already figured out, means "highlight with color." "Concealer" has the exact opposite meaning - to "hide." So the tasks that are solved in makeup with their help are fundamentally different.

1. Highlighters are designed to highlight winning areas, and concealers - to hide problem areas. The first one is able, due to reflective particles, to make the skin radiant, healthy and fresh. The latter, with a thin masking layer, covers pimples, rosacea, inflamed areas, circles under the eyes.
2. The highlighter palette is rich - from white to bronze. But the colors of concealers are even more diverse. Here, green, and purple, and yellow ... It all depends on what color your “problem” is.
3. Highlighter consistency is light, translucent. Concealer - dense, opaque.
4. The highlighter contains reflective particles that create a flickering effect. Concealers, in contrast, are matte so as not to draw attention to skin defects.

Highlighter and bronzer what is the difference?

Everything is very simple and there is nothing to be confused about. Highlighter is the gentle radiance of the sun on the skin, bronzer is the effect of tanning. The latter remedy is also available in various forms (sticks, powders, pencils), and is applied to highlighter antagonists. For example, to make a nose narrower, a highlighter is applied to its back, and a bronzer is applied to its sides.

Bronzers can also contain flickering particles, and in some highlighter pallets there are unusual dark colors. From here sometimes confusion arises that what is what. And if we have already become familiar with the highlighter's functions, we can say a few words separately about how to use the bronzer.

So, with its help you can:

• give the face and neckline a tanned look at any time of the year;
• mask blue circles, pallor, spots on the skin;
• sculpt facial features (hide chubby cheeks, change the oval);
• just replace it with blush in your daily makeup.

A bronzer is applied, like its highlighter counterpart, on top of the tonal foundation. But experimenting and using it instead of the base is not worth it - you get a wax mask.

Having some experience, you can successfully combine both cosmetics in one make-up, creating the face of a real Greek goddess.

Final selection tips

Having considered the assortment of highlighters, the crazy difference in pricing is striking.Nevertheless, in the middle price category you can easily find a quality product that will last you at least one and a half to two years (unless, of course, you start covering it on the entire face every day).

1. Once you have decided on the order of prices, evaluate the type of your skin. Fatty epidermis generally does not like highlighters too much, but if you really want to, choose something from loose powder or meteorites. A creamy texture and greasy sticks will be handy for dry skin, and liquid products for normal.
2. Next, you have to deal with the color type. The "porcelain" skin of a true English lady will shine after applying a silver or pink highlighter. A bronze shade looks advantageous on a dark one, and a golden one on an olive one. To give a yellowish skin a healthy look, a peach highlighter will help.

By the way, if you don’t have a fashionable product, look for pearlescent shades of the corresponding shade in the makeup bag. They will easily replace it - no one will notice the substitution. Of course, the quality of the product should be on top, otherwise the shadows will instantly crumble.

It turns out that to "draw" a face that shines with health and youth is a couple of trifles, if there is a highlighter on hand. Choose, study and be beautiful!