Okay, so I finally got my hands on that Isamaya Highlighter everyone’s been buzzing about. Looked super shiny and cool online, but man, figuring out how to actually use it without looking like a disco ball took some trial and error. Here’s exactly how I did it.
First Impressions & Prep
Right outta the box, the thing is tiny! Smaller than I thought, but feels kinda fancy. The gel texture inside is super bouncy, almost like play-doh but slick. Before slapping it on my face, I did my usual thing: washed my face, slapped on moisturizer, and did my base makeup like normal – foundation and a bit of powder. Figured starting clean and mattified would let the highlighter really pop.
The First Try (Spoiler: It Was Streaky)
Excitedly grabbed it, dipped my finger straight in the pot and went to town on my cheekbone. BIG MISTAKE. Smeared a thick streak. Tried blending it out with my fingertip, but it just sorta… moved the product around unevenly? Looked patchy, way too intense in one spot, and honestly, a bit sticky. Not the effortless glow I was sold on.
Warming Up & Less is More
Decided to chill and think. Maybe I need to warm the product up first? Instead of jabbing my finger in, I gently swirled my fingertip on the surface of the gel for a second or two. Felt the texture get a little softer and silkier under the warmth. This time, I just tapped the very tip of my finger onto the highlighter pot. Barely any product at all! Like, seriously faint.
I pressed it lightly onto the highest point of my cheekbone – not swiping, just a press. Then, using a clean fingertip (super important!) I tapped and patted around the edges, diffusing it outwards. NO RUBBING, just little taps. THIS worked! Suddenly had this sheer, wet-looking shine that blended seamlessly into the skin.
Applying to Other Spots
Feeling smarter, I tried other areas:
- Nose Bridge: Used the tiniest dab on the very tip, tapped it out upwards lightly. Avoided the sides.
- Cupid’s Bow: Barely touched the product, pressed it right on the middle of my upper lip curve. Instant pretty shimmer!
- Inner Corners: Barely touched the gel, patted gently onto the inner corner with my ring finger – brightened my eyes amazingly.
Kept repeating the “warm a tiny bit on finger, press onto point, tap-blend with clean finger” method.
What Finally Worked Best
After messing up a few times and finally getting the hang of it, here’s what I swear by:
- Warm It Up: Swirl finger lightly on the gel surface first. Don’t scoop.
- LESS PRODUCT: Seriously, use way less than you think. One gentle tap onto the pot surface is plenty.
- Press First, Blend Second: Press the product exactly where you want the main shine. Then, with a DIFFERENT CLEAN FINGERTIP, pat and tap the edges to blend, don’t rub or smear.
- Blend Immediately: Don’t let it sit! Press and blend right away while it’s still warm.
- Clean Finger is Key: Seriously, using the same sticky finger to blend will ruin it. Use a fresh fingertip or brush handle tip.
End result? When I finally did it right, the shine was insane – but in a cool, wet-look way, not sparkly. Super natural from some angles, then BAM, head-turning glow from others. Took some practice, but the payoff? Totally worth the initial frustration. Gotta be super gentle and patient with this weird little pot!
