Sam goes to beauty school #2: Highlighting and contouring

This week I couldn’t have been more excited to go to beauty class. The lesson was all about contouring and highlighting, something that I’ve desperately wanted to know how to do properly.

The instructor, Cathy, explained that she would show the class one method of contouring and highlighting, which is using different shades of concealer. From the beginning of my course, Cathy has reiterated that make-up is very versatile and there is no right or wrong. There are always different methods of doing things and what she shows us isn’t the only way, just one way.

I have tried contouring and highlighting before, but using a bronzer and highlighter cream, not concealer, so I was really interested to see how this method would work and how the results measured up. (I was really quite impressed with my efforts, if I do say so myself.)

LESSON #2 HIGHLIGHTING AND CONTOURING

TOP TIP #1 – Find your face shape and features

The purpose of highlighting and contouring is to essentially alter, emphasise and define a person’s face shape and features. In order to do this properly, you must first recognise what your face shape is and what you would like to change about it. For example, if you have a round face shape and want to make it look more oval, or if you have a wide nose you would like to make look thinner. Choose which parts of your face you want to emphasise and which you want to alter. Highlighting will emphasise, while contouring will help to define and alter.

TOP TIP #2 – Two shades lighter, two shades darker

Use a concealer that is two shades lighter than your skin tone to highlight and a concealer that is two shades darker to contour. Both are applied before your foundation; so don’t worry if you end up looking a bit like a zebra. (Or similar to the above pic.)TOP TIP #3 – Cheekbones

My favourite thing about contouring and highlighting is defining the cheekbones. To do this, sweep your highlighter (the lighter concealer) from the inner corners of your eyes, across and up towards the top of your ear, covering the tops of your cheeks. Then, sucking in your cheeks and making a bit of a fish face, find the bottom of your cheek bone and use your contouring shade to define it’s line, starting up near the ear, in a downwards diagonal motion, and stopping once you are align with the centre of your eye.

TOP TIP #4 – Less is more

Once you are nice and multi-coloured from all your highlighting and contouring, it’s then time to go over the top with your foundation. You don’t want to slather it on, because that will only cover all the hard work you’ve done. Instead use small amounts and work hard to blend it in with the concealer.

Have you ever tried contouring and highlighting? What’s your preferred method?

Sam is enrolled in a Make-up Design and Application course at the Artistry of Make-up Academy in Sydney.