Strobing

It's hard for anything to be innovative these days. When flicking through Vogue you'll see lots of beautiful ad campaigns all of which have a nod to trends of the past. Spring/Summer issues will always roll out 60's and 70's looks from Biba or Woodstock and Winter issues quite frequently take a Mary Antoinette ethereal direction. You can see reflections of the past on nearly every page.

We have worked in the industry a long time and have been known to give a sigh and an eye roll when a new way to apply makeup comes along. The sound bites heard backstage at the various fashion weeks can sometimes be comical to listen to.. "it's black but it's white, "it's a matte look which has a sheen". If you've ever sat and watched a backstage interview with a key artist you'll know what we mean. It's really hard to come up with a new term to describe a trend we have seen roll out season upon season.

One of the latest trends in makeup which has been kicking around is strobing. A technique which has probably been born out of rebellion against contouring. 
 We all know about contouring and just how difficult it can be to get right. Strobing is basically using products to highlight and project rather than contour and recede.
 It's actually a much more 'real' look and heaps easier to achieve. It's hard to get strobing wrong really.
 By using various highlighting creams and liquids simply apply with a buffing brush to the high points of the face or anywhere which the light would naturally catch.
 The best highlighters to use are ones which give a pearl or soft golden sheen (depending on your skin tone) rather than products infused with glitter. Anything glittery will look fake, you need to use balmy products which create a natural radiance.

Here are some of our favourite products to use to create a strobe/highlight on the skin in a cream, liquid or powder...

MAC Cream colour base
£15.00-http://www.maccosmetics.co.uk

These are pressed creams which have a thick balmy texture. They create a radiant sheen without looking metallic. Nic quite often wears Hush cream colour base on her cheekbones. They are available in different colours depending on your skin tone. Probably one of favourite highlighting products.

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector
£33.00-http://uk.spacenk.com

This is a pump action, liquid highlighter, available in five shades. Our favourite shade is pearl but if you have a lighter or deeper skin tone than us then there is still an option for you.
 It's water based so it glides on and sinks in to give an illusion of a natural radiance. The light reflection is from the fine mica particles, not a glittering finish but a smooth satin gloss look.


The Balm- Mary-Lou Manizer
£17.49 http://www.superdrug.com

  A pressed powder highlighter in a mirrored compact.The colour is perfect for a fair to medium skin tone and never looks powdery or metallic. The honey toned shade is perfect for a natural radiance and can be used over the eyes also.