Alright, gang, let’s talk about something that can honestly make or break your entire makeup look: contouring and highlighting. I know—you’ve probably seen it all over TikTok and Instagram! You might even have that one friend who’s got their contour on fleek at every party. Or maybe you’ve tried it yourself and ended up looking like you rubbed dirt on your face. Don’t worry—we’ve all been there at some point. 😅 But today, we’re breaking it down, making it simple, and serving face like the glam queens we are!
So What Exactly is Contouring?
If you’re thinking, “Bruh, I kind of get what contouring is, but I’m still a little confused—,” let me break it down. Contouring is basically using makeup that’s darker than your skin tone to sculpt and define your face. Think of it as creating shadows where you want your features to look more recessed. So, that means cheekbones on point, jawline sharper than your best eyeliner wing, and nose snatched.
Contouring gives your face dimension (AKA it makes your face look like it’s living, breathing, and serving angles from every angle). 😂 But you don’t want to go too dark or too strong—you don’t wanna look like you’re starring in a zombie apocalypse film by accident, amirite?
☆ Quick Contouring Tip: Make sure the contour shade is only about two shades darker than your natural foundation color. You can go warmer or cooler-toned depending on whether you want a natural glow or a more chiseled effect.
Don’t overdo contour! Remember, you can always add more but it’s WAY harder to fix if you start with too much.
Onto the Glow Part – Highlighting!
Okay, now let’s talk highlighting! It’s the fairy dust magical finishing touch every makeup look needs. ✨ Highlighting is about bringing forward the high points of your face, meaning those spots that naturally catch the light: cheekbones, the tip of your nose, and the brow bone. Uh, yes please! When your highlighter’s on point, it gives you a glow that says, “I just came back from an 16-week tropical vacay and I’m living my best, most glowy life.”
Just like with contouring, don’t overdo it. Unless you’re at Coachella, in which case, douse yourself in highlighter and call it a day.
THE BIG QUESTION: Cream, Liquid or Powder?
One of the BIGGEST debates about contouring and highlighting—which will probably never end because beauty nerds love to argue—is what formula to use. Should you go cream, liquid, or powder? Let me break it down for ya:
| Formula | Benefits | Best For | Potential Downside |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cream | Natural finish, blends super well | Dry to combo skin, everyday slay | Can sometimes feel a lil heavy |
| Powder | Super buildable, matte finish | Oily skin, beginners | Can look cakey if you overdo it |
| Liquid | Dewy, gives you the glow of your dreams | Dry skin, creating dramatic looks | Requires more blending skills |
I’m personally a HUGE fan of creams because they just melt into your skin. If you’re new to contouring and want something more forgiving, I recommend powder. Liquid can take a bit more practice but it can also give the perfect glow when done right. Total chef’s kiss.
Where to Contour & Highlight: The Map 🗺️
Alright, now let’s talk placement. You can’t just slap that stuff on your face and hope for the best. Here’s the lowdown on where you’re contouring and highlighting for Kardashian vibes:
1. Cheekbones: Start by finding the hollows of your cheeks (a.k.a. just under your cheekbones). That’s where your contour needs to live. Do a little “fish face” and boom, there it is. Apply the contour powder (or cream) from your ear to about the middle of your cheek. Now for highlight? Pop it right above your contour—on the highest point of your cheekbone.
2. Jawline: Contouring along the outer edges of your jawline can help define it and create a “snatched” look. Keep it subtle though—you don’t wanna resemble a Disney villain. 😜
3. Nose: A snatched nose contour is literally legendary… but tricky. You can run a thin line of contour down both sides of your nose and highlight along the bridge and tip. Use a tiny brush (I mean TINY) ’cause one wrong move and your nose contour could just…go rogue.
4. Forehead: This is optional, but if you’re all about that megawatt look, contouring your forehead can help frame your face. A little contour near your hairline and some highlight in the middle is a game-changer.
For easy reference, here’s a lil’ face contouring & highlighting guide:
| Face Area | Contour Location | Highlight Location |
|---|---|---|
| Cheekbones | Under cheekbones (hollows) | Top of cheekbones |
| Jawline | Along the edge/under the jawline | Skip or very subtle near chin |
| Nose | Down the sides of the nose | Down bridge and tip of nose |
| Forehead | Near hairline at top | Center of your forehead |
Underpainting: Yass or Pass?
Have you heard that thing called “underpainting” floating around lately? It’s basically where you put your contour and highlight under your foundation to make it look more natural. Think of it like you’re sneakily creating dimension without everything looking too conspicuous. This technique has been making the rounds on social media and for good reason—it’s FIRE! 🔥🔥
If you haven’t tried this technique yet, get on it! Start contouring and highlighting like you normally would, then blend your foundation on top with a damp beauty sponge (but keep it light). It softens everything while still giving you those sculpted vibes. Oh, hey cheekbones. Did you get a lift?
YOU Need the Right Tools
Quick PSA: You need good brushes or beauty sponges to blend all that magic, homie. Don’t even sleep on this. Blending is YOUR BFF in contouring and highlighting. If your tools aren’t on point, your face isn’t gonna be either. 😩
Here’s a lil’ cheat guide:
For contour:
– Powder contour: Try an angled brush to get into all the right spots—cheeks, jawline, and sides of your nose.
– Cream contour: Use a fluffy blending brush or makeup sponge (like the OG Beauty Blender) to blend things smoothly.
For highlight:
– Powder highlight: A fan or small tapered brush is perf to dust that glow on like a goddess.
– Cream highlight: Your fingers are your best tool here TBH! Tap that product into your skin for a more natural finish.
Blend, blend, blend—or you’ll end up looking like an unblended mess. No one wants that, fam.
Product Recs Because…You KNOW You Want ‘Em
Okay, I’ve gotta drop some must-haves for all of y’all who wanna beef up your makeup collection.
- Contour:
- Fenty Beauty Match Stix in Mocha for that creamy, blendable goodness.
- NYX Wonder Stick: This one’s a lifesaver for beginner babes. Creamy AND dual-ended with a highlight stick, too. Winning!
- Highlight:
- BECCA Cosmetics Shimmering Skin Perfector in Champagne Pop for an iconic glow (R.I.P to BECCA but you can still find it!).
- Glossier Haloscope in Quartz: Super dewy, wet-look vibes. I live for it.
Let’s Wrap It Up (But Keep It Fun)
So here’s the tea: Contouring and highlighting will level up your makeup routine immeasurably. It’s the kind of thing that might feel a little intimidating at first, but TRUSS ME BOO, you’re gonna be out here snatching your own waist with your contour after a couple practice runs. And with those glowing highlights? People are literally gonna look at you and say, “Are you a walking Snapchat filter?”
I say keep it light, natural, and YOU. Don’t stress if you don’t get it 100% right the moment your brush touches your face. Practice makes perfect and before long, you’ll be contouring like a pro. Hit me up with any questions on IG or let me know how YOUR contour and highlight game’s evolving! 😎💄
