How To Apply Highlighter: 8 Steps (with Pictures) - WikiHow

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Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow Where to Put Highlighter on Your Face: Easy Steps + a Video Tutorial! PDF download Download Article How to apply highlighter to enhance your eyes, lips, cheeks, & more Co-authored by Christin Birckhead

Last Updated: November 30, 2024 Fact Checked

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  • Applying Highlighter to Enhance Your Eyes, Lips, and Chin
    • |
  • Enhancing Your Cheeks, Nose, and Forehead
    • |
  • How Do You Apply Contour And Highlight For Your Face Shape?
    • |
  • Video
    • |
  • Expert Q&A
    • |
  • Tips
    • |
  • Warnings
|Show more |Show less X

This article was co-authored by Christin Birckhead. Christin Birckhead is a Makeup Artist and the Founder of Conceptual Beauty, a beauty service based in Washington, DC specializing in wedding services such as engagements and bridal parties along with fashion shows and executive headshots. She has over 20 years of makeup and beauty consulting experience. She is also the lead makeup artist for Ascender Communications and freelances with the local NBC news team in the DC metro area. Her clients include Nancy Pelosi, Nancy Cartwright, Armin Van Buuren, Hugh Jackman, Vashawn Mitchell, Richard Smallwood, Benjamin T. Jealous, Colin Powell, Wanda Durant, and Former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. There are 11 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 409,490 times.

Applying highlighter can give your skin a beautiful color boost and enhance your bone structure as well. Highlighter only takes a few seconds to apply because you only apply it to a few small areas of your face. However, just a few dabs of highlighter can brighten up your entire face. Even if you are new to applying makeup, learning to apply highlighter is easy.

Highlighter How-To: Quick Tips

  1. Dab highlighter onto the inner corners of your eyes.
  2. Sweep highlighter across your brow bones.
  3. Add a small dot of highlighter onto the top arch of your upper lip.
  4. Brush a light dusting of highlighter over the center of your chin.
  5. Apply highlighter to the tops of your cheekbones.
  6. Place a small dab of highlighter on the tip of your nose.
  7. Put some highlighter on the center of your forehead.

Steps

Method 1 Method 1 of 2:

Enhancing Your Eyes, Lips, and Chin

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  1. Step 1 Apply highlighter to the inner corners of your eyes. 1 Apply highlighter to the inner corners of your eyes. Use a highlighting eyeshadow brush and get a little highlighter onto the tip. Then, take the brush and press it into the corners of your inner eyelids.[1]
    • You can apply a couple of layers if you want a more dramatic effect or just apply a light dusting for some subtle highlights.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Apply Highlighter 2 Sweep highlighter onto your brow bones. The areas just below your eyebrows will catch a lot of light, so this is a nice area to highlight. Try sweeping highlighter over your brow bones, the areas just under your eyebrows.[2]
    • Try to keep most of the highlighter on the outer edges of your brow bone. You do no need to apply highlighter to your entire brow bone.
    • You can also extend the highlighter down towards the creases of your eyelids for an extra eye brightening effect.[3]
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  3. Watermark wikiHow to Apply Highlighter 3 Add a dab of highlighter just above your upper lip. The area in the center of your upper lip is called your cupid’s bow and highlighting this area will draw more attention to your lips.[4] Get a small amount of highlighter on your fingertip and press it onto this area.[5]
    • Don’t apply the highlighter to your actual lip, just to the area right above your lip.
  4. Step 4 Brush highlighter over the center of your chin. 4 Brush highlighter over the center of your chin. Highlighting the center of your chin can also help to draw attention to your lips. Try sweeping some highlighter onto the center of your chin.[6]
    • Be careful not to apply too much highlighter to this area. You only need a light dusting.
    • If you highlighted your forehead, then try to keep the highlighter on your chin in line with the highlighter on your forehead.
    • You can also apply highlighter right above your chin.[7]
    5. Advertisement
Method 2 Method 2 of 2:

Enhancing Your Cheeks, Nose, and Forehead

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  1. Step 1 Try applying foundation and concealer first. 1 Try applying foundation and concealer first. This will create a more even canvas for your highlighter. [8]
    • Use a sponge or makeup brush to blend your foundation.
    • If you have any dark circles or minor imperfections, concealer will add extra coverage to those areas and draw more attention to the highlighted area.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Apply Highlighter 2 Apply highlighter to the tops of your cheekbones. Take a blush brush or a kabuki brush and use it to apply a bit of highlighter from your temples to the tops of your cheekbone in a C-shaped curve. You can apply one layer for a subtle effect or apply multiple layers for more intense highlights.[9]
    • It may help to apply blush to the apples of your cheeks first, and then start to apply highlighter where the blush has stopped.[10]
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Apply Highlighter 3 Dab a little highlighter on the tip of your nose. Get a bit of highlighter onto your fingertip and then dab it onto the tip of your nose.[11] Move your finger back and forth to blend the highlighter. Remember that you do not need much highlighter, just a small dab.[12]
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Apply Highlighter 4 Brush some highlighter down the center of your forehead. To accentuate the center of your forehead, you can sweep some highlighter down the center of your forehead towards the bridge of your nose.[13] Start at the center of your hairline on your forehead and sweep straight downwards.
    • If you want a more dramatic highlighting effect, then you can sweep the highlighter all the way down the bridge of your nose, but this is optional.
    5. Advertisement

How Do You Apply Contour And Highlight For Your Face Shape?

