What Is Strobing?
Take a gander at Strobic—a new filter we've created based on beauty's new It technique called strobing. Here, makeup pro Karen Gonzalez shows us how to highlight the best areas of your face. Who needs those warm, summery Instagram filters when you can walk around with the same glowing visage all day long?
Step 1: Moisturizer
Start by applying a hydrating moisturizer (Karen swears by Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré, which is a moisturizer, primer and makeup remover all in one) and eye cream.
Step 2: Foundation
Apply a generous layer of foundation with a luminous glow, like Nars All-Day Luminous Weightless Foundation, with a dual-fiber brush to even the skin's imperfections. "If you're not into foundation, use a BB cream. You need to even out the skin first before you try to enhance it with a glow," Karen warned. "It will look awful if you try to throw highlighter over redness of the skin."
Step 3: Concealer
Opt for a concealer a shade lighter than your skin to accentuate your spotlight areas (undereyes, chin, forehead and nose). "Dot the areas that you want to highlight so it's not too heavy," Karen instructed. "This is summer, so less is more on application."
Step 4. Blend
Blend with a flat kabuki brush. "Sponges [or beauty blenders] press things on and keep [makeup] on longer, but for this we want her looking really luminous and natural," she added. "Blend the concealer into the foundation so there's no demarcation" (read: no obvious makeup lines).
Step 5: Translucent Powder
Apply a translucent powder, like Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder, to set the makeup. In areas that concealer tends to run, like under the eyes, gently push the powder into the skin.
Step 6: Bronzer
Use a flat brush to apply a light bronzer along the cheekbones.
Step 7: Strobing
Using a fan brush, Karen then used Mac Mineralize Skinfish to highlight prominent features (cheekbones, temples and a little bit of the brow bone). To figure out where those areas are on your face, look toward the light and see where the light really hits your skin.
Step 8: Creamy Shadow
With a fluffy brush, apply a bronze shade of creamy eyeshadow, like Tom Ford Cream and Powder Eye Color in Naked Bronze, to the lid and blend it out. "Creams for summer are really on-trend right now," Karen noted.
Step 9: Mascara
Then apply L'Oreal Paris Voluminous Original Mascara as close to the lash root as possible. Pro tip: Hold a business card between your eyelid and lashes, so you can get deep down to the roots without smearing your shadow," Karen suggested.
Step 10: Subtle Lips
For a summer-perfect look, forgo the lip pencil and bold color for something a bit more subtle. Karen opted for Too Faced La Creme Color Drenched Lipstick in Nude Beach. "If you notice when using Valencia, it always makes your lip color two shades lighter anyway," she added.
The Final Look
Voilà!
Selfie Time
Thanks, Karen! #Nofilter