HIGHLIGHTING AND CONTOURING

Highlighting and Contouring are SUPER important to adding dynamic to you beautiful faces! 

Here are the basics: The principles of highlighting and contouring are relatively simple and come from rules you probably learned in art class. If you would like to make an area come forward (highlighting), you will need to use a lighter color than the one used allover. Highlighting draws attention to that part of your face. Conversely if you would like to make an area recede (contouring), choose a darker color than both the highlight shade and the allover color. Contouring gives your face shape and depth. You can alter your face shape with highlighting and contouring tricks. 

The general standard of beauty in our culture, which we want to emphasize consists of the following criteria:

• Flawless skin
• Oval-shaped face
• Symmetrical features
• Large, bright eyes
• High cheekbones--ideally because of a slim face, not angular features
• Full lips
• Straight, thin nose
• Defined eyebrows arched above the iris
• Slight glow from a sunkissed tan or rosey flush

The reason these traits are worth noting is because the principles of contouring and highlighting should help you appear to have these features whether you were genetically blessed with them or not. 

Select products you can blend easily. Some people find liquids easier because they glide smoothly over the skin; some prefer powders they can buff into the skin with a brush. Just as important as how blendable a product is, you also want to avoid using any products that are too messy. If you choose a dusty loose powder with a high concentration of mica for your highlight color, for example, you may have fallout all over your contour, and your hard work hasn't paid off.

Consider your skintone while selecting colors. If you are very light, avoid anything too intense. In contrast, women with darker skins should seek out intense pigments.

Avoid anything too sparkly if you have oily skin, which will look greasy. If you have enlarged pores, follow the same advice because shimmer will highlight textured skin as well.

So enough of what not to do. I've compiled a list of the products that are user-friendly and create the beautiful results you want without costing you an arm and a leg. (Some may look expensive but last forever.) Without further ado, here are some of my favorite products for highlighting and contouring:

• Benefit Hoola: the ultimate matte bronzer
  This particular product is not only a good investment though, it is the only matte bronzer on the market--and I've tried them all--that can handle the job. A true brown with absolutely no orange, it creates the most believable shadow on most women. It's all buildable, making perfect for a variety of skintones. On women with darker skin, I still find myself turning to this product. It can blend together highlight and contour shades on skintones that have difficulty finding shades that won't look ashy or muddy.

• Sephora Highlighter: You can use it alone or mixed into foundation, this highlighter works great with every skin tone and gives the perfect amount of pop without being to drastic. I use this highlighter on myself and my clients  every day for all types and styles of makeup. 

Also if you don't have a specific highlighter you can always use a cream, very light pink or even white to highlight, you just have to make sure to blend it really well and it will have the exact same effect!! 

Here is a guide of where you highlight and contour. I always highlight around the eye, it doesn't show it exactly on here but always highlight above the brow and under the eyes to make your eyes pop. 

Hope this all helps! Try it out and see the difference it makes :) Remember practice makes perfect, if you have any questions let me know!