Highlighting and Contouring

I am by no means a master at contouring but I know that, I personally find it quite interesting learning about other peoples methods of chiselling and luminising. Since this picture of Kim Kardashian arose on online newspapers and social media, makeup lovers were sent into a white concealer related tailspin.  What is this dark bronzer and white foundation combination and does it offer an explanation to Kim's cut glass cheek bones. . Since watching this amazing contouring video from Wayne Goss, I kind of got the rough idea and devised my own slightly hodgepodge method of highlighting and contouring. I understand that contouring basically aims to enhance your natural bone structure by using an amalgamation of white concealer with a foundation at least a couple shades darker than your skin tone. I definitely have next to no cheekbones and a lil round face and I have noticed that these little tips have really added some definition to my face.

1. I start by applying a stiff brown cream pigment from Illamasqua across my cheekbones, along the jawbone and down both sides of my nose. This adds definition to these areas and works to slim the nose and face by defining the cheekbones and slimming your nose. I apply it using a thin, flat brush and find the best way to line your cheekbones is to feel your face and use the hard cheekbone as your guideline for tracing your face.

2. I now highlight my face using a mixture of the white skin base lift with a concealer. This product is really brilliant and helps to transform a runny concealer into a stiff, whiter and brighter mix which is applied down the nose and up to the forehead, around the nose, in a V shape underneath the eye to completely brighten and highlight this area, and above the cheekbone to luminise this area. I then blend this slightly before stippling on my foundation.

3. I recently bought this touché éclat highlighter which completely inspired this post which completely inspired this post and the lady that worked there gave me a card detailing exactly where to highlight. I use the touché to brighten under my eyes and it really is amazing. I am always really self conscious about my skin so I feel this method helps to add more coverage and just generally make my makeup last as well as defining the bone structure.

5. After applying my powder, I add a bit more definition to my face using my mac harmony blusher. This is a matte brown blusher, which I apply to the hollows of my cheekbones. I literally only need to use a tiny amount as it is extremely pigmented so this has lasted me a year without even hitting pan.

5. Finally is  my two highlighters, the first is the Charlotte Tilbury Bar of Gold, this was a present and it is just the best makeup ever, it is soft, buttery and shimmery rather than glittery, I dust it along my cheek bones, under the brow bone and above the brow bone and in my cupids bow. The freak laboratory highlighter in 'Stucco' is equally brilliant but a cheaper alternative which does a really similar job!