Have you ever wondered how celebrities like Kim Kardashian or Cara Delevingne get their gorgeous red carpet glow? Highlighting has been a huge trend for the past year and it’s only gaining more popularity! But, what you don’t know is that you may be doing it all wrong. Everyone’s face is different, there is actually a right way to highlight based on your face shape and the texture of your skin. When learning how to highlight, whether you have a square, round, oval, or heart shaped face there is a perfect routine just for you!
Although the universal highlighting point is located on the high points of your cheeks, the first step to getting the ultimate glow is to find out your face shape. The four most common face shapes are oval, round, square, and heart. People with an oval face shape have balanced features that contour naturally. A round face has soft features with a rounded jawline and chin, think of celebrities like Selena Gomez or Chrissy Teigen. If you have a square shaped face you’re likely to have a strong forehead and sharp jawline. A heart shaped face is exactly what it sounds like, it’s shaped just like a heart! People with this type of shape tend to have a wide forehead and prominent cheekbones with a pointed chin. It is also common for people with heart shaped faces to have a widows peak.
1. Oval
If you have an oval or round face then you’re highlighting routines are very similar, and definitely the easiest! With having an oval shaped face, you’ll want to focus on keeping the natural symmetry. Apply your highlight with a fluffy brush to the bridge of the nose to compliment your perfect proportions. A trick you should totally try if you want an instant face lift, without the botox, is to apply highlighter to the apples of your cheeks. But, if you have a lot of texture on your cheeks and suffer from having large pores, apply a matte or subtle highlight to avoid accentuating imperfections. Another way you can amp-up your glow is to apply highlight to your cupid’s bow. I absolutely love the Shimmering Skin Perfector from Becca. It’s a gorgeous liquid highlighter that gives a natural and effortless glow!
2. Round
With having a round shaped face, the goal is to lengthen by focusing on the middle of your face. Just like people with an oval shape, you want to highlight the bridge of your nose, and under your brow bone for the most flattering luminosity! The Anastasia Beverly Hills Aurora Glow Kit is a gorgeous palette with iridescent and metallic finishes that come in the most unique colors. It will give you such an intense glow you won’t be able to get enough of!
3. Square
If you think you may have a square shaped face, your focus just like someone with a round face is to elongate. Highlighting softens the sharp contours square faces tend to have, creating an elegant glow that will turn heads! Focus on lift by using a fluffy brush to dust your highlight along the tops of your cheekbones to your temples in a ‘c’ shaped motion ending close to your hairline. A great highlight that isn’t too intense is the MAKE UP FOR EVER Pro Light Fusion Highlighter in the shade Golden (02). It has the most gorgeous golden glow that compliments a tan perfectly!
4. Heart
Last, but certainly not least is the heart shaped face which is what I have! If you have a heart shaped face your focus is on balancing your features when learning how to highlight. Apply your highlight to the top of your forehead, bridge of your nose, and sides of your jawline with a fluffy brush. Mixing matte and shimmer finishes also helps balance your features without you accidentally going overboard and looking like a disco ball! My favorite highlighter from Sephora is the Diorskin Nude Air Luminizer Powder. It’s a super light powder that’s universal and actually adapts to your skin tone for the ultimate personalized glow!
Not only is it important to highlight your face based on the shape, but the texture of your skin plays a huge role when highlighting. If you have dry skin or larger pores you may want to steer clear of shimmery products and go for a liquid highlight such as the Farsali Unicorn Essence which adds moisture and luminosity without sparkle. I also recommend focusing on other areas of the face such as highlighting the eyes, above the brows and the cupids bow using the KVD Alchemist Halographic Palette . If you are young and blessed with smooth wrinkle-free skin, a product with shimmer will make your face gleam! The MILK Makeup Holographic Stick is such a cool product that adds a subtle glow for healthy and youthful look.
I hope this post helped you if you were confused about highlighting, it’s actually not as hard as it looks! Anyone can get a gorgeous Hollywood glow in seconds with these tips that are perfect for every face shape. What’s your favorite highlighting product from Sephora?
44 Comments
This was such an informative post Sona. I harley ever wear hightlighter bc I feel like I dont apply it correctly I feel like I have an oval round face if that makes sence. Will try your tips thanks ?
Thanks Sona for always sharing detailed information like this, it’s so helpful!! <3 #SnapFam #InstaFam #YoutubeGang
I’m always happy to help! :)
This post is very helpful :) You look amazing!! Loving your hair and you’re killing the Winged Eye ?? #sonafam
Aww, you are too sweet! Thank you!
Thank you for sharing this amazing piece of advice. It’s really helpful.❤️❤️❤️
Loce yours pictures ub this post.
