In my opinion, highlighter is one of the greatest makeup products ever to be made. Whether you use it to enhance your cheekbones, your inner eyelids, or to just give your face a bright and sparkly glow, highlighter can elevate your makeup game, bringing it to the next level. I consider myself to be somewhat of a highlighter expert, but there is one thing I still haven't done with the handy product: use highlighter on my cupid's bow for a fuller pout. I've heard about the hack, but I never thought to try it until now.
I took it to the Internet to learn why highlighter could be the one product everyone's been searching for in their mission to recreate a luscious, Kylie-esque pout. Model Jessica Stam told Elle, "The best kept secret that I've learned from makeup artists is to add a bit of highlighter or shimmer to your cupid's bow. It instantly opens up your lips and makes them look twice as large. I do this every time I go to an event." So that's why everyone puts highlighter on top of their lips!
Beauty blogger, Trisha Bartle, agrees with Stam. In a blog post on Makeup Files, Bartle wrote, "For the same reason that you highlight your brow bone, cheekbones or the inner corner of your eye: to add dimension and brightness to your face. Unfortunately, the cupid’s bow dimple is often forgotten."
Highlighting my lips is definitely something I never do, so I wanted to see if it really made a difference. Armed with me Watt's Up Highlighter Cream from Benefit, I decided to try it out for myself.
Benefit "Watt's Up!" Cream-To-Powder Highlighter, $30, Sephora
1. I Applied It To My Cupid’s Bow
First, I applied the cream to my cupid's bow and then let it sit. Because of the size of my highlighter I found it easier to just do a straight line from the bottom of my nose to the top of my lip.
2. I Dabbed A Little All Around
Next I took a little bit of the highlighter on my fingers and dabbed them around my lips. I put a little on the top, on the sides, and then on the bottom.
3. I Blended It In
After I placed the highlighter where it needed to be, I took a sponge blender and blended it into my foundation.
4. I Applied Lip Gloss Over Lipstick
Clinique Long Last Soft Matte Lipstick, $17, Sephora
First, I put on my lipstick.
Benefit Hoola Ultra Plush Lip Gloss, $16, Macy's
After, I put lip gloss on top of it for a more enhanced touch. I found that the neutral lip gloss worked in favor with the highlighter, and that they both complimented each other.
The Verdict
Since I have naturally full lips, I thought this hack would make my pout appear too large. However, I was really happy with the result and thought that the highlighter did a great job in accenting my lips, just enough to make them subtly stand out. Through this experiment, I discovered that if you want to go for a glowier, brighter look, definitely use a highlighter instead of a concealer around your lips.
Overall, I say that highlighting your cupid's bow can definitely be worth it! It's such a simple thing to do, and is super effective. If you want that effortless glow and a little touch of brightness around your pout to show off your brand new red lipstick, using a highlighter is the way to go. I'm definitely going to add this hack to my beauty routine more often.
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Images: Danelle Sandoval
