New York is currently being swept up in a smoldering heatwave. Seen the #heatwave2015 hashtag? Well that’s what everyone is talking about! And no one suffers more than us makeup gals that love to put our faces on everyday!
Well I bring good news to you girls—there is an easier way to apply your summer makeup! The answer is strobing. Why? Because strobing eliminates the need of various layers and layers of makeup application–specifically the contouring method.
Contouring is a craze that no one can avoid these days. Everyone does it from the clueless college sophomore girl to the Kardashians. Contouring is a way to cheat and exaggerate only your best facial features. Well Strobing can do all that and more.
The way that it works is simple–it eliminates the need to cake darker and lighter makeup on your skin and simply highlights your best features . The colorings of your own skin tone are substituted for the typical darker tones that are required to pull off a good contour effect. When you strobe you gain a combo bronzer effect that leaves your skin with a healthy glow. It literally brings out your inner summer glow in the most amazing ways! Application is simple–you dab it in your key areas–cupids bow, corner of the eyes, along the bridge of your nose, your forehead and your cheekbones–and you are done!
When I first tried the Strobing method I didn’t even know it had a name or was a “thing” ! I just was fed up in the middle of a hot spring day and didn’t feel like putting on contouring makeup on top of foundation. So first I eliminated my heavy, cakey liquid foundation and replaced it with Maybelline and Garnier super healthy and smoothing BB Cream. It was great and my skin could breathe better . However, there was still one major issue with my face. I was still contouring. And my face was still melting! So one frustrated day I took a bronzer and just dabbed it in all my key areas. I let it sit and bake for a little and then I was shocked when I peeped back in the mirror. My face looked like I did a full scale contour project on it–and it looked fabulous. From then on , I stuck with this method, which I unconsciously called “glitzing” .
Months later I started to see youtube videos and makeup blogs popping up raving about “strobing” and how it amazing it was. So now I turned in my naming of it as “glitzing” to “strobing” instead because that is what everyone else is calling it.
What are the best products to use to achieve the best strobing look you ask? Well girls I have some amazing recommendations for you! For starters, my #1 fave is NYX Liquid Illuminators. They set fast and always look fabulous. I just love how it makes my skin glow! My #2 would be the Revlon PhotoReady SkinLights. They come in a variety of shades that can suit many skin tones. My #3 would be my fav 2 -in-1 shimmer bb cream from Maybelline entitled Maybelline Dream Bronze and Maybelline Dream Fresh. It’s the best of both worlds girls! Get that light layer of tinted BB cream and shimmer on your skin for even less fuss in this sticky hot weather.
Strobing just doesn’t have to be a summer fling girls. It can be all year round! I know that when the fall comes I will still be strobing and BBing away! And to hold that look–get a setting spray asap! My suggestion is NYX makeup setting spray because it is so cheap and highly effective.
Natália: Strobing is basically highlighting. The name comes from strobe cream by MAC. The focus of strobing though is ONLY highlighting, aiming for a more natural and glowy look. Although I don’t approve of the blatant marketing… I do like what it stands for.
