An Instagram user is illuminating all of us with her highlight and she's revealing her secrets to achieving the 'lens flare' effect.
The latest technique in getting that perfect glow is changing up the highlighting game.
Just when we thought we got the highlight down pat, an Instagram user is outshining all of us with her glowy cheekbones.
The girl on Instagram goes by the username @thestudyofmakeup and her highlight is out of this world. I mean, ‘so out of this world,’ that the camera flash can’t even handle it, creating an actual lens flare on her face.
In an interview with Allure, the girl behind @thestudyofmakeup, shared her tips on how to achieve this awesome highlight.
What tools are needed?
Instead of using a typical fan brush, like most girls, she recommends using an eyeshadow brush.
“I use a very dense wet eyeshadow brush. This technique condenses the pigment and centralizes it.”
What highlight does this girl use?
The glowing goddess says she uses a Triple Baked Highlighter from Makeup Revolution (which can be found at Ulta) in the shade Goddess of Love.
“It’s triple baked for maximum pigment pay-off and luminosity.”
Another favorite of hers is also from Makeup Revolution, called the Triple Baked Rainbow Highlighter in Unicorn Heart.
In regards to the different tones of highlight (icy or warm) @thestudyofmakeup says that it completely depends on your personal skin tone. Since she has a paler undertone in her skin, she sticks to highlighters that are more on the ‘icy’ side of the highlighting spectrum.
“Since white doesn’t absorb light, it only reflects it, it is much brighter and reflective than pink or gold highlighters, which are more popular.”
How do you apply the highlight?
In terms of where to put the product, she says the best place to apply the highlight is on the highest part of the cheekbones and on the tip of the nose. Then once the highlight is all in place, use a setting really seal the deal.
Okay, but how do you photograph the highlight correctly?
She recommends using natural light for getting the best effect.
“Artificial ring lights give out very cool-toned, harsh light and that dulls reflection. Natural lighting gives my highlight the most intense finish.”
Alright, this all seems very simple and easy to follow along. Well, so we thought…
PLOT TWIST
She revealed that the main secret in getting that flare highlight is by placing a Swarovski crystal (from a crystal tiara her boyfriend gave her) in the middle of her highlight.
“Every time I wore it, it would sparkle and flare from the lights and reflect rainbows. So I thought, ‘What if I placed a crystal in the center of my highlight and tried to capture the lens flare?'”
Well, while most of us don’t ‘casually’ have Swarovski crystals in our house, she did give us some good tips when it comes to highlighter options and tools.
I mean, she does use affordable highlighters, considering Makeup Revolution highlighters are only $7 and eyeshadow brushes can be purchased cheaply.
While we kind of a tiny bit scammed by this awesome illusion, it is cool to learn about peoples’ “behind the scenes” secrets, when it comes to their eye-catching Instagram photos. Maybe some of us can achieve this if we just find the right angle? Or maybe someone else can find an easier alternative to creating this lens flare effect…
If worse comes to worse, there’s always Photoshop.