Expert Q&A

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  • Question Where on your cheeks should you apply highlighter? Christin Birckhead Christin Birckhead Makeup Artist Christin Birckhead is a Makeup Artist and the Founder of Conceptual Beauty, a beauty service based in Washington, DC specializing in wedding services such as engagements and bridal parties along with fashion shows and executive headshots. She has over 20 years of makeup and beauty consulting experience. She is also the lead makeup artist for Ascender Communications and freelances with the local NBC news team in the DC metro area. Her clients include Nancy Pelosi, Nancy Cartwright, Armin Van Buuren, Hugh Jackman, Vashawn Mitchell, Richard Smallwood, Benjamin T. Jealous, Colin Powell, Wanda Durant, and Former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Christin Birckhead Christin Birckhead Makeup Artist Expert Answer answer video Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 4 Helpful 1
  • Question Can I just put highlighter on? I don't want to put concealer or foundation on or anything. Will it look weird Theallknower Theallknower Community Answer You apply it on the bridge of your nose, the groove of your upper lip, your cheekbones, under your eyebrows, and even the corners of your eyes. You do not have to wear other makeup if you don't want to. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 5 Helpful 70
  • Question What areas should I focus on highlighting if I'm in a rush? Community Answer Community Answer If you're in a hurry, you should try to highlight your nose, cheekbones, and a little on your chin and forehead. If you're really pressed for time, just do your cheekbones. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 4 Helpful 34
See more answers Ask a Question 200 characters left Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Submit Advertisement

Video

Tips

  • Make sure that you choose a highlighter that works with your skin tone. The right highlighter for your skin tone should create a nice even sheen. Your skin should not look like it is covered in glitter. Try out different highlighter shades to find one that looks good on you.[14] Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
  • If you wear highlighter to school, use one with a subtle sheen rather than one that contains lots of glitter. Thanks Helpful 6 Not Helpful 3
Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement

Warnings

  • Don't apply highlighter all over your face or it will make your skin look metallic. Only apply it on a few areas that catch the light. Thanks Helpful 27 Not Helpful 3
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References

  1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q90XRQ_hVVk&t=403s
  2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TNY25txbHI
  3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TNY25txbHI
  4. ↑ Christin Birckhead. Makeup Artist. Expert Interview
  5. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTSjKPr2b2g
  6. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pZqB4b5LAU
  7. ↑ Christin Birckhead. Makeup Artist. Expert Interview
  8. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0Avc9rbQoM
  9. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUy7K0W-T3M
More References (6)
  1. ↑ Christin Birckhead. Makeup Artist. Expert Interview
  2. ↑ Christin Birckhead. Makeup Artist. Expert Interview
  3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fh_rRGt8XXU
  4. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCCmrRdf5vk
  5. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pyRi_9gv-c
  6. Videos provided by [1]

About This Article

Christin Birckhead Co-authored by: Christin Birckhead Makeup Artist This article was co-authored by Christin Birckhead. Christin Birckhead is a Makeup Artist and the Founder of Conceptual Beauty, a beauty service based in Washington, DC specializing in wedding services such as engagements and bridal parties along with fashion shows and executive headshots. She has over 20 years of makeup and beauty consulting experience. She is also the lead makeup artist for Ascender Communications and freelances with the local NBC news team in the DC metro area. Her clients include Nancy Pelosi, Nancy Cartwright, Armin Van Buuren, Hugh Jackman, Vashawn Mitchell, Richard Smallwood, Benjamin T. Jealous, Colin Powell, Wanda Durant, and Former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. This article has been viewed 409,490 times. 17 votes - 89% Co-authors: 23 Updated: November 30, 2024 Views: 409,490 Categories: Contour Makeup Article SummaryX

Before applying highlighter, use foundation and concealer to give yourself an even base for the highlighter. After applying base makeup, swipe some highlighter over the tops of your cheekbones and down the center of your forehead with a blush brush. Use your fingertip to dab a little on the tip of your nose and then blend it upward along the ridge of your nose. You can also use an eyeshadow brush to apply highlighter to the inner corners of your eyes and just under your eyebrows for a more dramatic look. To learn more from our Beauty Professional co-author, like how to use highlighter on your lips and chin, keep reading the article! Did this summary help you?YesNo

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Reader Success Stories

  • Perry

    Perry

    Dec 9, 2017

    "The article was really helpful. Now I know how to highlight properly, thanks to wikiHow."
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Did this article help you?

Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Christin Birckhead Co-authored by: Christin Birckhead Makeup Artist Co-authors: 23 Updated: November 30, 2024 Views: 409,490 89% of readers found this article helpful. 17 votes - 89% Click a star to add your vote Perry

Perry

Dec 9, 2017

"The article was really helpful. Now I know how to highlight properly, thanks to wikiHow." Nagma Ansari

Nagma Ansari

Feb 10, 2017

"This article is very useful for how to use highlighter. Thank you so much." Rosa Noriega

Rosa Noriega

Aug 12, 2018

"It helped me on how and when to use a concealer and highlighter." Anonymous

Anonymous

Feb 27, 2018

"Liked how it shows a direct example in the GIF." Anonymous

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Mar 10, 2018

"Clear and easy to understand." Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories

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