Q&A for How to Apply Highlighter

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  • Question
    Where on your cheeks should you apply highlighter?
    Christin Birckhead
    Makeup Artist
    Christin Birckhead is a Makeup Artist and the Founder of Conceptual Beauty, a beauty service based in Washington, DC specializing in wedding services such as engagements and bridal parties along with fashion shows and executive headshots. She has over 20 years of makeup and beauty consulting experience. She is also the lead makeup artist for Ascender Communications and freelances with the local NBC news team in the DC metro area. Her clients include Nancy Pelosi, Nancy Cartwright, Armin Van Buuren, Hugh Jackman, Vashawn Mitchell, Richard Smallwood, Benjamin T. Jealous, Colin Powell, Wanda Durant, and Former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
    Makeup Artist
    Expert Answer
  • Question
    Can I just put highlighter on? I don't want to put concealer or foundation on or anything. Will it look weird
    Theallknower
    Community Answer
    You apply it on the bridge of your nose, the groove of your upper lip, your cheekbones, under your eyebrows, and even the corners of your eyes. You do not have to wear other makeup if you don't want to.
  • Question
    What areas should I focus on highlighting if I'm in a rush?
    Community Answer
    If you're in a hurry, you should try to highlight your nose, cheekbones, and a little on your chin and forehead. If you're really pressed for time, just do your cheekbones.
  • Question
    How do I apply a stick highlighter?
    Magdalen Ketchum
    Community Answer
    You can apply a stick highlighter directly to your face. You could also apply the highlighter to a brush first and then apply to your face. You can also rub the stick onto your fingers and tap along the desired area on your face to highlight.
  • Question
    How do I apply liquid highlighter?
    Lisa.reidx
    Community Answer
    Either dab some onto your finger or, if it comes with a brush, put a couple dots directly onto your cheekbones. Either dab and even it out with your finger or use a sponge/brush to even it out. Set with a powder highlighter if you can.
  • Question
    Which highlight is the best color for very pale skin?
    Coin&co
    Community Answer
    Pink highlighter with a creamy iridescent glow works really well, especially if you have natural red undertones. If you don't have natural red/pink undertones, gold will really make your skin glow.
  • Question
    Should I apply blush after highlighting?
    Community Answer
    You can apply it in any order, though applying blush at the very end may be the best thing to do, as you can see how much you need to balance out the rest of your makeup.
  • Question
    How do I apply powder highlighter?
    Community Answer
    Take a fan brush and brush it along the high plains of your cheekbones.
  • Question
    Which highlighter is best for normal yellowish fair skin?
    Community Answer
    A lot of new drug store brands have been coming out with great new highlighter. I would suggest something light like the tarteist Pro glow to go highlighting and contouring palette which retails at $23. That has two very good colors for lighter skin tones.
  • Question
    For dark skin does I use concealer or foundation?
    Community Answer
    Concealer is much better, especially for semi-dark skin.
  • Question
    Should I spray makeup fixing spray on brush for using powder highlighter?
    Community Answer
    Spraying makeup fixing spray on your brush will intensify the highlight, but it is not necessary.
  • Question
    If I have a liquid and a powder, do I do the liquid first or the powder?
    Anna Birthisel
    Community Answer
    It is common to apply liquid and then powder, or just one or the other. If you do one or the other, do liquid, it stays on longer.
  • Question
    Are highlights and contour in the same tin?
    Cecilia Flores
    Top Answerer
    You can get a palette with contour and highlight in the same palette, but you can also buy them each in separate packages.
  • Question
    What happens if I do not have a fan brush?
    Community Answer
    Then just use a piece of cotton and just pat on the highlighter.
  • Question
    Can I use powder highlighter after applying face powder/compact powder if I don't want foundation?
    Juvilyn Velez
    Community Answer
    Yes, but it will easily fade. I suggest you use liquid foundation.
  • Question
    I don't use foundation or blush on my face. Will using highlighter on my cheeks, dabbing in corner of my eyes and using a light dab on my chin be OK?
    Cecilia Flores
    Top Answerer
    I don't use any base products either and I wear highlighter all the time! I wear powder highlighter, so it stays on better on my oily skin, but if you have dry skin, use a liquid or gel highlighter.
  • Question
    Can I only use concealer as a base for highlighter?
    Community Answer
    In general, yes, I would stick to concealer.
  • Question
    What color highlight is best for semi-dark skin?
    Community Answer
    Becca highlighter in the shade opal is very nice, just gold shades work best for your skin tone.
  • Question
    What is oil-fixing spray?
    Ghuchison
    Community Answer
    A spray you can apply if you have oily skin to control the oil and minimize it.
  • Question
    If I'm under 18 then would it look cute to just apply highlighter to the tip of my nose?
    Sasha Haley
    Community Answer
    Yes, it can add a really cute look paired with a very pink nose and glossy clear lips.
  • Question
    If I am wearing the highlighter only and not the foundation and concealer, should I apply it above compact powder or on the bare face?
    Community Answer
    Make sure you moisturize your face first with a daily cream. If you don't want to wear foundation, you can then apply highlighter (or bronzer or blush) directly onto your bare skin. You can also apply compact powder first as a powder foundation, and then apply highlighter on top. Lastly, you can fix your makeup with a setting spray or loose setting powder if you want to.
  • Question
    DoIi use bronzer for my highlighting?
    Community Answer
    No, as the bronzer is darker than your actual skin tone and highlighter is lighter than your skin. If you would apply bronzer on the zones which should be highlighted, such as cheekbones and nose bridge, it will look like you have stained your face with dirt or you have shadows on your face. Make sure you use bronzer only on the outer edges of your face and a bit on the cheeks, and use a highlighter for the zones where light naturally hits your face.
  • Question
    Which highlighter is best for Indian medium dark skin tone?
    Community Answer
    To keep your complexion from looking too frosty, warmer skin tones pair well with highlighters that have gold-bronze or iridescent copper and peach undertones. Avoid anything too silvery or cool-toned as it will just look slatey on your skin. The warmth in the bronze shades ensures your skin looks fresh and glowing.
  • Question
    How do I use loose highlighter powder?
    Community Answer
    Using a small fluffy brush, dip into it and tap or drag across the tip of your nose, cupid's bow, cheekbones and brow.
  • Question
    From where to where are you supposed to apply powder highlighter?
    Demagorgeous
    Community Answer
    Highlighter goes almost in a 'C' shape from the sharpest point in your eyebrows to just underneath your eye. It also goes on the end of the nose, chin and between your eyes (can be used as a corner highlight near the tear ducts of your eyes).
  • Question
    Please how can I apply highlighter that has different shades on the face?
    Olivia Brown
    Community Answer
    The color you use depends mostly on your skin tone. If you have fair skin, a light brown/tan is best, bronze for tan skin, and gold for dark skin. Best places to apply include cheekbones, tip of nose, cupid's bow, and brow bone.
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