Where to Apply Highlighter

In our eternal quest for radiant, illuminated skin, we’ve decided that highlighting our cheekbones is a great place to start, but there are some days that we want to look a little more glam and glowy. Luckily, you don’t have to stick to your cheeks when it comes to highlighting. We’ve spent some serious quality time with our (extensive) highlighter stash and have discovered a few unsuspecting places to pop on extra shimmer. Ahead, learn about more spots on your face where you can up your highlighter game, find tips for how to apply the staple product.

What Is Highlighter?

If you’re more of a matte makeup devotee, you may be new to the concept of highlighter. Highlighter is a makeup product “that has a sheen or glow that is added to the skin and high points of the face to reflect light, accentuate certain features and create a luminous glow. It can come in several forms, including cream, powder, liquid, gel and stick, so you can play around and see what type of highlighter best suits your makeup preferences.

How to Choose Your Highlighter Shade？

Highlighter comes in a variety of shades and finishes, from glittery gold and pink-tinted products to sparkle-free clear gels that give you a dewy look. If you have a medium to deep skin tone and warmer undertones, “gold, bronze and peach tones work so beautifully,” notes someone. “Pink, champagne and silver icy tones can really complement cooler skin that has any pink or red in it.” Of course, these are just suggestions and we firmly believe that you should wear whatever shade of highlighter makes you feel great!

Where to Put Highlighter？

You can apply highlighter to any area of your face that you want to accentuate and make more prominent. Think about where the light would hit your face first! She notes that the most common areas to apply highlighter are your cheekbones, your brow bone, the bridge of your nose and your cupid’s bow.

50. All Over Your Face

To get an all-over glow, start by prepping your skin with a dewy primer. It’s a natural way to amp up your radiance before you even start in on foundation. Simply apply the product all over your face with your fingers or a brush.

50. The Cheekbones

Your cheekbones are arguably the most popular spot to apply highlighter, creating a reflective, light-catching effect when you turn your head. If applied to your cheekbones, highlighter makes them look more prominent and lifted.    

50. The Top of the Forehead

Highlighting the top of your forehead prevents your makeup from looking flat (a common beauty blunder associated with too much bronzer) and brightens up your entire complexion. Application here should be very sheer and natural-looking rather than powdery. One of our favorite techniques is to mix in some liquid highlighter with foundation and tap it on with a makeup sponge.

50. Below Your Brow Bone

You may not be able to clock eight hours of beauty sleep every night, but popping some highlighter below your brow bone and above your eyebrow arch will make you look wide-eyed and well-rested. Highlighter can be used to create bigger and brighter eyes if applied to the brow bone and inner corner of the eyes. Focusing highlighter around your eyebrow can give the appearance of a mini eye lift.

50. The Inner Corners of Your Eyes

While you’re highlighting your brow bone, don’t forget to hit the inner corner of the eye with some glow. It can really make the eyes look more open and bright!

50. The Center of the Eyelid

Whether you like a full-on smoky eye or prefer a neutral look, the eyelid is an unsuspecting spot to highlight, but one that can make a big difference. We recommend a powder for this step. Use a flat brush to pack the product on the center of your lid and on the inner corner of your eye. This trick will make your eyes twinkle — no joke. Pro tip: If you want a foiled look, spritz setting spray on your highlighter and then apply.

50. The Cupid’s Bow

The “V” of your cupid’s bow is also a great spot to add on some highlighter. To create the appearance of fuller lips, softly apply it with your finger or a brush. When the light catches, your lips will look especially plumped.  

50. The Bridge of Your Nose

You can use highlighter to contour your nose. For a lengthening, slimming effect, draw your highlighter down the bridge of your nose in a long, thin line and blend.