How to Use Liquid, Powder, and Cream Highlighters

If you’re looking to get your glow on, you’ve come to the right place. Learning to sweep highlighter across your skin is key to achieving a radiant-looking complexion. In fact, a touch of perfectly placed highlighter powder (or liquid or cream highlighter) paired with the right foundation and blush can help instantly open up the look of your eyes, define your face, and create symmetry. Seriously, let’s have a quick round of applause for such multi-tasking, illuminating products. Are you ready to add some major luminosity to your makeup routine? Here, learn all about how to do just that, using liquid, powder, and cream highlights!

HOW TO USE LIQUID HIGHLIGHTERS

How you use a highlighter will depend on your formula preference. Just as cream and powder eye shadows require slightly different steps to use them, powder, cream, and liquid highlighters shouldn’t be applied in exactly the same way. Prefer the latter? Below, find out how to incorporate a liquid highlighter into your makeup routine.

STEP #1: APPLY FOUNDATION

Even out your complexion and cover up any imperfections with the L’Oréal Paris True Match™ Super Blendable Foundation in a shade that matches your skin tone—there are 45 shades, so finding a match shouldn't be an issue. Dot the foundation onto your cheeks, nose, chin, and forehead. Then, blend out toward your hairline and down toward your neck, using your fingers or a foundation brush.

STEP #2: CONTOUR AND ADD BLUSH

When working with makeup, it’s best to remember a simple rule from science class: like attracts like. What does that mean in regards to makeup? Rather than skipping to setting with a powder, work on sculpting and defining your face with one of the hues from the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Total Cover Concealing and Contour Kit. Taking a makeup blender, buff the cream contour color below your cheekbones, onto your temples, and down the sides of your nose. Top off your cheeks with a cream blush, like the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Longwear Blush Shaping Sticks, blending the color starting at the center of your cheeks and going back toward your ears.

Editor’s tip: New to contouring? For more details on how to contour, check out our article, The Right Way to Contour for Every Face Shape.

STEP #3: HIGHLIGHT

It’s glow time! Pick up the L’Oréal Paris True Match Lumi Glow Amour Glow Boosting Drops or L’Oréal Paris True Match Lumi Glotion Natural Glow Enhancer and dot the shimmery liquid above your cheekbones, down the bridge of your nose, on the inner corners of your eyes, and above your cupid’s bow. Blend out with a fingertip for seamless shine.

STEP #4: SET WITH A SPRAY

Continuing to keep formulas consistent, set your makeup with a spray instead of a powder. Spritz your face with the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Spray & Set Makeup Extender Setting Spray four to six times in “X” and “T” motions to extend the life of your look.

BONUS STEP: AMP UP THE GLOW

Don’t think the look is quite illuminating enough? No problem! Next time, try mixing a few drops of the liquid illuminator with your foundation for an all-over radiance. Then top off your cheekbones with extra highlighter for your most glowing makeup look yet.

HOW TO USE POWDER HIGHLIGHTERS

If you’re partial to powders, read on to find out how to highlight with one.

STEP #1: PRIME

Before you can highlight, you’ll need to build up from the base. Start with a light-infusing primer, like the L’Oréal Paris Magic Lumi Light-Infusing Primer, which will contribute to your luminous look. Smooth the primer over your skin prior to picking up any other products.

STEP #2: APPLY FOUNDATION

Opting for a foundation with a radiant finish, like the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Glow Foundation, use the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Blend Artist Foundation Blender to apply and blend in the product. For an added glow, add a few drops of the L’Oréal Paris True Match™ Lumi Liquid Glow Illuminator to your foundation before applying.

STEP #3: SET WITH POWDER

Remember, like attracts like! Pair powders with other powders. Lock in your foundation and prepare for your powder highlighter by dusting your skin with long-wear face powder, like the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro Glow Powder.

STEP #4: ADD BLUSH AND BRONZER

Your complexion needs color, too! Place bronzer in a “3” shape around the edges of your face, starting at the temples and continuing down to the hollow of your cheeks and finally, your jawline. Then, brush a peach-y pink blush, like the L’Oréal Paris True Match™ Blush in Barely Blushing onto the apples of your cheeks for a natural-looking flush.

STEP #5: HIGHLIGHT

Time for the star of the show—your highlighter. Reach for the L’Oréal Paris True Match™ Lumi Powder Glow Illuminator in your color of choice and swirl the shades together (there are four in each powder compact!) with a fan brush. Use the brush to dust the powder onto the high points of your face: your cheekbones, your brow bones, the bridge of your nose, and your cupid’s bow.

For a prismatic highlight, try the L’Oréal Paris True Match Lumi Shimmerista Highlighting Powder instead. This can also be used on your collarbone and shoulders for an all-over glow.

Editor’s tip: Don’t want to be limited to one highlighter? Consider adding a highlighter palette to your makeup collection! The L’Oréal Paris True Match Lumi Glow Nude Highlighter Palette comes in two colorways, each with four beautiful highlighters.

HOW TO USE CREAM HIGHLIGHTERS

Last but not least, let’s go over how to use a cream highlighter to add some radiance to your complexion.

STEP #1: CONTOUR AWAY

Rather than applying an all-over foundation, use the cream formula of the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Longwear Foundation Shaping Sticks to contour your face. Apply a color that’s one to two shades lighter than your skin tone in upside-down triangle shapes under your eyes, down the bridge of your nose, above the hollows of your cheeks, and on the center of your chin and forehead. Swipe a color that’s one to two shades darker than your skin tone along the hollows of your cheeks, down the sides of your nose, and on your temples and jawline. Then, blend and buff the shades out with a makeup blender for a seamless contour.

STEP #2: COLOR YOUR CHEEKS

You know what to do! Stick with creams and pop a cream blush onto the apples of your cheeks, then buff the color out with a blender.

STEP #3: HIGHLIGHT

It’s time to reach for your cream highlighter. Swipe the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Longwear Highlighter Shaping Sticks or L’Oréal Paris Infallible Galaxy Stick across your cheekbones, brow bones, the bridge of your nose, and your cupid’s bow, then blend it out with a fingertip and light patting movements.

STEP #4: SET YOUR LOOK

To complete your glowing complexion while also giving it an extra glow boost, spritz your face with the L’Oréal Paris True Match Lumi Shake & Glow Dew Mist.

Next up: After mastering the art of highlighting with liquid, powder, and cream highlighters, focus on your cheekbones! Here’s How to Fake High Cheekbones with Makeup.