Highlight Brush Guide: How to Sculpt & Illuminate Like a Pro

Highlighter is the finishing touch that transforms a makeup look from flat to luminous — but only when it’s applied with the right brush. Too dense a brush and the highlight looks chunky and overdone. Too sparse and the glow disappears into the skin. Brittany Cosmetics offers two dedicated highlighting tools — the Soft Highlight Brush and the Contour Highlighter Brush — each designed for a different type of glow.

Soft Highlight Brush vs Contour Highlighter Brush: Key Differences

• Soft Highlight Brush – a fluffy, dome-shaped brush with loosely packed bristles. Designed for diffused, natural-looking highlight that melts seamlessly into the skin. Ideal for everyday glow and powder highlighters.
• Contour Highlighter Brush – a more tapered, angled brush designed for precise highlight placement along the cheekbone and for sculpting. Doubles as a contour brush for defined, editorial looks.

Where to Apply Highlighter

Highlighter should be placed where light naturally hits the face:

• Tops of the cheekbones – the most classic placement; sweep highlight along the highest point of the cheekbone
• Brow bone – a touch of highlight just below the arch of the brow lifts and opens the eye
• Inner corners of the eyes – brightens and widens the eyes for an awake, fresh look
• Bridge of the nose – a thin line of highlight down the nose bridge creates the illusion of height and definition
• Cupid’s bow – highlight above the upper lip makes lips appear fuller and more defined
• Centre of the forehead – for a glowing, editorial finish

How to Use the Soft Highlight Brush

Step 1 – Tap off excess
Lightly dip the Soft Highlight Brush into your highlighter and tap off any excess. The brush is designed for a light, buildable application.

Step 2 – Apply to the cheekbone
Using a sweeping motion, apply highlight along the top of the cheekbone from the temple inward. Keep the application light — you can always build up.

Step 3 – Blend the edges
Use the outer edge of the brush to feather the highlight seamlessly into the surrounding skin. There should be no visible line where the highlight begins or ends.

Step 4 – Add to other areas
Use the remaining product on the brush to lightly touch the brow bone, inner corners, and nose bridge for a cohesive, all-over glow.

How to Use the Contour Highlighter Brush

Step 1 – Contour first
Use the angled edge of the Contour Highlighter Brush with a matte contour powder to sculpt the cheekbones, temples, and jawline. The angle of the brush follows the natural bone structure of the face.

Step 2 – Apply highlight on top
Switch to a highlighter and use the flat side of the brush to apply glow precisely along the top of the cheekbone, directly above the contour. This creates a sharp, sculpted contrast between shadow and light.

Step 3 – Blend for a seamless finish
Use circular motions to blend the edges of both the contour and highlight for a seamless, natural-looking result.

Choosing the Right Highlighter Formula

• Powder highlighter – the most versatile; works with both brushes and suits all skin types
• Cream highlighter – gives a more skin-like, dewy glow; best applied with fingertips and blended with the Soft Highlight Brush
• Liquid highlighter – mix into foundation for an all-over glow, or apply to the cheekbones and blend with the Soft Highlight Brush

Pro Tips for a Natural, Luminous Glow

• Less is more – build highlight gradually; too much product looks unnatural and draws attention to texture
• Match your undertone – gold and bronze highlighters suit warm undertones; silver and pearl suit cool undertones; champagne suits neutral undertones
• Apply after setting powder – applying highlight over a set base gives a cleaner, more defined glow
• Use the fan brush for a lighter touch – for the most diffused, natural glow, use the Fan Brush to apply highlight with a sweeping motion

How to Clean Your Highlight Brushes

1. Wet the bristles under lukewarm water
2. Work a small amount of brush cleanser through the bristles
3. Rinse until the water runs completely clear
4. Reshape and lay flat to dry overnight

Complete Your Glow Routine

Your highlight brushes work beautifully alongside these Brittany Cosmetics tools:

• Bronzer Brush – to add warmth before applying highlight for a sun-kissed, sculpted finish
• Fan Brush – for a lighter, more diffused highlight application
• Large Blush Brush – to layer blush beneath your highlight for a flushed, glowing look
• Nose Shadow Brush – to highlight the nose bridge with precision

👉 Shop the Soft Highlight Brush
👉 Shop the Contour Highlighter Brush
👉 Explore the Full Brush Collection

Sculpted, luminous, radiant — the glow you’ve always wanted starts with the right highlight brush.