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What is Strobing? How to Strobe

posted in: Makeup
July 13, 2015

What is strobing? How do you strobe? What do you use to strobe? These seem to be the most asked questions over the past month in the beauty community. The funny thing is, we’ve already been talking about strobing for years, because strobing is just highlighting without the contour!

What is Strobing and How to Strobe | Slashed Beauty

Just like traditional highlighting, strobing is all about bringing out the high points on the face with a luminous glow. This includes your:

  • forehead
  • brow bone
  • cheek bones
  • bridge of the nose
  • cupid’s bow
  • chin

The main difference is that instead of pairing the look with contouring, you let the highlighting shape your face on its own. You’re left with a very fresh-faced look with healthy and glowing skin; a really popular trend year round, but especially for summer.

To see my strobing routine and hear my tips, watch the video below:

What is Strobing and How to Strobe | Slashed Beauty

Recently, I’ve been using the City Color Cosmetics Spotlight Highlight to highlight and strobe. I’ve always been partial to cream and liquid highlighters, and this one has quickly become my new favorite. It gives off an incredibly natural looking glow that catches the light beautifully. You can definitely build this up for a statement strobe, but for an even stronger effect, you can apply concealer on the high points and the highlighter over it. Either way, using liquid and cream face products during your strobing routine will enhance and maintain the dewy look best. Using a beauty blender or other sponge will help diffuse everything for a cohesive look.

More affordable highlighters for strobing:

 

Are you into the strobing trend this summer?

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23 Responses

  1. Rachel Runyan
    | Reply

    I like strobing a lot better than heavy contouring on my pale skin.

    • Miranda | SlashedBeauty.com
      | Reply

      I’ve been hearing a lot of paler girls say that!

  2. Brooke @ Blushing Noir
    | Reply

    Break it down girl 😉 I love to contour so idk if I could simply “strobe”. Maybe on an easy day.

  3. Erika
    | Reply

    Strobe is the new fetch. I’m rolling with it, tho. 😀

  4. Stephanie Louise Telford
    | Reply

    Your video was great!

  5. Norah Salazar
    | Reply

    This is highlighting vol 2, just add more intensity and call it strobing. Not really a new technique as far as makeup goes. Kevyn Aucoin has it on all his books dating back to 90s but it wasn’t called “strobing”.

    • Miranda | SlashedBeauty.com
      | Reply

      Yup! Just renamed & repackaged to look shiny (literally) and new!

  6. Amber
    | Reply

    I like the look of that City Colors cream! I’ve discovered their blush recently and I’m amazed how pigmented and beautiful they are.

  7. Anastasia
    | Reply

    Strobing/highlighting is so nice! I think it just looks more natural than contouring 🙂

    • Miranda | SlashedBeauty.com
      | Reply

      Definitely! Especially for lighter skinned ladies

  8. FabZilla_Kath
    | Reply

    Yeah, same ol same ol. Who used this term first?

  9. PrimeBeauty
    | Reply

    I think it’s so funny that this new word is being used for we’ve doing for years!

  10. Chelsea
    | Reply

    Haha, I love how this is a whole new “thing” when it’s really not at all! I love highlighting and will often do it without contouring 🙂

  11. marciaf
    | Reply

    I love that a new word has been invented for what we’ve done for years and years. Great explanation.

  12. Nidia Doherty
    | Reply

    Gotta say, you are having a spectacular hair day. Strobing is just nicer than saying ‘lazy way to highlight’ I guess! Lol. I’m with you, I tried highlighting my forehead and chin and I just looked greasy. Cheekbones and browbones are key.. maybe the bridge of my nose.

    • Miranda | SlashedBeauty.com
      | Reply

      Thank you! I’m freaking loving this cut, it’s so low maintenance.

  13. Phyrra
    | Reply

    As a pale girl, I find strobing to be way more flattering on me 🙂

  14. Aleya Bamdad
    | Reply

    I remember being confused about strobing when I first heard of it. Thanks for clarifying.

  15. Heather
    | Reply

    As a makeup artist it is funny when these trends take off. People have no idea what they are they just want it heh

    • Miranda | SlashedBeauty.com
      | Reply

      I’m sure you were rolling your eyes at this one then 😛

  16. Allison @neversaydiebeauty
    | Reply

    I wish we had City Color Cosmetics around here since they have some great little products. I’d love to try that cream highlighter since I’m such a cream fan

    • Miranda | SlashedBeauty.com
      | Reply

      I’ve never seen them in stores, but they’ve got everything online 🙂

      • Allison @neversaydiebeauty
        | Reply

        Interesting, I thought they were in stores out west, but maybe I’m confusing City Color with LA Color

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