Makeup artists call a highlighter a highlighter or an illuminator, while modern fashionistas call it a lifesaver in creating the perfect look. In this article we will tell you why you need a highlighter and how to use it, how to apply it to your face and how to choose the right texture and color for yourself.
- What is a highlighter for?
- Where to apply highlighter, diagram
- Forehead
- Brows
- Eyes
- Cheekbones
- Nose
- Lips
- Chin
- Nasolabial folds
- How to choose the right highlighter shade
- How to choose a highlighter texture
- Highlighter for aging skin, should I use it?
What is a highlighter for?
“Highlight” translated from English means “illuminate”, “highlight”.
Highlighter is a new thing in makeup. It brightens certain areas of the face, making it more prominent. Using the product, you can highlight your features and hide small wrinkles. The reflective particles it contains make your facial skin healthier and more radiant. The product does not mask skin imperfections, but is used in conjunction with concealing foundations.
The highlighter is ideal for nude makeup and emphasizes its naturalness. Make-up using an illuminator is also called strobing.
Body luminizer. Luminizer and highlighter: what's the difference?
The closest cousin of luminizer is highlighter. Well, we won’t explain what it is (you probably already know, since you’re reading this article), we’ll focus on the main difference: a highlighter is intended for local use in a specific area that needs to be highlighted, while a luminizer catches light over a wider area, it Can be applied to wide areas of the face. Let's explain in more detail:
- Highlighter is a more concentrated product, it contains a larger number of shining microparticles and is able to give the face a richer and brighter glow. In a small amount, it is applied to the protruding parts of the face: cheekbones, bridge of the nose, above and below the eyebrows, chin, as well as the area above the lip (Cupid’s bow). And one more thing: makeup artists recommend using highlighter in the summer, when there are more sunny days and the rays are brighter - they will play luxuriously with the highlighter in your makeup, creating a spectacular glow on your face.
- The luminizer contains fewer shimmer particles for the same volume as a highlighter and aims to create an overall healthy glow to the skin. It can be applied to the entire face and not only: there are luminizers for the body, hair, and even the intimate area! Luminizer is exactly the product that can create a trendy healthy glow on the face without the visible presence of a highlighter as such. They will look at you and admire your healthy and glowing skin, ask what highlighter you use, and you can safely answer: “There is no highlighter in my makeup! It’s all about proper care, sleep, nutrition,” and so on.
Luminizers: High Beam Benefit, No7 Instant Radiance, The Multiple Stick NARS, Smashbox Artificial Light Luminizing Lotion
Brands realized in time and released new foundations that already contain a luminizer, but we still recommend not taking 2in1, but, for example, adding a little good luminizer to your tone or simply applying it on top of the coating. The only thing you need to take into account: girls with oily skin need to use such products carefully and, perhaps, give preference to highlighter.
- Important: if highlighter is for summer, then luminizer is an ideal product for the cold season. In winter, when the sun is not so active, the luminizer will give your face an additional pleasant and healthy light.
As for the concealer, it's meant to be corrective, not brightening. It may contain reflective particles, but often its texture is uniform and dense, as it better hides skin imperfections. If the goal is to hide dark circles under the eyes, you can add a little luminizer to the concealer and then you will also get a soft glow. Luminizer is usually lighter than your skin tone and more transparent than highlighter and especially concealer. We’ve already written about how to choose a concealer and apply it correctly, but now we’ll tell you more about the luminizer.
Where to apply highlighter, diagram
The highlighter is applied to the face after the rest of the makeup. It is the final touch of the image. Do not apply the product randomly. They are advised to cover the areas that need to be emphasized.
There is no single application scheme; the distribution depends on the shape and features of the face that need to be emphasized or hidden. Those with a round face should highlight the highest points of the cheekbones and the area under the eyes. For a triangular face, you need to highlight the chin and avoid the forehead. If you have a hump on your nose, you cannot highlight it; you only need to highlight the tip.
Below is an application diagram by zone, which shows where the highlighter should be applied.
Luminizer, how to apply. Illuminator or highlighter: what to choose?
The beauty industry is developing very quickly. You don’t have time to keep up with all the new products on the market. Sometimes they seem the same and useless. We decided to figure out if this is really true?
and illuminator (luminizer) - beauty products with shimmer that... What to choose? It all depends on your skin type and the expected effect.
