Secrets of Applying Highlighter Like a Pro (Techniques and Tools)

The Internal Lighting Technique (Applying Liquid Highlighter Before Foundation)

The best way to apply liquid highlighter before foundation is to distribute it as a sheer layer on your skin to serve as a base.

This step helps give your skin an all-over glow and healthy-looking hydration that seems to come from within once the foundation is applied over it.

Since liquid highlighters are versatile and blend seamlessly with the skin, another way to achieve a full-face radiance is by mixing the liquid highlighter directly with your foundation. This trick is excellent for adding vitality and shine if the foundation looks lackluster, or if you want to sheer out the foundation coverage for a light and refreshing summer look.

The Correct Order of Highlighter in Your Makeup Routine (After powder for powder products, and before it for creams)

The Order of Cosmetic Products There is a specific order for applying cosmetics to achieve a balanced and radiant look, with a particular focus on how to integrate highlighter into this sequence:

• Skin Preparation and Foundation: You can apply a light layer of liquid highlighter before starting to hydrate and illuminate the skin, or you can mix it directly with your foundation for a healthy glow. If you don't use this method, apply foundation as usual.
  
  
• Concealer and Bronzer: Apply concealer under the eyes and in required areas, leaving it for a moment without touching it. Then, apply bronzer to the outer parts of the face, keeping it close to the hairline.
  
  
• Blush: Apply blush in the area where the concealer meets the bronzer and blend them together well.
  
  
• Setting Makeup with Powder: After finishing the previous products, the entire face must be set using powder until it becomes matte.

Important Note on Creamy Products: If you are using a cream highlighter, it is preferred to apply it over creamy products and before using powder to avoid ruining the look or causing clumping. However, some makeup experts suggest taking a small amount of cream highlighter, warming it with your fingers, and then carefully dabbing it over the powder to increase shine and glow.

• Powder Highlighter: Once the face looks matte after being set with powder, the step of applying powder highlighter comes. It should be placed on the high points of the face where light naturally falls, such as the cheekbones and the nose.
  
  
• Lip Makeup: When illuminating the lip area, the highlighter should be placed on the Cupid’s bow (the top of the upper lip) before applying lip gloss to prevent the highlighter from sticking to the gloss. You can also use highlighter directly on the lips with your finger and then cover it with clear lip gloss to create a shiny and attractive lip color.
  
  

Guide to Brush Types (Fan, Fluffy, Duo-fiber) and Their Uses for Applying and Blending Highlighter

To achieve a precise and perfect application and blending of highlighter, tools vary depending on the type of product and the area to be illuminated:

Best Brushes for Applying Highlighter:

• Small, Fluffy Brush: This is the ideal choice for highlighter (especially powder). It is recommended to avoid dense brushes (like foundation brushes) because they pick up and place too much product on the face, while a small, fluffy brush ensures a sheer, softly distributed, and natural application.
  
  
• Fan Brushes: Thanks to their unique fan-like design, they are the perfect tool for distributing highlighter with extreme precision and smoothness. They allow you to cover wide areas with one fluid touch, ensuring the product doesn't clump or get overused.
  
  
• Tapered Tip Brush: You can use a larger brush (like a blush brush) provided it has a precise tip. You can use only this tip to apply highlighter accurately to the tops of the cheekbones, as highlighter requires much more precision and a narrower space than blush and bronzer.
  
  
• Duo-fiber Brush: If you prefer using cream highlighter, this brush is excellent for picking up the product and applying it to the skin using a dabbing motion.
  
  
• Small Eyeshadow Brush: Used for precise spots that require focus, such as placing highlighter on the inner corner of the eye.

The Best Tool for Blending Highlighter (The Magic Tool): To blend highlighter and avoid it appearing as a harsh line or an unnatural shiny strip, the most important tool is a damp makeup sponge. The best method is to use a sponge that already contains a little leftover concealer or foundation from your previous steps and press it gently around the edges of the highlighter. This will help blend the product's edges seamlessly with the rest of your makeup and lift any excess amount that might highlight skin imperfections.

Using a Damp Makeup Sponge as a Magic Tool for Blending and Preventing Harsh Lines

The choice between a brush and a sponge depends on the makeup step itself. Experts prefer using both tools together for a perfect result, as each has a specific and complementary role:

• The Brush (For the Initial Application Step): The brush is the ideal tool for placing and distributing the product initially. It is highly recommended to choose a small, fluffy brush with light bristles, as it ensures the highlighter is distributed as a thin, sheer layer without exaggeration. If you must use a larger brush, make sure to use only its tapered tip to ensure the product is placed accurately. In contrast, dense brushes (like foundation brushes) should be avoided entirely because they pick up and apply large amounts of product all at once.
  
  
• The Sponge (For the Blending and Final Touch Step): Some experts describe the makeup sponge as the "most important tool" for achieving a complete and blended makeup look. After applying the highlighter with a brush, it is advised to use a sponge (specifically one containing leftover concealer or foundation) and dab it gently around the edges of the highlighted area. This magical step presses the product softly into the skin, removes any excess, and blends any harsh lines that might make the highlighter look like an unnatural strip or line.

The conclusion is that the best technique is to apply the highlighter first using a fluffy brush, then use a makeup sponge to blend the edges for a natural and perfect radiance.

