Strobing in makeup: what is it?
Strobing (from the English strobing - “exposed”) is the sculpting of the face using a highlighter. They highlight specific areas to give the skin a healthy glow and a sexy, dewy glow.
The technology itself came to us from the USA. Celebrity makeup artist Susan Giordano claims that the technique of highlighting certain areas of the face has always existed, it’s just that now it’s been given a new “name.” The peak of strobing popularity occurred in 2015-2016. After the shows of Prada, Versace, Isabel Marant, Stella McCartney, Bottega Veneta, which released models with such makeup on the catwalk, the glowing look instantly became a hot trend. It is still relevant today!
Photos that clearly demonstrate what strobing is in makeup: this is the visual effect of young, fresh, sleek skin, as if illuminated from within.
Strobing makeup is often confused with contouring. Unlike the technique popularized by Kim Kardashian, the glowing skin look does not involve changing the face sculpture and looks much more natural. Its main task is to place the necessary accents with the help of highlights and thereby restore the radiance “eaten” by the foundation.
It is important to understand: spectacular makeup using the strobing technique, which we see in photos in glossy magazines or on the Instagram of beauty bloggers, will be inappropriate in everyday life. To create a wearable version of this trend, you need to know some nuances.
Strobing in makeup: what is it, description, features
Strobing in makeup is a facial correction technique that appeared relatively recently, but has already gained recognition from many beauties. Translated from English into Russian it means “flicker”. Its essence lies in the fact that the volume of the face is emphasized not by darkening some areas, as in contouring, but, on the contrary, by highlighting the protruding parts of the face with highlights and light.
Strobing in makeup - facial correction technique
Strobing does not involve outlining or creating new lines - another significant difference from sculpting. The main tool is a highlighter. It is applied with a volume brush or fingers to certain areas. The main trick is high-quality shading. Answering the question of what facial strobing is in makeup, first of all it is necessary to highlight its dominant role in completing the image. It is the application of products with which the skin seems to be illuminated from the inside that makes the appearance fresh and radiant. If the technique is performed correctly, the use of products will be invisible, and the appearance will be very impressive.
Strobing in makeup: step-by-step instructions
In fact, the usual use of highlighter in your everyday makeup is already strobing. For those who want to focus on smooth, even, radiant skin, we suggest “trying on” a simple, gentle and at the same time super-modern look. For light daytime makeup using the strobing technique you will need
- 2 types of highlighter (we have L'Oreal La vie en glow No. 02 and Glow Mon Amour in shades No. 01 and 02)
- Foundation, concealer
- Transparent finishing powder
- Blush (or pastel eyeshadow)
- Mascara
- Eyebrow pencil
Strobing technique in makeup: step-by-step instructions
How to properly apply makeup on your face at home: step by step
There are several facial strobing techniques: for photo shoots/filming and for everyday life. For the purposes of the first group, professionals work on makeup, applying a generous layer of highlighting products. This kind of makeup looks impressive in photographs and on camera, but in everyday use it looks ridiculous. You can perform light strobing and contouring without overloading your face on your own, following certain instructions.
Which highlighter to choose
Before you start mastering the technique, you need to choose the right tool. For high-quality strobing, two types of highlighter are used: cream and powder. Liquid or cream products do not contain individual glitter and therefore are evenly applied to the skin and blend well. Highlights are enhanced in certain areas by using highlighting powder on top of the liquid product. Poor-quality shading creates an unnatural glow effect, so this process should be given special attention. When choosing a powder highlighter, the grinding of the powder plays an important role. A product with small particles will form most naturally. Individual sparkles in the texture are not desirable.
A highlighter of a certain shade is selected for different zones: pearl to highlight the ridges on the face, blush will perfectly highlight a lilac or pink shade, gold and bronze will highlight the cheekbones and give the skin a natural tan effect.
Depending on your face type, you need to use different amounts of highlighter.
Depending on the type of face, you need to use different amounts of one or another type of highlighter. For those with oily skin, it is recommended to use a small amount of cream product and apply illuminating powder more generously, blending well. On the contrary, for dry skin types, you need to apply a cream highlighter and lightly powder with a loose product. Incorrect selection of cosmetics can lead to makeup running off or excessive expression wrinkles, which were practically invisible before applying cosmetics.
Note! Some girls mistakenly believe that bronzer is also suitable for strobing. This product can provide a natural glow to the skin only for dark-skinned beauties; it is not suitable for others.
Facial skin preparation
Depending on your skin type, you have to eliminate existing problems: oiliness or flaking. A mattifying product to tighten pores will help combat the first problem, and a moisturizer or nourishing makeup base will cope with dryness. Before you start strobing, you need to apply foundation and correctors to the prepared skin to completely even out your complexion.
Concealer application technique
Concealer is a tool that can be used to hide any imperfections. For deficiencies of a different nature, select a product of the required consistency and shade. A liquid or cream concealer will help disguise bruises and visible veins in the area under the eyes. This is due to the fact that a denser texture will not stay in the moving area for a long time and will clog even small wrinkles. This rule especially applies to older women with significant skin creases.
