You can’t scroll through Instagram these days without being blinded by a barrage of perfectly shimmering selfies. And honestly, we’re not mad about it. If there’s one makeup trend we love, it’s highlighter—because how could we not? It’s pretty, it’s easy to use, and it turns every selfie into a perfectly glowing version of ourselves. Looking to master it yourself? Ahead, you’ll find five easy highlighter tutorials from beauty YouTubers in our community so that you can recreate their flawless looks.
Ohhdearitstinaa’s Look: Subtle Shimmer
“I use many products to give a light, fresh, and dewy makeup look. I use Fenty Beauty Foundation ($34) because it gives a long-lasting, soft coverage. I find it important to use a light to medium weight foundation to cover enough, but also still give a natural effect. I love naturally highlighting my face with Becca Shimmering Skin Pressed Highlighter ($38). I use it on my cheekbones, nose, chin, and forehead to give a light and flawless glow on all the high points of my face. This gives an illusion of brightness and height on certain features I like to enhance. On top of using the highlighter, I used Mario Badescu’s Rosewater Spray ($7) to give a dewy finish. To finish off my face makeup, I love using Peripera’s Airy Ink Velvet ($7) on my lips in Burnt Orange. It gives the lips such a natural and plump look.” – Christina Luong, University of North Carolina Charlotte class of 2020
Thatiskei’s Look: Natural Shine
“To achieve this look, I layered three different illuminating products. First I usedEstée Edit Beam Team (Hydrate+Glow) Illuminator ($23) combined with my face moisturizer as a base. Then I applied ColourPop’s Super Shock Creme ($8) in Avalon to powder highlighter on my cheekbones, the bridge of my nose, and on top of my brow bones. Then, to intensify my glow, I lightly dust Fenty Beauty’s Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter ($34) in Trophy Wife on top of my previously highlighted areas. Last but not least, to create a dewy finish, I set the look with Nyx’s Professional Makeup Dewy Finish Setting Spray ($8).” — Keiana Quallo, The City College of New York class of 2018
Ohsnapitsvik’s look: Luminous Bronze
“To start off the look, I use Dolce & Gabbana Perfect Matte Liquid Foundation ($68), and then I set my foundation with Ben Nye’s Luxury Banana Powder ($14). On my cheeks, I use Sephora Collection Radiant Luminizing Drops ($8) in Ultralight Bronze, and then layer my holy grail highlighter, TheBalm Cosmetics Mary-Lou Manizer ($13), on top. And of course, you can’t forget the brows! I use Maybelline’s Total Temptation Brow Pencil ($7) in Soft Brown on mine. To pull the look together, I use Maybelline’s Total Temptation Mascara ($10) in Blackest Black.” — Victoria Huynh, Fashion Institute of Technology class of 2021
Glaminista08’s Look: Radiant Flush
“To start, I prime my face with Smashbox’s Photo Finish Primer ($36), which has a silicone base to blur my skin for a filtered finish. I always skip foundation, and opt for Nyx’s Dark Circle Concealer ($4) to cover dark circles and any hyperpigmentation instead. To brighten my eyes, I use Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer ($30), and I set both concealers with Maybelline’s Fit Me Powder ($8). I love using Benefit’s Hoola Bronzer ($29) as a soft contour color just underneath the cheekbones, and I apply Becca’s Shimmering Skin Perfector ($38) in a “C-shape” from the highest point of my cheekbone towards my temple, and then towards the brow bone. I love Becca’s highlighter because they really help to give the skin a natural glow. As for eyes, I fill in my brows with a little bit of Nyx’s Tame & Frame Brow Pomade ($5), use the same bronzer on my eyes for some color, wing out my liner with Kat Von D’s Tattoo Liner ($20), and apply mascara. I finish everything off with a coat of lip balm, and spritz my face with Urban Decay’s All Nighter Long-Lasting Setting Spray ($32) to keep everything in place.” — Kerry Ingram, Towson University class of 2019
Amoafoa’s Look: Golden Glow
“My routine takes very little time, and I just hit the key areas. I blend in the Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Foundation ($34) in 450 all over my face, and set it with the Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Powder ($38) in Medium Deep. I then draw in my brows with whatever brow pencil I have at the time, and put on some of the Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer ($18). The finishing touch for me is highlighter, and what I love to do is use shimmer eyeshadow as highlight—staying on the college-girl budget. I use the Kiko Milano Water Eyeshadow ($12) in the shade 208 most days because I really like the green-yellow undertone it has. It reminds me of the color of Fenty Beauty Trophy Wife ($34). Clearly, I’m in love with the Fenty brand. Sometimes I set my face with the Morphe Setting Spray ($16) because I love how glowy it makes my skin, and that’s about it!.”— Nana Akua Mensah, Yale University class of 2018
What’s your favorite highlighter look? Let us know in the comments below!
Featured photo by @_amoafoa_.
