Contouring & Highlighting for Dummies

(For the record, I am one of those dummies.)

Contouring and highlighting is something I have yet to completely master. However , I have been asked to write a post on the topic and I am going to try my darnedest to give you all the information I’ve got. 
Contouring is one of those things that if it’s done right, it makes a person’s face look sculpted, proportional and symmetrical.  

If it’s done wrong, one can look like a muddy, blotchy mess. This has happened many of times to me. I usually don’t realize this till I see myself in a picture after going all day thinking I look like the bomb.com!! Soo, sooo wrong 😦 
The tricks are to find the right products and tools to help you achieve those nice high cheek bones, small forehead, tiny nose and strong jaw line. 

And also to understand the basics of shadows(contouring) and light(highlighting).

If you want to disguise or make something look smaller or more sunken in, you contour (add shadows/dark colour) .
 If you want to bring out something and put emphasis on it, you highlight. (Add brightness/light colours) 
Pretty simple right?
If you understand this concept, you can contour and highlight your face. It just takes practise to make it look perfect! 
Since these techniques have become more common and more mainstream, a lot of companies have developed products for the everyday woman.
There are powder and cream options. It’s just personal preference on what you would like to use. 

I prefer to use creams first and then setting them with powders in similar shades. Double the work but double the pay off!!!! 🙂

Recent favourites I have been reaching for are:
Cream – Stila Contouring kit, Maybelline Foundation Stick in Coconut, Maybelline Better Skin Concealers ( in fair or light)
Powder- Kat Von D Shade and Light pallet , NYX Taupe Blush( yes, a blush!) The Balm Bahama Mama Bronzer, Too Faced Chocolate Soliel Bronzer. Besame vanilla brightening powder, The Balm Betty Lou Luminizer highlight powder and Mac’s soft and gentle.

  
Contouring and highlighting can be tricky because everyone’s face shapes are not all alike. I have an oval face. Meaning, it is more long then it is wide. I have deep dark undereye circles and I’m not a fan of my nose. The above  picture is generally how I cream contour. I apply my primer, foundation then my darker contour shades and light concealers.

Once you figure out what placement of colours works best for you, the next step is Key;

BLEND, BLEND, and BLEND Some more! When you think you are done blending, blend it again!  Whether you use brushes or sponges, it’s up to you! I really like Stila’s double ended contour brush and Real Techniques Beauty blender sponge. I also use a Mac contour brush I have had for years and the # has worn off 😦 

                                                                           

face shapes and a general guide to contouring

I hope this helps anyone that is nervous or someone who is not clear on how contouring and highlight works. I could ramble on and on with this topic, but I’ll spare you the torture and tell you to go to YouTube and watch tutorials on it. That is how I was taught. Practise makes perfect with this, so try it out. 🙂 

 

Summer Essentials

Summer Beauty Essentials: Top 5 drugstore/ Top 5 High End

Hey there folks! 🙂

Summer is finally upon us and life has become very busy and somewhat hectic! (Work wise and personally!)

So let’s just get in to it shall we?!

Here is a quick post on my Top 5 Summer Essentials!! (Drugstore & High End versions)

Drugstore

1- Loreal Infallible Makeup Extender Setting Spray( now there’s a long title!)
I have been using this in place of my beloved Urban Decay setting sprays and I love it. The price is right and It will especially be good for the summer months when you want to really lock in your face makeup and also give yourself a nice cooling mist!

2- Maybelline Brow Drama Sculpting Brow Mascara
This bad boy comes in clear and also hair colour shades. I bought mine in “Deep Brown”
This is perfect for those lazy (and hot) summer days when you don’t want to worry about filling in your brows so precisely but also don’t want to leave them looking unkept. The lasting power is pretty impressive too! Definitely a summer essential!

3- Loreal Infallibe Pro Matte Foundation
If you are anything like me, you can somewhat turn into an oil slick in the summer. I have heard many good things about this foundation, told my mother to try it out and then I finally purchased it after she said she liked it. It’s a Demi-matte finish that doesn’t look or feel overly cakey. For a drugstore foundation, it isn’t too shabby! 😉

4- NYX Wonder Pencil
This little fella can be used as a concealer, eye brightener and reverse lip liner ( says the packaging) An extra bonus is it can be used to help carve out and highlight your eyebrows! Multi use products in the busy summertime can be your best friend!

5- Maybelline Master Prime Primers
These come in three different formulas that you can choose based on your skin and the affect you want to achieve. I purchased the “Blur and Illuminate” for a healthy glow. There is also a “Blur and Smooth” and “Blur and Redness control” which I think would be great, especially if you get too much sun and your face looks kind of lobster-ish 😉

High End

1- Aveda Tidepool Eye Definer
Pops of colour are huge for the hotter months. Aveda’s Spring/summer 2015 are definitely evidence of that! The easiest way to achieve thhis look is with a little blue eyeliner, either on the top or lower lash line!

2- Mac Gingerly Blush
This is an easy way to add a little summer colour to your face . I have been obsessed with this blush since I was given it. It’s somewhat of a shear peachy or “ginger” colour. I find it is neutral enough to go with any makeup look ( especially that pop of blue eye liner I just mentioned 😉 )

3- Bourjois Healthy Balance Unifying Powder
If you have read any of my previous blogs, you’d know I love my foundation from this brand! So naturally I went out and purchased the powder as well! It’s soft and matte finish will be perfect for when the temperatures start to rise and the makeup starts to melt!

4- The Balm’s Mary Lou Manizer Highlighter
This is not just a summer essential, but a LIFE ESSENTIAL! Beautiful highlighter, but be warned, this stuff is highly pigmented. A little goes a long way! ET will be able to spot your glowing cheekbones from space!! Ps..this doubles as a beautiful eyeshadow! You’re welcome!!!!!

5- Aveda’s Dragon Fruit Nourish-mint Lip Liner in Dragon Fruit
Second product from the Spring/summer 2015 Rare Bloom Collection. Beautiful pink liner that I use all over as more of a lipstick.

Bonus Favourite!
Last week I took a very exciting course in scalp massage! Our instructor, Andrea Olivera was amazing! Along with using Aveda products, we got to use some of her very own product line! Me, being a product junkie had to purchase one of her botanical perfumes! “Magdalina” is my new favourite scent. I am obsesseddddddd with it and seriously need to slow down on spraying it before I run out too fast!

Anyway,

Hope you enjoyed this little post. It feels good to write again (more then a month off is too long)

Take Care!

-Nicole xo 😉