I’ve been highlighting my face as if I have an oval shaped face lol. I just love the glow! When of course, I don’t smooth skin. But I have a combo of round and heart. Maybe more round with fuller cheeks and then when I lose some weight, it looks like a slightly chunky heart shape lol if that makes sense. But I will try your tips. The round face shape could use a little love on highlighting lol. I like it add just a little glow on the tip or most top of my cheeks though. Thanks hid for the tips! #24minclub #24hrclub #snapfam
Oh shoot I completely missed the 24min mark lol, my bad :/
Yes ?? Needed this! Do you have something similar to this for achieving different eye shadow looks? I love the diagrams
Thank you for your advices !!! Like always it’s really precious!!
Thank you so much Sara!
I always learn so much from you, thank you for this post. I have very oily skin and large pores so I usually go for a subtle highlight, hourglass highlighters and Laura Mercier highlight 01 are my favs so far.
#snapchatfam
What is the brush you use for highlighting in the picture??
This post is great!! I learned so much from you. Thanks for your hard work ??? #24hrclub
You’re so sweet Lusine! Thank you! :)
Good post, I think my face shape is more square (Between round and square ) and I have not tried the C shape highlight yet. Will do tomorrow to see how it looks !
I bet that it will look great! :)
Loved this post, it was so informative I’ll give this a try! I’ve always thought I had an oval shaped face but everyone thinks I’m more on the square shaped side, so I’m always trying to find the right way to apply my make up. I’ve been loving the Becca highlighter in champagne pop and I also love the Dior highlight you talked about in your highlighter videos! Thanks for the info Sona, lots of love ❤️
Such a genius babe you are ❤️ You just make things always easy peezy ? Love you ? #SnapFam #24HrClub #SonaFam ?
Thank you pretty! :) Sending all my love!
Da review s so helpful if u mention some drugstore highlighters it will be good fir the people how can’t affford higher end brands
I love this post. I was actually having a problem with the highlight thing I don’t like to highlight my whole face because I do have texture here and there and I cant highlight my nose because of my pores. So I usally just go for my brow bone and a little on my cheekbones. Sometimes I dont even highlight lol so sad. I havent tried a Sephora brand highlight but a highlight i do buy at sephora is the josie maran Enlightenment illuminizing veil. ❤
#24HrClub
You can never go wrong with a little brow bone highlight! ;) Maybe try out a matte highlighter, it will help stop your pores from showing through and you’ll still get your glow! xo
This was such great info! Definitely gonna use these tips. You always work so hard on these posts and we absolutely love it!!❤ #snapchatfam
Thank you so much love!!
Love the post. Highlighter has been a new addition (since last year) for me as well. And I just love me some glow! I always add it up with blush. But I feel like I get the quantities wrong. Nonetheless excellent post, specially because it’s a topic and a makeup product I love to splurge on.
Love the effort you put into your blog so that it can be handy for almost all type of audience. More power to you. ❤❤❤
#24minclub #24hrclub #SCfam #sonafam ??
Amazing post!! I dont have a favorite unfortunately… I didnt know which one to buy!! Thank you so much, you are the best?❣️❣️
#snapfam
They’re all so great! But my favorite is for sure the Diorskin Nude Air Luminizer!
This is so informative! Im new to makeup and this is really going to help. Thanks so much #snapfam
Highlighting-my fav part of makeup & I always do it :) I love Mary lou from the balm & heat wave from EL :)
That brush you have in photos looks great-is it from C.Tilburry??
This is SO helpful! I have kind of a an oval shape face but I have really large pores on my cheeks (and some scarring from acne).
Extremely helpful. Thank you so much for doing this.
So a round face shouldn’t highlight on the apples of their cheeks?
Another great and helpful post Sona!!
You’re a best beauty mentor. Sona the way you explain is super amazing. Even a person like me who didn’t too good at it gets the point.
thank god blog opened now. It was not working yesterday, there was a maintenance notification pops up when I’m trying to open up the site.
X0x0.
#snapchatfam
One of the best posts. Highlighters are so inn these days and its the best blog to share with us. I’m so glad to read it, gonna try these tips. It’s so helpful . <3
I love balm cosmetics luminizer.
#snapchatfam
You forgot the long face shape :(
How about highlighting for a long face shape?
Learned something new today! Thank you Sona ! #Snapfammmm <3
Thank you Sona! Very informative post?
Hi, where are your necklaces from?
Would love this in video form!!! And some good options for those with oily skin!!
A matte highlighter is also a great option if you have oily skin because it won’t create extra shine. :)
Thanks for the helpful info! All I can say when I see you is “PERFECTION”. God bless you <3