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the best highlighter makeup guide on the internet

table of contents

the best highlighter makeup guide

the best highlighter makeup guide on the internet

from fancesca’s shimmer in season three of bridgerton to sabrina carpenter’s viral glow – it’s obvious beauty lovers can’t get enough of highlighter makeup. but if you’ve never used cream highlighter or powder highlighter makeup, you may be wondering where to apply it and how; this common beauty woe inspired us to create the best highlighter makeup guide on the internet. 

keep reading to find out the deets on highlighter makeup, including what it is, its history, how to choose the perfect shade, application tips (complete with video tutorials), and more. 

best highlighter makeup guide: what is highlighter?

the best highlighter makeup guide: featuring subtl beauty's highlighter and swatches

here at subtl beauty, we like to give you all the information, so let’s start with what highlighter makeup is. designed to attract light, creating the illusion of brightness and height on certain areas of your face, highlighter enhances your features by giving the skin a luminous glow.

atefeh shojaie, an mua in vancouver, says: “typically, highlighter is used on the high points of the face and any areas that you want to pop or stand out more. you can apply highlighter on your cheekbones, temples, brow bone, corners of your eyes, and even on your cupid’s bow.”

it’s also important to know the background of highlighter makeup as it’s often formulated with a shimmery mineral called mica. traditionally, mica has been sourced from india using child labor. however, some companies, like subtl beauty (ofc), use mica that’s 100% ethically sourced. 

best highlighter makeup guide: the history of highlighter

the best highlighter makeup guide: the history of makeup

did you know highlighter makeup dates back to ancient egypt, where they’d crush pearls to add a glowing effect on their skin? pretty neat. moving through time to the renaissance, europeans also used pearl powders to enhance their features and as a way to signify wealth and beauty. 1920s hollywood saw early forms of the highlighter makeup that we use today. 

in the 1950s, brands like revlon pioneered modern powder highlighter makeup, shaping its evolution into today's must-have beauty product. the 2000s marked the emergence of beauty influencers showcasing highlighter techniques online. and by the mid-2010s, the strobing trend popularized a dewy, glowing complexion. today, it comes in diverse forms like cream highlighter.

want to learn more about the history of makeup? click here to read our in-depth blog post.

best highlighter makeup guide: how to choose the right highlighter shade

the best highlighter makeup guide: find your perfect shade of highlighter using our makeup quiz

want a beauty protip? most muas agree that selecting the right highlighter shade involves careful consideration of both your skin tone and type. here is everything you need to know: 

skin tone matching:

  • fair skin: try pearlescent or champagne shades to avoid looking too stark.
  • medium skin: try gold and peach tones to complement the warmth of your skin.
  • dark skin: try bronze and deep gold shades to enhance the richness of your skin.

skin type considerations:

click here for our beauty quiz to help you find the perfect highlighter makeup for your skin. 


best highlighter makeup guide: how to apply highlighter in 7 steps

the best highlighter makeup guide: the 7 steps to highlighter

listen, we totally agree that highlighter makeup is one of the best steps of a beauty routine, regardless of whether it’s in cream or powder form. but to get the most glow and enhancement out of your highlighter makeup, it’s important to know the mua-approved way to apply it. 

here are 7 easy steps to applying your highlighter makeup:

  1. find your perfect highlighter: pick a highlighter that complements your skin tone and desired finish (powder highlighter makeup or cream highlighter will do the job nicely).
  2. prep your skin: subtl beauties, skincare is vital to a flawless makeup look. start with a well-moisturized and primed face to create a smooth base for your highlighter makeup.
  3. try a tool: to apply your highlighter, use a brush, sponge, or fingers. we recommend giving the stak brush bff (free with every purchase) or 4-piece mini brush set a go.
  4. time to apply: focus on where light naturally hits your face to accentuate your features, like your cheekbones, brow bone, nose bridge, cupid’s bow, and inner eye corners. 
  5. blend, blend, blend: gently blend the highlighter makeup into your skin using light, circular motions to avoid harsh lines and ensure a natural, minimalist-approved finish. 
  6. looking for intensity? layer!: for a more intense glow, layer your highlighter makeup on by repeating steps 4 and 5 until you achieve the luminosity you’re going for.
  7. set your look: to prolong your highlighter, set with the subtl translucent shine control pressed powder; it’s formulated with squalane to lock in your look, no matter what. 

