Welcome to Mini Makeover Monday! In this weekly column, Bianca Teixeira, our new makeover maven, will find, test and report back on an assortment of small changes that can be made to your daily beauty and style routine that can dramatically change your look. Let us know if you try any of her suggestions and what kind of effect they had on you!
My makeup bag is usually very simple. I don’t like to use a lot of products because I’m nutso about my skin. Hence, I write this column about using one product to change up your look. But it’s also the reason why I was never a believer in the illuminator…
The ‘illuminator’ is a fancy term for products (either cream or powder based) that are composed of ground-up mica and shiny minerals. These minerals refract light, so when applied to certain points of the face and chest they help soften problem spots and highlight the areas the light hits. Highlighting certain areas can reduce the look of under-eye bags as well as help give you modelesque cheekbones. When used properly, it can also make skin look dewy and glowing.
Want to achieve that incandescent glow celebs have on the red carpet? Illuminate. Want to make your tan (real or otherwise) look even better? Illuminate. Want to contour your cleavage, brow and cheek bones? Illuminate.
Using an illuminator to highlight your face is the answer to your most dewiest of questions.
Bianca Teixeira
The most important thing to remember (or learn, as I did) is that illuminator should not be mistaken for foundation. Do not cover your face in it. Start your usual makeup process with whatever foundation or powder you use to cover imperfections. After that’s done and blended, smooth an illuminator on the points that you want to highlight – across your cheekbones, under your brows and down the bridge of your nose. I also like to add a small swipe to the cupids bow of my lips so my lipstick will pop even more.
Luminous skin is the name of the game so make sure you blend well using a brush or even your fingers if the illuminator you’re using is cream based. If you have oily skin, cream might not be the right route for you. Switch it out for a translucent powder on the same points of the face. The light will still reflect, but it won’t be as shiny.
Benefit’s Watt’s Up! highlighter is sold at Sephora in-store and online for $36.00.
Do you have any highlighting and illuminating tricks? Let us know in the comments below of tweet us @ViewTheVibe.
