The Three Spots Makeup Artists Always Hit With Highlighter (And You Should Too)

By Jamie Schneider
Published 26 May 2026

Let me ask you something. Have you ever scrolled past a red carpet photo of someone like Zendaya or Tyla or Brooks Nader and thought, “How do they look like that?” You know the look I mean. That lit-from-within, dewy-but-not-greasy, somehow-both-natural-and-otherworldly glow that makes you wonder if they’ve discovered a secret portal to a dimension where skin is just better.

Here’s the thing. Yes, celebrities have dermatologists and facialists and lighting teams. But the real secret—the one that’s actually attainable for the rest of us—is body highlighter. And according to the makeup artists who work with these stars, it’s not about slathering shimmer everywhere. It’s about knowing exactly where to put it.

Why Your Face Shouldn’t Have All the Fun

“I always say makeup shouldn’t stop at the face,” celebrity makeup artist Patrick Ta told me. And honestly? That sentence changed how I think about getting ready. When the skin on your body has the same radiant quality as your face, everything looks more cohesive. More elevated. More intentional. The light catches you differently in photos, on the dance floor, at that outdoor dinner party where the candles are doing most of the work.

Charlotte Tilbury agrees. She’s been using body highlighter as one of her red carpet secrets for years. “Body highlighter gilds the skin in glossy, ethereal radiance,” she explains. “It draws light to the center of the limbs to add dimension in the most flattering places.” The result? Healthier-looking skin. A more sculpted silhouette. What she calls “that supermodel effect.”

Three words: sign me up.

The Three Magic Spots

Here’s where most people go wrong. They treat body highlighter like a full-body situation—everywhere gets the shimmer, no one is spared. But that’s not how the pros do it. Strategic placement is everything. Patrick Ta and Charlotte Tilbury agree on three key areas that make the biggest impact.

Spot one: The center of your shins. This one surprised me at first. But think about it. Your shins naturally catch light when you walk. Adding a bit of highlighter there emphasizes the movement, draws the eye down your leg, and creates the illusion of longer, leaner limbs. It’s subtle. It’s smart. And it works whether you’re wearing a mini dress, a midi skirt, or shorts.

Spot two: The tops of your shoulders. This is the area that catches natural light more than almost anywhere else on your body. A touch of highlighter here makes your shoulders look more defined, more sculpted. It’s especially effective for strapless dresses, tank tops, and anything with an open neckline. The light hits, the glow happens, and suddenly you look like you just returned from a week at a very expensive wellness retreat.

Spot three: Your collarbones. Nonnegotiable. This is the sweet spot where face meets body, where a little bit of product goes a very long way. Highlighter on the collarbones draws attention to your neckline, adds dimension to your chest, and ties your entire glowy look together. Charlotte Tilbury specifically mentions “the center of the limbs” for this reason—your collarbones act as a bridge between your face and the rest of your body.

But Which Highlighter Should You Use?

Not all body highlighters are created equal. I’ve tested basically every option on the market, and here’s what I’ve learned.

Patrick Ta Major Glow Balm is the go-to for a thick, balmy texture that melts into skin. It’s ideal if you want something that feels nourishing and stays put. Charlotte Tilbury Supermodel Body Highlighter offers that sculpting effect she talks about—it’s designed specifically to create dimension, not just shimmer. Fenty Beauty Body Lava is the choice for anyone who wants a bronzy, sun-kissed glow with serious payoff. Dibs Beauty Status Stick is a face-and-body option in stick form, which makes application incredibly easy and mess-free. And Body Gloss Ultra-Rich Body Lotion is for those who prefer a lotion texture that hydrates while it highlights.

Can You Just Use Your Face Highlighter?

Short answer: you can, but you probably shouldn’t. Face highlighters are formulated for smaller areas and tend to have finer shimmer particles. On larger areas like your legs or shoulders, that same product can look dusty or disappear entirely. Body highlighters are designed to spread more easily, last longer, and show up better on larger surfaces. They also tend to be more resistant to sweat and friction—important if you’re planning to actually move around at whatever event you’re attending.

How to Apply Like a Pro

A few tips from the experts. First, apply body highlighter after your skin is moisturized but before you’ve put on your outfit (unless you’re very skilled at not getting product on your clothes). Second, use your fingers or a dense brush—sponges absorb too much product. Third, start with less than you think you need. You can always build, but it’s much harder to tone down an over-enthusiastic shimmer situation.

Finally, blend, blend, blend. The goal is a seamless glow, not a stripe of obvious product. Patrick Ta recommends using circular motions to buff the highlighter into the skin until it looks like it’s coming from within rather than sitting on top.

The Bottom Line

You don’t need a team of professionals to look like you just walked off a red carpet. You just need the right product in the right places. Shins, shoulders, collarbones. That’s the formula. That’s the secret. That’s what the celebrities are doing while the rest of us are wondering how they look so good.

Now go forth and glow. And when someone asks you what your secret is? You can tell them you heard it from a makeup artist. Or two. Or three.