Contouring sculpts, highlighting lifts — and neither needs a twenty-step routine. This beginner map keeps both soft, natural and mistake-proof.
Learn your light first
Stand by a window and notice where shadows fall: hollows of cheeks, jawline, sides of the nose. Those are the only places contour belongs.
Cream before powder
Cream contour melts into foundation for a natural shadow; powder on top sets it. Doing powder first creates harsh, visible lines.
Highlight the high planes
Touch highlighter to cheekbones, brow bones, the bridge of the nose and the cupid’s bow. Less is more — build in thin layers.
Blend upward, always
Blend contour upward into the hairline and temples, never downward. Upward blending lifts the face; downward blending drags it.
Practice in daylight, photograph your result, and adjust once. Our Velvet Dew Cushion Compact makes touch-ups effortless throughout the day.