Highlighting and contouring can provide great dimensions to the face allowing you to add cheek bones you never knew you had, while slenderizing the forehead you always felt was a little too big. Celebrity makeup artist have been using these techniques for years to give celebs the perfect red carpet face. Kim Kardashian is known for her super highlighted and contoured makeup and has inspired many YouTube videos on achieving her look. Like any good makeup technique, it takes practice and the right tools to achieve the perfect highlights and contours. Here are a few of the do’s and dont’s in highlighting and contouring:

1. Do choose a highlight that is not too far off from your natural complexion, the goal is to add dimension and accentuate the skin not create a whole new skin complexion. If you have yellow undertones and are a complexion close to Kim Kardashian’s or even a few shades darker, yellow highlights work really well. If you are closer to a Gabrielle Union brown complexion, try choosing something in the brown family that is a few shades lighter than your natural complexion.

2. Don’t apply too much. Whether you are using a foundation, concealer, or powder you do not want it to be too thick. If the product is applied too thick, it will be harder to blend it in and will not look natural. Highlighted and contoured  makeup should look effortless and blend naturally, not be cakey and thick.

3. Do ask for a second opinion. Sometimes what looks great in our mirrors doesn’t always look great in natural light or in person. Ask a friend if everything looks well blended and even take a photo of yourself to make sure you don’t have that tell-tell white cast under your eyes.

4. Don’t go crazy buying products. You don’t need a million and one different products to achieve a beautiful highlight and contour look, even makeup artist have a few staple products that are their go to. Select a shade close to your complexion in either a foundation, concealer or powder and stick with that. As you get better you can always add a few more products to your collection but there is no need to break the bank.

5. Do go to a makeup counter and get help. If you need a little extra assistance with learning how to perfect the highlight and contour method or even need a little help with selecting the right product or shade for you go see a makeup artist. It is their job to help you and most makeup artist love sharing their secrets and giving out tips. To get the most time and attention possible from your artist, try going during a week day where there is usually less traffic and your lesson won’t be as rushed.

6. Do practice. Practice makes perfect and the more you practice at this look the better you will become. YouTube has a plethora of every day women and beauty gurus who have mastered this look, watch as many videos as you can until you find the method that works best for you.

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