Contouring & Highlighting

Contouring and highlighting is an effective way to accentuate your features and downplay your flaws. This is a technique that every makeup artist should master. Even if you're not a professional, this is a skill you can learn, practice and perfect. A general rule is that the darker areas get sent to the back and the lighter areas bring them to the front. They key to a finished contour, as well as any makeup look, is to blend, blend, blend. You do not want people to see harsh lines.

Choosing the right products
For the contour, choose a color 2 shades darker than your foundation
For the highlight, choose a color 2 shades lighter than your foundation

Where to Contour: (In General) Different face shapes can call for different areas of contour
-Top to hairline of forehead
-Temples
-Cheekbones (in hollow)
-Jawline
-Sides and nose tip

Where to highlight:
-Forehead (see photo above)
-Bridge of nose
-Brow bone
-Center of chin
-Cupids bow
-Under eye triangle

How to:
Apply products as shown in the diagram above. Gently blend everything out, I personally use a SoHo Beauty Sponge to do this. It's very similar to the pricier Beauty Blender sponge. Don't smear too much because you want the light and dark areas to stay the applied color. All you simply need to do is dab/blend out the harsh lines.  Step outside or in your car to see it in natural lighting, as you see much more in those settings.

Products used in photo:
-Too Faced Chocolate Soleil (contour)
-Maybelline FitMe Concealer (highlight)
-Benefit Hello Flawless Foundation Oxygen Wow
-NYX lipstick and gloss
-MICA Beauty products on eye