1.YOU'RE USING THE WRONG SHADE
Highlighters aren’t made for every skin tone. Make sure to use a shimmery highlighter that blends in, rather than one that clashes with your skin tone. If you have a medium to dark skin tone, choose shades ranging from peachy gold to bronze. Do you have pale skin? Then go with more translucent, ivory tones.
2. YOU'RE APPLYING IT WRONG
Are you using a cream highlighter? Then you shouldn’t use tools, as the end result can look uneven. Instead, warm it up between your fingers and then press gently onto the areas you want to highlight.
Are you using a liquid highlighter over powder foundation? Don’t! This can make the foundation look uneven and patchy. Switch to a powder-based highlighter or liquid foundation instead.
Another common application mistake is being too impatient. When you're using liquid highlighter on top of liquid foundation, you need to wait for both of them to dry first. Then set the look with a translucent powder.
3. YOU’RE APPLYING IT IN THE WRONG PLACES
Highlighter can actually make your face look wider if you are not emphasizing the right areas. It’s meant to enhance your cheekbones, cupid's bow, and nose. So naturally, you will lose that effect if you're applying it to your whole face. Also, dragging product lower than it needs to go can make you look worn-out.
4. YOU’RE APPLYING TOO MUCH
Too much shimmery powder will make you look frosted, instead of giving you a subtle glow or sheen. So, keep in mind that highlighter should reflect light and look fresh, not dull.
How much you should apply also depends on the light quality of your environment. For settings with softer, dimmed light you can go more extreme, but in sunlight it's best to keep it subtle. A tips is to apply your highlighter in the same type of light, as the one you will spend time in later. Just to make sure you’re not surprised by the intensity of your look!
