InstagramWhile contouring may be so last year, and strobing so last month, the latest highlighting craze called "baking" actually first surfaced many, many moons ago.
Dubbed by beauty blogs as the "new contouring," the technique—tried and tested by Kim Kardashian's makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic—is also known by beauty pros as cooking. And though the old technique, which was first popularized by drag queens, has proven illuminating results, it may not be the best or most efficient for your skin.
"I honestly never use the baking technique because it's just too much makeup and, quite frankly, a waste of time," said makeup artist Julianne Kaye, who's worked with celebs like Britney Spears and Kate Hudson. "Let's face it, having five pounds of cake on your face looks like, well...cake."
To achieve the look, start with your foundation routine. Next, apply a generous amount of cream concealer under the eyes then blend it out. You can repeat this step with a little more concealer, should you want a brighter effect.
After blending, apply a generous amount of translucent powder under the eye area and a little bit on your chin, cheekbones and forehead, and let it sit for five to 10 minutes; this should allow the foundation and concealer to set for that extra radiant effect. When time is up, brush away the excess powder.
When all is said and done, the glow is real. Sometimes, though, it may even be too much, as any severe technique like heavy contouring or highlighting can over-emphasize facial features and harden the overall look, Julianne warned.
But don't worry—she has an alternative method, which might save you some time too.
"I've always been able to get great highlight and coverage under the eyes by stippling the concealer in with a sponge then setting it by pressing powder in with a puff instead of a brush," she recommended. "This gives you a heavier lay down, which has the same end result as the baking technique."
Less makeup to wash off our face? Done.