We all like to wear makeup that is flattering and suits our complexion and vibe. But unfortunately, we can’t all be good at it. Or at least certain aspects of it. Some areas that so many people still struggle with are contouring, highlighting and bronzing. And we don’t blame anyone. It can be super intimidating to see those makeup products in-store and work out what the heck you’re meant to do with it and how to make it look good.
It doesn’t help that social media is basically an online mirror reflecting back what you should be doing with your makeup! How do they make it look so easy? So even if you’re not of The James Charles or Jeffree Star breed don’t worry. These simple tips will have you achieving all your #makeupgoals with ease and flaunting your gorgeous summer glow!
So let’s start with contouring. What could quite possibly be one of the things people struggle with most when it comes to applying makeup. After all, there are a lot of things to take into consideration. So let’s start with the basics. How do you know what shade to use for your skin type? A lot of people worry about this, especially people with paler complexions, as it can be difficult to find a shade that will flatter and not look too brown or orange. When you’re pale and try to contour and can be very easy to look like you have smeared dirt on your face! Either go to an in-store makeup specialist or use a colour wheel and swatch to decide.
You need to make sure you are picking out a product that has cooler tones in and is more ashy in colour. The whole idea behind contouring is to create shadows on your face to give you a more defined and chiselled look. It can also give you face a glow and there’s no better glow than a summer glow. Work the product in with an angled brush if possible as it will be easier to apply the product with the natural lines of your face.
Suck in your cheeks and apply the product in the hollow of your cheekbones running parallel to the bone. You can also apply it to the sides of your forehead, your jawline and the bridge of your nose for a more defined nose.
We recommend NYX HD blush in taupe for a more natural-looking contour. You never want your contour to be too exaggerated as it is meant to give you a natural glow. This NYX product is lightweight and very blendable so you can play around with it to see how it can best shape you face. Buff in the lines of contour on your face until you feel it has blended naturally with your skin tone. You will be turning heads with this summer glow trick!
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So highlighting basically works as the opposite to the contour. This is used to highlight areas on your face that you want to emphasise. These places on a person’s face are normally their cheekbones and the bridge of their nose. Some people also like to highlight their cupid’s bow and brow bones. We recommend hitting all these points for an ultra summer glow!
We love Champagne pop by Becca x Jaclyn Hill as it is designed for any skin tone and really delivers the glow. Like its name it will make all your best features pop! It’s shimmery but not too overpowering so it won’t clash with the rest of your makeup. Take a fan brush and gently dust the powder along the areas you desire to be illuminated.
Blend in the highlighter for a more natural glow by sweeping across your skin. When applying to your cheekbones you can blend it all the way up to your temple are for an ethereal look. Don’t be afraid to play around with highlighter because depending on how you use it you can create a subtle glow or a dramatic and extreme highlight.
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Bronze is tricky because some people don’t always feel it’s necessary when you’re contouring. We personally recommend doing both because it always looks really beautiful combined together. We love Tarte’s Park Avenue Princess because it is a really gorgeous golden colour that will give you the edge on your summer glow.
Take a fluffy brush and buff it over any areas of your face you want to make look a little more sun-kissed. Remember to apply it to areas that would naturally tan such as your temples, cheeks and jawline. Blend it into your skin using circular motions and when applying to your cheeks keep it close to the cheekbone. When you put it on your jawline don’t forget to drag it down onto your neck as well so there are no colour discrepancies.
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Remember overall makeup should be fun so you shouldn’t be afraid to play around with these products until you find what works best for you. Fearlessly contour, highlight and bronze with our guide so your summer glow outshines everyone else!
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