If you want glowy makeup, highlighter is a must. When used properly, highlighter can help brighten your features, emphasize the high points of your face, and give your skin a boost of radiance—though how much radiance is totally up to you. A light dusting of highlighter is great for mimicking a sunkissed glow, while high-intensity highlighter can give glam makeup looks a bit of extra intensity.

How you use your highlighter largely depends on the formula you’re using. Liquid highlighters, like our Born To Glow Liquid Illuminator, can be applied over or under your foundation to give the skin a naturally radiant look. Matte highlighters—that is, highlighters that are free of shimmer or sparkle—can be used alone or alongside contour or blush makeup to sculpt and shape your features. Finally, shimmer-infused powder highlighters, like Duo Chromatic Illuminating Powder, are ideal for emphasizing the high points of your face and giving your makeup a luminous finish. That said, how you use your highlighter is largely up to you, so experiment with different looks until you find your ideal glow.

Traditionally, highlighters are applied on the high points of the face or the areas you’d like to stand out. Areas like the cheekbones, bridge of the nose, and brow bones are typical areas to apply your highlight. That said, there is no rulebook—you can apply your highlighter wherever you want a little extra oomph (including all over, if that’s your vibe) . And while highlighter is most commonly used on the face, many of our powder highlighters can double as shimmer eyeshadow, while our Born To Glow Icy Highlighter Duo can be used on your body as well as your face.

Pro Tip: Apply highlighter to your collarbones and decolletage for extra-luminous skin.

Highlighter can be applied with any number of tools, including your fingers—what you use is largely a matter of personal preference. Fingers and sponges offer a more natural look to the skin, perfect for liquid or cream highlighter formulas. Brushes, meanwhile, will provide a fuller-coverage effect that works well with all formulas, especially powders. If you’re using a powder highlighter, we recommend lightly dusting it onto your cheekbones and nose with a flat-bristle fan brush or the angled tip of a makeup sponge. For your brow bone and inner corners, a small eyeshadow brush, like Micro Detail Brush, is ideal.

Generally speaking, highlighter is applied after foundation—but that’s not a hard-and-fast rule. Some liquid highlighters, including Born To Glow Liquid Illuminator, can be applied before your foundation to give your base a more glowy finish, while others, such as Total Control Pro Drop Foundation Illimunator, can be mixed directly with your liquid foundation to add a hint of reflectivity. Ultimately, it’s a matter of personal preference. If you prefer a subtle glow, using a liquid illuminator with your foundation will probably give you the best results. For a more intense highlight, apply your chosen formula after applying your base makeup and contour (and don’t forget to seal it all in when you’re done with a setting spray).

The brush you use to apply your highlighter can play a huge role in how your end result looks. Smaller areas, like the inner corners of your eyes and the brow bone, call for smaller, more precise brushes, while larger brushes can be used to cover more surface area (like your cheekbones). If you’re not sure if you have the right tools for the job, try getting your feet wet with Wonder Stick. The creamy formula is super easy to apply (literally, just draw on your face!), and the pigmented formula can be blended out with a sponge, a contour brush, or even your fingers. It’s one of the easiest ways to get your glow on.