Highlight and contour tips from MUA Rae Morris
By: Carla Snuggs  

Updated 6/4/2018

Using makeup to highlight and contour your face can slim down the appearance of your face, disguise flaws and highlight your best features. When I think of a perfectly highlighted and contoured face, I think Kim Kardashian who has mastered this technique. 

To learn more about how to highlight and contour your face we sourced Australia's top make-up artist and L'Oreal's PARIS longest-serving makeup director (worldwide) Rae Morris. Rae is also the artist to the stars including clients Kelly Rowland, PINK!, Cate Blanchett, Miranda Kerr, Dita Von Teese and many more. 

Cheekbone Contouring Tip

Start by using mineral makeup. It's gentler on the skin and it lasts longer. This is a great resource for learning what is the best mineral makeup. After choosing the right products for your skin type, start by using a cream foundation that's four shades darker than your skin tone. You can contour the cheekbones either before or after applying blush. Always make sure you blend the edges of your shading thoroughly. Use the following two contouring steps if you want to enhance your cheekbones, create definition and thin down a rounded face. You don't need to use these steps if you're underweight, already have pronounced cheekbones or have bony facial features. 

Step 1: Draw a line from the corner of your mouth to the top of your ear. You're creating a shadow that has the visual effect of pushing in the shaded area, so shading under this line will have the effect of lifting your cheekbone. The darkest part of the shading should be towards the ear, so start here and fade down into the cheek. To delicately define the feature, the shading should be no wider than your little finger-any wider and you'll create a hollowing effect in the shaded area. Repeat on the other side.

Step 2: This one is Rae’s favorites-it can take years off! Draw an imaginary line from the outer edge of your nose through the outer corner of your eye. This line should be parallel to the one you drew in step Shading within the lines indicated on the diagram will have the effect of indenting the temple, making the cheeks more prominent and also giving the eyes an incredible lift. Repeat on the other side.

Lip Tip

This is a great technique if you have uneven lips. Applying a tiny shadow under the bottom lip gives the illusion of a fuller bottom lip, while highlighting the upper lip will give you a fuller top lip.

Jaw Tip

The jaw bone cops a beating as you age so creating your ideal jaw line with definition may mean applying the shading either under the jaw line or blending it onto your face to reduce the appearance of unattractive jowls. I add strength and definition by always blending down the neck, starting dark at the jaw line. Take a look in the mirror-if you have that very common white spot in the middle of your neck caused by lack of sun exposure, shade it too.

Image courtesy of Glamour.com

How often do you use makeup to highlight and contour your face? Leave your comments below!