Scroll through your Insta feed, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find a single influencer, supermodel, or even fashionable stranger not working a glowy, lit-from-within makeup look this summer. While a full night
of shut-eye, staying hydrated, or a recent beach trip might be partially to thank, highlighters (and all their complexion-enhancing powers) are also part of this season's beauty equation — and for good reason. Not only do
they keep your skin looking fresher than fresh, but also they won't visibly melt off your face like a matte finish (because let’s be honest, humidity is real).
Contrary to popular belief, this cool-girl summer sheen can also be interpreted for your eyes, lips, and beyond. For inspiration, we partnered with
Target Beauty and turned to two Gen Z-ers — Anzie and Anajah — whose penchant for light-reflecting makeup does not discriminate by facial feature or product texture. The BFFs found each other on Tumblr four years
ago, bonding over their love of fashion and appreciation of a good makeup plot twist: "We wear simple makeup styles with one thing that’s different — a sparkly eye or something extra, creating a vibe before we head
out into the world," says Anzie. From high-glosses to straight-up glitter, these women take the dewy look to a whole new, shiny level. And we're totally here for it.
For Anajah, a few swipes of
Wet n Wild MegaGlo Highlighting Face Powder over her cheekbones, bridge of the nose, and Cupid’s bow is only the first step to creating her dewy, '60s-inspired look. To really amp up the dew factor, she's also
been known to dabble in some glitter: "I love the contrast of a glittery cat-eye — the sparkles are very ethereal and feminine, while the black eyeliner is bold and rebellious," she says.
Shop This Look
Who says highlighter should only be applied to your cheekbones? Anzie sure doesn’t. Her look blends drops of
NYX Away We Glow Liquid Booster with a few pumps of a hydrating primer to create an allover glow. "Then, when I’m going for something bolder, I like to play with interesting textures — like a gloss over easy-to-match
primary colors," she says. "Bright red is such a passionate and powerful color. It really pops on my complexion." To get the glossy look, dab a pigment- and fragrance-free clear lip gloss over your shadow, being careful
not to smudge or smear the hue underneath.
