Last season
was all about contouring, a makeup technique that consists of shadowing and
highlighting to define and
shape your features. However, many women complained that contouring takes too
much time and
makeup products. Luckily, there’s a new technique trending and it’s much
simpler. And yes – today, we
are talking about strobing.
What’s Strobing?
A word
strobing comes from the verb to strobe, meaning to flash intermittently.
Knowing this, it’s not hard to
conclude that strobing has something to do with highlighting and illuminating.
It’s a makeup technique
that relies on highlighting products in order to enhance your natural features.
Strobing is
a growing trend this season because it creates a more natural looks and takes
far less time than
contouring. Bear in mind that strobing doesn’t mean you need to cover yourself
in highlighter and shine bright
like a diamond. You should carefully accentuate a few areas on your face where
the light wouldnaturally hit – brow bones, cheekbones, the center of the forehead, the bridge
of your nose, the cupid’s bow,
and chin. This will give you that fresh, dewy look. But, be careful - extra
highlighting can lead to
sweaty look, especially if you have oily skin.
How it’s
done?
Before you
start, prepare your skin by moisturizing it. Use an oil-free moisturizer if
your skin is naturally oily. Makeup
artists advise applying illuminating primer as the next step for maximum glow.
Choosing a highlighter
shade that matches your skin tone is a very important part. It should
complement your natural tone
for a subtle sheen. You should choose a cooler, pearl tone for pale skin and a
warmer, golden pearl
for dark skin.
Once you’ve
made your choice, you can start strobing. Apply highlighter to the previously
mentioned areas of
your face. You can use cream, liquid, or powder highlighter, it’s up to you.
Just make sure you don’t spread
it all over your face – it’ll look messy. Also, in case your skin is oily, you
might want to skip highlighting
T-zone or whatever another part of your face is naturally shiny. Blend a little
to make sure everything
is in its place. And there you go – your skin looks perfect and has a healthy
glow.
Some people
claim strobing is contouring for lazy people, but that’s very debatable.
Strobing emphasizes
the best features of your face, and leaves imperfections in the background. You
can finish off by
applying mascara and some lipstick. If you want to achieve the no-makeup look,
go for the hues that match
your natural lip colour. Natural organic lipsticks are the best option since
they’re free of any potentially
skin-harming chemicals and consist of nourishing fresh ingredients.
Who’s Strobing?
Although Kim
Kardashian popularized the contouring makeup technique, it’s her sister that
mastered the strobing
– Kendall Jenner. The great thing about this trend is that it looks good on any
face shape.
Strobing
also works for any skin type or colour, so no wonder that both Katy Perry and
Beyoncé can pull it off
perfectly. Beyoncé took it one step further – she used strobing to highlight
her cleavage so maybe that’s going
to be the next trend.
Celebrity or
not, strobing works like a charm for everyone. Contouring may have strong
ambassadors among
celebrities, but strobing is the technique that ruled the runway shows this
season. And although it’s a
relatively new thing, more and more celebrities are into it. But, more
importantly, it’s far simpler than
contouring. With a little effort and just a few beauty products, your skin can
become bright and radiant. And
looking pretty without applying tons of product – that’s the dream for this
generation of women.
Author BIO:
Sophia Smith
is Australian based fashion, beauty and lifestyle blogger. She could be
described as beauty addict and
life lover. She writes mostly in fashion and beauty related topics, mainly
through blogs and articles.
Sophia is regular contributor at High Style Life.
