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In our eternal quest for radiant, illuminated skin, we’ve decided that just highlighting our cheekbones simply isn’t enough on the days when we want to look a little more glam. Luckily, we’ve spent some serious quality time with our (extensive) highlighter stash and have discovered a few unsuspecting places to pop on shimmer. Ahead, find the four spots that can up your highlighter game and give your face a major glow up.

Highlighter Placement #1: Top of the Forehead

Highlighting the top of your forehead prevents the face from looking flat (a common beauty blunder associated with too much bronzer) and brightens up the entire face. Application here should be very sheer and look natural rather than powdery. One of our favorite techniques is to mix in some liquid highlighter with foundation and tap it on with a makeup sponge. NYX Born to Glow Liquid Illuminator our go-to pick for some lit-from-within shimmer.

Highlighter Placement #2: Below Your Brow Bone

While you may not have racked up eight hours of sleep last night, popping some highlight below your brow bone and above your eyebrow arch will make you look wide-eyed and well rested. Focusing highlighter around your eyebrow can give the appearance of a mini eye-lift. We love Thrive Causemetics Brilliant Eye Brightener. It’s an easy-to-use pencil with a creamy consistency and amazing glow.

Highlighter Placement #3: Center of the Eyelid

Whether you did a full-on smoky eye or are going the more neutral route, the eyelid is an unsuspected spot to highlight — but it makes a big difference. We recommend a powder for this step, like the YSL Couture Highlighter. Use a flat brush to pack product on the center of your lid and in the inner corner of your eye. This trick will make your eyes twinkle — no joke. (Primp tip: If you want a foiled look, spray setting spray on your highlighter and then apply.)

Highlighter Placement #4: The Cupid’s Bow

The ‘V’ of your cupid’s bow is also a great spot to pop on some highlighter; it creates the appearance of fuller lips. Apply it with your finger and use a soft touch. When the light catches, your pout will look especially plumped.

Highlighter Placement #5: All Over Glow

A bronzer-highlighter duo? Count us in. IT Cosmetics CC Radiance Ombre Bronzer is an easy and natural way to amp up your overall illumination. It’ll give you warmth and sparkle around your cheeks, nose, chin and forehead. Use a buffing or blending brush to diffuse the product and achieve subtle radiance.

The search for perfect-looking skin has our constant attention — we invest in fancy foundations, skin-smoothing primers and magical blending sponges. But little did we know that creating a flawless makeup base has less to do with these methods and a whole lot more to do with what we mix our foundation with. Ahead, we broke down exactly how to achieve the look by mixing highlighter with our favorite foundation formula, and we can guarantee that the results are better than any other method out there.

STEP 1: Pick the Right Liquid-Based Highlighter

Picking the right illuminating product is key to making this makeup mix a success. First and foremost, choose a highlighter that has more of a sheer finish, as opposed to a glittery, shimmery one. You’ll need a lightweight formula like the Dermablend Glow Creator Highlighting Drops that will blend seamlessly with your foundation to leave a natural, subtle glow.

STEP 2: Mix It Up

Mix equal parts foundation (our current favorite is the YSL All Hours Longwear Foundation) and highlighter on the back of your hand. The total combination should equal a dime-sized amount. If needed, add more to make sure you have the right amount of coverage. Just be careful that you don’t end up with thick, cakey makeup.

STEP 3: Blend, Blend, Blend

Dot the mixture on your forehead, cheeks, nose and chin and smooth it all over the face (we recommend working from the center and blending outward) with a blending sponge or foundation brush, until your makeup is evenly distributed around your face and neck. Make sure to blend well, so that there are no streaks or splotching. Your makeup should look like second skin. For a next-level glow, feel free to add more strategically placed highlighter on the high points of your face when you’re finished with the rest of your makeup.