#SupermodelSecrets: How to Highlight

It may not be time to ditch the winter parkas for bikinis quite yet, but let your gorgeous face be the catalyst for seasonal change. Say goodbye to winter skin and hello to a bronzy glow.

There is a fine line we golden goddesses dance with bronzers and self-tanners.  You want to look sun kissed, but if you aren’t careful and don’t choose your products wisely, you will end up with Oompa Loompa orange as your skin tone. Other than Halloween or a movie set, that isn’t a good look for anybody.  So orange you glad, I’m the kind of girl that LOVES to share all her tips and tricks?!?  I’ve taken an excerpt directly from my book, The Everyday Supermodel, to give you the scoop on getting that gorgeous bronzed glow

How to Highlight:

A bronzed look with added highlight gives dimension and brings out the beauty of a face.  Without highlighter, the look can just seem a bit dirty.  Highlight can be added to a variety of makeup looks.  It also looks fresh on bare, makeup-free skin.  Every skin tone and color can benefit from it.  There is a difference between highlighting and strobe lighting.  Pay attention to these rules.

• Focus on the high points of the face.
• Sweep a little under the eyebrow and a bit on the Cupid’s bow of your lip.
• With a small brush, run a line of highlighter down the bridge of the nose.
• Place a dab at the top of the cheekbone making sure not to apply any to the apple.
• Blend in with a sponge or tap in with your fingers.
• Take a clean sweep across the face lightly to blend any lines.
• Finish with a translucent powder just on the T-zone and on the sides of the nose.
• Highlighter is also beautiful placed on the tops of shoulder and along the collarbone.

Tools of the trade

Got brushes?  If not, don’t worry, I’ve got some of my favorites to show you like this multi-purpose (concealing/highlighting/sculpting) gem from Make Up For Ever. It can even be used with cream, gel as well as compact and loose powders.  Make Up For Ever also rocks the house with their small and medium highlighter brushes.

As far as product, my dear friend and celebrity make up artist, Monika Blunder, loves using Tom Ford’s Shade and Illuminate for highlighting and contouring. And because Tom is beyond chic and amazing of course he has a brush created specifically for your highlighting and contouring needs.  One of my absolute favorites is the Radiant Touch Highlighter from YSL. Momma loves a good all-in-one and this yummy treat from Kevyn Aucion rings all the bells.  Named the sensual skin enhancer, this waterproof formula delivers complete coverage when used as a concealer, highlighter, an allover foundation, or as a contour. I’m also kind of geeking over the Urban Decay Naked Flushed palette. You can also turn up the luminosity with Benefit’s Watt’s Up.

Because some of you are like me and appreciate a good visual, here’s a video of me and my one of my glam squad favorites, Joey Maalouf, showing you how to get that perfect sun kissed makeup.