Highlighter has become a staple of any good beauty kit. It is super versatile and can brighten even the sallowest of winter skin. But could you take your highlighter game to a whole new level?

Applying highlighter may seem like a no-brainer. But you wouldn’t slap on any shade of foundation or concealer and expect it to look perfect, right?

Same goes for highlighter. Yes, most are universally flattering to some degree. But choosing the best highlighter shade for your skin tone can make magic happen.

Highlighter is multi-use makeup at its best. Its main trick is bringing life to the complexion, but it is also handy for brightening dark circles, and used as eyeshadow or lip color. Some women like to combine a bit of highlighter with their foundation for added glow, or use the strobing technique.

Let’s take a look at the variety of highlighter shades, plus the best products to provide instant radiance to any skin tone.

How to Choose the Best Highlighter Shade for Your Skin

Fair Skin: If you are in the alabaster to porcelain range, the lightest highlighters are your go to. These beauties add luminous glow without going too ’70s makeup shimmer effect.

Tata Harper Very Illuminating Highlighter

ILIA Polka Dots & Moonbeams

RMS Beauty Living Luminizer

Medium Skin: You know those pink toned highlighters you see? Super flattering on medium skin tones. Give one of them a try.

Vapour Stratus Instant Skin Perfector

INIKA Light Reflect Highlighting Crème

Dark Skin: Think bronzer is your only option? No way! Highlighter with a copper or golden hue rocks darker skin tones.

Kjaer Weis Radiance

Alima Pure Highlighter in Dolce

ILIA Cosmic Dancer

All Skin Tones: Wishing for a highlighter that suits all tones and livens up skin like nothing else? RMS Beauty has come out with a brand new highlighter to do just that. Master Mixer offers a rose gold luminosity that looks great on everyone. Use on eyes, cheeks, lips, body…your call.

RMS Beauty Master Mixer

*Disclaimer: Help support EcoSalon! Our site is dedicated to helping people live a conscious lifestyle. We’ve provided some affiliate links above in case you wish to purchase any of these products.

Related on EcoSalon

How to Apply Bronzer to Zhoosh Up Your Winter Skin

The 6 Best Hand Creams to Combat Extremely Dry Skin

The Quickest, Easiest ‘No Makeup’ Makeup Look Ever

Image of woman applying highlighter via Shutterstock

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Images: D&H Sustainable Jewelers. Stylish Valentines gift ideas for the start of  a timeless love affair.

Beyond the insidiously overdone sales pitches, Valentine’s Day is a day our modern culture has designated to exchange gifts to celebrate the values of love and caring. Whether you’re part of a couple or not, it’s a good opportunity to take the time and examine the most intimate relationship you have – the one you have with yourself. Like the airplane takeoff instruction to put your own oxygen mask on first before you assist others, until we really learn to love ourselves we can’t truly love another.

So, if you’re looking for true love this Valentine’s, take a look in the mirror and ask yourself: how do you really want your life to feel? If things need a little adjustment, take the opportunity to make the necessary changes. A certain amount of growth just comes down to intention and repetition. So get ready to experience self-love this Valentine’s by being open, willing and ready to show up for yourself in a big way. Forget about the cute and the chintzy this holiday, and opt for swoon-worthy gifts of love that say forever. As Oscar Wilde famously declared, “To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance.”

Above: OXOX Black And White Diamond Stud Earrings. Reach out and touch someone with the simplest expression of love in these reclaimed 14k white gold stud earrings feature ethically sourced black and white diamonds. Available from D&H Sustainable Jewelers.

Images: Mina + Olya

Mina + Olya’s Claire Dress. Invest in the quintessential LBD. Made in California from 100% Organic Denim Cotton, this cap-sleeved peplum dress is a universally flattering and enduring design that will never let you down.

Images: Persephenie

Persephenie’s Neroli Infusion Body Oil.  Whether its just for you or to share, this luxury oil is handmade in Los Angeles and is said to have a soothing effect on the nervous system while acting as a natural aphrodisiac.

Images: Beklina

John Patrick Organic’s Cashmere Slim Sleeve Sweater. As soft as a caress, this luxurious throw-on anytime sweater is destined to become your favorite. Available at Beklina.

Images: Convert

Jeffrey Campbell for Convert’s In Love Strappy Flat. When a shoe is this good looking and comfortable, you can’t help but be in the mood for love. Vegan Leather, shown in Tan.

Images: ILIA

ILIA’s Wild Child Red Lipstick. Set your deepest desires free with this organic lipstick that nourishes, protects and has amazing staying power.

The post Remember to Love Yourself this Valentine’s Day (These Gifts for You can Help!) appeared first on EcoSalon.

6 iconic lipstick colors, now with a touch of green.

Meet Nancy Wake, the “White Mouse” of World War II. Described as “one of the most effective and cunning British agents working in German-occupied France during World War II,” Wake hid Allied servicemen in her home, parachuted into enemy territory, and knew how to wield a machine gun. Also, she traveled nowhere without her Chanel lipstick.

That’s some iconic color.

Today, sans machine guns, we’re privy to the classic colors of old. Be it nude, coral pink, or classic red, the green beauty industry offers up a bevy of iconic colors. Here are our favorite picks for archetypal lips.

Classic Red by Lavera ($19.00)
Think Marilyn Monroe, Bette Davis, Barbara Stanwyck and other classic stars of the silver screen. Made with certified organic ingredients, Lavera’s “Red Berry Charm” provides a vivid, intense color with almond oil and Shea butter. The company commits to offering up natural cosmetics which are certified natural by BDIH of Germany.

Nude by Ilia ($24.95)
First encouraged by flower power in the 1960s, a natural sheer nude now suits any occasion. Ilia offers up “Nobody’s Baby,” a color made with 85% certified organic ingredients. It’s so silky that you don’t even need a gloss for sheen: in fact, it’s designed to act as a lip balm at first swipe. Free of synthetic preservatives, fillers and petro-chemicals, it also comes in a recycled aluminum case. Ilia is also cruelty-free.

Foxy Brown by Living Nature ($26.00)
1970s screen legend Pam Grier inspires us with this classic warm tone. Today, Living Nature continues the trend with all-natural ingredients. Offering up an iridescent sheer color with “Warm Rocks,” this hydrating lipstick is cruelty-free. Made with natural botanicals of New Zealand, the company provides a comprehensive guide to their ingredients.

Coral Pink by Jane Iredale ($20.00)
Bright, coral pink made a splash in the 1980s when preppy handbooks deemed pink and green the hottest color combination. Jane Iredale takes this festive hue into the 21st century with “Erin,” an iconic coral at home in Newport, Rhode Island or California. This silky, conditioning color is also free of dyes and synthetic preservatives.

Punk Purple by Afterglow ($24.00)
Debbie Harry, Joan Jett, and Pat Benatar made girl rockers cool in the 1980s. Today, we’re paying homage to these power players with a deep purple pucker. Afterglow offers up “Merlot” for some organic lip love. Made with 100% natural ingredients, Afterglow promises that their product is made with no parabens, nanos, bismuth oxychloride, gluten or talc.

Gold Shimmer by Primitive ($17.50)
Want to add a 1970s glam disco sheen to your lips? Check out “Taj Mahal” from Primitive, a vegan and versatile gold shimmer that’s perfect for layers or to stand alone. Primitive offers up clean and pure ingredients, providing a silky color made with Shea butter and jojoba oils. This lipstick is also cruelty-free.

Image: cerromijares

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