Contouring and highlighting are two essential makeup techniques that can dramatically enhance and define your facial features. Whether you want to slim down your face, create cheekbones, or just give your skin a radiant glow, mastering these techniques is a must. In this step-by-step guide, I will break down the process of contouring and highlighting so that you can achieve a flawless finish every time.
Step 1: Choose the right products
Before you begin, it’s essential to choose the right products for your skin tone and type. For contouring, you will need a matte bronzer or contour powder that is a few shades darker than your natural skin tone. For highlighting, opt for a light-reflecting concealer or highlighter that is one to two shades lighter than your skin tone.
Step 2: Prep your skin
Start by prepping your skin with your usual skincare routine, including cleansing, toning, and moisturizing. Apply a lightweight foundation that matches your skin tone to create an even base. Make sure to blend it seamlessly into your skin for a natural look.
Step 3: Contour your face
To contour your face, use a contour brush or angled brush to apply the bronzer or contour powder to the areas you want to define. Begin by applying the product just below your cheekbones, along your jawline, and on the sides of your nose. Blend the product well using circular motions to avoid any harsh lines. Remember, less is more, so start with a small amount of product and build up as needed.
Step 4: Highlight your features
Next, it’s time to highlight your features to add dimension and radiance to your face. Use a small brush or your fingertips to apply the highlighter to the high points of your face, including your cheekbones, brow bone, bridge of your nose, and cupid’s bow. Gently blend the product in using a tapping motion for a natural-looking glow.
Step 5: Blend, blend, blend
One of the most important steps in contouring and highlighting is blending. Use a clean makeup sponge or brush to blend the contour and highlight products seamlessly into your skin. Make sure to blend in upward and outward motions to create a soft, diffused look. Pay extra attention to the edges where the two products meet to avoid any harsh lines.
Step 6: Set your makeup
To ensure your contour and highlight stay in place all day, set your makeup with a translucent powder. Use a fluffy brush to apply the powder lightly across your face, focusing on the areas where you applied the contour and highlight. This will help to lock in the products and prevent them from smudging or fading throughout the day.
Step 7: Finish with a setting spray
Finally, finish off your contouring and highlighting routine with a setting spray to keep your makeup looking fresh and flawless. Hold the setting spray about arms-length away from your face and mist it evenly over your skin. Allow it to dry before touching your face to set everything in place.
By following this step-by-step guide to contouring and highlighting, you can achieve a perfectly sculpted and radiant complexion every time. Remember to practice and experiment with different techniques and products to find what works best for your unique facial features. With a little patience and practice, you’ll be a contouring and highlighting pro in no time.
