Makeup Highlighters: The How, What and Where

By Meg Ann Lee | July 14, 2024 |

Hey, it's Meg Ann Lee, I was recently asked a makeup question about face highlighters, and I feel like this is a crucial makeup item that is forgotten or overlooked. A highlight makeup product can really elevate your summer glow but a lot of people have questions about which products are the best and how to use them properly. I am a makeup artist in the Midwest and I am sharing my highlighting tips and tricks, plus my favorite products to use on clients.

Matte Highlight or Summer glow

I like to break down the two techniques you can do with "highlighting" your face to my clients because they are so DIFFERENT.

A matte highlight

This is used in contrast to your matte contour. This is to brighten areas of your face like your T- zone and under your eyes. It also brings the appearance of parts of your face "forward" where as a shadow or contour pushes parts of your face "back" or "inwards". Think of creating a painting and showing depth.

A shimmer or reflective highlight

This is used to accent certain parts of your face that the sun would naturally hit. The top of your cheek bones, the cupids bow on your lips or the top of your nose. This is not to be used everywhere on your face, unless you're doing some creative alien makeup look… (which we all know I'm a fan of).

You can also check out my concealer blog post HERE for more info on this topic.