Can Highlighter be Mixed with Foundation for an All-over Glow?

Yes, mixing highlighter with foundation is a great way to achieve an all-over facial glow and a healthy, vibrant look. To achieve this look perfectly, it is preferable to use a liquid highlighter designed to be multi-use and blendable. Here are the best ways to apply this technique:

• Direct Mixing with Foundation: You can mix a little liquid highlighter directly with the foundation before distributing it on your face. This method is excellent for adding vitality and radiance to foundation, especially if it looks lackluster, or if you want to lighten the foundation's coverage for a fresh summer look.
  
  
• Application as a Base: As an alternative method, you can distribute a sheer layer of liquid highlighter over your entire skin before applying foundation. This will give your skin a healthy glow and radiance as if the light is coming from within.

These techniques ultimately give you dewy skin that looks natural, hydrated, and radiant, rather than appearing heavy or obvious.

How Can I Mix Liquid Highlighter with Foundation? (Step-by-Step)

You can mix liquid highlighter with foundation in two basic ways depending on the look you prefer:

1. Applying it Under Foundation (For a complete and comprehensive glow):

• You can distribute dots of liquid highlighter over your entire face and blend them well.
  
  
• After that, apply foundation over it, which will give your skin a radiant look and a glowing finish that looks natural and wonderful.
  
  
• Note that applying this method (highlighter under foundation) may make your makeup not last as long compared to applying it as a final step.

2. Applying it Over Foundation (To highlight specific areas):

You can safely apply liquid highlighter over foundation, and even after setting your makeup with powder (matte finish), without it ruining or moving the makeup underneath. To blend it flawlessly, the following is recommended:

• Place an amount of liquid highlighter on the back of your hand first.
  
  
• Use the rounded bottom part of a makeup sponge (Beauty Blender) and swirl or dab it gently on the highlighter on your hand to ensure the product is distributed evenly on the sponge and to avoid taking large amounts or clumps.
  
  
• Finally, dab the sponge very lightly on the high points of your face, such as the tops of the cheekbones, for a natural radiance that is perfectly blended with your skin.
  
  

What is the difference in results between liquid and powder highlighter?

The main difference between liquid and powder highlighter lies in the finish and the extent to which they emphasize skin texture:

Liquid Highlighter:

• Natural and blended appearance: Liquid highlighter blends seamlessly with the skin, giving it a natural radiance that looks as if it is coming from within.
  
  
• Smooth formula: It is characterized by very fine particles and does not contain prominent glitter pieces, giving it a realistic look that resembles natural lighting.
  
  
• More suitable for skin imperfections: It is considered the best option if your skin has an uneven texture, as it harmonizes with it and does not emphasize imperfections (such as breakouts or pores) to the same extent as powder does.
  
  
• Flexibility of use: It can be applied as a final step over makeup, or even distributed under foundation to achieve a glowing and radiant look without looking exaggerated.

Powder Highlighter:

• More visible and intense appearance: It contains thicker pigments and often appears as clear, chunky glitter particles, making its appearance less natural and clearly showing that you are wearing highlighter.
  
  
• Emphasizing skin imperfections: Powder highlighter has a strong tendency to emphasize skin texture and imperfections. It may also look separate from the rest of the makeup that has a matte finish.

Important Note: Regardless of the type used, any highlighter (whether liquid or powder) will emphasize skin imperfections if applied directly to areas that have bumps or uneven texture. Therefore, it is always recommended to avoid those areas and apply it only to the high, clear points of the face, such as the tops of the cheekbones, the tip of the nose, and under the brow bone.

Can Liquid Highlighter be Mixed with Skin Moisturizer?

Yes, you can. liquid highlighter is a highly multi-use product, as it can be easily mixed with any "base" or with foundation.

the benefits you will get when mixing liquid highlighter with base products:

• All-over Glow and Healthy Hydration: This mixture helps give your skin a sheer, all-over glow and healthy hydration.
  
  
• Rich Hydration for Dry Skin: If your skin is dry or you live in a dry climate, using a liquid or cream highlighter is an excellent step to add rich buttery hydration to the skin.
  
  
• Reviving a Dull Look and Sheering Out Coverage: Mixing highlighter is a great way to add vitality and radiance to base products or foundations that may look lackluster. It also helps to sheer out the thickness of the coverage for a fresh and light look.
  

Is it Recommended to Apply Liquid Highlighter Over Powder? (A Professional Technical Question)

Yes, liquid highlighter can be applied over powder after setting the makeup; in fact, it is considered a completely successful step.

• Overcoming Usual Fears: Some may fear that putting a liquid product over a matte makeup look that has been set with powder will lead to the makeup melting, ruining the finish, or fading quickly. However, practical experience has shown that liquid highlighter settles perfectly on the skin without ruining or moving the surface makeup.
  
  
• Application Method: You can simply use liquid highlighter as an additional and final step after finishing the application of all base makeup (foundation) and setting it with powder.
  
  
• No Need to Change Your Steps: You don't have to change the usual order of your makeup steps; highlighters of all types (liquid or powder) can be applied at the very end.

It is worth noting that applying liquid highlighter as a final step over makeup may be the best option for maintaining makeup stability, as putting it under foundation may reduce the longevity and stability of the foundation over time.