Tips & Tricks for Contouring & Highlighting

May 25, 2020

It’s time to step up your makeup game! If you think highlighting and contouring only comes in the Kardashianesque extreme-cream form, you’re wrong. Highlighting and contouring is about emphasizing your bone structure and warming up your face in the right areas. So if you apply concealer or bronzer - you’re still sculpting your face.

The essentials for a great base

Let’s cover the basics. Firstly, not to prime is a crime! Prime your face if you want the makeup to look good and last long. Secondly, use good tools. You don’t have to splurge on expensive brushes but you can’t use just one brush for everything. Contouring, highlighting and bronzing deserve their own tools. Thirdly, pick the correct shades. This is key if you want your makeup to look as natural as possible. Finally, the three magic words - blend, blend, blend!

Highlighting with concealer

Find a concealer that’s a few shades lighter than your foundation. Apply it under your eyes, down the center of your nose and in the center of your chin and forehead. These are the places we want to draw attention to. If this feels like too much work, stick to the under-eye area. Highlighting under your eyes gets rid of bags or discoloration and draws attention to the center of your face.

Cream-contouring

This step is about creating shadows in the right places. Use cool tones instead of warm ones if you want chiseled looking cheekbones. Draw a number 3 shape across each side of your face. Start with your forehead and follow your hairline closely. When you reach your cheekbone go in for a couple of centimeters. Finish off the “3” shape by placing the product along your jawline.

Blending & Setting

Blending is crucial. I can’t stress this enough. You’ll look flawless If you take your time to blend everything seamlessly. Here are some important tips. The best tool for blending cream-based products is a beauty blender. Don’t forget to wet your beauty blender before you start! You don’t want your makeup to look patchy. Above all, don’t swipe, pull or drag - you have to pat everything out!

Once you’ve blended everything perfectly and all the harsh lines have disappeared, it’s time for setting powder. You can use a translucent powder and a big brush to set your face quickly. Or you can opt for some baking. Use a beauty blender to place a generous amount of setting powder underneath your eyes. Since you have to leave it on for a couple of minutes, now is a great time to do your eye makeup. After you’re done, just wipe the setting powder away with a big fluffy brush. If your eyeshadow had any fallout - this step got rid of it. Win-win!

Bronze like a goddess

Bronzer is just another way to sculpt your face. Only this time you’re using warmer tones and picking the spots where the sun usually hits. I recommend using powder bronzers with fluffy brushes. Don’t apply your bronzer in the same spots you’d apply your cool-toned contour shades. You don’t want your face to look saggy or droopy. Instead, place the bronzer a bit higher - on the top of your cheekbones, where the sun would naturally hit your face. Always remember to place a dash of bronzer on the top of the forehead and along your neck to tie everything together. This is the perfect way to get that sun-kissed goddess look!

A dash of highlighter

Glam it up further and finish everything off with highlighter! No matter the form or finish, highlighters pack a lot of heat. That’s why I recommend using a smaller brush. It will give you more control. Aim for the top of your cheekbones, the inner eye and brow bone. If you’re feeling extra perky you can highlight the tip of your nose too. Keep glowing, beautiful!