What Is An Eyeshadow Highlighter And How To Use It For Brighter, Lifted Eyes

We have all heard of highlighters in makeup, both face and eyeshadow highlighters. Highlighting is a popular eyeshadow trend that is a really easy, neat and useful trick. At Red Apple Lipstick, this technique is especially helpful for almost any makeup look.

In this guide, you will learn what an eyeshadow highlighter is, why it makes such a difference, exactly where to place it and which Red Apple Lipstick shades work beautifully as highlighters for both eyes and face.

What is an eyeshadow highlighter

Highlighting with eyeshadows means using a lighter shade to softly brighten specific areas of the eye so they appear more open, awake and lifted. The effect mimics a flattering, sunlit glow that pulls features gently forward instead of flattening them.

Any shade that is lighter than your skin tone can act as a highlighter. You do not have to buy a product labeled “highlighter.” Many light shades in your existing eyeshadow collection already work as beautiful highlighting colors.

Why highlight with eyeshadow

The purpose of highlighting is to draw attention to certain areas, liven the face and accentuate your favorite features. Light and bright colors appear bigger and come forward, which is exactly why a good highlighter shade makes such a difference around the eyes.

Using a highlighting eyeshadow adds dimension and gives the appearance of brighter, bigger, more awake looking eyes. It brings more attention to your eye color and helps give the whole eye area a lifted, more youthful look.

Highlighting is especially helpful on days when you have not had much sleep or simply want a little extra oomph. It is also a fantastic trick for those with smaller eyes, because it can make them look wider and more open when placed in the right spots.

What shades make a good eyeshadow highlighter

An eyeshadow highlighter is basically the same idea as a face highlighter, just in an eyeshadow formula. These shades usually come as powders, pressed pans or creams and live in the lighter part of your palette.

Great highlighting shades are lighter than your skin tone and usually live in the nude, white or neutral color families. You can choose these shades in either matte finish or shimmer and pearlescent finishes.

Shimmer highlights are fun and beautiful, especially in small areas. On more mature skin, heavy shimmer across large areas can sometimes emphasize texture, so you might prefer a softer shimmer or a matte highlight instead. Your mileage may vary, so it is all about what feels good on your own skin.

Highlighting the eyes is especially useful if your eyes are on the smaller side. Just avoid highlighting the entire eyelid. Instead, focus on the smaller highlight zones below so you lift and brighten without washing the lid out completely.

How to highlight with eyeshadow like a pro

The secret to flattering highlighting is location. For the eyes, there are two main areas to focus on: the inner corners and the brow bones just under the brows, above the crease or transition area.

An eyeshadow brush with the right shape will make this easier and more precise. The Vegan Crease and Blend Brush and the Vegan Oval Wet/Dry Eye Brush both work beautifully for highlighting because they are not too big or too small and are gentle on sensitive eyes.

Highlight the inner corner

Using a small eye brush, apply a light amount of your highlight shade to the inner corners of your eyes. You can bring it about one third of the way across the eyelid, but no farther. This keeps the look bright without taking over your whole lid.

Shades and finishes for the inner corner: this is the perfect spot for shimmer at any age. Because the area is small, shimmer here adds a subtle sparkle instead of looking too frosty. A matte shade can also look lovely if you prefer a softer, velvety finish.

Placing a highlighter in the inner corner makes the eyes look bigger, wider and fresher. Start with a light application and build slowly. When your look is complete, the highlight should blend in and feel softly bright, not harsh or stripey.

Highlight the brow bone

Apply a small amount of highlight all the way underneath your eyebrows, right along the brow bone. You can use the same shade as your inner corner if you like, though many people prefer a matte shade here that is just lighter than their natural skin tone.

Specific tips for hooded lids and shimmer versus matte:

1. Shimmer or pearlescent shades on the brow bone can read very retro if they are strong and unblended. Since we want a subtle lift and brightness, choose either a soft shimmer applied with a very light hand or a matte shade that melts into the skin. Matte highlight shades are an especially sophisticated choice for anyone over 50.
2. If you have hooded or “droopy” lids, the brow bone often looks larger because the hood is part of that area. Highlighting the entire visible brow bone here can make the eyes look smaller. Instead, use a smaller amount of highlight and create your “crease” slightly above where it naturally falls. For more help, see the full tutorial in this guide to applying eyeshadow on hooded eyes.

When you highlight the brow bone correctly, it brightens the whole area and draws attention upward. This gives the eyes a more lifted, refreshed appearance and frames your eye makeup beautifully.

