I used to be able to roll out of bed and run around with no makeup but now (unless I’m going to the gym) I feel better about myself at least applying concealer and highlighter. These are now my top 2 makeup must haves. Goal = even out and brighten up! It’s obvious where to apply concealer. Under the eyes (where I look tired from purple-ish discoloration) and around my nose and sometimes chin (where I tend to be red-ish). We all know our problem spots. I dab concealer on under the eyes all the way up to the outer corners and ends of eyebrows plus sometimes on the eyelids and below the eyebrows. If you are wondering where to place highlighter, look at the photo above. I’ve circled the area on the face that is most important. I usually stop there. Many makeup tutorials suggest going further. You can use this photo as a guide and dot on your face wherever you see in it the brightest light reflection: under the eyebrow arch (see where the skin is the whitest in the photo), or chin, on the nose tip (do you see that horizontal line slightly slanted down to the right on the outer corner?), in the inner corners of the eyes extended to the nose, and where the upper lip creates a V. That’s pretty much it. There are many good highlighters available and I’ve even used peach, nude, white eyeshadows instead with success. I don’t know why editors make this out to be so complicated. I think they are trying hard to sell us stuff we don’t need. As a Cosmetics and Skincare brand executive, it was kind of a joke how all the editors wore practically zero color makeup – they were more into achieving even skin tone (maybe some subtle flush or pop of color). I am sharing this photo because it shows how quick and simple brightening can be – kind of like paint by numbers. The clarity of this model’s skin is unreal she is so lovely. I find that if I can achieve some evenness to my skin and brightening, I look better and don’t need much else. It is the ultimate no makeup (Cosmetics editor) look. I did try using highlighter (even contouring) on/around my fine lines, but it did not make even the slightest difference. Nothing helps with that.