It’s one of worst kept beauty secrets. Anyone who wants to sport a sun kissed glow reaches for a bronzer. Wrong!! What you need is an Illuminator, also called Highlighters. Consider it concealer’s sexier cousin, capable of hiding last night’s sins. It.’s like having your own lighting team on standby…available in powder, liquid and cream, with shimmer or without. The possibilities are endless. But not all highlighters are created equal. Like foundation, you have to find the right illuminator for your skin tone otherwise you could end up a shiny, frosty mess. Here’s decoding the perfect illuminator for your skin tone.
Highlighter for Pale to Fair Skin
For the fairest of porcelain to alabaster skin tones — think Kalki Koechlin and Katrina Kaif—pearl colored pressed powder like Maybelline New York Fit Me Matte + Poreless Powder or Lakme 9 To 5 Flawless Matte Complexion Compact work best. The pearly pigments add just enough luster to give you a glow without making you look icy. For best results apply on tops of cheekbones, forehead and chin and blend into skin.
Highlighter for Fair to Medium Skin Tones
Fair to medium tones like Alia Bhatt and Shraddha Kapoor have the widest choice and can afford to be less picky about the illuminator they choose. Everything from champagne and pale pink to soft rose gold shimmer is flattering. Go a step further and sprinkle some on your shoulder blades and neckline as well. We recommend Makeup Revolution Highlighter Palette, Shade Highlight and L.A. Girl Velvet Contour Highlighter Stick, Shades Cashmere and Luminous.
Highlighter for Medium to Dark Skin Tones
For those with warmer skin tones or ones that have yellow undertones like Priyanka Chopra and Sonakshi Sinha it’s best not to try and use anything too pink because it will end up looking artificial. Instead opt for neutral peach illuminators like Revlon Photoready Skinlights Face Illuminator in Peach Light. This beige-toned highlighting cream formulation from Bharat & Dorris Diamond Cream, Shade No. 2 is also perfect for those with warmer skin tones.
Highlighter for Dark to Deep Skin Tones
If your skin is dusky—think Lisa Haydon and Bipasha Basu—you’d do well to go with gold shimmer. Avoid using illuminators that are lighter than your skin color because you’ll end looking gray. Use a bronzy illuminator to bring out your glow like Faces Ultime Pro Metaliglow, Shade Topaz. When in doubt just go with a colorless product like Colorbar Radiant Glow Face Illuminator that adds a beautiful shine.
Now the big question, how do you use an illuminator? Simply tap miniscule amounts on skin and work into skin to get that sheer, shimmery finish. Unlike foundation or powder, highlighters/illuminators are only meant to add the final touch and give dimension. Highlight all the spots that catch the light: underneath the arch of the brow, the inner corner of eyes, the bridge of the nose, the high points of the cheeks, and right above the lips at the Cupid's bow. Now go shimmer!
