Highlighting Explained

Highlighting explained! Thanks to the Kardashian family, contouring took center stage in 2015. This year, that trend is making way for highlighting or strobing. But the concept can be a bit confusing as every beauty brand puts its own twist on the phenomenon. Place too much product all over your face and the look can become a bit of a mess.

Estee Lauder’s Jason Hadikin

Thankfully, Estee Lauder’s Jason Hadikin has come to our rescue. He explains highlighting and shares pro tips on how to do it well.

 

Dave: How do you describe strobing or highlighting?

Jason Hadikin: Strobing is highlighting the high points of the face. Because the emphasis is on major highlighting, it naturally creates contours on the face without using as many contour products. It gives a cleaner, fresh look.

D: How do you avoid using too much product when highlighting? It can get out of control very easily.

J.H.: The way to avoid using too much product is to begin with variations of illuminating products such as Illuminating primers, illuminating foundations, illuminating creams and illuminating powders. Since you are not using one singular product in one area, the look that you will create by using a variety of products will make your skin look smooth, radiant and flawless. And it will also have longer wear throughout the day.

 

Some of my favourite products to use for this technique are Estee Lauder Double Wear All Day Glow BB Moisture Makeup SPF 30 ($45.00) as well as Estee Lauder Illuminating Perfecting Primer ($42.00). I like to mix them together and apply over an illuminating foundation. Then I finish it off with a highlighting powder.

 

D: What nude shades work best on most skin tones with this look?

J.H.: For highlighting powders, the nude shades that will work best on most skin tones are something with a little bit of warmth to it. Try not to use something with too much yellow in it as it will look very dull on the skin. I look for something in a beige range with a bit of a peach and pink undertone. This way, the shade will also colour correct that area.

 

If we are talking lip and check colour, it all depends on what the client is looking for. For lips you can stay nude but maybe opt for a more peach toned lip. Or you can go bold like a hot red lip such as Estee Lauder Pure Color Envy Sculpting Lipstick in Envious ($34.00).

 

For blush you want to stay quite neutral so anything in a bronze or a muted rose colour. My favourites are Estee Lauder Pure Color Blush in Alluring Rose or Brazen Bronze ($38.00 each).

D: Where should you highlight on the face?

J.H.: You want to highlight the face where the light would naturally hit (cheekbones, brow bones the center of the forehead, down your nose and on your chin). Also a little bit above your lip to make your lip fuller never fails.

 

 

 

D: How do you create this effect for darker skin tones?

J.H.: This is were using a variety of illuminating products come in handy:

 

• Start by using the correct shade of an illuminating foundation as your base.
• Next, mix an illuminating primer with an illuminating BB cream in your shade and continue to highlight the face. This way your base looks flawless but still is in your skin shade range.
• Then try a highlighting powder that is two shades lighter that your skin tone. Concentrate it more on your cheekbones and eyebrow bone. This will give the perfect finishing touches on your strobing look.