It may seem that in 2018, virtually every beauty brand under the sun offers a veritable slew of highlighting products to achieve a blindingly strobed look. You can choose from powder, cream, liquid, and even jelly formulas — plus there are even layering techniques to achieve the most beaming glow possible. However, before shimmery powders and dewy liquid formulas flooded drugstore and Sephora shelves alike, makeup artists had to MacGyver their way to achieving the desired levels of highlight. What did they reach for? Everything from unpretentious, unsexy Aquaphor ointment to crystal-clear lip gloss and everything in between. We rounded up seven makeup artist-approved products and they did not hold back on sharing their best secrets. So whether you're not a fan of regular highlighters' obvious shimmer effect, want to streamline your beauty routine with double-duty products, or are simply looking to switch things up, consider this your new guard of un-highlighters. If nothing else, these pro recommendations are great to keep in mind when you run out of your usual stuff.
Images courtesy of brands
Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream Skin Protectant
Nick Barose — the makeup artist behind some of Lupita Nyong’o, Rachel Weisz, and Zoe Saldana's most gorgeous red carpet makeup moments — counts this classic moisturizing ointment as one of his go-tos for an instantly radiant complexion. "[It's] great, especially for super dry skin," he tells Allure. "Shimmer highlighter can turn frosty and make you look even drier. This balm has a rich consistency and sometimes I dab and blend a small amount on top of cheekbones and eyelids to add dewiness and a natural-looking glow that catches the light without being too shimmery."
$22 (Shop Now)
Lancôme Prep & Hydrate Primer
Another staple of Barose's kit? Lancôme's Prep & Hydrate Primer, which instantly gives skin an illuminated appearance and offers a heavy dose of hydration. "On deep skin like Lupita, the glow is there already so you don’t need to add too much frost or shimmer," says Barose. "Sometimes all you need is just a little shine by applying this to specific areas of the face you want to highlight. Then, I also avoid powdering those areas so the sheen coming through catches the light."
$35 (Shop Now)
M.A.C. Lipglass in Clear
“I love to use M.A.C. Lipglass on the cheeks and eyes for an ultra-shiny glow," makeup artist and photographer Beau Nelson tells Allure. "I just use my finger to tap it on. It’s a bit sticky so wearing hair down isn’t ideal, but if you have hair in a pony nothing can beat that glow.” Truer words have never been spoken.
$18 (Shop Now)
Aquaphor Healing Ointment
It's not exactly sexy but if it's good enough for Meghan Markle, it sure as hell is good enough for us. Makeup artist (and Honest Beauty Creative Color Consultant) Daniel Martin has been known to use this all-purpose balm to create a photo-ready glow on the duchess's cheekbones.
$12 (Shop Now)
Weleda Skin Food
If you follow makeup artist Katie Jane Hughes on Instagram, chances are you've probably seen this bright green tube once…or twice…or too many times to count in her tutorials. "Weleda Skin food [is] the natural, cool girl's highlighter," she tells Allure. "I love to use this under a full-coverage foundation to make it super, super glowy, or press a little bit on to the high points of the cheekbone for a gorgeous, I-just-went-for-a-jog sheen."
$13 (Shop Now)
Wander Beauty Glow Ahead Face Oil
Looking for a strobed look that will pop on your Instagram feed? Hughes also recommends Wander Beauty's nifty face oil (in a dropper tube) for the ultimate glow. (Guess it really does live up to the name.) "It’s a hyper-shiny finish that you can mix with anything that you want," she says. "Or, you can put it on top of makeup very delicately with a duo fiber eye shadow brush or small blush brush."
$48 (Shop Now)
True Botanicals Nutrient Mist
If you're looking for an instant, all-over highlight, a face mist is the way to glow go. "I like to spray True Botanicals' Nutrient Mist onto a Beautyblender and tap on the high points of the face to refresh makeup and draw out radiance," makeup artist Emily Cheng tells Allure. "It smells and feels great while leaving the skin looking radiant and fresh. The product consists of a lot of natural oils like jasmine and frankincense for a very subtle approach to highlighting."
$28 (Shop Now)
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