Don’t you just love it when summer is approaching? I love how the sun sets so late and how it makes you feel like you have more daytime hours. Not to mention, plenty of things you can still do ‘til the sun goes down at about 7 or 8 p.m. And since you have so much “solar-powered” energy, you seem to be active and glowing throughout the day.
Speaking of glowing, there’s a new makeup trend that has been strutting its way to the limelight. This new trend gives your bronzer and contour kit their much-needed downtime because it gives way to dewy and glowy skin. Step aside contour, and give me some STROBE!
Strobing, as makeup experts call it, is the latest makeup trend we’ve seen on runway models, vloggers and well, everyone. And just like I mentioned earlier, it practically skips the chiseled features of a full contour in favor of dewy skin that glimmers in all the right places.
To make a clearer contrast, let’s talk about contouring and how it’s different from strobing.
Contour was popularized by Kim Kardashian and it’s one of the best beauty tricks that was introduced to us. Blending your makeup to achieve those killer cheekbones, a “painted” nose job, and a thinner face gives you unbelievable results. But as the summer heat rises, the feeling of foundations and powder (or cream) layered on your face becomes too heavy for a typical summer day.
Enter: strobing – in all its glorious highlights.
As opposed to contouring, strobing does the complete opposite of using a thick blend of darker and lighter shades to chisel your facial features, such as the cheeks, nose and chin. The only product you’ll need for strobing is an illuminating highlighter —and lots of it.
Forget the chiseled look that you get from painting your face with graphic lines of bronzer and blush because this “anti-contour” look is life-changing. Aside from it being “melt-proof,” the luminous look is just pretty – plus, wearing it is much more appropriate – and do-able before you do your summer activities (i.e. beach, hiking, etc.)
Teach me how to strobe
Strobe—even the word makes you want to dance—or maybe, it’s just me.
Strobing relies solely on highlighters and natural light to define your face to radiate a youthful look. While contouring requires the use of multiple products, strobing is a lot simpler and involves finding where the natural light hits, like the cheekbones, brows, nose and chin, and using the highlighter to define that area. Unlike contouring which often leaves a matte finish, strobing delivers a shimmery effect.
You can achieve this look by getting a glowy base for your makeup and apply a generous amount to your cheekbones, the bridge of your nose, below your brow bone, and at the corners of your eye, then blending in with your fingers or a sponge. It’s the perfect lightweight, radiant look.
Some may ask if it’s applicable to all skin tones – and my answer is, yes. If you are a fair to medium tone, you may use shades leaning on the champagne-y shade. If you are tanned to dark, you would want to use golds and deeper bronzed shades. For the fairer skin tones, you don’t want to use anything that’s too deep.
Mastering the look is not that hard. You start with a clear, smooth complexion. Then apply a lightweight, iridescent-tinted moisturizer to the face and neck, blending well. There are so many strobe-oriented products out there. They come in liquid, cream and powder form. Choose what suits your skin best. Next, you’ll want to apply a highlighter to the most prominent areas of your face, including the top of your cheekbones, the bridge of your nose and the upper-middle forehead. A helpful trick would be to picture where the sunlight hits most directly and apply there. For a final touch, apply a light, slightly-shimmery translucent powder to set the look.
Achieve a full summer strobe-y look by letting your radiant skin be the star. Keep the rest of your look simple. Strong eyebrows and a little mascara are all you need.
This makeup trend is so right up my alley. I love a fresh and natural look. Even my clients can attest to that. What better way to enjoy a summer glow but to don a fresh, youthful — but still well-defined — complexion, sans the traditional contouring.
Whoever thought of strobing is a genius, I am definitely a fan!
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Monet Lu is a Marikina-born, award-winning celebrity beauty stylist with his own chain of Monet Salon salons across Southern California and Las Vegas, Nevada. Ultimately, Monet is known as an all-around artiste who produces sold-out fashion and awards shows as well as unforgettable marketing campaigns. Monet is also the founder of the revolutionary all-natural beauty products such as Enlighten, your solution to discoloration . To contact Monet, please visit www.monetsalon.com or email him at [email protected]
