The glow drop category is one of the most misunderstood in beauty. People either don't know they exist, or they think they're too complicated to use. Both problems are worth fixing.
Here's everything you need to know about liquid glow drops, how to use them and why they're worth having.
What Are Liquid Glow Drops?
Liquid glow drops are a concentrated liquid — usually oil or serum-based — that contains light-reflecting pigments. You apply them in small amounts to high points of the face where you want skin to catch light: cheekbones, brow bones, bridge of the nose, cupid's bow.
The effect is different from powder highlighters. Powder sits on the surface of skin and can look obvious or chalky, particularly on dry skin. Liquid glow drops blend into skin and create a finish that looks like the light is coming from within rather than sitting on top. It's the warm, golden finish that people describe as "just back from somewhere warm" rather than "she's wearing highlighter."
How to Use Them: The Right Way
Amount: Less than you think. For most people, one drop per cheekbone is the starting point. Two is a statement. Three is a deliberate choice for evening or photography.
Application: Press, don't swipe. Apply the drop to a fingertip, then press and pat onto the cheekbone. Swiping creates streaks. Pressing creates that seamless, skin-like finish.
When in the routine: Under foundation for a dewy base (the glow shows through most light-coverage formulas). Over foundation or tinted moisturiser for a targeted highlight. Or on bare skin after your mist for a natural, no-makeup glow.
Where to Apply For Your Face Shape
Oval face: Cheekbones and brow bones. The classic placement.
Round face: Outer cheekbones (above the ear rather than on the apple) and the centre of the forehead. Creates length and dimension.
Square face: Centre of forehead, tip of nose, cupid's bow and centre of chin. Softens angles.
Heart face: Cheekbones and bridge of nose. Keeps attention at eye level.
Every face: Collarbones. The Liquid Glow Drops also work beautifully as a body highlight pressed into collarbones before going out. One product, two uses.
The Glow and Flow Health Liquid Glow Drops Formula
Our drops use finely milled warm golden mica as the pigment source. We chose golden specifically because it works across more skin tones than silver or champagne — the warmth reads as a sun-kissed flush on fair skin and as a natural glow on deeper tones.
The squalane base means the drops blend instantly and don't sit on top of skin, so they can be pressed wherever you want a glow — cheekbones, brow bones, collarbones.
One product. Used right. The difference between a flat face and one that looks like it's catching light from somewhere nobody else can see.