HOW TO: Highlight 101 (on FLEEEEEEEK!)

Hey there beauties! Okay, get yourselves together because we’re going to talk about those highlights on fleeeeeeeeeek. Highlighting is one of my favourite steps whenever I am doing my makeup because it can instantly lift your face and get rid of those tired looking eyes, it can make your face glow and dewy and youthful. Tell me, who doesn’t like glowing and youthful skin?

Highlighting is great when it is done correctly and when it is placed where it should be. It can be a little tricky but when you find the right shade that compliments your skin tone it could be your best friend for your everyday routine. I’m just going to talk more about highlighting and then I’m going to show you some of the products that I do recommend for highlighting purposes. 

During my makeup workshops, everyone gets crazy whenever we reached the highlighting topic. Because come on’ we all know that 2015 is the year of contour and highlight and there is a bunch of new highlighting and contouring products out in the market and it seems like everyone is raving about them. I am more into highlighting than contouring just because I like dewy skin, I love how it freshens the face and the look of the makeup. 

Let’s talk more about Highlighting.

WHAT IS HIGHLIGHTING? Highlighting brings facial features forward so they appear larger or fuller. Highlighting products are either light reflective powders or matte powders that are 2-3 shades lighter than your skin. The shades range from bright pearly whites to matte beige shades into champagnes, gold’s and rose gold shades for deeper skin tone. 

Two forms of highlighting: Creams/liquids/matte powders that is lighter than our skin tone and light reflective powders.

Parts where we usually highlight: T-zone  - Forehead, Chin, Cupids bow, Nose bridge and under eye area (For this areas, use a concealer or cream that is 2-3 shades lighter than you skin tone or your foundation then set it with a matte finish powder to set your highlighting creams or concealers. Make sure that the powder you use corresponds to the shade of your concealer to make the highlight visible.)

Highest points of your face - Chin, top of the cheeks, brow bone, tip of the nose, top of the brow arch  (Use a light reflective powder for this part to accentuate your face and give you a dewy finish and not looking too flat. Avoid applying this kind of highlighting powder to your forehead as it can make you look oily instead of dewy. ) 

So here are the products that I do recommend for highlighting:

Light Reflective Highlighters:  (powder or liquid)

BECCA SHIMMERING SKIN-PERFECTOR IN OPAL

LAURA MERCIER MATTE RADIANCE BAKED POWDER IN 01

MAC MSF IN SOFT & GENTLE  AND IN GLOBAL GLOW

HARD CANDY BAKED BRONZER IN TIKI

HOURGLASS AMBIENT LIGHTING POWDERS

Highlighting Concealers: (My top 5 picks)

MAYBELINE INSTANT AGE REWIND DARK CIRCLE ERASER IN LIGHT 120

MAC PRO-LONGWEAR CONCEALER IN NC2O

ALMAY WAKE UP CONCEALER IN 020 LIGHT/MEDIUM

MAYBELINE FIT ME CONCEALER IN 010 LIGHT AND 020 SAND

RIMMEL LONDON WAKE ME UP CONCEALER IN IVORY

As you noticed, I have more drugstore recommendations when it comes to highlighting concealers because I find that drugstore brands, well some of them, did a really great job when it comes to their concealers and foundations. Rarely do I find a very good light reflecting highlighters on a drugstores brand, some of them are flaky and frosty and you girls should avoid that because it can be just chunks of glitters on your face. What we wanted for a highlight is a subtle sheen that will make us dewy. 

I like to use my fingers or a damp beauty blender in blending my highlighting concealers and what I like to use for setting my highlighting concealer is the BEN-NYE BANANA POWDER mixed with BEN-NYE NEUTRAL SET to make the yellow tone of the banana powder not super intense. I also like using the RIMMEL STAY MATTE POWDER or the MAC MINERALIE SKIN-FINISH NATURAL IN THE SHADE LIGHT.

Tell me if you want me to do an in-depth review on each product of highlighters that I do own. Shades that are being mention above are my own shade, you may want to check or do a research first to find your shade before purchasing the product.  I heard that Anastasia Beverly hills and Gerard Cosmetics will come up with a highlighter this coming holiday season! Who’s excited????? Mama is excitedddd of course! *snap *snap

Thank you for reading my blog and tell me what is your favourite highlighter on the comment box below! Don’t forget to subscribe to my blog and follow me on instagram at @annebismonte_mua. SEE YOU ALL SOON!

BTW, Here are some example photos for Highlighting. These photos are from my HEADWAY VERA SALON Ad-shoot. See the caption for the credits.  

MODEL: MJ MARFORI of TV5 Entertainment news Showbiz Konek
PHOTO BY: STEPHEN CAPPUCINO of Zoomburst Studio
MAKEUP BY: ANNE BISMONTE
HAIR BY: HEADWAY VERA SALON

MODEL: DESIREE DEL VALLE | TV ACTRESS of ABS-CBN
PHOTO BY: STEPHEN CAPPUCINO of Zoomburst Studio
MAKEUP BY: ANNE BISMONTE
HAIR BY: HEADWAY VERA SALON

Much Love,

Anne