by Paola Fanutti

Created on: August 28, 2009

Getting an eye catching natural facial sheen and sparkle is inexpensive and easy, and gives you that flushed and healthy, I've-just-finished-exercising glow. Healthy and subtly sparkly skin is perfect for a soft daytime or dramatic evening face, and is a celebrity look that is easily recreated with simple techniques and sheer products. Here's how to give your skin sparkle, sheen and golden gleam without tacky and glitzy glitter.

*The first step to a gleaming face is to exfoliate and slough off dead skin cells, erase surface skin and facilitate skin cell turnover. This can be accomplished by using a weekly mask and bi-weekly scrub. Pick a scrub that is slightly grainy, yet gentle. Look for skin soothing ingredients like cucumber, which leaves the skin less puffy and refreshed and honey, which has gentle astringent and purifying properties. Regular skin care will leave your skin naturally glowing and healthy, rather than dull and lifeless. Try and get regular monthly facials to primp the skin and keep it in top condition.

*Use a tinted moisturizer or highlighter. For a very soft and subtle sparkly base, go for a tinted moisturizer that evens out the skin, packs in moisture and contains luminous particles that reflect light and give you a healthy glow. For a more dramatic effect, dab a highlighter on your cheek and brow bones to accentuate and wake up your face. Elegant evening highlighters to try include Pixi Sparkle Stix or Benefit High Beam luminescent complexion enhancer. You can also try mixing a drop of a liquid luminizer, like Stila All Over Shimmer with your favourite tinted moisturizer for a slight daytime sparkle.

*Apply a slightly sparkly, not matte bronzer. With a large brush, dust a bronzer with light reflecting particles where the sun strikes the face naturally: the bridge of the nose and cheekbones. You'll recreate that "afternoon at the beach in St Tropez" look without a harsh and blinding sparkle.

*Switch to mineral makeup. Mica, a naturally sparkly earthy mineral substance, gives mineral makeup a shinier finish than conventional formulas, leaving skin looking light and luminous. Mica is a fine white powder with shiny particles that also leaves skin texture smooth as well as sparkly. Replace your regular matte eye shadows, powders and blushes with mineral based ones, which are luminous, light- reflecting and skin-healthy.

*Keep lips a pearly sheen and stay away from matte shades. Icy shades, glittery pinks, and pearly frosts will let your lips' natural shade shine through while leaving them with a glossy, light reflecting and textured finish. Fake Bake Sparkly Lip Gloss and NYX Diamond Sparkle offer pearly shade ranges.

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