A step-by-step guide to highlighting and contouring
Highlighting and contouring are two artsy tricks that can magically enhance your cheek bones and creating a flattering bone structure and movie lighting. There are a few levels of contouring, it can be presented as a more glamorous look or as a more neutral every day look. This step by step tutorial will cover how to properly utilize your concealer, foundation and powder to put that spotlight on gorgeous you!
You will need the following items:
- Liquid foundation in a shade that best matches your skin tone
- Liquid concealer or foundation in a slightly lighter color than your skin
- Concealer, foundation, or powder in a slightly darker color than your skin
- Setting powder
- Blush
- A powder brush
- A foundation brush or sponge
- A concealer brush
The tutorial presented today is a very basic contouring and highlighting procedure. Following the steps, check out the other few quick unique ways to contour. The more time you have to try out different techniques the easier it will get. In no time, you will be doing this like a pro!
Step 1: First clean and moisturize your skin, then apply foundation (the one that best matches your skin) all over your face with the foundation brush or sponge. A tip for those with a darker skin tone, is to blend the foundationto the midway of your neck; this will make the difference between the face and neck less stark.
Step 2: Take the lighter concealer or foundation with your foundation brush and apply it to your T-zone. The T-zone area is right above your eyebrows and the spot between them, if you have one; down the center of your nose; the middle of your upper lip; and the middle of your chin. Apply the lighter color under your eyes too, this will help get rid of eye-bags! Also apply right above your cheekbones and above your jawline – this key to structure the cheek bone.
Step 3: Take a brush or a sponge to blend the makeup in until there is no visible line between the regular foundation the lighter color. Seamless is key. I find that it is easier to use a sponge than a brush. The beauty blender or similar products are great and it does a smoother job than brushes.
Step 4: Now it’s time to contour. Take the darker color foundation, and similar like before, apply it to the side of your nose, right under your cheekbones and hairline. Then, blend like you did earlier with the highlight.
Step 5: This might not seem important, but this is very effective from experience. Apply finishing powder to the whole face. This will help the foundation color stay and also remove any excess shine in your makeup. Since there was lots of liquid foundation used throughout this look, the finishing powder really help everything set.
Step 6 (optional): this is an optional step but it helps with giving your look a bit more dimension and a pretty glow. Add blush to your cheeks by moving upward to your temples.
Check out the below pictures for more tricks and tips to get you started on contouring and highlighting!
Extra tips depending on the shape of your face!
http://www.instructables.com/id/Highlighting-and-Contouring-for-beginners/