Glowy, lit-from-within skin isn’t just the big statement in beauty this season – it’s also yours! Ace this one makeup move.
Glowy, lit-from-within skin isn’t just the big statement in beauty this season – it’s also yours! Ace this one makeup move.
Bright eyes. A radiant complexion. Cushiony lips. Get them all with strobing, a highlighting technique that uses strategic placements of shimmer to act like a spotlight on your face.
“You can compare it with how you look in a photo taken with a fl ash: The light completely brightens your skin and makes your features pop,” says Daniel Martin, a celebrity makeup artist for Dior. “It’s a perfect pick-me-up if your skin looks dull.” And now it’s easier than ever to achieve your new luminous look: Simply choose your preferred level of wattage to create a beautiful glow – #nofilter required.
Subtle sheen
For a slight gleam under natural lighting, you’ll want to stick with just a few products. Prep your skin with a sheer illuminating base for an all-over soft-focus finish. “The goal is to blur and smooth imperfections while adding a bit of lustre,” Daniel says. Then dab an illuminating pen along the puff y part beneath your eyes to give them a little lift and look instantly awake. “This is a classic beauty trick,” Daniel notes. If it’s for the morning, you’re done. “Anything more and you’ll look too shiny for daytime.”
Low-wattage radiance
To supercharge an evening glow, you’ll need to use that same illuminating pen, but this time, says Daniel, “It’s all about location, location, location! If you apply it everywhere, you lose the light-catching dimension.” Dab a highlighter onto small areas like your cupid’s bow (to make your lips appear full and juicy) and the inner eye corners (to brighten any shadows and blue tones). Then, to subtly illuminate the rest of your face, you’ll first want to consider your skin type. A cream goes on more evenly if you are dry, but if you’re oily, reach for a powder, which won’t slide. And no matter what your skin type, skip your forehead and chin because these areas already have a little natural shine.
High-beam strobe
For an all-out glam look that plays up your party dress, top your highlights with an illuminating powder containing pearl pigments. “These kinds of powders are the most reflective, so they’ll catch the most light,” Daniel says. But because they are so reflective, it’s easy to get carried away and end up looking like a Christmas tree ornament. To control your glow, lightly dust the powder all over with a fluffy dual-fibre brush. “The white bristles pick up less than a foundation brush, so you can distribute the powder more evenly for a natural effect.” Got a little too strobe-happy? Apply a dab of matte foundation where you want to tone down the shine. “That will cancel out the radiance faster than wiping it off with a tissue,” Daniel says
