Contouring made easy through these basic steps!

BY CLAUDIA MARTIN

Like chocolate syrup and vanilla ice cream: Contouring and highlighting work best together. Before that, let’s narrow out these makeup techniques before getting into the mind-blowing steps that follow.

Glamour spoke to three leading make up artists in the industry: Sir John, the man behind Beyonce and Karlie Kloss; Fiona Stiles, the woman who launched a mistake-free make up line; and last but not the least, Daniel Martin, a celebrity make up artist for Dior and color consultant for Honest Beauty. Learn how to contour step by step, all by these professionals. You’ll never go wrong!

Contouring is using a matte (not shimmery) powder, cream or pencil product that is two shades darker than your skin tone. We contour areas that we want to define or reshape (nose, forehead, chin and cheekbones)

Highlighting (or strobing) offsets contouring by underlining areas of your face with light concealer or highlighter. The process of highlighting or strobing is merely using a concealer that’s two shades lighter than your skin tone, or a highlighter that flatters your complexion in order to emphasize areas of your face that naturally catch light.

1. Use the Right Shade and Texture

The first step is choosing the right shades and texture. Your contouring product shouldn’t be more than two colors deeper than your complexion. Light to deep skin tone, go for taupe or grayish brown. Darker skin tone, go for warm and cognac colors.

If you’re going for a bold look, try a cream. Creamy contours, sticks and palettes tend to be more dramatic than powders. Just blend in a tiny amount on your fingers, a brush or a damp sponge, then build more color for a stronger result.

If you’re going for a polished look, try a powder. Contouring powders tend to be more sheer than others and are ideal for shiny skin. TIP: dust on translucent powder, then apply the color. This prevents it from sticking to the natural oils of in your skin.

If you’re going for a subtle look, try liquid. This will create a natural-looking dimension, try a liquid matte bronzer. First, work it between your fingers, then press it into the hollows of your cheeks to give the certain touch of warmth.

2. Don’t Contour Everything

Yes, it’s possible to sculpt your entire face but you don’t want/have to. Just a tad bit of contouring is all you need and it will go a long way. Focus mainly on your cheeks, forehead, nose and jawline. Go for your cheek hallows: Start from the middle of your ear, then move it towards the corner of your mouth, stopping midcheek. Based on your goals, you may shade additonal features, whether it’s a less pronounced forehead (apply along your hairline and temples), a more sculpted jawline (buff under chin), or a slimmer nose (blend soft parallel lines on either side). It won’t magically change the entire shape of your face, however it will definitely add definition.

3. Layer Your Product

Elevate the bone structure without using too much product. Start applying the product lightly, then add color until you’ve achieved a subtle carved-out look. The goal is to get compliments on your features, not the product you are using.

4. Avoid Products with Shimmer

The objective is to add a sense of depth using matte taupes or cool browns that absorb light. Shimmer reflects light, therefore bronzers with flecks in it will do the opposite of the desired effect. Use the shimmer only for highlighting.

5. Balance It All Out with Highlighter and Blush

Placement = EVERYTHING. Leave it to the shimmery gold highlighter to perform all the magic. Choose one that’s the same texture — cream, liquid, powder — as your contour), brush underneath your eyes and on top of your cheekbones in order to brighten the complexion and add just the right amount of sheen. Another trick, smile with your mouth closed and apply the highlighter on the area where your cheeks puff up, then diffuse the formula up slightly towards your eyes. If you’re going for a more natural looking highlight, get a lit-from-within glow, choosing a rather pinkish-gold liquid highlighter. Use your finger to lightly dab where the light naturally hits — lids, cheekbones, above the lips on the Cupid’s bow, and down the bridge of your nose. TRICK: No highlighter? Try using a bit of clear lip balm! 😉

6. Compliment Your Contour with Eye Makeup

Simply sweep the same formula you used to hollow out your cheeks across your entire eyelids with a medium shadow brush to enhance the nautral contours of your eyes; this creates a natural look, work a bit more into the crease for extra drama. Fill in your brows, curl your lashes and lastly, apply a coat of lengthening mascara, just to look extra. PRO TIP: want to rock bold eye makeup? Start with your eye make up before contouring, by doing your eyes first, you won’t mess up your foundation and contour!

Well, that’s all there is for contouring and highlighting! We trust these expert tips will elevate your look — now put them into practice and shop your contour and highlight essentials now.