In our recent roundup of the freshest holographic highlighter launches, we chanced upon an uncanny trend that has been silently bubbling among beauty brands. Have a quick scroll through those palettes with iridescent pigment, and you’ll realise that apart from the running theme of unicorns and mermaids, there is this one colour that has been repeatedly appearing in our palette picks.
Blue.
Different hues and tones of blue, in fact. Some of them fall a little more green, others have lilac reflects, and a couple of them silver-based. Naturally, they aren’t always the first-picked when it comes to an everyday highlighter choice; why else would shades like rose gold and champagne sell so well? But as random as blue might seem, there has to be a reason for the (not-so) coincidental colour pick across brands.
Popping on a blue highlight, depending on the type of blue selected, exhibits the same effect as how a lilac highlight would. Basically, they help brighten your overall complexion. Purple is increasingly being accepted as a conventional highlighter hue, so if you’re one who prefers a “thrill factor” — like how a colleague puts it — blue is for you.
Ahead, a couple of ways to rock a blue highlight:
We’d never have thought blue highlighter would go so well with a red lip. You don’t necessarily have to match it with a blue eye look; a typical warm brown eye will work as well — the pop of blue will serve to balance and contrast against the warm tones present.
Never mind if you’re not keen to embark on the journey of having a streak of blue on your cheekbones (yet); turn instead to the inner corners of your eyes. Having a dab of blue right at the tip instantly brightens and livens up the look of your peepers, and just like how wearing a blue-based lipstick can help your teeth look whiter, the same theory applies on the eyes — it’ll enhance the white parts, allowing for a fresher and rejuvenated gaze. (Even if you only had three hours of sleep the night before.)
A pastel blue highlight can be an everyday glow! They work especially well for the cool-toned beauties out there; just remember to keep things clean and simple with an adequate amount of warmth on the other parts of your face.
But if you’re ever in the mood for a themed look, no harm trying blue as an option. We’re particularly enjoying that ombré lip, and blue highlighters with a green tint work best for folks with a yellower skin undertone.
And to help you get started, some of our blue highlighter picks:
L-R: Sleek Makeup Distorted Dreams Highlighter Palette, €13.99, available on sleekmakeup.com. Zoeva Winter Strobe Spectrum, $40, available at Sephora and sephora.sg. Makeup Academy Undress Your Skin Highlighting Powder in Ice Sparkle, £3.00, available at muastore.co.uk. Jeffree Star Cosmetics Skin Frost in Deep Freeze, US$29, available at jeffreestarcosmetics.com.
Header Image: @shine.shadows IG
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