One of the most important makeup skills is not proper application. But rather contour and highlighting. Both instantly feminize the face, by sculpting out feminine features. Using dark shades to make the nose smaller, and lighter shades to take focus off of parts of the face.

Do you liquid or powder contour?

Always, and I use powder. When I was first taught contouring and highlighting in beauty school, I was like, "OMG, this is miraculous! It's like instant plastic surgery!  "

Quote from: TheAetherealMeadow on December 22, 2011, 07:44:52 AM
Always, and I use powder. When I was first taught contouring and highlighting in beauty school, I was like, "OMG, this is miraculous! It's like instant plastic surgery!  "

Yep...It shrinks my nose down.

I use liquid foundation. Comes out lookin more natural.

I'm gonna post a pic without contouring and highlighting and with to show off the difference it makes. It just gives me such a nice healthy glow lol.



And when you use liquid foundation how many shades darker/lighter do you use? Because I always set my foundation with powder and the powder I use is pretty high coverage so it may drown out some of the color difference in the liquid foundations.

Quote from: TheAetherealMeadow on December 23, 2011, 04:12:37 PM
And when you use liquid foundation how many shades darker/lighter do you use? Because I always set my foundation with powder and the powder I use is pretty high coverage so it may drown out some of the color difference in the liquid foundations.

I use Dior forever and I use the lightest and darkest shades of cover girl CLEAN...I blend them into the primary foundation. It looks so much better than bronzer/powder contouring.

Thanks! I'll have to go buy some. I am quite excited to try it out. 

Contouring and highlighting are techniques that I'm still not very good at. I try, but I feel like I usually mess it up.

I'd like to know more about it    Maybe one or both of you gals could make a vid. or two to demonstrate your techniques

Quote from: V M on December 24, 2011, 11:34:58 AM
I'd like to know more about it    Maybe one or both of you gals could make a vid. or two to demonstrate your techniques

Yeah. This.

I'd seen a video tutorial on YouTube about using makeup to enhance the appearance of cleavage, and it was great. Having a visual demonstration along with the description of the process is really great.

Speaking of You Tube, I found a page full of vid.s    But I think it would be more fun if some of the make up savvy gals here on Susan's made vid.s

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=contour+and+highlight+makeup+tutorials&oq=contour+and+highlight+makeup+tutorials&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_sm=s&gs_upl=13095l13095l0l15520l1l1l0l0l0l0l266l266l2-1l1l0

Thanks, V!

I need to do this!!! Masha, you ll have to show me how to do it in person sometime soon!

Quote from: MsDazzler on December 29, 2011, 10:26:04 PM
I need to do this!!! Masha, you ll have to show me how to do it in person sometime soon!

It will hugely benefit you...If I could match your shades, I would be able to demonstrate on you. It's the secret of the Trannay. LOL

I considered posting a step by step on fb. But you could go to Nordstroms City Center and ask for Bradley at MAC to do it. He's a great makeup artist....

This is a pretty helpful guide. 
http://www.my-virtual-makeover.com/contouring.html