Contouring is a trend that’s here to stay. It creates flattering lines in the face, and can obscure any curves or edges you’d rather not spotlight. Highlighting has become a makeup phenomenon — everyone (including us) is obsessed with achieving brilliantly glowing skin via super shimmery highlighters.
In this blog we’ll teach you how to contour your face, how to apply highlighter, and how to contour and highlight for your face shape (we’ll help you identify your face shape, too). We’ll point you to the right products for each step, including which natural foundations will work best as a highlighting/ contouring base, and will show you which tools to use to get the job done right!
What is Contouring?
Essentially, when you contour you’re using shading or shadows to create an illusion of recession. Use contouring to help define or reshape your facial features. The areas that are not darkened or shaded then stand out! This can make your cheekbones look more pronounced, your nose more narrow or even help you reduce the appearance of the beloved soft under chin. You’ll instantly transform to a more sculpted Adonis self.
PRO TIP:The key to successful contouring is to always use an opaque matte powder, liquid concealer, or cream foundation.
What is Highlighting?
When you use the technique of highlighting, you’re doing the opposite of contouring. The areas that have this lighter shade or shimmer will be accentuated and more pronounced. By applying a highlighter or using a strobing effect, you can help emphasize the areas of your face that naturally catch the light.
PRO TIP:To avoid an early 2000’s frosted cupcake look, make sure to choose a highlighter with undertones that complement your skin tone for the perfect subtle sheen.
Select your usual foundation shade and apply as you normally would. Don’t forget to set yourself up for success by starting with a Mattifying Primer or Luminous Primer.
Step 2: Shade Key Areas
Choose a Foundation that is a few shades darker than your skin tone or use a Cocoa Pigmented Bronzer. Use the darker foundation shade (or bronzer) and apply it to the areas that you’d like to contour, such as the hollows of your cheeks, temples, hairline, jawline or nose.
Step 3: Blend It Out
Start with a lighter application at first. You can always add more to build the intensity. It’s much harder to take away than to add on! Make sure to blend, blend, blend so there are no hard visible lines.
Step 4: Highlight
Select a foundation shade that is 1-2 shades lighter than you would normally wear, or use a highlighter.
Step 5: Brighten Key Areas
Apply the highlighter or lighter foundation shade to the areas that would naturally catch light. This is generally the tops of your cheekbones, brow bones, bridge of your nose, forehead and chin. Layer on a small amount of highlighter to the cheeks, and nose.
How to Contour and Highlight for Your Face Shape
Diamond Face Shape
Key Features:
Slightly pointed chin
Longer than wider face
High cheekbones
Hairline is more narrow than cheeks
Makeup Goals:
Add fullness to jaw and forehead
Minimize cheek width
How to Contour a Diamond Face:
Select your usual foundation shade and apply as you normally would.
Choose a foundation that is a few shades darker than your skin tone or use a bronzer. Use the darker foundation shade (or bronzer) and apply it to the area below your cheekbones, only going halfway. Make sure to thoroughly blend so it doesn’t look unnatural.
How to Highlight a Diamond Face:
Select a foundation shade that is 1-2 shades lighter, or use a highlighter if you would like a shimmery, luminous look.
Apply the lighter foundation or highlighter under your eyes. Draw an upside-down triangle for an extra brightening effect.
Brush in the middle of your forehead as well as the middle of your chin. This is where light naturally hits on a diamond face and will help broaden these areas.
Add a pop of colour to your cheeks with our Fruit Pigmented Blush. If you’d like to tone down the flush, dab a little highlighter on top to tone it down.
Heart Face Shape
Key Features:
Slightly pointed and narrow chin
Widow’s peak
Forehead is the widest part
Makeup Goals:
Balance forehead to chin
Play up high cheekbones
How to Contour a Heart Face:
Select your usual foundation shade and apply as you normally would.
Choose a bronzer or foundation that is a few shades darker than your skin tone. Use the darker shade and apply it to the sides of your forehead, temples to help balance your narrow lower half to the wider upper half of your face. Other key areas to hit for contouring are your cheekbones, making sure to end halfway as well as the center of your chin to help soften the point of the heart. Make sure to thoroughly blend so it doesn’t look unnatural.
How to Highlight a Heart Face:
Select a foundation shade that is 1-2 shades lighter, or use a highlighter if you would like a shimmery, luminous look.
Apply the lighter foundation or highlighter under your eyes. Draw an upside-down triangle for an extra brightening effect.
Brush in the middle of your forehead as well as the middle of your chin. This is where light naturally hits on a heart shaped face and will help broaden these areas.
Add a pop of colour to your cheeks with our Fruit Pigmented Blush. If you’d like to tone down the flush, dab a little highlighter on top to tone it down.
