Here's the thing about cheekbones: you don't have to be a makeup artist to make yours look amazing and you don't have to spend hours in front of the mirror contouring just to make them pop. Emphasizing cheekbones requires the tiniest amount of effort and product, but the payoff is major.

"It's a great way to make you look more sculpted and glowy at the same time," says Chiao-Li, an editorial makeup artist for Streeters. "And since it's so easy to do, it's a great way to enhance your face structure with minimal effort."

Image via Imaxtree

First thing's first. You've got to figure out where your cheekbones are. Fortunately, they're pretty easy to find.

"Just press on your cheeks and you'll literally feel the bones of your cheeks sticking out," said Chiao-Li. "If you apply the highlighter on the spot where your bone is most pronounced, you can't go wrong."

That's simple enough, and so is this second rule: moderation is key.

"The biggest mistake, in my opinion, is using too much highlighter or applying it in too big an area of the face," said Chiao-Li. "Apply with a relatively small makeup brush to make sure you're not spreading it over too big an area of skin. A sponge [can also] help to prevent you from using too much product."

You should also be mindful not to apply it directly underneath your eyes, a common no-no that can create a weird effect or emphasize those tiny lines and wrinkles.

Image via Glossier

You don't just have one pair of shoes, right? You have an assortment to choose from so you can dress according to the occasion. The same premise can be applied to your highlighter.

If you want a really natural, barely-there look, a product with minimal shimmer and a high dew factor is your go to (try Glossier's MUA-heralded Haloscope, $22, for this). Contrarily, if you're trying to achieve real-life Kira Kira status, a glittery or ultra-shimmery option is a better bet.

"Gel highlighters give a subtle, watery glow and are great if you want a natural look for the daytime. Cream and stick highlighters are, in my opinion, also great for daytime. They give a great dewy glow," noted Chiao-Li. "Glitter highlighters are great if you're going to a party and want to go all-out, but I would steer clear of them in the daytime, unless that's the look you're going for."

She added that powder highlighters tend to be more visible on the skin and are a great option if you want a bit more definition.

Image via Imaxtree

"When I really want to go all-out with highlighter I like to apply a tiny bit of cream highlighter first and on top of that I'll apply a small amount of powder highlighter," said Chiao-Li.

The rule for this is to always start with the wet formula first and then layer the powder formula on top. Also, take care not to over-dew it (get it?). In addition to layering highlighter, you can further emphasize your cheekbones by taking a cue from Kim Kardashian and contouring.

Mary Wiles, a celebrity makeup artist to Naomi Watts, Elizabeth Olsen and Emily Blunt, uses this trick a lot on her clients.

"I like to use a loose, all-natural powder first — such as Inika Mineral Mattifying Powder, $35, a translucent powder — to make sure the contour will glide onto the skin and create a smooth contour that looks simply like a natural shadow," she said.

She then applies a cream highlighter on top of the cheekbone to add highlight and powder contour just underneath the cheekbones to gently and beautifully sculpt. The powder contour allows for a little more control, she noted. Again, the key is to use a light hand. Also, start your contour at your hairline and sweep down the hollow part of your cheek. This creates a more blended and natural appearance.

Bottom line: If you're new to the highlighter and contour game, try not to overthink it. Put on some good music and spend 15 minutes in front of a well-lit mirror experimenting. If it doesn't look that great, wash and try again. You'll get the hang of it in no time!

Image via Imaxtree