How to Use Highlighter on Cheeks

Other than the technique of contouring, highlighting is one way you can bring more attention to your cheekbones. Perhaps it is even more subtle: the process of creating shadows on your face to give you chiseled features can leave you looking dirty if you are a novice to the world of makeup, whereas the act of highlighting itself takes mere seconds of your time. Worn alone or with a full face of makeup, highlighter is a low-maintenance cosmetic that does not require much expertise from the wearer.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Moisturizer
• Foundation
• Makeup sponge
• Blush
• Highlighter

1. Begin with a clean face. Exfoliate if necessary, as highlighter calls more attention to dry, flaky skin. Moisturize prior to makeup application and allow the product to seep into skin for about a minute before proceeding.

2. Put on your foundation as usual, making sure to blend away any evident lines with a makeup sponge for a natural-looking finish.

3. Apply blush as you regularly do, ensuring once again that you buff away whatever hard edges come up in the color. You want to look as though you are glowing, not like you are obviously wearing makeup. It isn't necessary all the time to have blush on when you want to use highlighter on your cheeks, but the contrast is greater when you have something of a flush in your complexion.

4. Select a highlighter that best fits your purpose. If you want a subtle effect, use a powder. For something of a glossy sheen, use a creme. You should also take into consideration what is most flattering on your skin tone. Gold-hued highlighter blends in more effortlessly into skin with warm undertones, while a silvery highlighter complements cool undertones.

5. 
   Highlighter on the apples of the cheeks

   Dab the highlighter on the tops of cheekbones to bring out your bone structure. When the highlighter catches the light, your face appears subtly chiseled and more defined. You may also experiment by patting a spot of highlighter onto the apples of your cheeks instead if you want to look more youthful. In either case, remember to seamlessly fade the ends of the highlighter into your blush before you step out for the day.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are using highlighter on other parts of your face, you may want to keep the shimmer level low by not applying the product too generously. In photos, too much highlighter may appear unbecomingly greasy.

Resources

• eHow article "How to Use Highlighter on Eyes"