Shall we start with the porthole?
What is a porthole?
Illuminator (illuminator - glow) is a cosmetic product, ". It not only gives a subtle glow, but also solves some skin problems. Great for winter use.
Lancome Click&Glow Pen Illuminator, Illuminator for face and body from Inglot, NYX born to glow liquid illuminator
What is a highlighter?
Highlighter (highlight - highlight) - this product, unlike the previous product, is used to “highlight” individual areas of the face, since it contains a large number of shimmering particles. A must have for the summer season.
La rose a poudrer by Lancome, Master strobing by Maybelline, Loreal Paris Alliance Perfect highlighter
What is the difference?
The porthole has a light texture with a small amount of sparkling particles. This allows you to apply the product to your entire face.
- Mix the texture with your favorite face cream or base.
- Apply illuminator instead of base.
- Add a drop of sparkling pigment to your concealer. This will help remove dark circles under the eyes and refresh your look.
- You can use pigment over powder.
We must not forget that the porthole can also be used as an independent product. To create a natural glow, just add a couple of drops to your favorite cream.
With highlighter, everything is more complicated, since there are special techniques for applying this product. Let's remember the main ones:
- The product can be used on the cheekbones (“lifting” some areas of the face).
- Draw along the sides of the nose, and the “back” can be highlighted. This way we get a correction of the shape of the nose.
- Apply a little white pigment to the corners of your eyes. This will increase their shape.
- Highlighter above the upper lip will add visual volume.
Before purchasing a product, decide on the product format. Among the most popular: liquid, dry, crumbly, stick, cushion, creamy. By the way, everyone’s favorite sparkling powder balls are one of the types of portholes for the face.
What to choose?
You need to select your type of product and pigment individually, taking into account the needs and shade of your skin. It is important to remember the main difference between these two products. The highlighter does not hide imperfections, but rather emphasizes them (especially flaking of the skin, which so often happens in winter). These two products are very similar and can replace one another.
The illuminator fights imperfections by masking them. Girls with problem skin should pay attention to a porthole with a small amount of reflective particles.
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Well, have you decided? The choice is yours!
How to choose a highlighter texture
The texture of the product should be selected according to your skin type:
- Highlighting powder – looks like a compact powder. Apply the product using a blush brush. To highlight the area near the eyes and eyebrows, you will need a small brush used for shadows. Powder-highlighter texture is more suitable for oily skin and can be applied to both foundation and powder.
- Liquid highlighter – has a liquid structure and is available in bottles with a brush. With it you can highlight your eyes, lips, emphasizing the eyebrow line. This texture is suitable for dry and normal dermis . Liquid highlighter is inconvenient when used over powder, as it can look like a greasy stain on it.
- Cream highlighter - easy to apply and shade, considered the most long-lasting. It should be used over foundation; the highlighter should not be applied over powder.
- Highlighter stick or solid highlighter - comes in pencil form. It is convenient to carry with you, quickly apply makeup touches, and conveniently highlight your eyes. The downside of the product is that it can injure the skin, so it is not suitable for sensitive and dry dermis.
What are shimmer and highlighter, concealer and primer, bronzer and luminizer?
The inscriptions on the jars, as well as the announcement of beauty products in magazines, sometimes make us perplexed. New and completely incomprehensible terms increase the risk of buying something that is absolutely unnecessary. Our cheat sheet will help you make the right choice and figure out what is what in the world of cosmetics.
WHAT ARE SHIMMER AND HIGHLIGHTER?
Shimmer is a product for giving the skin a mysterious shimmering effect. The composition contains fairly large glitter, which provides a bright and noticeable shine. For daytime makeup, the shimmer should be used only on one area of the face, in the evening - on two. It is usually applied to the cheekbones, center of the forehead, chin, under the eyebrows, above and below the lip - to visually enlarge the lips. Most often produced in the form of powder, used on top of foundation or instead of it.
Highlighter is a means for highlighting and highlighting individual parts of the face. Helps correct the relief, hide wrinkles, give the skin a fresher and more well-groomed look, and add sophistication to the appearance as a whole. For example, a highlighter applied under the eyebrow optically enlarges the eyes and makes the look more open. The product can be of different colors and shades, in the form of a stick, dry or liquid powder, or creamy gloss.
