Coming into Spring we are going to be hearing a lot more about strobing.  it’s the new buzzword in the beauty community and sounds like it’s very complicated, I mean we’ve just achieved eyebrows on fleek and contoured cheek bones and now there is something new?

So,  what is it exactly?

Strobing is said to be the next big thing moving on from contouring. While the term is new the concept has been tried and tested for years.

Strobing is essentially highlighting, but more pronounced and used as a main feature of a makeup look rather than just a finishing touch.

A highlighting product is applied to the high points of the face in order to catch and reflect the light giving the wearer a brighter and more youthful appearance.

Skin is meant to appear dewy and bright, not necessarily a sparkle bomb but luminous and lit from within (I know they’re cliches but it’s true)

A liquid or powder product is applied to the tops of cheekbones, above the brow, along the nose and on the Cupid’s bow as I’ve demonstrated on the face chart above. You should be left with a beautiful fresh look which photographs beautifully and gives you brighter more fresh looking skin.

Here are some products to pick up (or you might be lucky enough to have in your make up bag) I’ve chosen four pretty different products in both warm and cool finishes.

For strobing I personally prefer a cooler toned shade of product. I love strobe cream from MAC used both as a mixing medium for my foundation and also used as a cream highlighter. Strobe cream is pearlescent and multidimensional and gives a fairly subtle but beautiful strobing finish. This is probably better for dryer skins as it also provides hydration and is especially good if you don’t want to use powder products on the skin

Another cool toned cream product is the cult favourite High Beam from Benefit Cosmetics. This shade is great for pale skin with pink under tones but also provides a beautiful silvery sheen to darker skin tones. I also use this to mix in with foundation before using a damp beauty blender to dab and blend it into the high points of the face.

If you’re after a warmer, more golden glow (so gorgeous on tanned skin) Nars albatross adds a lot of light catching properties without being too glittery. Be careful not to apply this too heavily as it can look cakey. A pan of this will last you forever as so little is required to get a pretty sheen

If you’re after a deeper, warm toned highlight then you can’t look past another industry favourite MaryLoumanizer from Thebalm. MaryLou has an almost champagney bronze finish. It’s seriously soft and beautifully pigmented and is best applied lightly with a fan brush or something similar.

Left to right; Thebalm Maryloumanizer, Nars Albatross, Benefit High Beam, MAC strobe cream.