Contour On A Dime

Since the temperature has dropped, the cooler weather has had makeup lovers rejoice that they can now wear their full glam and not worry about having a makeup meltdown. A new essential step in my everyday regimen is contouring. The classic technique of using shadows and highlights to define, sculpt and slim the face. With so many options on the market; be it creams, powders or sticks; contouring is no longer a trend – it’s now a foundation to any modern woman’s beauty routine.

If you’re like me, you love a good budget beauty buy. Enter – the NYX Highlight & Contour Pro Palette. At the time, I was looking for an inexpensive way to get into the technique but not breaking the bank. I also liked the idea of having every shade I needed in only one palette. When it comes to testing the waters of contouring, powders are the best way to start. They provide quick but buildable colour and also help control oil and shine, throughout the day.

Other than carving out some serious cheekbones, I have even found myself using it to define the crease of the eyes (a la Kim and Khloe Kardashian) and even for my brows when travelling. Each shade is very pigmented and acts like many of its high end competitors. For under $30, talk about a great investment when you can do your whole face and eye look from one palette!

Here are a few more of my tips, if you’re just getting started:

1. First and foremost, you will need to determine your face shape. Once you figure this out, you will know what you need to darken and what to highlight on the face. For many, it’s creating cheekbones, shaping the forehead and sliming the nose.
2. The other key part is the perfect brush for your application. I suggest (as shown in the above photos) using an angled brush or even a flat top brush, will help get the placement on point.
3. Lastly, when in doubt- go to a Pro. Many drugstores and department stores have pros on site, to help you get sharpened up for the season.

Rachelle Xo