Achieving more pronounced cheekbones without a lengthy routine is completely achievable. Just when we thought we’d mastered every contouring tip and blush placement trick, a pro makeup artist shared a method that flips our expectations. Toss out layered gradients, overcomplicated hacks, and a pile of brushes — this approach relies on one precise move that sculpts the face and produces a flattering optical effect in only a few seconds. Follow along.

On her Instagram, makeup artist Lorélen Coriton reveals pro tips to elevate your look in a series called “Hot Girl Hack.” For a fresh, radiant complexion it’s very straightforward: after completing your base and applying your blush, she suggests taking a second shade — a lighter one — and placing it between the outer corner of the eye and the top edge of the blush (right on the most prominent part of the cheekbone). “It immediately ties the makeup together and brightens the area beneath the eye,” Lorélen explains in her video. Because of where the lighter tone is positioned, the trick also helps lift the cheekbone and genuinely makes the face read as more sculpted. “It creates a smooth bridge between concealer and the blush below. Often you can notice hard lines or marks, and this step helps to erase them,” she adds.

Makeup artist applying cream blush between eye and cheekbonePin
A lighter shade placed between the outer eye and cheekbone lifts and brightens the face.

For this “hot girl hack,” Lorélen favors cream blushes, which deliver a dewy, natural finish to the skin. “You can do it with powder too, and in that case it gives a blurring, smoothing effect — almost like there’s nothing under the eye,” she notes.

Cream blush on a sponge for dewy, natural skin finishPin
Cream formulas give a dewy, skin-like finish preferred for this technique.

This technique is already widespread in the United States, where some pro makeup artists have even released palettes pairing two complementary blush shades — think Patrick Ta and his transition blush products. It’s a reminder that in makeup, placement often matters just as much as color.