By Sheila
Here’s a breakdown OF the breakdown on highlighting and contouring:
Cast of Characters:
To highlight, I am using Pfloof eyeshadow by MAC, a shimmery color with a touch of pink that is perfect for this purpose. You can use a variety of products for this purpose, but eyeshadow works just fine. I used a compact, fluffy brush to apply the highlighter, which is MAC’s #225.
To contour, I used Wet n Wild Bronzzer in Medium, which I love because it has no shimmer, along with MAC’s #116 brush.
Here’s a little tidbit — you can use powders in shades lighter and darker than yours to acheive the same purpose. You don’t necessarily have to use shimmer or bronzing products all of the time.
Step 1: Foundation and blush have been applied, and we’re ready to go!
Step 2: I don’t think it really matters what order you go in for highlighting and contouring, but let’s start with highlighting first.
As I’ve said before, light brings out and dark takes away, so the shimmer will go on areas I want to enhance … my forehead, inner corner of eyes (and browbone, too), down the center of the nose, and right on the very top of my cheekbones.
Step 3: The easiest way to remember how to apply contouring powder is to make the shape of a 3 – or a backwards 3, depending on what side you’re doing) starting from the hairline, and working under the cheekbone, and then under your chin. That last step helps distract from any double chin-age you have going on – never a bad thing!
Step 4: Blend everything out with a large fluffy brush. You can use a translucent setting powder for this step; I love and recommend MAC’s Invisible Set Powder.
And there you have it! Your face now has a bit of dimension, which is the point behind highlighting and contouring. It makes a huge difference for photographs, too, since photography tends to “flatten” faces out.
I hope you enjoyed this tutorial! The next one I have planned is about how-to apply gel eyeliners. Let me know if you have any questions!
[...] Down Beauty: Highlighting and Contouring January 31st, 2010 | Tags: Sheila Painted Ladies, Weekly Review | Category: [...]
To be honest I’ve seen so many gurus, beauty folks do this and I still can’t get it. It looks great when they do it and sometimes I see the difference but then when I try on myself it looks like patches of dark spots all over my face. LOL I think highlighting is easier than contouring.
I can never tell the difference when I see gurus do this on youtube, nor do I understand where they are actually placing the product. Your pictures made it a lot easier for me. Thank you!
Aw, thank you!