Can you use highlighting eyeshadows on the face

While Red Apple Lipstick does not offer dedicated face highlighters, the same highlighting eyeshadows work wonderfully on the face. Multipurpose products keep your routine simpler and your makeup bag lighter.

Face highlighting adds a pretty glow to the complexion and emphasizes certain features so they stand out without looking overdone.

Using a small, soft powder brush, apply your highlight shade high on the cheekbones, along the top of the forehead, down the bridge of the nose and on the cupid’s bow above the top lip. A light hand creates a natural radiance that looks beautiful in both daylight and evening light.

For even more ideas on highlighting your eyes and face, you can read The Ultimate Guide To Highlighting With Eyeshadows on the Red Apple Lipstick blog.

Red Apple Lipstick highlighting eyeshadows

Now let us look at some specific Red Apple Lipstick eyeshadows that work beautifully as highlighters. A highlighting shade does not have to be stark white. Many soft neutrals and light browns make very flattering highlights, especially when matched to your skin tone.

The shades below are grouped into shimmery or pearlescent highlighters and matte highlighters so you can choose the finish that fits your style and skin texture.

Shimmery or pearlescent highlight eyeshadows

Shimmery shades give a pretty sheen or glow that is especially lovely for evenings and special occasions. Pearlescent formulas from Red Apple Lipstick are smooth and satiny rather than glittery, so they look refined and flattering instead of sparkly or chunky.

Buttercream

Buttercream is a light, shimmering off white eyeshadow with a slight yellow tint. It catches the light in a stunning way, which makes it a perfect all over highlight shade.

Use Buttercream on the brow bone for an instant lift, at the inner corner to open and light up the eyes and at the center of the lids for a soft glow. You can even tap a tiny bit on the cupid’s bow to make lips look fuller. It is a true staple highlighter shade.

Champagne

Champagne is a light golden frosty taupe shade. Applied lightly, it makes a gorgeous inner corner and brow bone highlight, especially on medium to deeper complexions that want a little warmth.

Iced Mocha

Iced Mocha is a light frosted taupe with a hint of dusty rose mauve. It can be applied lightly to the inner corner or blended up toward the brow bone for a soft, cool toned highlight.

Innocence

Innocence is a light, bright white eyeshadow with an opalescent metallic sheen. It is an ultimate highlighter shade that works with any eye color and pairs well with almost every eyeshadow look.

Highlight the inner corners and sweep Innocence up to the brow bone for an instant lift. You can also press a touch onto the center of the lid to draw light to the center of the eye.

Golden Ticket

Golden Ticket is a beautiful shimmering gold eyeshadow. It is a stunning highlighting shade for deeper and warmer complexions that want golden light instead of white.

Like U Latte

Like U Latte is a soft light rosy caramel tan with a gentle shimmer. It makes an excellent brow bone highlight for darker and deeper complexions that prefer a subtle, skin like glow.

Sand Castle

Sand Castle is a light nude peach with golden shimmer. Applied lightly, it is a gorgeous highlighter for medium to dark complexions.

It makes a beautiful highlight on the inner corner and brow bone and can even be dusted over the cheekbones for a warm, luminous finish.

Matte highlight eyeshadows

Matte eyeshadows make fantastic highlighters for any age and any occasion, especially for everyday wear. They brighten and awaken the eyes in a softer, more natural way. A perfect matte highlighter is usually just a few shades lighter than your skin tone.

Heirloom

Heirloom is a matte light yellow “banana cream” shade. It works beautifully as a base shadow and as a matte highlight for the inner corner and brow bone.

Hush Hush

Hush Hush is a matte light peach shade. It is another excellent base color and a perfect matte highlight option for medium skin tones that want warmth without shimmer.

Pixie Dust

Pixie Dust is a soft, light matte pink with the tiniest hint of peach. It makes a lovely matte highlight for the brow bone and can also be used at the inner corner for a gentle, romantic brighten.

Porcelain

Porcelain is a light matte off white creamy nude with a soft pink and peachy yellow tint. It is an ideal subtle highlight for the brow bone and a beautiful base shade to even out the lid.

Have you found a favorite eyeshadow highlighter yet? Share your picks in the comments along with the features you love to make stand out, whether it is bright eyes, lifted brows or a softly glowing cheekbone.

Frequently asked questions

Still wondering how highlighter fits into your routine? These quick answers will help.