Meet "Strobing," the Anti-Contouring Beauty Trick You Need to Know Now
Channel your inner French girl.
Needless to say—contouring as we know it today, despite its face-narrowing, cheekbone-carving powers, is not for everyone. And if you're looking to buck the airbrushed trend once and for all, the new strobing trend is a game-changer. It's kind of like contouring's au naturale French cousin.
Here's the gist: Instead of painterly bronzing and blending, strobing seeks to define your features by using light—and light alone. The makeup technique will help you channel your inner disco ball by letting your born-with-it (or, erm, enhanced) radiance shine through with reflective products.
"It's about using reflection on high planes and points of the face that catch the light to create spotlit areas," Alex Box, creative director of Illamasqua, told the London Evening Standard. "It's a much more forgiving way to bring focus and shape to the face."
But while it sounds like it's totally less maintenance than contouring, don't be fooled—this look requires healthy, naturally-glowing skin as its base, which, as you know, calls for a disciplined skincare regimen (cleansing and moisturizing daily, you know the drill) and an antioxidant-rich diet. Plus, if you want to take it a step further, bi-weekly brightening face masks you can try at home are a necessary extravagance.
From there, you can correct and enhance your complexion beginning with a hydrating serum for a dewy canvas, iridescent tinted moisturizer for light coverage (MAC Strobe Cream is the gold standard), highlighter to brighten/accentuate your features, and a luminescent powder to set the look.
As far as application, here are two tried-and-true tips for a strobe-like effect:
1) Fuse your skincare and makeup together as much possible for a dewy, wet-shine finish. For example, if you're going to use concealer, add moisturizer to it.
Stay In The Know
Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.
2) Add shine to the areas of your face that catch light naturally, like your cheekbones, bridge of the nose, or temples.
JavaScript is currently disabled in this browser. Reactivate it to view this content.
Lauren Valenti is Vogue’s former senior beauty editor. Her work has also appeared on ELLE.com, MarieClaire.com, and in In Style. She graduated with a liberal arts degree from Eugene Lang College, The New School for Liberal Arts, with a concentration on Culture and Media Studies and a minor in Journalism.
-
Former Royal Chef and Butler Reveal How King Charles and Family Celebrate Easter, From "Beautiful" Gifts to a Lavish Lunch
The Royal Family does Easter in style.
By Kristin Contino
-
Meet the Blush Palettes That Basically Flirt for You
For that just-got-caught-staring flush.
By Ariel Baker
-
Court Documents Reveal Prince Harry Was Targeted by Terrorists
Britain's Home Office released new details about a terrorist threat that targeted the Duke of Sussex.
By Kristin Contino
-
Meet 8 Editor-Vetted Blush Palettes That Basically Flirt for You
For that just-got-caught-staring flush.
By Ariel Baker
-
Jenna Ortega Does Grungy Glam Right With '90s-Inspired Hair and Makeup
The actress was spotted in peak ‘90s-inspired glam.
By Ariel Baker
-
How a Beauty Writer Has Perfected Her Morning Routine For Acne-Prone Skin
Keep the texture and irritation at bay with these editor-vetted items.
By Ariel Baker
-
Selena Gomez Hosts a Master Class in Matching Your Red Blush and Red Lipstick to Your Outfit
The star was spotted looking red hot in the streets of New York City.
By Ariel Baker
-
Everything You Need to Know About Marie Claire’s Skin and Hair Awards
Could your brand survive an editor testing session?
By Ariel Baker
-
Presenting, Perfect Date Night Makeup for People Who Hate Makeup
From a beauty director who's learned all the workarounds.
By Hannah Baxter
-
I Scoured Ulta’s 21 Days of Beauty Sale for Five Hours—Here's What I'm Shopping
Add to cart, ASAP.
By Ariel Baker
-
Jenna Ortega’s New Burgundy Hair Has Me Ready for Season 2 of 'Wednesday'
Wednesday Addams, is that you?
By Ariel Baker