What if we put a little order into our makeup? Every morning, it’s the same dilemma in front of the mirror: should you start by warming up your complexion with bronzer, waking up your cheekbones with blush or brightening your face with highlighter? On one side, the bronzer, blush, highlighter team, on the other, those who prefer to reverse the steps according to their desires. Result: between fans of the glowy complexion and fans of the healthy glow effect, it’s difficult to know which brush to use.
To get everyone in agreement, we asked Harold James, international makeup artist and L’Oréal Paris ambassador, who notably enhances the faces of Naomi Watts and Angelina Jolie. We met him backstage at the last L’Oréal Paris fashion show, organized on September 28, 2026, at Place Joffre in Paris. An event celebrating self-confidence and sisterhood, with Charlotte Cardin, Kendall Jenner, Eva Longoria, Jane Fonda and a surprise appearance by Celine Dion. Between two beauty secrets, the expert revealed his method for a perfect complexion. And good news: you don’t need to have a makeup artist diploma to get by.
Bronzer, blush and highlighter: the three-step method for a luminous complexion
In reality, there is no rule set in stone. , Harold James tells us. But for those who want to adopt a simple and effective routine, the makeup artist still recommends a very specific sequence.
We start by tanning it, just to raise the temperature. , he explains. Applied to areas that the sun naturally caresses, it warms the complexion and gives it relief.
Next comes blush, that little touch of color that changes everything. , continues the makeup artist. Soft pink, peach or raspberry, each with its own shade to show off chewable cheeks.
Finally, time for the highlighter, the icing on the cake. Harold James advises to apply it. The top of the cheekbones then becomes an ideal playground for catching the light, without transforming your face into a disco ball.
Glowing complexion without material effect: Harold James’ tips for making your makeup last
But knowing the right order isn’t always enough to achieve a red carpet-worthy complexion. You still need to master the art of dosage. And on this point, Harold James has advice that is worth gold: be light-handed. , he explains to us when we ask him how to prolong the wear of makeup without overloading the complexion. Rather than multiplying the quantities all at once, he recommends . A technique that avoids the accumulation of material and promotes better hold.
Another tip to keep handy: using your fingers. , underlines the makeup artist. Foundation, concealer or cream blush, a few taps are enough to better blend the textures with the skin. Ideal for a natural finish, without demarcation.
And for special occasions? A fixing spray can seal everything. But on a daily basis, the expert insists: it is above all the finesse of the application that makes the difference.
Our selection of the best bronzers, highlighters and blushes
To move from theory to practice, you still need to find the right allies. When it comes to bronzers, we love creamy textures that are easy to blend, like Milk Makeup, perfect for warming up the complexion without looking heavy. In the same spirit, we love de Rhode, Hailey Bieber’s brand recently arrived at Sephora. For those who prefer to play with several shades, the brand new one from Huda Beauty is sure to appeal.
Once the complexion is warmed up, it’s time to apply blush. Our big favorite? The from Benefit Cosmetics, and more particularly its shade whose intense forest fruit shade promises to awaken the cheekbones. It’s also impossible to miss the Nars blush in the shade, this coppery orange with golden highlights which has been the talk of the town in recent months after being seen on Celine Dion’s cheeks. For fans of melting and creamy textures, YSL, Merit Beauty and Armani offer three very practical alternatives to slip into your beauty bag.
Last step, and not least: the highlighter. For a liquid glow, our eyes turn to Hourglass. Powder lovers can count on Kiko Milano. Finally, for a touch of light to be applied in seconds, our heart goes to the L’Oréal Paris which glides on the skin effortlessly.
