A radiant, sculpted look is often the goal of a well-executed makeup routine. While foundation, contour, and highlight are staples for the face, a truly complete look extends beyond the jawline. The collarbones, in particular, offer a unique opportunity to add an element of sophisticated glamour and dimension to your entire appearance. Highlighting them with body shimmer is a simple yet transformative technique that elevates your style, whether you’re wearing a strapless gown, an off-the-shoulder top, or a simple V-neck.
This guide will take you through a detailed, step-by-step process of using body shimmer to accentuate your collarbones. We will cover everything from product selection and skin preparation to application techniques and setting the look, ensuring a flawless, long-lasting glow.
The Foundation: Choosing the Right Shimmer Product
The market is saturated with shimmer products, and choosing the right one is the first and most critical step. The “perfect” product depends on your skin tone, desired intensity, and the specific event.
1. Product Formats: Know Your Options
- Shimmering Oils: These are liquid gold for dry or mature skin. They hydrate while providing a subtle, luminous sheen. They are easy to blend and deliver a dewy finish, perfect for a natural, healthy glow.
- Example: A rose gold shimmering oil on medium skin tones. It provides a warm, sun-kissed look without a heavy glitter effect.
- Shimmering Lotions/Creams: These are thicker than oils and offer more control over the application. They are excellent for all skin types and can range from subtle to intensely pigmented. They also double as a moisturizer, making them a practical choice for everyday wear.
- Example: A pearlized shimmering lotion applied to fair skin. It gives a cool, ethereal glow that catches the light beautifully.
- Loose Shimmer Powders: These are for the bold and dramatic. They are highly pigmented and deliver a concentrated, high-impact sparkle. A little goes a long way, and they require a light hand and a precise brush for application.
- Example: A loose gold shimmer powder pressed onto the collarbones for a night out. The concentrated pigment creates a striking, almost metallic finish under artificial light.
- Solid Sticks/Balms: These are the most travel-friendly and mess-free option. They offer a direct, targeted application and are often formulated with nourishing ingredients. The intensity is buildable, making them versatile for both subtle and dramatic looks.
- Example: A bronze shimmer stick swiped directly along the collarbone and blended with fingertips. The creamy formula melts into the skin for a seamless finish.
2. Shade Selection: Match Your Skin Tone
The wrong shade can make your skin look ashy or unnatural. Follow these guidelines to find your perfect match:
- Fair Skin Tones: Look for shades with a pink, silver, or champagne undertone. These will enhance your natural radiance without looking too harsh.
- Example: A light, pearlescent shimmer lotion. It will create a gentle, luminous highlight that complements the skin’s cool undertones.
- Medium Skin Tones: Golden, bronze, and peach shades are your best friends. They will warm up your complexion and create a healthy, sun-kissed glow.
- Example: A warm golden shimmering oil. It adds a beautiful, radiant dimension that looks like a natural, post-vacation glow.
- Deep Skin Tones: Rich bronze, copper, and deep gold shades will pop against your skin. These shades will prevent a gray or chalky finish and provide a luxurious, luminous effect.
- Example: A deep bronze shimmer cream. It will create a stunning, molten metal effect that looks incredibly glamorous and eye-catching.
3. Finish: Matte, Shimmer, or Glitter?
- Shimmer: This is the most versatile and popular choice. It contains finely milled particles that reflect light for a soft, radiant glow. It’s perfect for a sophisticated, everyday look.
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Glitter: This contains larger, more noticeable particles. It’s best for a high-impact, dramatic look, such as a night out or a special event.
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Matte: While not a shimmer product, a matte bronzer or contour powder can be used to define the collarbones before applying shimmer, creating a more sculpted look. We’ll cover this in the application section.
The Prep: Creating the Perfect Canvas
You wouldn’t paint a masterpiece on a dirty canvas, and the same principle applies to your skin. Proper preparation is essential for a smooth, even, and long-lasting shimmer application.