Oval Face Shape
Key Features:
No pointed features
Face is 1.5x longer than wide
Slightly upside down egg-shaped
Makeup Goals:
Add depth to cheekbones
Play up balanced face shape
How to Contour an Oval Face:
Select your usual foundation shade and apply as you normally would.
Choose a bronzer or foundation that is a few shades darker than your skin tone. Use the darker shade and apply it to the sides of your forehead, helping to appear more narrow. Also apply it below your cheekbones, ending halfway. Make sure to thoroughly blend so it doesn’t look unnatural.
How to Highlight an Oval Face:
Select a foundation shade that is 1-2 shades lighter, or use a highlighter if you would like a shimmery, luminous look.
Apply the lighter foundation or highlighter under your eyes. Draw an upside-down triangle for an extra brightening effect.
Brush in the middle of your forehead as well as the middle of your chin. This is where light naturally hits on an oval shaped face and will help broaden these areas. Finish with lightly applying under your eyes and brow bone to brighten under your eyes.
Add a pop of colour to your cheeks with our Fruit Pigmented Blush. If you’d like to tone down the flush, dab a little highlighter on top to tone it down.
Rectangle Face Shape
Key Features:
Square jawline
Face is longer than wide
Width of hairline and jaw even
Makeup Goals:
Soften corners of face
Define cheekbones
How to Contour a Rectangle Face:
Select your usual foundation shade and apply as you normally would.
Choose a bronzer or foundation that is a few shades darker than your skin tone. Use the darker shade and apply it to the sides of your hairline, helping your face appear more narrow. Also apply it along your hairline, under your jawbone to create a narrow illusion and cheekbones only going halfway. Make sure to thoroughly blend so it doesn’t look unnatural.
How to Highlight a Rectangle Face:
Select a foundation shade that is 1-2 shades lighter, or use a highlighter if you would like a shimmery, luminous look.
Apply the lighter foundation or highlighter under your eyes. Draw an upside-down triangle for an extra brightening effect.
Brush in the middle of your chin. This is where light naturally hits on a rectangle shaped face and will help broaden this area. Finish with lightly applying under your eyes and brow bone to brighten under your eyes.
Add a pop of colour to your cheeks with our Fruit Pigmented Blush. If you’d like to tone down the flush, dab a little highlighter on top to tone it down.
Round Face Shape
Key Features:
No pointed features
Face is long as it is wide
Rounded cheeks
Makeup Goals:
Add angles and depth to cheekbones
Create structure
How to Contour a Round Face:
Select your usual foundation shade and apply as you normally would.
Choose a bronzer or Foundation that is a few shades darker than your skin tone. Use the darker shade and apply it to the sides of your forehead and along your temples to give the appearance of narrowness. Also apply to the areas below your cheekbones, only going halfway, using a curved line to your jawline to help lengthen your face. Make sure to thoroughly blend so it doesn’t look unnatural.
How to Highlight a Round Face:
Select a foundation shade that is 1-2 shades lighter, or use a highlighter if you would like a shimmery, luminous look.
Apply the lighter foundation or highlighter under your eyes. Draw an upside-down triangle for an extra brightening effect.
Brush in the middle of your forehead and cheekbones. This is where light naturally hits on a round shaped face and will help broaden this area. Finish with lightly applying under your eyes to brighten.
Add a pop of colour to your cheeks with our Fruit Pigmented Blush. If you’d like to tone down the flush, dab a little highlighter on top to tone it down.
Oblong Face Shape
Key Features:
Face is 2x longer than wide
No pointed features
Narrow chin
Makeup Goals:
Balance height to width
Enhance cheek width
How to Contour an Oblong Face:
Select your usual foundation shade and apply as you normally would.
Choose a bronzer or Foundation that is a few shades darker than your skin tone. Use the darker shade and apply it to your hairline to help lower your hairline. Apply under your chin, for a rounder face as well as below your cheekbones, only halfway. Make sure to thoroughly blend so it doesn’t look unnatural.
How to Highlight an Oblong Face:
Select a foundation shade that is 1-2 shades lighter, or use a highlighter if you would like a shimmery, luminous look.
Apply the lighter foundation or highlighter under your eyes. Draw an upside-down triangle for an extra brightening effect. This is where light naturally hits on an oblong shaped face and will help broaden this area.
Add a pop of colour to your cheeks with our Fruit Pigmented Blush. If you’d like to tone down the flush, dab a little highlighter on top to tone it down.
A beach-worthy summer makeup look should always start with fruit pigmented®, natural makeup products. Your skin will thank you for taking such good care of it! Whether you want a deeply sun kissed look with reflective, golden pigments, or a subtle, luminescent highlighting glow to make your face sparkle and shimmer, we’ve got you covered.
