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There’s a reason Kim Kardashian has a contour kit and Kylie Jenner coined the term “Kylighter” — a Kardashian-Jenner approved version of highlighter. It’s because these Keeping Up With the Kardashians stars popularized a style of makeup — a glowing, luminous look — that has tons of viewers and fans wondering how they too can achieve such makeup at home.

The goal of highlighting is to accentuate parts of the face which naturally attract light. These areas typically include both cheekbones, the cupid’s bow, eyebrow bones, the bridge of the nose, and chin. By using a shimmery highlighter, it creates the illusion of elongated, heightened bone structure, and emits a “lit-from-within” makeup vibe.

kim kardashian jackie aina
Instagram

Are you looking to get more comfortable with applying highlighter? With today’s edition of Life & Style’s How To: Beauty Buzz, we’ll show you step-by-step how to recreate the Kardashians’ dewy and shiny look. To find out how to apply highlighter, keep reading.

What You’ll Need

  • Beauty blender

  • Fluffy brush

  • Highlighter (powder, cream, or liquid)

  • Setting spray

Step 1: Apply the base

Ideally, by the time you get to highlighting your face, everything should already be moisturized and concealed, foundation on. As a general rule, many like to use concealer as a way to map out where highlighter is going to go.

how to apply highlighter 1
Stephanie Osmanski

Before shot with just concealer and light primer on the face.

Step 2: Blend it out

Use a wet beauty blender to diffuse some of the product already on your face (concealer, foundation, tinted moisturizer, etc). The point of blending out the product is to make sure it doesn’t appear caked-on, especially after you apply the additional layer of highlighter.

how to apply highlighter 2
Stephanie Osmanski

Highlight the top of the cheekbone, right above the blush.

Step 3: Diffuse setting spray

Some will prefer cream, powder, or liquid highlighters to others but it’s irrefutable that the best way to apply highlighter is with a little liquid to help it stay. Before dipping your fluffy brush (pictured here is Anastasia Beverly Hills #A23) in the highlighter palette, spray it with setting spray (we used Tarte Ready, Set, Radiant Skin Mist).’

Step 4: Apply highlighter to brow and cheek bones

Working from the hairline to the inside corner of the eye, brush on highlighter in a parallel line motion (rather than circular). Here, we used powder highlighter (Laura Geller Baked Gelato Swirl Illuminator
palette) — if you are using liquid, dot on the highlighter first, then use a finger or brush to blend it in.

how to apply highlighter 4
Stephanie Osmanski

Highlighter should be applied to all areas that naturally catch the light.

Repeat on the opposite cheek bone. Apply highlighter on top of your cupid’s bow (above the top lip), brow bones, the inner corners of the eyes, and in the center of the chin.