The term “strobing” has exploded in the beauty world lately, but the buzzword (and the technique that goes along with it) isn’t nearly as complex or intimidating as you might think. It’s sworn to give you a dewy glow and has been compared to contouring, but it’s far simpler than that. Basically, this mystical technique is just a fancy version of emphasizing key parts of your face with highlighter — you know, that thing you’ve likely been doing as part of your morning routine for years without a second thought. Like contouring, strobing has been around for many moons, humming quietly along as a staple to the pros without much recognition until it got itself a trendy name.
It’s easy to do, even for those of us without our own personal makeup artists following us around. Try it yourself by applying a highlighter to parts of your face that hit the light, like your cheekbones. In an interview with the Huffington Post, Make Up For Ever director of artistry and education, Lijha Stewart, broke it down into easy steps:
“The first step to strobing is to apply a dewy concealer in a color two shades lighter than your skin tone on the areas of your face where the light naturally hits….Finish your base and blur lines and imperfections with a pressed powder throughout the center of your face, blending down and outward. To pop your highlights and strobe your face, layer a shimmer highlight such as Make Up For Ever Pro Sculpting Duo or Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed to the same areas you applied your concealer. The trick to achieving a strobe that pops is intentional placement and layering of creams and powders. Avoid misplacing highlight or you can give yourself a greasy look. Use a light touch and only apply on the high planes of your face.”
There you have it, friends. Strobing: not so terrifying after all!
