How to Highlight & Contour Like a Pro

Not only can makeup smooth your skin, accentuate your features and disguise your flaws, it can even give definition to your face. Contouring and highlighting can define your cheekbones, give you a sharper jawline and even make your nose appear smaller.

While it can be a bit time consuming, adding contouring into your makeup routine is great for when you want to take your look to the next level for an event or special occasion. The keys to the art of contouring are adding darkness (the contour) and brightness (the highlight) in the right places.

So how do you start?

First, you need to make sure you have the right products. Contouring isn’t the same as using bronzer and highlight. While those are great products, they won’t give your face the definition it needs for a full, contoured look.

Your dark and light contouring and highlight products should be the same type as your foundation. If you use a powder foundation, use powder contouring products; if you use a cream foundation, use cream contouring products and if you use liquid foundation, use liquid contouring products.

Your highlight should be about two shades lighter than your foundation and your contour should be about two shades darker than your foundation.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to contouring and highlighting like a pro.

1. Before you start contouring, prep your skin and apply primer and foundation like you usually would. But don’t use a setting powder yet!
2. Use your lighter, highlighting shade first. Apply it in the center of your forehead, under your eyebrows, along the bridge of your nose, on the apples of your cheeks, in the center if your upper lip and in the center of your chin.
3. Next, use your darker, contouring shade. Apply it below your hairline along the top of your forehead, on the sides of your nose, in the hollows of your cheeks and along your jawline on both sides of your face.
4. Blending is essential to contouring — possibly the most important step. With a cream or liquid, use a sponge and with a powder foundation, use your favorite brush. Try and keep the colors into the areas where you initially placed them, but eliminate any sharp lines between the shades.

Finish your skin coverage with a translucent finishing powder and there you have it — a beautifully contoured makeup look!

Article Written By: Alexis Crowe