Contouring and highlighting have become essential techniques in the world of makeup. These techniques can transform your face, enhance your features, and give you a flawless finish. However, mastering the art of contouring and highlighting can be a bit intimidating for beginners. But fear not! With the right tips and tricks, you too can contour and highlight like a pro. In this blog post, we will guide you through the steps to achieve a flawless contoured and highlighted look.
Step 1: Start with a Clean Slate
Before you begin contouring and highlighting, it’s essential to start with a clean and moisturized face. Make sure to apply your foundation and concealer as usual before moving on to the contouring and highlighting steps. This will create a smooth base for your contouring and highlighting products to blend seamlessly.
Step 2: Choose the Right Products
When it comes to contouring and highlighting, choosing the right products is key. For contouring, opt for a matte bronzer or contour powder that is a few shades darker than your skin tone. For highlighting, choose a shimmery highlighter or light concealer that is a few shades lighter than your skin tone. Cream and powder products both work well for contouring and highlighting, so choose the formula that works best for your skin type.
Step 3: Find Your Face Shape
Before you start contouring and highlighting, it’s important to understand your face shape. Each face shape requires a slightly different contouring and highlighting technique to enhance and define your features. Here are some general guidelines for different face shapes:
– Round Face: Contour along the jawline, under the cheekbones, and along the sides of the forehead to create more definition.
– Square Face: Contour along the temples, jawline, and under the cheekbones to soften angles and create a more oval shape.
– Heart Face: Contour along the hairline, under the cheekbones, and along the jawline to balance out the forehead and chin.
– Oval Face: Contour along the sides of the forehead, under the cheekbones, and along the jawline for a subtle enhancement.
Step 4: Contour Like a Pro
To contour your face like a pro, start by applying the contour product in the areas that you want to define and sculpt. Use a small, angled brush to apply the product in a line along the areas you want to contour, blending it outwards with a fluffy brush for a natural finish. Remember to blend well to avoid harsh lines and create a seamless transition between the contour and your foundation.
To contour your nose, apply a thin line of contour product along the sides of your nose and blend it outwards with a small brush. This will create the illusion of a slimmer nose and enhance your facial features.
Step 5: Highlight Like a Pro
Highlighting is just as important as contouring when it comes to creating a flawless makeup look. To highlight like a pro, apply the highlighter or light concealer in the areas that you want to bring forward and emphasize. This includes the tops of the cheekbones, the bridge of the nose, the brow bone, and the cupid’s bow.
Use a small brush or your fingertips to apply the highlighter in a C-shape along the tops of the cheekbones and blend it outwards towards the temples. You can also apply a small amount of highlighter to the tip of your nose, the inner corners of your eyes, and the center of your forehead for a radiant glow.
Step 6: Set Your Makeup
To ensure your contouring and highlighting lasts all day, set your makeup with a setting spray or translucent powder. This will help lock in your makeup and prevent it from fading or creasing throughout the day. Just a light dusting of powder will do the trick, so your contour and highlight stay in place and look flawless from morning to night.
In conclusion, contouring and highlighting can seem daunting at first, but with practice and the right techniques, you can achieve a flawless contoured and highlighted look like a pro. Remember to start with a clean base, choose the right products, understand your face shape, and blend well to achieve a natural finish. With these tips and tricks, you’ll be contouring and highlighting like a pro in no time.
