The Blush And Highlighter Hack That Ups The Glow Factor Of Your Look

If you keep up with makeup trends, then you already know that glowing, dewy skin is fashionable right now. From shimmery golden hour glow makeup to the more matte variation, cloud skin, the last year has been a celebration of light, ethereal makeup looks.

As fun as warm, glowy makeup is, striking the balance between shine and color is tricky. A glowing makeup style is usually achieved with a creamy blush and highlighter combination, but how and where you place your products matters a great deal. Poor placement of blush and highlighter can leave your face looking sunburnt and sweaty.

Fortunately, makeup lovers have developed a multitude of methods to ensure that blush and highlighter add a warm, sun-kissed glow to your face. If most application methods are too complicated for your taste, you're in luck: the latest blush and highlighter hack only takes a few seconds and guarantees a perfect highlight every time.

Do you hate having to pinpoint the exact spots on your cheeks where you need to put blush and highlighter? If so, you'll love the arrow method. It might sound funny at first, but the arrow method is simply applying your blush and highlighter in the shape of an arrow.

Start with a cream highlighter, either a liquid or stick product. Draw a curved line extending from the top of your cheekbones to your temples. Then go in with a cream blush and draw the tip of the arrow pointing toward your cheek. Next, blend it out with your favorite brush or sponge. If you end up with too much highlighter on your cheeks, you can spread it out over your eyelids for a subtle eye shimmer.

If you aren't sure of where to place the curved line of highlighter, think of the parts of your cheeks that naturally reflect light — this is where you want the bottom of your highlighter line to start. As you bring the line up your face, try to stop it around where your brow bone sticks out. The brow bone (the bone where your eyebrow sits) is often overlooked when highlighting, but it plays an integral role in your facial structure, per L'Oréal Paris.

There are a few tips to keep in mind for making your glowing makeup even more dreamy. Dewy skin is beautiful because it looks hydrated and healthy. Take advantage of your natural glow by putting on a moisturizing primer before applying makeup. The American Academy of Dermatology also recommends moisturizing after washing your face to replenish any oils lost from cleansing.

The tools you use to apply your blush and highlighter also have a big impact on your final results. According to makeup artist Laramie Glen, a good blush brush will have dense, soft hairs and lightly spread the product on your skin, per Good Housekeeping. You can also use a damp makeup sponge or clean fingertips to blend the blush and highlighter.

You should also pay attention to your face shape when applying blush and highlighter. Everyone has a unique facial structure, with different cheekbone and brow bone shapes. Depending on your preference, you may choose to extend the shape of your cheeks by lifting your blush upward toward your temples. Or, as makeup artist Camara Aunique explains to Allure, you can apply blush to the center of your cheeks and closer to your nose to soften your face's angles. For highlighter, apply the product to whichever facial features you'd like to emphasize, such as high cheekbones or an elegant brow bone.