How to Use Contour Powder

Using a highlighter is an effective way to give your face a healthy glow, especially on days when your skin is not fresh. You can also use powder to contour your face. However, using the wrong highlighter will make your face look dirty or orange. This article shows you how to use contouring powder properly.

Table of Contents

Steps

Choose a contouring powder. Contouring powder’s purpose is to subtly darken the skin, so the type of powder you choose depends on your skin tone as well as the eye-catching look you want. In general, you should only choose powder that is two tones darker than your natural skin tone. Test the powder on your face to make sure it’s “warmer” but still natural.

If you have fair skin, you should look for a honey-colored highlighter; for medium skin, you should choose pink or yellow highlighter; and dark skin should choose yellow brown or amber powder.
Choose two separate powders for pale skin in winter and dark skin in summer. This will help keep the color even throughout the year. ^{[1] X Research Source}

Choose a contouring brush. You should choose a large brush with fine bristles with a rounded tip. If the brush head is too small and hard, it will make the face dirty. You can buy a specialized contouring brush at the store, or replace it with a large brush or foundation brush for similar results.

Apply foundation. Concealer is the next step after concealer and foundation. Apply cream evenly over entire face for smooth skin and foundation for contouring. You need to blend foundation down your neck to look more natural.

Dab the brush tip into the contouring powder evenly. You should apply the contouring powder in thin layers evenly to color instead of applying a single dark layer. Therefore, you should only lightly dab the brush tip into the powder and tap the edge of the powder box to remove excess powder.

Contouring powder. Apply powder to areas of the face that receive direct light. First, use light strokes to apply powder over the top of the head, cheekbones, and along the jawline. If applied correctly, the powder will create a “3” shape on either side of the face. ^{[2] X Research Source}

Check out the contouring powder with natural light. Make sure the powder is not too thick and even, paying attention to the stripes. If you use too much highlighter, you should spread it evenly with a cotton pad or dust a little powder on top.

Advice

To contour your face, you should narrow your cheekbones and apply powder on the concave sides. This makes the cheekbones more prominent but still natural.
Don’t put too much powder on the brush head at once, you can add more if needed!
Apply powder evenly on both cheeks in the process.
Do not choose powder that is too dark and must match the skin tone.
Cheap contouring powders often clump into lines on your face, so it’s a good idea to invest in a good brush to apply contouring.
Clean the brush regularly to keep it clean and in good condition. Makeup artists often clean brushes with warm water with bleach solution and conditioner.

Warning

Do not blow on the brush head to remove excess powder. Just a little water on the brush can cause lines on the face.
The most common mistake when buying contour powder is choosing a shade that creates a distinct orange color that makes the face look unreal.

Steps

Advice

Warning

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