Sixth Post: A Glowing Highlight

How-to to Achieve a Bright, Beaming, and Balanced Face

Along with contouring, highlighting has been a very popular trend lately in the beauty community. However, Lauren Conrad has been using this beauty trick for years. She describes highlighting as "this brightens up eyes (I [Conrad] sometimes do this instead of using under-eye concealer) and it makes your cheeks pop" (Conrad 142).Highlighting goes hand in hand with contouring as they create dimension to the face. These two have very similar steps in application.


Since contouring reduces things on your face, highlighting accentuates them. Conrad describes highlighters as: "some highlighters add just a hint of brightness while others bring an appealing shimmer to your face" (Conrad 142). I used the first of the two types of highlighters to add brightness.


First, use the correct tools and product(s). Like when contouring, this step is essential in ensuring the finished product turns out how you want it to. I recommend using two brushes. First I have a smaller one for applying the initial product. This brush is flat and about a medium sized concealer brush. The second brush is any one to blend, I used a more dense fluffy face brush. You could use a makeup sponge as substitute for the second brush. Any concealer or foundation that is around three shades lighter than your natural skin tone will work for this technique.

These are the two brushes that I used in these photos. The concealer I used is from the Viseart concealer palette that is available at Sephora.


Next, apply the product to areas of the face. The most common areas are under the eyes in a triangle like shape, the center of the forehead, down the bridge of the nose, and occasionally the chin and upper lip. In order to balance out the face I always recommend highlighting not just one area, but at least two. This will ensure the highlighting is as "natural" as possible.

Under the left eye has no product and under the right eye has unblended product. The contrast between the highlight shade and my mother's skin tone can be seen in this photo.

This is what the entire face looks like when concealer is initially applied and not blended out. In this case, I used it as both an under-eye concealer as well as a face brightener, as Conrad mentioned she likes to do.


Finally, blend out the concealer with the second brush. Blending out the product well will help it blend into the skin and the rest of the makeup look as best as it can. There's no technique for blending as it's not necessary for the placement of the color to be as precise, like when contouring. Just keeping it in the general area where it was first applied is my general rule.

This is what the highlight looks like all blended in. It looks a bit harsh, but my mother wasn't wearing any eye makeup or blush to balance the look out although she does have contour and eyebrows on. Once all the makeup is applied on the face, the highlight is an almost subtle piece of the look that adds dimension. I always recommend setting the areas highlighted with any type of powder to make sure it doesn't crease or move throughout the day.


Highlighting is one of my favorite techniques that is flattering on pretty much everyone. Do you think highlighting is worth all the hype? Why or why not? Leave a comment and let me know!


Conrad, Lauren, and Elise Loehnen. Lauren Conrad Beauty. New York: HarperCollins, 2012. Print.

Speed of Play

Speed of play, often known as the Holy Grail of soccer. It is required to have a fast speed of play to be a smart player. Fast is better than slow. (Blank, 3) If you can get the pass from Point A to Point B in one touch it is better than two touches then do it. It is faster. Blank gives two bullet points of advice, if you can get the job done with one touch , don't take two and if you can get the job done with two touches, don't take three. (Blank, 4) The more touches the slower the task. Slow play lets your opponent set up, get organized and loses games. The fastest way to play is to pass and to do it with speed.
Starting with a simple video showing how much faster passing only using one touch is compared to 3-4 touch.

Here is a video of 3-4 touches which is BAD and SLOW!!!

Here is a better video using one touch which is GOOD and FASTER!

This can be integrated into your team by in possession drills putting restrictions like a one touch rule which allows your team to rise to a faster play. For example when you have a practice divide your players into two teams. Cone off a 20yd by 20yd space or play within the 18yd box.(Blank, 4). Have one team start playing possession within the grid and the other team lined up outside the box. Every 3 passes the team playing makes add another player from the outside of the box. Tell the players that are in the box that they can play only within 1-2 touches. Watch how the speed of play increases.

What can you do to increase the speed of any other sports?