Strobing Products For Every Skin Tone

Contouring is so last year. At long last the Kardashian inspired (and much over [and often badly] used) trend is waining and there is a new kid on the block; Strobing. In all honesty Strobing is nothing new - Make-up Artist have been using this techniques for enos but we just called it highlighting...

Being as Strobing is the new(ish) phenomena in the beauty world, I thought I would share some of my favourite products for creating a beautifully strobed face, along with some tips for getting it right!

Do The Groundwork

As with all make-ups, strobing looks best if you prep your skin well. Thoroughly cleanse and exfoliate to make the skin glow; I am currently loving Cleanse and Smooth Face Balm from Balance Me and Dr Hauschka's Cleansing Cream is an old favourite. Follow with a good hydrating moisturiser such as Avocado and Jojoba Hydrating Day Cream from Pai.

If you suffer from dry or dehydrated skin then you may find using a hydrating serum on top will also help give much need moisture. In my kit I am currently using the Hosanna H20 Intensive Skin Plumping Serum from Antipodes; I apply it to the face and neck and leave it for a few minutes before going in with the next product.

If you can, keep your base to a minimum and try to avoid layering product upon product; personally I feel strobing is at its best when it is paired with a pretty minimal make-up - letting the natural radiance and glow shine though.

Choose Carefully
The difference between highlighting and strobing is very simple. Although the techniques are pretty much the same, it is the products that are different; Strobing uses products which give a dewy finish.

When choosing your strobing product look for a highlighter or illuminator that is not in any way frosted; you want a product that gives natural looking luminosity, not high shine or disco glam!

Despite what you may think, you don't only have to use cream products; You can use powder - in fact this may be preferable if you have oilier skin.

Choose a shade that is similar to your natural skin tone - or at least in the ball park; you are looking for a product that looks almost as if it isn't there. 

Here are a few suggestions...

Fair Skin

Those with fairer skin will benefit from using a creamy, pinky or champagne toned product such as Living Luminiser from RMS Beauty, the Kjaer Weis Radiance Highlighter or Ilia Beauty's Polka Dots and Moonbeams (this has slightly bigger shimmer particles). If you are looking for a powder product then try Benecos Stardust Highlighting Powder or the Pearlescent Powder from Honeypie Minerals.

RMS Beauty Living Luminizer

Medium / Olive Skins

Medium toned skins are most likely to benefit from a slightly warmer toned highlighter so try Inika's peachy toned Light Reflect Highlighting Cream (you can read my thoughts about it here). La Bella Figura Golden Corrective Highlighter In Brazilian Denise and Lavera Organic Highlighter in Golden Shine both have gold tones and if you are on the darker end of the mid toned spectrum then try Kjaer Weis Dazzling Cream Bronzer. If powder is more your thing then check out Lily Lolo Mineral Shimmer or Jane Iredale Quad Bronzer.

Dark Skins
Darker skins have a whole host of natural and organic choices including Buriti Bronzer from RMS Beauty, Vapour Beauty Solar Translucent Bronzer or Organic Glam Liquid Shimmer Highlighter in Warm Gold. From a powder perspective try We Evade Bronzing Powder from Studio 78 Paris (read my thoughts here), Jane Irdale's 24 Karot Gold Dust or Alima Pure's Highlighter in Dolce. Avril Bronzing Powder is also a great budget option.

Studio 78 We Evade Bronzer

I have listed products that are specifically designed to bronze or highlight, but you can easily use products which are designed for other things such as eyeshadows or even lipsticks; as long as it gives the understated sheen then the product world is your oyster! 

If none of the above take your fancy then there are other products on the market that may do the job such as Oskia Get Up & Glow; Nourish Golden Glow Illuminating Face Shimmer; Lucy B's Frangipani Bronzing Shimmer Oil or This Works Skin Deep Golden Elixir.

As with contouring, strobing is another fad that will in time no doubt be replaced by something else... In the mean time, give it a go!

Have you tried strobing? Do you like how it looks?