These highlighting tips from the pros will prep you for the party season

Few things can get you looking party-ready as quickly as a poppin’ highlighter job. While some days may call for a subtle sheen, others may have you wanting to step out of the house with cheekbones doused in glitter. But regardless of the look you’re working on—a hint of natural dewiness or a glow from the gods—ensuring that you’re using the correct formula and technique is essential to achieving that perfect highlight. We spoke to the top celebrity makeup artists in the industry about the best ways to apply highlighter, where to place it on the fact, and the celebrity-approved products you need to add to cart. Scroll ahead to find the answers to your most pressing highlighter questions now.

Where do I put highlighter on my face?

To accentuate the correct features, it’s important to know exactly where to apply highlighter. Celebrity makeup artist Bianca Louzado says, “Highlighter should be placed on the high points of the face, which will illuminate the angles that the light would naturally reflect”—she recommends the bridge of the nose, the high points of the cheekbones, brow bone, Cupid’s bow, and collarbone. Most pros suggest that you should pat in or swipe on highlighter starting from the top of the apples of the cheeks and move outward in the shape of a letter C. Then follow the path from the high points of the cheekbones to the orbital bones and sides of the eyes. Try gently tapping some highlighter above the middle of the top lip to make them appear fuller, and don’t be afraid of swiping some down the bridge of the nose to accent the bones and make it look more angular. Another pro secret is to apply a smidgen of highlighter at the inner corners of the eyes—it’ll make you look awake and well-rested. Just make sure to only hit the parts you want to amplify. Stay away from highlighting below the eyes (this will just accentuate the shadows), and skip the chin and temples too.

What tools should I use?

So you’ve mastered the exact areas of the face to focus on, but how exactly should you apply it? Celebrity makeup artist, Namrata Soni, recommends using highlighter with a sponge or a fan brush. Not only are they great tools for beginners, since they help you blend out the product on your face to a natural finish, a fan brush also allows for a sheer pigment as it picks up lesser pigment. Louzado suggests that you use a smaller brush to apply the highlighter in a more controlled manner. This works well for smaller areas, where precision is key. A bigger brush can spread too much of the product, possibly resulting in a disco ball effect. You can also look to an eyeshadow brush for a concentrated effect—the tool can carry a lot of product in one go, which is great to create a heavy highlight. Don’t forget to blend, blend, blend, and blend again, though, if you’re using a brush like this. And if liquid or cream formulas are more your jam, a makeup sponge will help you get a flawlessly blended look.

What’s the highlighter formula I should use?

Using the correct formula is the key to successful shine. Soni says, “If you want a subtle highlight, use a soft highlighter in powder form. If you want a stronger and edgier highlight, apply a liquid highlighter, followed by powder highlighter dusted on top.” Soni’s secret to highlighting lies in the order of application. “I always apply a liquid highlighter, let it dry and then go in with a powdered highlighter on top,” she says.

Louzado, on the other hand, recommends following the needs of your skin type to achieve the best results. For oily skin, she loves a powder-based highlighter like Anastasia Beverly Hills Glow Kit or the BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Highlighter in Champagne Pop. She also loves to mix foundation with the Kevyn Aucoin The Celestial Skin Liquid Lighting Highlighter to achieve a dewy look for this skin type. For combination skin, Louzado goes with a cream-based highlighter like the Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate, mixed with a powder highlighter to reinforce the strobe. “If my client has dry skin, I use a jelly-based highlighter (like the FARSÁLI Jelly Beam Highlighter), which stops the skin from looking crepe-y with a highlighter on top,” she concludes.

While it’s important to consider your skin type when choosing the highlighter formula you want to use, it’s just as vital that you zero down on the type of glow you want too. If you’re looking for a natural, dewy finish, a liquid highlighter can give you a your-skin-but-better finish. A cream highlighter like Benefit Watt’s Up! Soft Focus Highlighter (one of Soni’s favourites) will melt into the skin and dry down to diffuse light, leaving you with a soft, dewy look. The Charlotte Tilbury Bar of Gold Highlighting Palette is another product that has earned Soni’s approval, which is not a surprise considering it features one of the highest concentrations of sparkle, and can present your skin with a highlight that even Rihanna will want to get behind.

Also read:

The secrets to long-lasting makeup for party season

The best at-home glow-boosting facial for the party season

Alia Bhatt’s perfect highlight and contour are perfect for date night