1. Exfoliate and Moisturize
- Exfoliation: Use a gentle body scrub to remove dead skin cells from your chest and collarbone area. This creates a smooth surface, preventing the shimmer from clinging to dry patches and looking patchy.
- Example: In the shower, use a sugar or coffee scrub in circular motions around your neck and collarbone area. Rinse thoroughly.
- Moisturization: After exfoliating, apply a lightweight, non-greasy body lotion. This will hydrate the skin, making it plump and smooth, allowing the shimmer to glide on effortlessly. Wait a few minutes for the moisturizer to fully absorb before moving to the next step.
- Example: Apply an unscented, fast-absorbing body lotion. Avoid heavy, oily creams that might interfere with the shimmer’s adhesion.
2. Prime (Optional but Recommended)
A body primer or a light layer of foundation can create an even-toned base for the shimmer. This step is particularly useful if you have uneven skin tone or redness in the chest area.
- Example: Dab a small amount of a lightweight foundation or a body-specific primer onto your collarbone and décolletage. Blend it out evenly with a makeup sponge or a foundation brush.
The Application: A Step-by-Step Guide
This is where the magic happens. A strategic application is key to a sculpted, defined look that appears natural and effortless, not like a disco ball.
1. Defining the Collarbones (The Secret to a Sculpted Look)
Before you even think about shimmer, you need to define the natural lines of your collarbones. This step adds dimension and depth.
- Product: Use a matte contour powder or a matte bronzer that is one to two shades darker than your skin tone.
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Tool: A small, fluffy angled brush is ideal for precise application.
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Technique:
- Find the natural hollows just below your collarbones.
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Suck in your stomach and slightly hunch your shoulders forward to make them more prominent.
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Lightly tap your brush into the contour powder, tap off the excess, and gently sweep it along the underside of your collarbones.
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Use small, light strokes to build up the color gradually. Do not create a harsh line; the goal is to create a soft shadow.
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Example: Using a fluffy angled brush, apply a matte taupe contour powder just under the visible part of the collarbone. This creates a subtle shadow that makes the bone appear more prominent.
2. Applying the Shimmer: The Glow-Up
Now that your collarbones are defined, it’s time to add the shimmer. The product format will dictate the best application method.
- Using Shimmering Oil/Lotion:
- Tool: Your fingertips or a large, dense buffing brush. A buffing brush gives a more airbrushed, seamless finish.
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Technique:
- Dispense a small amount onto the back of your hand.
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Using your fingertips, gently pat the product onto the highest points of your collarbones. This is the area that naturally catches the light.
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For a more diffused look, use a buffing brush to blend the product in small, circular motions. Start from the collarbone and blend upwards and slightly outwards towards your shoulders.
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Example: Apply a shimmering oil with your fingertips, patting it directly onto the top of the collarbones. Then, use a large, fluffy brush to softly blend it down towards your chest for a subtle, even glow.
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Using Loose Shimmer Powder:
- Tool: A small, dense fan brush or a fluffy eyeshadow brush.
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Technique:
- Dip the brush lightly into the powder. Tap off any excess.
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Gently sweep the brush over the tops of your collarbones. Start from the center of your chest and move outwards.
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For a more intense look, use a pressing motion instead of a sweeping motion. This packs the pigment onto the skin.
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Example: Use a fan brush to dust a loose gold shimmer powder directly onto the raised parts of the collarbones. Build the intensity by applying a second, lighter layer.
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Using a Solid Stick/Balm:
- Tool: The stick itself and your fingertips.
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Technique:
- Gently swipe the stick directly onto the highest points of your collarbones.
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Use your fingertips to pat and blend the product into the skin. The warmth of your fingers will melt the product, allowing for a seamless finish.
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Example: Swipe a shimmer balm stick along the collarbone and then use your ring finger to lightly tap and blend the edges, diffusing the shimmer into the skin.
