BY DANICA SMITH
Spring, is in the air! So let the highlight life begin! Who doesn’t want to have a fresh, dewy complexion especially in the hotter months as most of us would rather look dewy then feel so? Well your prayers have been answered, with a simple little product that has become a makeup must have called highlighters that are the new trend. Added under or mixed into your foundation you can achieve a natural healthy glow that will have you gleaming in the sun with a simple stroke of a highlighter. Similar to bronzers highlighters are used to enhance one’s complexion by way of light, adding radiance to the skin in different settings. Unlike bronzers that defines the skin with tints of reddish tones of brown, copper or gold leaving your skin bronze with a sun kissed glow, like that of that of a tan.
Highlighters on the other hand, enhance one’s complexion with a glow by adding a transparency of shimmer, perfect for any complexion depending on the preference of reflects, without the added tint of a bronzer. Typically, highlighters come in two forms, a liquid and powder both provide the same effect however, the powder offers you more control as to where you apply the product to your face with a fan or angled brush, while emphasizing its highest points such as, the tip of nose, center of the forehead, chin, under brow area and eyes, including cupid’s bow (above the lip).
Liquid highlighters, are applied more or less for an all over glow that’s either applied under or mixed with your liquid foundation/powder as a faster alternative to achieving dewy skin. This is because the oils that accumulate on your skin throughout the day come in contact with the highlighter first before penetrating through the first layer of skin revealing a luminous glow.
With various colors to choose from depending on your complexion you can choose from an array of shimmers that reflect gold, for deeper tones, bronze/copper for tanned complexions and pink or silver for lighter skin/ pale tones, including a champagne or rose gold finish for medium tones, combining colors also works well to provide a dual tone effect. PLEASE NOTE* that the key to truly achieving dewy skin this summer is by skin care first, misting your face with combination of rosewater and glycerin not only will keep you hydrated on humid days, but will also keep your skin glistening. Due to its moisturizing and toning properties they can also be used as a setting spray to prevent a powdery look to your makeup application, keeping you flawless and sun kissed at the same time. Stay tuned for DIY setting sprays in our next edition of Vanity 101, in the meantime here’s a list of store bought highlighters to get your gleam on: MAC Cosmetics Mineralize Skinfinish $37.00, Benefit Cosmetics High Beam Liquid Face Highlighter $34.00, Anastasia Beverly Hills Illuminators $28.00,
MAC Cosmetics Lustre Drops $25.00. MAC Cosmetics Strobe Cream $12.00, L’oreal True Match Lumi Powder Glow Illuminator $12.00, NYX Illuminator $9.00,
Essence Cream to Powder Highlighter $5.00