WHAT ARE BRONZER AND LUMINISER?
Bronzer is a cosmetic for giving the skin a tanned look and creating the effect of an internal glow. Matte bronzers can be used all over the face. Shiny ones should be applied to certain areas - cheeks, nose, center of the chin, as well as on the shoulders and décolleté. It is produced in the form of powder, liquid, creamy and in sticks.
Luminizer is a product with a brightening effect to give radiance to the skin. Delicate shine is achieved due to the smallest reflective particles, so the luminizer is quite suitable for placing light accents in daytime makeup - cheekbones, the center of the forehead and chin, under the eyebrow. It is produced in different forms: fluids, loose and compact powders, sticks.
WHAT IS LIP PLUMPER AND PIGMENTS IN COSMETICS?
Plumper is a product that creates a short-term (up to three hours) effect of visually increasing lip volume. Plumpers contain special substances - extracts of cinnamon, ginger, red pepper, etc., which cause a burning sensation and blood flow to the lips. After application, lips become plumper and more appetizing. They are produced in the form of colored lipsticks, glosses, balms and colorless lip creams.
Pigments are products that are maximally saturated with color particles to create unusual effects in makeup. They resemble loose powder in very bright shades. Can be used independently, for example as eye shadow. Or mix with any other dry products - regular powder or blush.
WHAT ARE CONCEALER AND PRIMER IN MAKEUP?
Concealer or corrector is a product for masking problem areas of the face: dilated blood vessels, age spots, acne, bruises and burns. A good camouflage effect is ensured by a high content of special pigments. Because of this, concealers are used only locally and not on the entire face. Most often they have the form of sticks.
Primer is a base for giving an even matte tone, masking minor imperfections and increasing the durability of makeup. Thanks to it, foundation, powder and blush stick better, eye shadow and lipstick do not crease. Primers are applied to day cream or simply to cleansed skin. Available separately for face, eyelids, lips. They have the form of a fluid or stick. There are also mascara bases that nourish eyelashes and give them additional volume.
WHAT IS ANTISERN AND COLOR BASE FOR MAKEUP?
Anticerne is a corrector for the area around the eyes. It has a delicate, translucent texture and contains few pigments. Ideal for concealing fine lines and dark circles. It can take the form of a pencil with a brush or a fluid with a sponge. Tinted/color make up base is a means to even out skin tone, especially problem skin. Bases act as neutralizers: green masks redness and dilated blood vessels, yellow and orange - blue and earthy complexions, lilac eliminates yellowness, blue - unnaturally orange tan, white lightens the tone. Most often used for special occasions, podium makeup. Usually available in the form of fluids.
WHAT IS A FIXATIVE AND TINTING GEL FOR LIPS AND CHEEKS?
Toning gel for lips and cheeks (lip & cheek stain) is a water or gel based product. Gives a completely natural yet vibrant color - like you just bit your lips or pinched your cheeks. Such cosmetics are ideal for creating natural makeup and the effect of an unpainted face. The peculiarity of such gels is that they dry instantly, so they should be applied and distributed very quickly. Available in the form of glosses or balms. In shape it can be either a felt-tip pen or a bottle with a ball. Fixer - a fixative for make-up, which is applied as a finishing touch. Its task is to provide special durability to makeup and give a feeling of freshness to the skin. Available in spray form.
SCULPTURE MAKEUP: HOW TO APPLY HIGHLIGHTER?
Sculptural makeup is the main trend of recent seasons, as it allows you to hide imperfections and highlight advantages. And at the same time look absolutely natural! The main assistant in sculpting is highlighter. With its help, it is easy to highlight the necessary areas of the face and thus solve the main problems of makeup.
- Highlighter in the cheekbone area gives the face a fresh look and “opens” the eyes.
- The product applied to the inner corners of the eyes visually enlarges them.
- A thin strip of highlighter under the eyebrows emphasizes their line.
- A thin line drawn along the back of the nose visually reduces its size.
- A light highlight of the highlighter in the dimple above the upper lip gives volume and expressiveness to the lips.
