How to Use a Fan Brush for Highlighting

A fan brush creates the most natural highlight because its sparse bristles deposit product gradually without harsh lines.

Most people use too much highlighter because they use the wrong brush—a fan brush forces restraint and delivers that expensive-looking subtlety.

1. Choose your highlight shade. Pick a highlight one to two shades lighter than your skin tone. Powder works best with fan brushes because the sparse bristles grab just enough product without overloading.
2. Load the brush lightly. Tap the fan brush into your highlight, then tap off excess on the back of your hand. You want barely any product visible on the bristles.
3. Apply to high points. Sweep the brush across cheekbones, bridge of nose, cupid's bow, and brow bone using light, feathery strokes. The fan shape naturally follows these contours.
4. Build gradually. Add more product in thin layers rather than trying to achieve intensity in one pass. Fan brushes excel at buildable, natural-looking highlights.