Introduction
Contouring and highlighting are like the cherry and sprinkles on your ice cream cone of makeup: the sweet finishing touches that emphasize your best features and subtly add depth and dimension. From chiseled cheekbones to a radiant and dewy glow, an effective contour and highlight routine can dramatically transform your look. So, whether you’re a makeup novice or a seasoned professional seeking to enhance your skills, this guide unveils the secrets to perfecting your contour and highlight routine.
Understanding Contouring and Highlighting
Before diving into this transformative makeup routine, let’s first define our terms. Contouring involves using a matte product darker than your skin tone to lend depth and create shadow, strategically reshaping and defining your facial features. In contrast, highlighting employs a bright, often shimmery product to draw light to specific areas, thus adding volume, vibrancy, and glow. Altogether, contouring and highlighting are makeup’s answers to optical illusions, allowing you to curate your features to your liking.
Know Your Face Shape
The first step in acing that contour and highlight routine involves understanding your face shape. Each shape – oval, round, square, heart, rectangle, or diamond – has unique characteristics that require certain contouring and highlighting techniques.
For instance, if you have a round face, contouring the sides of your forehead, jawline, and along your cheekbones can give it more structure. Those with a heart-shaped face may want to soften the sharp chin with some contour while highlighting the forehead to bring balance.
Choosing the Right Products
Choosing your contour and highlight products is half the battle. Stick to cream-based products if your skin is dry, while powders suit those with oily or combination skin types. When it comes to color, your contour product should be one to two shades darker than your foundation, and your highlighter should be one to two shades lighter.
The Contouring Process
Start by applying your foundation to achieve an even canvas. For contouring, dab your chosen product on distinct features: the hollows of your cheeks, the sides of your nose, your temples, and your jawline. Remember that your contour line should slant from your ear towards the corner of your mouth. A tip to remember: “blend, blend, and blend again!” Use a beauty blender or a contour brush to blur any harsh lines seamlessly into your base makeup.
The Highlighting Process
For highlighting, gently apply your product along the bridge of your nose, your cheekbones, the corner of your eyes, under your eyebrows, and on your cupid’s bow. This process intensifies these areas, giving your face a radiant and fresh look.
Don’t Forget to Set Your Makeup
Lock in your contoured and highlighted look with a setting powder or spray. Doing so not only ensures that your makeup will last longer, but it also removes a potential cakey or excessively shimmery finish.
Practice Makes Perfect
Perfecting your contour and highlight routine takes practice. Experiment with the intensity, location, and the blend of both the contour and highlight until you find a look that resonates with your style.
Conclusion and Call to Action
There is an artistry to a seamless contour and highlight makeup look. By understanding your facial structure, choosing appropriate makeup products, skilfully applying, and then setting your makeup, you can achieve stunning, beauty queen dimensions with just a sweep (and blend) of a brush!
Now you have the knowledge, the tips, and the secrets, it’s time for you to take that makeup brush and start practicing your contour and highlight routine. Remember, makeup is about expression, experimentation and having fun— it’s time to let your inner makeup artist shine!
NOTE: Always opt for cruelty-free products and keep your skin’s health in mind when selecting and applying makeup.
