Luminizer: Helping You Look Alive In The Dead Of Winter

Ever notice how there are some women who are always glowing, no matter how many degrees below zero it is outside? Sure, some of them are just blessed with year-round radiance, but we have a feeling the vast majority of wintertime glows come from one magic product: luminizer. Designed to catch light, this miracle maker comes in powder, liquid, or cream, and works with every skin tone.

So, now that we know the product behind the look, how exactly do we use it? We asked Vivana Martin, a pro-artist from Kevyn Aucoin, to tell us the secrets to luminosity. Kevyn Aucoin just happens to make one of our all-time favorite luminizers, The Celestial Powder in Candlelight, so we thought it was fitting that we go to the source to find out the tips.

If you want to start off with a subtle hint of glow, Martin says to apply the luminizer to the top of your cheekbones — which also has the benefit of bringing out the structure of the cheeks. "Just try to avoid getting to close to the eye area," she says . "This can cause wrinkles to stand out." For a more noticeably radiant luster, Martin recommends also using it on your forehead and the middle of your nose.

As for what to apply it with? Martin says, “I like to apply a powder luminizer with a soft brush." And, for liquid, she recommends using a tiny drop for the nose, forehead, and cheekbones, and applying with your fingertips.

Here's one last nugget of luminous wisdom: "Apply your luminizer to your cupid's bow," Martin advises. "It's a makeup artist secret to making lips look like they have a full pout."