How To| Contour and Highlight

Today’s post will be a little bit different to what I have previously done on this blog. It will be (my attempt at) a step by step tutorial on how to contour and highlight with cream and powder products.

Firstly, apply your foundation like you normally would however, only apply concealer on your blemishes or redness you may have.

After you have finished your base, grab yourself a concealer that is lighter than your natural skin tone and one that is a few shades darker. For this look, I used the Maybelline Fit Me Foundation Stick in 330 to contour and the Estee Lauder Double Wear Concealer in the shade Warm Light to highlight. Firstly, take your cream contour and apply it in the hollows of your cheeks, along your jawline, on your temples and across the top of your forehead. Optionally, you can apply it down the sides of your nose and underneath your bottom lip like I have in the photos. Now grab your lighter coloured concealer and place it underneath your eyes in an upside down triangle, down the bridge of your nose, in the center of your forehead, cupids bow and chin. Again this is optional but you can also put it underneath where you have applied the contour in the hollows of your cheeks so that the line isn’t as dark and defined. Finally, grab yourself a brush – I would recommend the Sigma F84 Angled Kabuki – or a damp makeup sponge – which is my preferred way – and blend it all out until you can’t see any distinct lines.

You should end up with something that looks fairly similar to this photo. Obviously it will differ depending on how light or dark your contour and highlight shades are as well as the amount of product you have applied on your face.

After all the cream products have been blended out to your liking, go back in with powder products to set them in place. This will help increase the lasting power of your contour and highlight and make the it stand out even more. To set the contour, I used the Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Bronzer in the shade Medium Deep. For setting the highlight, I use two different powders: the Bare Minerals Ready Touch Up Veil in Transparent under the eyes, across the forehead and on my chin and the Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in Sandstone down the bridge of my nose, cupids bow, on the top of my cheekbones and underneath my brows.

So here is the finished look! Like it said, the colours and definition of the contour and highlight will depend on the products you use, the amount you use and the colour of your skin tone. It is important to find the right products that go well with your skin tone so that your contour doesn’t look too muddy and your highlight isn’t too stark. It’s all about getting the right balance to achieve the best result.

Let me know what you thought of this post, should I do more of these tutorial types? Also, what are some of your favourite products to highlight and contour with?

Izzy xx

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