Chances are, even if you’re only mildly interested in make-up, you’ll have heard of the latest beauty trend: strobing. It’s everywhere; every beauty editor, blogger, vlogger and their cat seems to be talking about it!
When I first heard about it, I was a bit apprehensive; strobing isn’t exactly the best name. Don’t worry though, it sounds so much scarier than it actually is! Basically, it’s extra highlighting; enhancing your natural features using light effects, and without all the faff of contouring. Strobing buzzwords include: dewy, shimmery, radiant, fresh, healthy, youthful glow etc. etc. You get the idea!
The trick to strobing is to aim for that youthful, ethereal glow, and avoid looking like you’ve stumbled out of a particularly intense gym session.
1. Since it’s all about the glowing skin, you want to achieve as much as possible naturally. In particular, start with a hydrating moisturiser. I use my No7 Beautiful Skin Day Cream for Normal/Oily skin, following by my No7 Instant Radiance Beauty Balm. The Body Shop’s Vitamin C Skin Reviver is also fab.
Also, if you’re extra keen, you might consider using brightening skincare products (like facemasks, serums, mositurisers etc.) in your wider skincare regime.
2. Use a highlighter that matches your natural skin tone. Think glowing radiance rather than ‘woah, she’s overdone it a bit with the highlighter’! This is the only real tricky bit, the fine line between noticeable highlighter and too much highlighter; using the right toned highlighter should help to keep you on the right side! As I have fairer skin, I stick to the champagne tones. For this post, I used my Makeup Revolution Blushing Hearts Highlighter in Goddess of Love, and apply it with a slightly denser brush than I normally would. I also find that Benefit Watt’s Up and YSL Touche Éclat work well for me too.
3. You want to apply the highlighter where the light would naturally hit your face. That’s on your cheekbones, on your brow bones, in centre of your forehead, in corners of your eyes, down the bridge of your nose, above your cupid’s bow and a touch in the centre of your chin. Don’t just go hell for leather and highlight your whole face, or you’ll look more ‘greasy’ than ‘glowy’.
If you have oily skin, you might want to skip areas like your forehead or chin, which probably have a little shine already.
4. Blend, blend, blend. As with almost every makeup look, blending is your best friend.
5. Combine your strobing with matte products. Shimmery bronzers, eyeshadows, lipglosses etc. are all best avoided, especially if you have oily skin. You really don’t want to ‘over-glow’ your face, so stick to the mattes for everything else. The only exception if if you prefer a more dewy finish to your foundation, as it can enhance your strobing. I used Benefit’s Hello Flawless foundation and Hoola bronzer as part of my base, and Makeup Revolution’s Flawless Matte palette on my eyes. I left my lips natural.
And there you have it: how get that radiant, youthful glow. Personally, I’m really into strobing; I love how fresh and healthy it looks. Hopefully you can see the effect in my photos, it’s actually quite hard to get a good picture of highlighter on camera!
Panda Eyes xx
This post is brilliant, I’m a bit nervous about strobing because I have super oily skin, but this has inspired me to give it a go!
xx
Thank you!! Yay! If I’m a bit unsure about a makeup look, I try it on a day when I know I’ll just be knocking around at home, then I can see how I feel about it without having to face too many other people :’) Good luck! x