The L.A summer glow
- thoradaniels
- Jun 24, 2017
- 4 min read
Hello All!
Not so long ago, I was in Los Angeles for a four day shoot. The weather was gorgeous and luckily we shot outside the entire time. I’m a real beach girl at heart and I loved every minute in the deserts and beaches over there. The light was so beautiful, and it inspires me to that glow and dewy California look where the skin is light and airy and catches the light, no matter where you are. While I am sure some girls are born like this, the majority of us achieve a youthful dewy look by using highlighters. And boy do I love those! They always bring that extra “je ne sais quoi” to the overall look. Be it for a natural look or full on red carpet look, it is an essential product to have in any makeup bag. I love them in all forms: powder, cream, liquid. You name it, and I have used it in one form or another and loved it.
For those of you that don’t know what is a highlighter: A highlighter is basically a makeup product that attracts light. It tricks the eye to focus on an area of the face and emphasize that area. So, if put on the right places (such as along your cheekbones, down the bridge of your nose, beneath the brow bone or at the inner corner of your eyes) it will give you a radiance boost and a beautiful glow.
How to achieve the glow:
I always start with moisturizing the skin... moisturizer is essential. I try to use a lightweight moisturizer and let it completely absorb. I then apply a base primer with SPF 30 .I tried to have the base foundation as transparent as possible. That way highlighter would always balance and I can get that glow that we wanted. After this, the skin is prepped and ready!
Different looks mean a different approach. Depending on the look I wanted, I would use my highlighter differently.
For a very light, transparent natural look, I would:
· Moisturizer/ Moisturizing Spay
· Primer - I would use my Charlotte Tilbury's All Over Glow (http://www.charlottetilbury.com/uk/wonderglow.html ) as a primer on the face before putting on the foundation. This product is lightweight and meant to be natural looking. For a transparent glow, try to avoid heavy foundations. This particular look is all about blending.
· Glow - I would use either MAC's Cream Color Base in "Frost" (http://www.maccosmetics.com/product/13848/316/Products/Makeup/Face/Multi-Use/Cream-Colour-Base#/shade/Shell) or Nars Copacabana ( http://fr.narscosmetics.eu/illuminator-copacabana/1eqhq/0607845023364 ) . Both of these colors are a creamy formula that works right into the skin - highlighting as part of the skin and not just on top of the skin. I applied it to all the right places, (high cheekbones, over the brows, bridge of the nose and chin) and played around with consistency. I either use my fingertips or a lightweight brush…both a good. Make up is fun – play with your highlighters and find the right amount for you. ..
· Finish – Highlighters can pick up pigment, so using the right blush can add to a "sun kissed" beach look. While shooting at the beach, I would use either Becca’s Rose Luminous blush (https://www.beccacosmetics.com/luminous-blush.html) or Mac’s new product, Hushed Tone Extra Dimension ( http://www.maccosmetics.com/product/13842/24963/products/makeup/face/blush/extra-dimension-blush#/shade/Hushed_Tone). Both of these helped to give that final touch to the overall glow. I also like to end with a mist to help set the look. If you find it is losing its freshness, a good mist throughout the day can help reactivate it.
· I did not use any loose or mattifying powder on this look.
For a more sophisticated look, I would:
· Moisturizer/Spray- this can stay the same. We always want to start with a good moisturizer to help prep the skin.
· Primer – Since this type of highlighting is more appropriate for nighttime and sunset shoots (which are gorgeous by the way if you ever make it out to The Joshua Tree!), the primer would still be transparent, but the foundation can have a little bit more coverage. I like to use
· Highlighter - We want to really make those highlighted areas pop, so I used a bit more pigmented highlighters. Two of my favorites - and the ones I stuck to on the whole trip – Becca's Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Highlighter in "Gold Pop" (http://www.sephora.fr/Maquillage/Teint/Enlumineurs/Shimmering-Skin-Perfector-Pressed-Enlumineur-poudre/P2691026 ) and Bobbi Brown's Shimmer Brick in "Bronze" (https://www.welovebeauty.fr/products/bobbi-brown/bronze-shimmer-brick-compact-3233 ) Since I wanted a more sophisticated and focused look, I only applied these to the cheekbones, under the eyebrows, and in the corner of the eyes. This helps to try the eye directly to the center of the face.
· Finish – I liked to add an extra dimension with the blush so I went with a bronzer on these looks. I like to use Shishedo Bronzer in a color that matches the skin tone – preferably light medium to medium. I also used a pinkier toned blush for lighter skin tones. The blush would either be a bronzer, like “Shiseido bronze” ( http://www.shiseido.com/bronzer/9990000000073,en_US,pd.htmlr ) or a pinker toned Mac's Hushed Tone Extra Dimension blush(
http://www.maccosmetics.com/product/13842/24963/products/makeup/face/blush/extra-dimension-blush#/shade/Cheeky_Bits ). This particular blush is one of my favorites this summer as it has a great blend of copper and pink.
· If needed I would use a little of MAC transparent loose power (http://www.maccosmetics.com/product/13825/4462/Products/Skincare/Primers/Prep-Prime-Transparent-Finishing-Powder ) to mattify certain areas, like between the eyebrows, over the higher lip and the chin.
Highlighters look good on everyone, just as long as you pick the right color ton for your skin. And for that golden glow, remember the golden rule LESS IS MORE. The highlighting process should be about building into the color.
Here are some basic skin color selections for picking the right highlighter:
Fairs skin: ivory, pearlescent, champagne sheen
Medium to olive skin: peach or golden undertones
Dark skin: variations of rose gold and bronze
I can’t wait to share my L.A photos with you when they come out.! Until then girls, go all glowy on me! Send pictures and comments and let me know your favorites!
Kommentarer