Glow Getter: How to Get Flawless, Radiant Skin with Highlighter

It might be your outfit of the day or your mood, but sometimes you want a subtle, dewy glow and other times you want a full-on megawatt shimmer. And then there might be the occasion you just want to put the spotlight on certain features sans slick high shine. Pick your go-to glow and we’ve got you covered on how to choose and apply the best highlighter for the look you’re after.

Glow goal: a subtle, dewy finish

Think of this look as that healthy “I’ve just finished a quick workout” glow. This look is your complexion but with your glow taken up a notch. Get the glow: Since this look serves up a more natural glow, you’re going to want to start with well-hydrated skin. Achieve this by using a scrub such as L’Oréal Paris Pure-Sugar Scrub for Dull Skin every other day and regularly moisturizing with L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Hydra-Nutrition Ultra-Nourishing Day Cream. Then, mix some liquid highlighter, like L’Oréal Paris True Match Lumi Glow Amour, with your moisturizer and apply it all over your face. To subtly spotlight certain areas of your complexion (such as your cheekbones), mix a drop or two of the liquid highlighter with your foundation and then dab and blend into each area. When it comes to colour, an illuminator with golden undertones works on most skin tones, but if you have a darker skin tone, you can go for something in a rose-gold hue, like peach or coral.

Glow goal: easy everyday shimmer

For the days or nights you’re feeling like you want just a little bit extra, a soft overall shimmer will satisfy the mood you’re in. Get the look: Using a small fluffy brush, lightly dust your face with L’Oréal Paris True Match Lumi Powder Glow Illuminator. Focus a little more product on your brow bones and cheekbones, and use a lighter hand when addressing the middle part of your face, as in the middle of your forehead and around your nose, although you can add a touch to the tip of your nose.

Glow goal: high shine

Pull out all the stops and shine on with your glam self. First, to achieve maximum glow goals, you need a highlighter that veers toward luminescent white or violet. Get the look: Look for a product that delivers pigmented glow, like L’Oréal Paris True Match Lumi Glow Nude, and layer it for a multi-dimensional show-stopping hue. Apply the highlighter directly to your brow bones and Cupid’s bow (this will make your lips look fuller), and then very lightly dab the bridge of your nose and down to the tip, as well as your cheekbones. For your cheekbones, apply it in a C-shape starting from the high part of your cheekbone to the orbital bone and the side of your eye. If you go overboard, you can tone it down by applying a little contour powder with a fluffy brush over the areas that are too high shine.

Glow goal: highlight without high sheen

Not everyone is a fan of the glimmer that comes with highlighters, but that doesn’t mean you can’t play with makeup to spotlight your best features. Get the look: Use a concealer in a shade that’s a couple of tones lighter than your skin to create contours. Take L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro Glow Concealer, which has built-in subtle illuminators, and apply it to the high points of your face (that is, where light hits your face, like the middle of your forehead, the high part of your cheekbones and under your eyes) using a sponge so that you can buff it out seamlessly with your makeup.