Okay, let’s get real. Contouring and highlighting might look HELLA scary at first, but trust me—it’s easier than it seems. You’ve probably scrolled through TikToks wondering, “How do they go from barely awake to chiseled goddess in like five minutes???” Well, I got you! We’re getting into the basics of contouring and highlighting so you can slay your makeup game. No need to be a pro; just follow along, and soon, you’ll be serving serious dimension with your makeup.
Ready? Grab your contour and highlighter, and let’s make some magic happen!
What Even Is Contouring and Highlighting?
Let’s break it down in the chillest way possible:
- Contouring: This is where you use a product (usually a shade or two darker than your skin tone) to shape and add shadows to your face, making your cheekbones pop, your nose appear more defined, and your jawline snatched.
- Highlighting: Now, this is the part where you make certain parts of your face—like the top of your cheekbones, brow bones, and the bridge of your nose—look brighter and glowy. It’s basically adding dimension and keeping your face from looking flat.
Think of it this way: contouring is like adding shadows to sculpt your face, and highlighting is like adding a glow to make the high points of your face stand out. 💡 Got it?
OK, let’s officially get into it!
Step 1: Figure Out Your Products
First things first: not all contour and highlight products are alike. There are powders, creams, and sticks. And before you stress, choosing the right product is actually pretty simple.
What You’ll Need:
Contouring Products:
– Cream contour: Great for a natural or “skin-like” finish.
– Powder contour: Awesome for oily skin or staying power.
Highlighting Products:
– Cream or liquid highlighter: If you’re into dewy, glossy vibes.
– Powder highlighter: Perfect for a blingy glow and long wear.
Do you have to choose one? Noooope. It’s all about experimenting and figuring out what works for you.
“Don’t be afraid to mix and match highlights and contour products!”
Some people love a cream contour but then set certain areas with a powder. You do you, fam.
Step 2: Find Your Shades
No one wants muddy cheekbones or a highlight that’s blinding only because it’s waaaay too white. Here’s how you choose your contour and highlight shades:
| Skin Tone | Contour Shade | Highlight Shade |
|---|---|---|
| Fair/Light | Cool-toned taupe/brown (avoid warm browns) | Champagne or light pearl with soft shimmer |
| Medium | Warm or neutral brown | Soft gold tones or peachy highlighters |
| Tan | Cool or warm chocolate shades | Golden, bronze-y highlights |
| Deep | Rich cocoa/espresso tones | Warm golds or coppery highlights |
Good contour should imitate a shadow, which is why it isn’t super warm or orange!
Now let’s talk highlight. A cool-toned, frosted white highlight on deep skin can look kinda…off. Shoot for something that’ll complement your skin’s natural undertones.
Step 3: Mapping Out Your Face
Alright, now that you’ve got your products and shades down, we’re about to start painting on shadows and light, fam. I KNOW you’ve probably seen crazy contour maps online, and you’re like, “Do I really need all that??” Spoiler: You don’t.
Here are the key places we’ll focus on (keep it simple, babes):
Contouring
- Hollows of the cheeks: To find this, suck them in like you’re posing for a pic (no shame, LOL). Apply contour on that diagonal line from the top of your ear to the corner of your mouth. Just don’t bring it ALL the way down.
- Temples and forehead: This is where you’ll add some shadow to frame your face, especially if you’ve got a larger forehead.
- Jawline: Swipe a little contour along that jaw to sharpen it.
- Nose (optional): If you wanna shape your nose, apply contour along the sides of your nose bridge and under the tip to shorten it.
Highlighting
- Tops of your cheekbones: Yasss, we want those cheekbones snatched! Apply your highlighter here to draw attention.
- Bridge of your nose: A little goes a long way—just a thin line across the bridge will make your nose look straighter and more defined.
- Brow bone: Pop some highlighter under the arch of your brow.
- Cupid’s bow: Highlight right above your lip for a poutier effect.
- Inner corners of your eyes: Honestly, this tiny touch can help you look like you slept 10 hours (even if you only got 3).
Here’s a breakdown of where everything goes—so keep this in mind for a no-bs guide when applying product: 🎨
| Place on Your Face | Apply Contour | Apply Highlight |
|---|---|---|
| Cheekbones | Under | On top |
| Forehead (around hairline) | Yes | Avoid |
| Nose bridge | On sides | Down the center (lightly) |
| Jawline | Along jaw | Not necessary |
| Inner eyes | No | Yes, tiny touch |
| Brow bone | No | Yes |
Step 4: Applying Like a Pro… Even if You’re still Learning
Okayyy, now for the fun part: applying all that good stuff.
- Start with layering products: Start with your base/foundation, and then jump into contouring and highlighting.
- Blend, blend, blend: Always blend up and out with your contour (lifting your face, hello!). A good brush will do wonders for this.
- Apply highlighter last: Highlighter is basically the cherry on top of your makeup sundae. Dust it on the high points of your face after everything is done.
Blending Tips:
- For cream products: Use a beauty sponge (my personal fav), or a dense brush to blend out cream contour. Dab to blend—no harsh lines people!
- For powder products: Use a fluffy brush and work in circular motions. Trust, you don’t want your face to look like it has streaks of contour on it.
“The secret to bomb contour and highlight = BLEND, BLEND, and then BLEND some more.”
- Don’t overdo it: Yes, it’s tempting but subtle beats streaks any day. Whenever in doubt, start with a little product first, and you can always build it up.
Step 5: Flash Test!
gasp You’re all done. But before you start celebrating with some mirror selfies, let’s take it one step further:
Grab your phone and take a quick selfie with flash (you know, like you’re gonna do anyway LOL). Flash photography really shows if you’ve blended well or if your contour looks patchy. If it looks blended IRL, but is a little rough in the flash…blend some more, bb.
Common Contouring & Highlighting Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)
I feel you. Early on, we all make mistakes when learning. But let’s talk about them to save your future-self from some cringe throwback pics:
- Too much product: Less is more. Always. If your contour looks like you’ve just rubbed dirt on your face…Start again with less.
- Not blending well: Say it with me again. BLEND, girl! The whole point of contouring is for it to look seamless and give natural definition.
-
Contour too low: Keep your contour higher under your cheekbone and blend upwards. Never drag it down. We’re trying to lift, not melt.
-
Highlighting like a disco ball: Yes, who doesn’t love that ✨ GLOW ✨? But when the highlight turns to straight-up glitter…it’s too much. Apply softly and build. You control the shine—not the highlight. 🌟
You’re Ready to Slay That Face!
You did it!! Not only do you now have the basics of contouring and highlighting down, but you also know how to apply and slay it with confidence. Whether you’re headed to brunch, TikTok-ing your looks, or just wanna treat yourself to a slay day, your face is about to STAY flawless.
Remember, the point of makeup is to play with it. Don’t stress about getting everything “perfect” right away. Experimenting and learning what works best on your face is part of the journey.
Tag me on IG or drop a comment on my blog with the looks you create—I LOVE seeing everyone’s unique take.
Now go out there and contour like a QUEEN! 👑
