Exploring the Different Ways to Highlight and Contour

Highlighting has become a makeup phenomenon, and everyone (including us) is obsessed with achieving brilliantly glowing skin via super shimmery highlighters. Contouring is a trend that’s here to stay. It creates flattering lines in the face and can obscure any curves or edges you’d rather not spotlight.

What is highlighting?

When you use the technique of highlighting, you’re doing the opposite of contouring. The areas that have this lighter shade or shimmer will be accentuated and more pronounced. By applying a highlighter or using a strobing effect, you can help emphasize the areas of your face that naturally catch the light.

What Is Contouring?

Essentially, when you contour, you’re using shading or shadows to create the illusion of recession. Use contouring to help define or reshape your facial features. The areas that are not darkened or shaded then stand out! This can make your cheekbones look more pronounced, your nose more narrow, or even help you reduce the appearance of your soft underchin. You’ll instantly transform into a more sculpted Adonis.

Contouring and Highlighting in 5 Easy Steps

STEP 1: Select Foundation

Select your usual foundation shade and apply it as you normally would. Don’t forget to set yourself up for success by starting with a Mattifying Primer or Luminous Primer.

STEP 2: Shade Key Areas

Choose a Foundation that is a few shades darker than your skin tone or use a Cocoa Pigmented Bronzer. Use the darker foundation shade (or bronzer) and apply it with our Cruelty-Free Angled Contour Brush F30 to the areas that you’d like to contour, such as the hollows of your cheeks, temples, hairline, jawline, or nose. The Cruelty-Free Crease Brush E40 will help you apply the bronzer in a controlled technique to smaller areas, such as the sides of your nose or hairline.

STEP 3: Blend It Out

Start with a lighter application at first. You can always add more to build the intensity. It’s much harder to take away than to add on! Make sure to blend, blend, blend so there are no hard visible lines.

STEP 4: Highlight

Select a foundation shade that is 1-2 shades lighter than you would normally wear, or use a highlighter.

STEP 5: Brighten Key Areas

Apply the highlighter or lighter foundation shade to the areas that would naturally catch light. This is generally the tops of your cheekbones, brow bones, and bridge of your nose, forehead, and chin using our Cruelty-Free Angled Contour Brush F30. Layer on a small amount of highlighter to the cheeks, and nose with our Cruelty-Free Small Stippling Brush F10.

When it comes to highlighting and contouring, placement is key to achieving a flawless finish. Highlighting focuses on bringing light to the high points of the face, such as the cheekbones, brow bone, and down the bridge of the nose. This technique helps to emphasize these areas, giving the face a lifted and radiant appearance. On the other hand, contouring involves creating shadows to define and sculpt the face, typically under the cheekbones, along the jawline, and on the sides of the nose. By strategically knowing where to highlight and contour, you can enhance your natural features and create a beautifully sculpted look that enhances your natural beauty.