3. Blending is Non-Negotiable
The most crucial step in the application process is blending. Harsh lines will ruin the illusion of a naturally sculpted collarbone.
- Tool: A clean, fluffy brush or a beauty sponge.
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Technique:
- After applying the shimmer, use a clean, dry brush to lightly buff the edges.
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This will seamlessly blend the shimmer into your skin and the surrounding area, creating a soft, airbrushed finish.
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Example: Use a large, clean kabuki brush to lightly buff over the entire area, ensuring there are no visible lines of demarcation between the shimmer and your skin.
4. The Finishing Touch: Shoulder and Chest
Don’t just stop at the collarbones. Extend the shimmer slightly onto your shoulders and the center of your chest to create a cohesive, radiant look.
- Technique:
- Use a large, fluffy brush to lightly dust a small amount of shimmer onto the tops of your shoulders.
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Swipe the brush down the center of your décolletage to add a subtle glow.
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Example: After highlighting the collarbones, use the residual shimmer on the brush to lightly sweep over the tops of your shoulders and the breastbone for a unified, luminous effect.
Finalizing the Look: Setting for Longevity
You’ve put in the effort; now make sure it lasts. A setting spray is the final, essential step to lock in your glow.
- Product: A makeup setting spray, preferably one with a luminous or dewy finish.
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Technique:
- Hold the bottle about 8-10 inches away from your chest.
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Mist the spray evenly over the entire area.
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Allow it to air dry completely without touching it.
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Example: After completing the look, hold a dewy finish setting spray a good distance away and mist your chest and shoulders in a “T” or “X” motion.
Troubleshooting and Advanced Tips
Even with the best products and techniques, things can go wrong. Here are solutions to common problems and a few advanced tips for the seasoned pro.
Problem 1: Too Much Shimmer
- Solution: Take a clean, fluffy brush or a clean beauty sponge and gently buff the area to sheer out the product. If it’s a liquid product, a blotting sheet or a small amount of translucent powder can absorb some of the shine.
Problem 2: Patchy or Uneven Application
- Solution: This usually means the skin wasn’t properly prepped. Go back to step two. Exfoliate the area more thoroughly next time. In the moment, you can try to blend it out with a damp beauty sponge.
Problem 3: Shimmer Transfer
- Solution: A good setting spray is your best defense. If you’re using a loose powder, consider applying a thin layer of body lotion first to give the powder something to adhere to.
Advanced Tip 1: Layering Products
- For an ultra-luminous, multidimensional effect, layer a shimmering oil or lotion with a loose shimmer powder.
- Example: Apply a shimmering lotion for a base glow, then use a fan brush to lightly dust a loose powder on top for an amplified highlight.
Advanced Tip 2: Wet Application
- For an intense, foil-like finish, dampen your brush with a setting spray before dipping it into a loose shimmer powder. This creates a hyper-pigmented, almost metallic effect.
- Example: Spritz a fan brush with setting spray, then dip it into a loose gold shimmer. Press the product onto the collarbones for a concentrated, reflective highlight.
Advanced Tip 3: The “T-Bone” Technique
- Instead of just highlighting the collarbones, create a “T” shape with your shimmer. The horizontal line goes along the collarbones, and the vertical line goes down the center of the breastbone. This creates a cohesive, lit-from-within glow across the entire décolletage.
- Example: Sweep a shimmering lotion along the collarbones, then apply a lighter, more concentrated swipe of the same product down the center of the chest.
Conclusion
Using body shimmer to highlight your collarbones is a powerful way to add a touch of glamour and sophistication to any look. By carefully selecting your products, preparing your skin, and mastering the application and blending techniques, you can achieve a radiant, sculpted glow that looks both natural and stunning. This detailed guide provides you with all the tools and knowledge you need to execute this transformative beauty technique flawlessly. Your collarbones are a beautiful, natural feature—now you have the perfect way to make them shine.