Concealer application technique
How to apply concealer correctly:
- Before applying concealer, you need to cleanse and moisturize your skin with cream;
- the next step is to apply foundation to the entire face;
- Using a brush or fingers, apply concealer under the eyes;
- it is necessary to shade the product as close as possible to the eyelash growth line using slapping movements (do not rub in);
- If there are minor skin imperfections, a thin layer of concealer should also be applied to them. If the layering effect is insufficiently masked, repeat the procedure. For significant defects, you should use a thick corrector.
Important! Do not apply concealer under foundation. The product is not intended for this. If the foundation is particularly thick or oily, it is recommended to apply it in a thin layer in areas where concealer is used or not to use it at all.
Which parts of the face to apply highlighter to, diagram
To determine which parts of the face require highlighting, it is necessary in daylight to highlight the parts of the face on which the light falls. Typically these are the cheekbones (their upper part), chin and nose. For the best effect, makeup artists highlight the upper lip, the area under the eyebrows and the middle of the forehead. Apply a small amount of product in a thin layer.
For the best effect, makeup artists highlight the upper lip, the area under the eyebrows and the middle of the forehead.
Applying foundation
Before using the strobing technique, it is necessary to make the skin perfectly even and smooth. In this case, a foundation comes to the rescue, which will create a uniform tone to the face and become the base for subsequent makeup. The covering power of the product is determined by its density. Even the densest cream requires subsequent additional processing of remaining imperfections.
Basic rules for proper application of foundation:
- high-quality cleansing of the skin to prevent rashes and a more even layer of application;
- high-quality hydration;
- applying tone with a sponge, fingers or brush.
Important! It is not recommended to use alcohol-containing products before applying the tone. They can cause peeling and irritation. In this case, the product will lie unevenly.
Signs that foundation has been used correctly:
- the skin of the face and neck is the same color;
- even tone;
- a properly selected foundation will not emphasize skin imperfections: flaking, oily shine, dryness;
- the shade should not differ radically from the color of the skin around the eyes.
Setting makeup with powder
For more long-lasting makeup, you need to fix it. The most suitable product is colorless mineral powder. All famous makeup artists recommend using it. The density of the product is selected according to the skin type: for oily skin - thicker, for dry skin - light. Powder with a skin toning effect is not suitable for setting makeup with strobing. It will block the luminous particles and make the makeup dense and heavy.
For more long-lasting makeup, you need to fix it with powder.
What is needed for this?
The tools you will need are brushes and sponges. If you plan to apply a cream product, choose a flat synthetic brush, and if the cosmetics are dry, then the brush should be thick and fluffy. Most importantly, any brush should be clean. As for the sponge, prefer a beauty blender. It will help a lot when applying liquid concealer. The main advantage is the smoothness of the lines and blurred boundaries between the skin and the cosmetic product.
Now about the means, what are needed?
- Cream highlighter. Applying highlighter will add moisture to your makeup, because a creamy texture is the best option for this purpose. When choosing a highlighter, try to make the skin glow and not shimmer due to excessive light reflection or large glitter. This type of makeup is not new, so most companies have already released products specifically for strobing.
- Dry highlighter (powder). Best suited for combination or oily skin. This highlighter can replace shadows. If your skin is very oily, then it is best to use a matte and light highlighter. It will add volume to the face, eliminating shine. If the product is also mineral, it will take care of the skin and save it from further problems.
Editor's Choice: Lip Gloss Palettes from Famous Manufacturers
- Contour stick. This pencil is perfect for beginners. You just need to blend it a little with your fingertips.
- Powder. Only white or transparent. It will add contrast and maintain the effect created by the highlighter.
Storbing in makeup – what is it?
Storbing in makeup is a technique in which, with the help of cosmetics, the face is given a healthy shine and radiance. The name comes from the “strobe” device, which produces bright flashes of light.
This effect is achieved by highlighting the convex areas of the face with highlighter to give it volume and relief. This direction is also called highlighting. The name strobing technique comes from the “strobe” device, which produces bright flashes of light.
Storbing is a technique primarily used for catwalks, shoots, and evening looks. In these cases, cosmetics are applied generously. Makeup looks very impressive in dim evening light or camera lenses.
Storbing in daily makeup does not tolerate the application of large amounts of decorative cosmetics. If you overdo it, then under the blinding daylight sun or office lamp your face will look too doll-like and unnatural.
It is important to remember that highlighting will emphasize the beauty of the face in the absence of imperfections on the skin. Pimples, scars and enlarged pores with blackheads must first be disguised using concealer or foundation.
When applying make-up, it is important not to overdo it and make sure that the result does not resemble makeup.
Storbing serves to emphasize individuality, not to eliminate it.
When can strobing be applied?
- Strobing - evening makeup. It is good where there is no sunlight.
- Strobing is suitable for photography. In any case, photographers quite often recommend that models wear this particular makeup, especially for studio shooting.
- If you have problem skin, it is better to avoid strobing, or first carefully hide all imperfections with concealer.
- If your skin is oily and you still decide to do this type of makeup, you must first cleanse the skin and apply an anti-shine product.
Editor's choice: How to beautifully apply eye shadow
Initially, strobing was intended for catwalk models and from there it came to the masses. The technique of this makeup is not too complicated even for a novice “makeup artist.” Strobing does not take much time to apply.
