How to highlight and contour your face using only foundation and concealer
Afraid of contouring? We don’t blame you, contouring is complicated. Still, we’ve all been tempted to splurge on a contour kit and highlight and contour ourselves some new cheekbones. While a contour kit is a fun idea, those modelesque angles are actually easy to achieve without one. Whether you’re after Kardashian level bone structure or just a natural, glowy sculpt, there’s no need for advanced makeup skills. In fact, you don’t even need to add any fancy highlight and contour products to your makeup bag.
To get a beautiful, glowing complexion with sculpted definition, all you need is foundation and concealer. Watch the video above to see how we used foundation and concealer for a customised glowy complexion.
Can’t watch the video? Read the tips below to get started.
Step 1: Prime
First, prime your base with a hydrating primer like the Rimmel Insta Fix & Go spray. It contains cucumber extract to help prevent your skin from drying out under your makeup.
Step 2: Apply foundation
It’s pretty common to have a paler, winter foundation shade and one that’s a bit darker that you wear when you’re sporting a summer tan. But in between the seasons it can be harder to get a perfect foundation. The solution? Customise your own shade. Towards the end of summer start adding small amounts of your winter shade to your summer shade, until you get your perfect colour. For glowy complexion, use a foundation like the Rimmel London Wake Me Up Anti-Fatigue Foundation SPF 20, which contains Vitamin C and radiance pearls to brighten your skin.
Step 3: Highlight
Swap your shimmery highlighters for an illuminating concealer, like the Rimmel London Wake Me Up Anti-Fatigue Concealer. Using the concealer create two upside down triangles under your eyes, then draw a line from your forehead down the centre of your nose. To finish, create a “V” shape between your brows and then place a small dot on the centre of your chin.
Step 4: Contour
To get a flawless contour you can use a slightly darker foundation, usually one that’s about one to two shades darker than your normal shade. Start by drawing a line in the hollows of your cheeks, from your ears downwards. Dot along your hairline and above your brows. Line underneath your jawline towards your chin. Finish with two thin lines along the sides of your nose.
Step 5: Blend
Blending is key in making your highlight and contour look seamless. Use a damp sponge to blend the concealer in, following the lines and shapes you’ve created. Turn the sponge around the use the clean side, and blend in the darker foundation, sticking within the areas you’ve mapped out. Press the product into your skin until the harsh lines have disappeared.
Step 6: Set
Finish by setting your makeup in place with a setting spray. Try the Rimmel Insta Fix & Go spray, which doubles as both a primer and a setting spray, to lock your makeup in place for up to 8 hours.
Do you highlight and contour your face? What products do you like to use for a glowy complexion?
Have you tried any of the products mentioned above?
Review them now to earn points that you can swap for free beauty products in RewardsRoom.
111 Member Comments
Would love to give this a go
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
Sohpie really uses easy to follow techniques in these videos.
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
Im really going to have to follow this video and see how I go. Actually this would be an interesting way to use up foundation thats a shade too dark.
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
great idea, such great tips for excessive or wrong colours of foundation!
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
I do contouring when wearing a full face of makeup. I do highlighting more often as I love glowy,dewy skin.
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
Contouring is something I just can’t master!
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
This looks so complicated!! But I just invested in a beauty blender so I can't wait to try it~!
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
i can't seem to do the jaw line well.. it looks like i have smudges under my jaw
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
I love rimmel!
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
I use to use powders.. I now go with liquids. Much easier to blend
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
This looks interesting. Very useful tips.
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
Thanks for the tips!
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
Looks quite funny but the resulrs are lovely
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
Contouring with foundation gives infinitely better lasting power to your look. I started doing this more so I wasn't wasting my 'summer' foundation in winter time (my skin tone changes with the seasons). It's a great way to get the most out of your products and it's more subtle too. Try it!
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
Great article, should try next time. thanks BH
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
I used to do powder contouring but actually using liquid foundation to contour is so much more effective
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
Great way to use up products of the wrong shades
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
Did anyone see the article on the beauty crew (sorry bh) of Khloe kardashian when she didn't contour! Wieners she looks so much like Kim I had to double check it wasn't Kim.
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
I must have a look into this, it looks so good
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
Waaw,.. nice tutorial,..
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
Interesting article....
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
Hey great idea!! Thank you BH! Great when you already have all the products!
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
Good guide, I've done this and it turned out great.
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
This is a really great use for those foundation shades that are too dark for me, thanks!
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
I really need to learn how to do this haha. I'm so glad BH has a turorial and I don't have to go out and buy 50 new products. I'll have to give this a try!!
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0