When it comes to shimmery highlighters, more is definitely not more. To avoid disco-ball/popular-clan-of-vampires territory, Blushington pro makeup artist Jessica Scantlin's top tip is to apply little by little, and avoid highlighting products that have chunks of glitter. "You want to have a glow, but not look like you owned Studio 54," she says.
If your skin is on the oily side, avoid liquid luminizer, as these can start to look greasy very quickly after you apply them. Celebrity makeup artist Nick Barose, who has worked with Lupita Nyong'o and Gabrielle Union, recommends the "dry shine" of a powder highlighter over a liquid or cream.
But if you've got dry skin, definitely go for those liquids. "When you are dry, you want to add as much moisture to your skin as possible," says Scantlin. Liquid- or cream-based shimmers give dry skin a glow without looking chalky.
Where you apply your highlighter is just as important as the formula you choose. Makeup artist Nico Guilis, who has worked with Dree Hemingway and Bar Rafaeli, says that it's all about achieving a "controlled glow." The obvious place to highlight is on your cheekbones to make them pop (which is a must for glowing skin), but Scantlin loves to place highlighter down the nose and on the tip. "It creates a defined nose and brings attention to the rest of your face," she says. She also applies it above the lip to make the mouth look more "pouty." Placing a little highlighter above and below your brows will also help make you look more awake and radiant.
If everyone else's "winter" skin tone is your natural shade of pale, opt for a peachy highlighter, says Barose. Anything darker could be too harsh against your skin tone. Scantlin also recommends using a lighter luminizer with a bit of a white base to illuminate skin.