Highlighting and Contouring 101

Highlighting and contouring are two crafty lil tricks that you can use to enhance your bone structure and make it look like you’re constantly under the most flattering movie lighting possible. Even if you’re not going to an event, it’s fun to experiment with elements of ~drama~ in your makeup. This tutorial will show you how to use foundation, concealer, and powder to put a spotlight on your natural gorgeousness.

What you’ll need:
*.Liquid foundation in your normal shade. (I used Revlon ColorStay Foundationin Cappuccino.)

*.Liquid concealer or foundation in a slightly lighter color than your skin. (Mine’sL.A. Girl Pro Concealin Warm Honey.)

*.Concealer, foundation, or powder in a slightly darker color than your skin. (I used M.A.C. Eye Shadowin Embark.)

*.Setting powder (Mine:M.A.C. Mineralize Skinfinish Natural powderin Dark.)

*.Blush (Mine came from a Kleancolor palette)

*.A powder brush such as kabuki brush from

*.Optional: a foundation brush or sponge
*.Optional: a concealer brush

A note on picking yourcontour and highlight colors:

Don’t choose shades that are drastically lighter or darker than your natural skin tone. If you have fair skin, use a very light shade to highlight and a fair to medium color to contour. If you have darker skin, use a medium-toned highlight and a contour slightly deeper than your skincolor. If you have very dark skin and can’t find a deeper shade of foundation to contour with, a dark eye shadow will do the trick!

How to do it:

Step One: After cleaning and moisturizing your skin, apply your foundation all over your face using a foundation brush or your fingers.

Step Two: Blend your foundation to about midway down your neck. Since my skin is naturally darker there, this step makes the difference between my face and neck less stark.

Step Three: Mix your lighter concealer or foundation with your regular foundation using a brush or your fingers.

Step Four: Using a concealer brush or your fingers, apply the lighter makeup mixture to your T-zone (the area 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), your under-eye area,and right above your cheekbones.

Step Five: Paint a thin line with this highlighting mixture right above your jawline.

Step Six: Use a brush, sponge, or your fingers to blend your makeup until there is no visibleline of demarcation between the highlighter and your foundation. You wantthis to look seamless.

Step Seven: The “contour,” or darker makeup, goes on the sides of your nose, right under your cheekbones, and around your hairline (the darkest areas on the diagram above).

Step Eight: Blend in your contour just like you did your highlight. Easy, right?

Step Nine: Apply finishing powder to your whole face to get rid of any excess shine and set your makeup.

Step Ten: Add blush to your cheeks, moving upward from the apples to your temples, which are thepinkest parts indicated on the diagram above.This will add dimension to your face and give you a pretty glow. Pow! You’re all set. Now go astound the world with your flawless skillz! ♦contouring