How to Use Highlighter for Every Face Shape: A Makeup Artist's Guide

As a makeup artist, one of the most common questions I get from clients is how to use highlighter correctly for their unique face shape. Highlighter has the magical ability to enhance the natural structure of your face, adding dimension, radiance, and a beautiful, dewy glow. But the key to getting it right is knowing where to apply it based on your individual features. The placement of your highlighter can dramatically change the way your face looks, so let’s break down how to use highlighter for different face shapes.

In this blog, I’ll guide you through highlighter techniques that flatter every face shape, whether you have a round, oval, square, heart-shaped, or diamond-shaped face. Let’s dive into the world of highlighter and how to make it work for you!

A round face is characterized by soft, full cheeks and a rounded chin. While this face shape is often very youthful and cute, applying highlighter in the right places can add structure and definition to balance out the fullness. For round faces, start by applying highlighter to the tops of your cheekbones, just above where you contour or blush. This lifts the face and creates the illusion of higher, more sculpted cheekbones. A small dab of highlighter on the bridge of the nose can help elongate the face. Be sure not to apply too much or it might make the nose appear wider, so go for a subtle glow. Additionally, highlighting your cupid’s bow can help define the lips and create a more balanced, refined look.

Oval faces are often considered the most versatile and balanced, with gently rounded edges and a slightly narrower jawline. If you have an oval face, you have a lot of freedom in how you apply highlighter. The goal is to enhance your natural features without overdoing it. For oval faces, you can start by applying highlighter on the tops of your cheekbones to add subtle radiance and bring focus to your natural bone structure. A touch of highlighter in the middle of the forehead can add brightness, making the face appear more open and lifted. You can also highlight the center of your chin to add balance to your oval face shape. Since oval faces are already quite balanced, keep the highlighter placement soft and subtle for a natural, glowing finish.

A square face is defined by a strong jawline and a broad forehead, creating a more angular shape. The key when highlighting a square face is to soften these sharp angles and create a more feminine or rounded appearance. Start by applying highlighter just above your cheekbones, but not too far down the sides of the face. This helps to soften the jawline and create a more rounded appearance. To further soften the angles, lightly highlight along the jawline. This can give the jaw a smoother, more sculpted look. You can also add a touch of highlighter along the center of your forehead, just above the brows. This helps balance the broader jawline and brings attention upward.

Heart-shaped faces typically feature a wider forehead and high cheekbones, with a narrower, more pointed chin. The goal here is to draw attention away from the forehead and balance the proportions of your face. Apply highlighter just above the apples of your cheeks to accentuate your cheekbones and bring balance to the lower part of your face. Highlighting a small amount of highlighter at the very tip of your chin can help create a more rounded, softened look. You can also apply highlighter down the bridge of your nose to elongate the face and reduce the emphasis on the forehead.

Diamond-shaped faces tend to have wide cheekbones, a narrow forehead, and a pointed chin. The key here is to balance out the wider cheekbones by focusing on the forehead and chin areas to create more symmetry. Start by applying highlighter along the tops of your cheekbones to accentuate their natural prominence. However, don’t go too low or too far towards the center of the face, as it can draw attention to the wider parts of your cheeks. Highlighting the center of your forehead will balance the wide cheekbones by drawing attention upward. Apply a small amount just above the brow bone to add dimension. You can also apply a subtle dab of highlighter at the tip of your chin to soften the pointed appearance and create a more balanced overall look.

If you have a longer or more rectangular face shape, the goal is to create the illusion of width and balance out the vertical length. Strategic highlighting can help add more dimension to the sides of your face and make it appear more proportionate. Apply highlighter on the outer parts of your cheekbones, blending towards the temples. This helps add width and draws attention to the midsection of your face. A subtle touch of highlighter along the jawline can add volume to the lower part of your face, helping to create a more rounded, balanced look. Highlighting the middle of your forehead and chin adds brightness to the center of your face, bringing attention to the features you want to emphasize. By applying highlighter to the outer sections of your face, you can create the illusion of a wider, more balanced facial structure.

Highlighter is a powerful tool in makeup, and when applied correctly, it can truly enhance and complement your natural face shape. Whether you have a round, oval, square, heart-shaped, diamond-shaped, or long face, the right placement can add dimension, brighten your features, and give you that beautiful glow.

Remember, makeup is all about enhancing what you already have, and highlighter is one of the best ways to celebrate your unique face shape. Experiment with these techniques and find what works best for you—after all, glowing skin never goes out of style!

Happy highlighting!