for the visual learners out there, we’ve got a highlighter tutorial for you:

best highlighter makeup guide: subtl beauty highlighter resources

the best highlighter makeup guide: our bite-size beauty blog has plenty of further tips on highligher

have you explored our bite-sized blog? not only do we keep it updated with makeup tutorials, but it’s also filled with articles providing useful travel tips, vacation destination ideas, info on brand formulas, and more.

check out these highlighter makeup resources from our blog:

best highlighter makeup guide: subtl beauty reviews

the best highlighter makeup guide: a real review from kayla p. 

are you a subtl fan who has tried our highlighter makeup? if so – we’d love to hear from you; we value reviews as they help us evolve our products to fit the lifestyles of travel-loving people. if you’re new and looking for some word of mouth, check out these subtl beauty reviews: 

  • “i absolutely love the powder highlighter. it's one of my all time favorites. i used to have the old one and ran out, but i love the new formula. it's not overly shiny and has the perfect amount of subtle shimmer for a highlighter.” - chloe s.
  • “i don't know what magic is in this, but i use it as eyeshadow and it does not crease! i use eye moisturizer, and i put it on in the humid atmosphere of the locker room -- recipe for disaster, right? but it stays on all day without creasing. finally, i can brighten my eyes again!” - e
  • “it has a strong pigment, so less is more. it provides a beautiful glow to the skin and also makes a great highlight for the brow bone, too.” - kayla p.
  • “i got the rosé shade and i love it! it has the perfect amount of color and shine. i am impressed with the staying power. i also use it as an eyeshadow. i will definitely be getting the champagne cream highlighter once my champagne powder highlighter runs out.” - juli
  • “the perfect glisten to the perfect face of makeup!” - ashley p.
@subtlbeauty Cream highlighter is back in stock and this just might be my new favorite subtl product 🤩🤩 ##creamhighlighter##subtlstak##stackablemakeup##minimalistmakeup##glowymakeuptutorial ♬ original sound - Subtl Beauty

 best highlighter makeup guide: faq

the best highlighter makeup guide: frequently asked questions

what is highlighter makeup used for? 

highlighter makeup is commonly used to enhance and illuminate specific areas of your face, creating a radiant and glowing appearance. and you can never have enough glow, right?

how do I choose the right shade of highlighter? 

choosing the right shade of highlighter depends on your skin tone and type. for fair skin, opt for pearlescent or champagne shades. medium skin tones look great with gold and peach tones, while darker skin tones can enhance their features with bronze or deep gold shades.

if your skin is dry, try a cream highlighter. for those with oily skin, go for powder highlighter makeup. a combo skin gal? use both cream and powder highlighter for a seamless look. if this all sounds complicated, you can take our beauty quiz to match you with the right shade.

what are the different types of highlighter? 

highlighters come in various forms, including powder, cream, liquid, and stick. 

where should I apply highlighter? 

apply highlighter makeup to the high points of your face, such as the tops of your cheekbones, bridge of your nose, brow bone, inner corners of your eyes, and your cupid’s bow. 

can I use highlighter on oily skin? 

for sure! as mentioned above, powder highlighter makeup is a good option for oily skin as it absorbs oil while still providing a subtle glow. to really enhance your beauty routine and lock it all in, we recommend prepping with a mattifying primer and setting with subtl’s shine control pressed powder.

what tools should I use to apply highlighter? 

did you know we have some of the best travel-approved tools on the market? not only are they perf for applying your highlighter makeup, but they’re sure to make your on-the-go life way easier. we recommend grabbing the stak brush bff (free with every order) and 4-piece brush set.

how do I prevent my highlighter from looking too shiny? 

to prevent your highlighter makeup from looking too shiny, apply it sparingly and blend it well into your skin. you can also try choosing a highlighter with fine shimmer rather than large glitter particles. if needed, use a translucent setting powder to tone down the shine.

have a question to add to our highlighter makeup guide? we’d love to hear them. you can send them via our instagram, or you can leave a comment below.

 

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