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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Gainesvillista: How to contour and highlight your face

I use the “normal” things in my everyday makeup routine: moisturizer, foundation, concealer, setting powder, blush, bronzer, eye shadow and mascara. But in between those steps I contour and highlight my face because it defines and makes my makeup look unique.

After putting on foundation and concealer, if you need it, and setting powder it is time to contour. Although two extra steps in the morning may sound time consuming, it is actually quick and super easy. Here’s how you do it:

gainesvillistamakeup

Step 1: Pick a matte bronzer shade, nothing too dark. My drugstore favorite is Physicians Formula’s “Bronze Booster Glow-Boosting Pressed Bronzer." It has minimal to no shimmer, which is perfect for contouring. Using an angled contour brush (my favorite brushes are by Sigma Beauty) lightly take the bronzer to blend it right below your cheekbones in an upward sweeping motion. It should be placed wear you can suck in your cheeks. Then sweep the brush on either side of your nose lightly, so any leftover bronzer can make your nose appear slimmer.

Step 2: Use your powder brush to blend the color in to make everything look natural. Next, find a bronzer that offers a little more of a glow. My favorite is NARS “Laguna." Using a dense kabuki brush, lightly sweep the bronzer in a “3” motion from your forehead to your cheekbone to your jawline on each side of your face. Again, use your powder to blend.

Step 3: Now time to highlight. Pick a cream or powder shade. I like Hourglass‘s “Ambient Lighting Powder” in the shade “Ethereal Light” or MAC’s “Pearl Cream Colour Base." Take it lightly on a tapered blending brush, and sweep it on the places where the sun naturally touches your face – the tops of your cheekbones, on the middle of your forehead and slightly on your chin. Blend. But be sure to avoid your eyes. If you like the matte look, simply use a matte cream eye shadow as your highlight color.

Step 4: Put on your blush and the rest of your makeup.

Contouring and highlighting is something many celebrities and makeup artists do. The most important thing to remember is to have a light touch and always blend. This will prevent you from looking orange and shiny.

Taking these few extra steps will completely change the look of your face and make your best features stand out. Good luck!

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