Have you ever looked at your favorite celebrities and wondered how they’re skin always looks picture perfect? Stars like J-Lo or Kim Kardashian seem to always have insanely high cheekbones, defined noses… and seemingly flawless complexions. The secret is contouring.
I learned this one day when I was asked to appear in, “Face to Face” by Scott Barnes (the most amazing celebrity makeup artist on the planet’s new book.) After applying a foundation that matched my skin tone, he used a really light and a really dark foundation and contoured my entire face.
As he started applying my foundation and contouring I thought I looked crazy and seriously wondered how in the world it would turn out… Once he blended it I looked the best I have ever looked! I never knew my cheekbones could look so pronounced or my nose could look so small. Even my eyes looked bigger, it was crazy what a world of difference this technique made! Now I do it all the time and I want to show you how to do it now because it truly is an AMAZING tick and you have to try it!!!
Here is what you will need:
Foundation matching your natural skin tone.
Cream Foundation in a much lighter color than your natural skin tone.
Cream Foundation in a much darker color than your natural skin tone.
These are the two I use to give you an idea. Loreal True Match Cream Foundation is great and runs you $9 each.
A Foundation Brush that is flat and a little pointed at the tip. I like using MAC 190 Foundation Brush. $33
A brush to blend. MAC 187 Duo Fibre Brush works great! $42
A powder brush. MAC 150 Large Powder Brush works really well. $42
A Setting Powder. Try Airspun by Coty Face Powder. $6.99 at all drug stores. This is my favorite!
The idea is to highlight the areas on your face that you want to pop, this is where the light would normally hit your face. The bridge of your nose, your cheekbones, your temple, your brown bone and along your jaw line.
1. Apply your foundation that matches your skin tone. I always match mine with my neck because I never get sun on my face so it is always a couple shades lighter and I want it to match the rest of my body.
2. Starting with your light foundation take your flat brush apply it under your eyes and on your cheekbones all the way up to your hairline. Apply it in the middle of your forehead, down the center of your nose, underneath your eyebrows on the brown bone, along your jawline and on your collar bone.
Do not blend yet.
3. Next using your dark foundation and flat brush, apply it in the hollows of your cheeks (under your cheekbones) down both sides of your nose and on the tip (this makes it look smaller) under your jawline at the very top of your neck (this makes your jawline more defined) at the top of your forehead around your hairline and in the crease of your eyelids (this makes your eyes more defined) and above and below your collar bone.
Right now you will most likely look like a clown, but that’s ok. actually that means you did it right!
4. Time to blend. Taking your foundation brush, in a circular motion blend everything in. You will be surprised how easy this is and how great it looks instantly!
5. Apply powder. Now you need to set all the work you just did in. It’s important to use a powder brush to do this not a puff. After you have gone over your face I put a good amount under my eyes and on my cheekbones, I leave it unblended while I do the rest of my make up and blend it at the end. This gives your cheekbones that extra pop. I really love Airspun powder because it goes on great and is translucent but when you apply more under your eyes and on your cheekbones it gets lighter. Whatever powder you use make sure the powder under your eyes is light, this brightens up your face and makes your eyes pop.
I finish up this look with a little shimmer or bronzer on my cheekbones and a touch of blush on the apples of my cheek.
This makeup trick always looks really amazing in photos as well so try it for your next special occasion or if you just want to look stunning going to Starbucks.
It’s great for day and night. Just make sure to blend!
Comments are closed.