Olivia Jade's Secret to Radiant, Contoured Skin? This Exclusive Bronzer and "Controversial" Highlighting Technique

      I can't help but chuckle when Olivia Jade shares her experiences from her first six months in New York. The content creator became a permanent resident last September, and it's hard to picture Jade—who grew up in L.A. and radiates the sunny vibe of a garden fairy—making her way through the slush during what has been the harshest winter we've faced in 11 years. "It was a good shake-up; the first winter I've ever spent here," she reflects during our call. Nothing screams "Welcome to NYC" quite like a major blizzard! This also provided an ideal backdrop for trying out her Bronze & Glow Balm, a bronzer-highlighter duo from her new brand, O.Piccola, which launches today at 2 p.m. PST/5 p.m. EST. "I'd use it even on days I wasn't leaving the house to see how long it stayed on my face, if it settled into fine lines, and how long it lasted. But since moving to New York, I've really needed it to add some color because I look like a ghost."

      You’d never guess, I reply. Jade is known for her radiant, sun-kissed makeup look and has showcased her love for bronzer and highlighter since starting her YouTube channel 12 years ago. "[It] just makes me feel much more alive," she shares. "When I was 18, I did a collaboration with Sephora Collection, and we created a bronzer and highlighter palette. That’s where the concept originated: What’s the more modern, mature version of that palette?" Five years (and a lot of TikTok teasers) later, O.Piccola is here.

      For her brand launch, Jade presents a dual-ended bronzer and highlight balm available in three shades: Light featuring a champagne pink highlight, Medium with a rose pink highlight, and Dark accompanied by a gold highlight. The balm has a creamy texture, a buildable finish, and is not overly shimmery ("It looks really lovely over matte makeup too," Jade notes), and the compact packaging is satisfyingly portable. "I travel a lot for work," Jade explains, "and I wanted something I could easily toss in my bag, suitcase, or purse while on the move."

      As a curious beauty editor, I can't resist asking what other products she carries with her. "I always have a lip liner or stain. I like to overline my lips, so that’s always in my bag, along with a lip gloss, just in case my lips get dry," she replies, highlighting her favorites: Summer Fridays Flushed Lip Stain, Kosas Hotliner, and Make Up For Ever Artist Color Pencil in Universal Earth. "I had my lips tattooed about a year ago—I’m so tired of it and can’t wait for it to fade—so there are limited colors I can use right now. It has to be in the cherry-red family, which is a bit disappointing. Whenever I try to use a brownish nude or any color lighter than the tattoo, it just doesn’t look right," she laughs. She also carries a mini perfume oil—Sarah Maxwell Beauty's liv1 Fragrance—along with concealer and a face mist for quick refreshes, the latter of which will definitely be useful when New York's weather turns unbearably humid. Jade, ever the optimist, is keen to see how her Bronze & Glow Balm performs in the heat. "I'm excited to test that, but I'm confident," she says. You know what they say about NYC: If you can make it there, you can make it anywhere.

      The balm features a purposeful "rounded rectangle" shape that simplifies contouring. "If you press it at the base of your cheekbone, it carves the area perfectly. Then you can flip it horizontally to contour your forehead, jawline, and under your chin. And if you flip it vertically, you can achieve a nice nose contour," Jade explains. (Don’t worry—she has a tutorial video on the O.Piccola website showing exactly how to apply it.) Because the formula is so creamy and forgiving, you can easily blend it with a sponge (Jade’s preferred tool), brush, or your fingers for a flawless finish.

      When it comes to highlighting, "I apply directly to my face," Jade adds. "Sometimes I use my fingers if I want to be more precise about where I apply it. I also enjoy highlighting the tip of my nose. I'll typically dip my finger into the product and pat it on." I light up at that (no pun intended), sharing that I too love the nose highlight, despite some makeup artists claiming it can look unnatural. "It is polarizing!" she acknowledges. "I think I’ll try to convince people it’s in." The good news is that Jade's formula has minimal shimmer, which typically makes highlighter look more natural. "It gives more of a skin