The Secret to Olivia Jade's Sun-Kissed, Defined 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 officially became a permanent resident last September, and it's hard to picture Jade—who grew up in L.A. with the bright charm of a garden fairy—slushing through the snow during the worst winter we've seen in a decade. "It was quite an experience, my first winter here," she says during our phone conversation. Nothing screams "Welcome to NYC" quite like a massive blizzard! It turned out to be an ideal backdrop to try her Bronze & Glow Balm, the bronzer-highlighter combination from her brand, O.Piccola, which officially launches today at 2 p.m. PST/5 p.m. EST. "I’d use it even on days I wasn't heading out, just to test how well it sits on my face, if it settles into fine lines, and how long it lasts. But now that I’ve moved to New York, I really need it to give me some color because I look like a ghost."

      You'd never guess, I respond. Jade has long been recognized for her glowy, sun-kissed makeup, showcasing her fondness for bronzer and highlighter since launching her YouTube channel 12 years ago. “[It] just makes me feel much more vibrant,” she shares. "When I was 18, I did a collaboration with Sephora Collection, and we launched a bronze and highlight palette. That's where the concept originated: What is the more current, mature version of that palette?" Five years later (along with numerous TikTok teasers), O.Piccola has come to life.

      For her brand's debut, Jade presents a dual-ended bronzer and highlight balm available in three shades: Light with a champagne pink highlight, Medium paired with a rose pink highlight, and Dark featuring a gold highlight. The formula is creamy, the finish is buildable and not overly shimmery ("It pairs beautifully with matte makeup too," Jade notes), and the compact packaging is both sleek and practical. "I travel frequently for work," Jade explains, "and I wanted something I could easily toss into my bag, suitcase, or purse while on the go."

      As an inquisitive beauty editor, I have to inquire about the other products she carries with her. "I always have a lip liner or stain. I'm a fan of overlining my lips, so that’s a must-have in my bag, along with a lip gloss for when my lips get dry," she says, highlighting favorites like the Summer Fridays Flushed Lip Stain, Kosas Hotliner, and Make Up For Ever Artist Color Pencil in Universal Earth. "I got my lips tattooed almost a year ago—I'm really tired of it and can’t wait for it to fade—so my lip color choices are limited right now. They have to be in the cherry-red family, which is a bit disappointing. Any time I try to wear a brownish nude or any lighter shade than my tattoo, it just doesn’t look right," she laughs. She also keeps a mini perfume oil—Sarah Maxwell Beauty's liv1 Fragrance—as well as concealer and a face mist for refreshing on the go, particularly useful when New York's weather turns unbearably humid. The ever-optimistic Jade is eager to see how her Bronze & Glow Balm performs in the heat. "I can’t wait to test that out, but I'm confident," she says. As they say about NYC: If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere.

      The balm features an intentional "rounded rectangle" shape, making contouring effortless. "If you press it at the bottom of your cheekbone, it perfectly carves out that section. Then you can flip it horizontally to contour your forehead, jawline, and under your chin. Additionally, if you flip it vertically, you can achieve a lovely nose contour," Jade describes. (Don’t worry—she provides a tutorial on the O.Piccola website showing exactly how to use it.) Since the formula is creamy and easy to work with, you can blend it using a sponge (Jade’s favorite tool), brush, or even your fingertips for a flawless finish.

      Regarding the highlight, "I swipe it directly on my face," Jade adds. "If I want to be more precise about where I'm applying it, sometimes I’ll use my fingers. I also like to add a touch of highlight to the tip of my nose. Usually, I just dip my finger in the product and pat it on." I respond with excitement (pun intended), sharing that I, too, appreciate the button-nose highlight despite some makeup artists saying it can look unnatural. "It’s definitely a topic that divides opinions!" she agrees. "I think I’m going to try to convince people that it’s in." It certainly helps that Jade's formula contains minimal shimmer, which generally helps highlighter appear