How to Use Eyeshadow As Highlighter

Co-authored by Yuka Arora and Amber Crain

Last Updated: October 25, 2022 References

Highlighter can add a youthful-looking glow to your complexion and help you emphasize certain parts of your facial structure. It comes in powdered, cream and liquid formulas. If you don’t want to spend the extra money on a separate highlighter product, eyeshadow can be used instead. It comes in a similar formula and tends to be more pigmented in a wide range of shades at a lower price. Use eyeshadow to highlight your cheekbones, brighten the eye area and create a youthful looking glow.

Things You Should Know

To make sure your highlight shows up without being too obvious, choose a shimmery eyeshadow that's two shades lighter than your skin tone.
Apply powdered eyeshadows with a fluffy blush or highlighter brush to get a soft glow.
If you're using cream shadow, you'll get a more natural glow if you apply it with your fingers or a highlighter brush.
For a really dramatic look, use your fingers to blend a shimmery eyeshadow onto your cheekbones and under your brows.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Choosing an Eyeshadow Shade

1
Select an eyeshadow that is two shades lighter than your skin tone. In order for the eyeshadow to truly “highlight,” you have to use a shade that is lighter than what you would typically use on your face. Skip eyeshadows that are similar to your foundation shade and go for something that is two shades lighter than your natural skin tone.^{[1]
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- If you are naturally very pale and can’t find a shade noticeably lighter than your skin tone, opt for the lightest shade you can find with a pearlescent finish.
- If you have a naturally dark skin tone, avoid the icy shades and choose warmer hues, like rose gold or bronze.^{[2]
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2
Use your skin’s undertone as a guide. Opt for pearly pink or frosty champagne shades if you have cool undertones.^{[3]
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Research source} For warmer undertones, avoid the frosty eyeshadows, since these can give your skin a grayish pallor. Instead, opt for shades that have a little peach or golden shimmer in them. If you have neutral undertones, you can go either way – try both options out to determine what works best for you.^{[4]
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Expert Source

Yuka Arora
Makeup Artist
Expert Interview. 30 August 2018.}

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3
Create a dewy glow with a shimmery shade.^{[5]
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Expert Source

Yuka Arora
Makeup Artist
Expert Interview. 30 August 2018.} Eyeshadows come in a wide range shimmery shades, so experimenting with them as highlighters can be particularly fun. A muted pearlescent finish can create a subtle glow, while something with a little more glitter can create a high impact sparkle well-suited for a night out.
- In general, you still want a product that’s two shades lighter than your skin tone, but experiment with the amount of shimmer you use to create different effects.^{[6]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Choosing an Eyeshadow Formula

1
Brush on a powdered formula. Apply the powder with a large makeup brush or specially designed highlighter brush.^{[7]
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Expert Source

Yuka Arora
Makeup Artist
Expert Interview. 30 August 2018.} Do not use an eye shadow brush, as it will produce a distinct line rather than a blended appearance.
- Powdered eyeshadows packaged in compacts and pots are by far the most popular formulas. Because of this, powdered formulas will provide the widest range of shades and colors.
- If you have oily skin, or if you want to experiment with a lot of different highlighter looks, try a powdered eyeshadow formula first.
2
Try a creamy formula if you have dry skin. Apply the cream shadow with a highlighter brush or fingertip. Creamy eyeshadow formulas will glide onto dry skin easily and provide a natural-looking glow.^{[8]
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- If you have dry skin, the last thing you want to do is make it even drier. Powdered eyeshadow, just like regular face powder, can dry out your skin, emphasize wrinkles and create the least natural-looking results.
- Unlike powder, cream formulas won’t collect in wrinkles and folds, which tends to emphasize these imperfections.
3
Create a dramatic sheen with a liquid formula. Apply liquid shadow with a fingertip and blend it with a clean makeup sponge. Liquid eyeshadows have a similar consistency to foundation and, in some cases, may be even thinner. These formulas glide on with very little effort.
- These products are often sold in metallic shades that can create a very dramatic highlight. If you want to create an intense glow, opt for a liquid eyeshadow formula.
- Look for names that reference metallic substances, or use words like “glow” “moondust” or “glitter” on the packaging.^{[9]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Applying the Eyeshadow

1
Use a shimmery shade on your cheekbones. Highlighter can alter how your facial structure is perceived, particularly your cheekbones. Applying it near your cheeks also provides a healthy looking glow to your complexion. Apply the eyeshadow along your cheekbones, or slightly above them. Aim for the highest point of your cheeks to add the most dimension to your face.^{[10]
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Research source} Blend the eyeshadow out toward your temples.^{[11]
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- Any formula will do, but a cream or liquid formula is often recommended to create a natural looking glow.
- For the most natural looking results, highlight after you’ve applied your foundation, but before you apply blush.
EXPERT TIP

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist in Georgia. She has been a hair stylist since 2007 and a cosmetology teacher since 2013.

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist

Apply highlighter to any areas you’d like to brighten. Cosmetologist Laura Martin says, “Add highlighter to areas where light naturally hits or where you want to add a pop of brightness. Just under the brows, at the top of the cheekbones, and at the inner corners of the eyes are common places to apply it.”
2
Brighten up your eye area. Highlighter used near the eyes functions in two ways. When applied under your eyes, it can banish dark circles in the same way concealer does. If you apply it to the inner corners, it “opens up” your eyes and gives you a brighter, more refreshed overall look.
- Apply it to either or both areas, depending on what you’re going for, and then blend out so that the effect looks natural.^{[12]
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- Additionally, you can accentuate your eyes and give them a “lift” by applying highlighter right above and right below your brow bones.^{[13]
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3
Make your nose look smaller. Highlighter can help you make your nose appear smaller or thinner. Apply a shimmery color down the bridge of your nose. Then use a shade that is one or two shades darker than your natural skin tone along the sides of your nose. Blend everything very well, so that it looks smooth and natural.^{[14]
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- Apply a dot of highlighter in your cupid’s bow above your top lip to complete your dewy look.^{[15]
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Expert Q&A

Question

Are bronzer and highlighter the same thing?

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist in Georgia. She has been a hair stylist since 2007 and a cosmetology teacher since 2013.

Laura Martin

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

No, they're not. Bronzer is generally darker than your skin and is designed to mimic or enhance a slight tan. Highlighter is brighter than your skin and is designed to create a luminous look.
Question

Do you apply foundation on your eyelids?

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist in Georgia. She has been a hair stylist since 2007 and a cosmetology teacher since 2013.

Laura Martin

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

Foundation is usually too creamy, sheer, or wet to provide effective crease-free coverage on eyelids. You can apply concealer on your eyelids to create an even base or just use a primer and eyeshadow.
Question

What does a highlighter do in makeup?

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist in Georgia. She has been a hair stylist since 2007 and a cosmetology teacher since 2013.

Laura Martin

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

Highlighter creates brightness, drawing the eye to the areas where it's applied and enhancing bone structure. For example, you can add a thin line of highlighter to the center of your nose to make it look straighter and more slender.