The Art of Contouring + Highlighting

Contouring and highlighting --- one of my favorite make up tricks. It is often ignored BUT I believe that every girl should learn this. It can dramatically improve and accentuate a person's features. I mean, nobody has a perfect face. Magazine covers? You'll be pleased to know that the same make up tricks were used on all those models. Make up makes almost anything possible: prominent cheek bones, a chiseled jaw, a defined nose, a smaller forehead, less round face, etc. With contouring, we're able to make those areas we want to look smaller or hollow recede; while highlighting will help make your face look alive, which can bring out a different glow in you. It's really easy, and the results are amazing.

To emphasize the effects of contouring and highlighting, I used Kim Kardashian because of her features. She's already beautiful to begin with, but you can see what a little contouring here and there can do.


See the difference? Her cheek bones appear to be more defined as well as her nose, which brings out her already beautiful features. I especially love contouring around my cheek bones to make my cheeks APPEAR smaller. It does wonders for pictures! It's REALLY, REALLY easy. It will take about 2-5 minutes depending on what method you choose. Some people opt to use liquid foundation, but powder/bronzer will do.


Here's what you will be needing:

1. An Angled Contour Brush - This is the MAC 168. No, it doesn't have to be this brand or this shape. A medium-sized fluffy brush will do. We want to make sure the brush isn't too compact (so we don't get too much pigment) because we'll be blending along the edges. Our goal is to look natural.

2. A Foundation (2 shades darker for contouring) - This is what we'll need for contouring. It can also be a bronzer, as long as it's not that shimmery. Too much shimmer for contouring might make your face look dirty. It's best to use a matte powder. Some make up brands like Smashbox, Nars, Make Up Forever have "Contouring Kits" available which include a brown and light shade for contouring and highlighting.

For highlighting, a shimmery light bronzer will do. I personally like liquid highlighters or luminizers, since they give off a more natural glow which seems to come from inside you, not on top of your cheeks. I use Lancome's Flash Retouche 04, which is a universal highlighter and concealer. I would also recommend Benefit's Luminizer, it gives that really natural shimmer. 




How to Contour:

1. Feel your cheekbones. With your brush, beginning from your ear, apply the powder towards the hollows of your cheeks. REMEMBER TO BLEND. No hard edges.


2. Next, feel your jaw line. Contour that area up until the area beneath the chin. 


3. Forehead. Contour from your temples to the sides of your hairline. DO NOT CONTOUR THE WHOLE FOREHEAD. 


4. Nose. Check where your eyebrows begin, this is where you will contour your nose, blending towards the bottom ending at the inner corners of the nostrils. 

Exaggerated Contouring

How to Highlight:

1. The area under your eyes. Highlight this area and add some blush in between your contoured area and your highlighted area. This will not only accentuate and define your cheekbones, but a pinch of color will give you that healthy glow. 


2. Forehead and chin. Blend, blend, blend!


3. The area in between your contoured nose. 


4. Brow bone. (the area beneath your arch up until the end of your eyebrow)


TIP: Apply a bit of highlighter to the area above the middle of the upper lip (the cupids bow) - this will make your lips pop, look extra pouty, kissable and full.

Good luck! :)