Faces in fashion magazines have a clear edge in the ‘looking beautiful’ department. Those faces spend plenty of time in the dermatologist office and at the salon getting facials and fixes that the rest of us probably can’t afford. Then, they get the most expensive makeup, the most qualified makeup artists, perfect lighting, and of course, and awesome photographer to make them look great. And lets not forget the dirty little secret of fashion magazines: photoshop. The real faces of real women just can’t stand a beauty chance against all that. But we do have one weapon in the quest for beauty: makeup contouring. It’s easier than you think, especially with mineral powder products.
Supplies. The supplies are pretty simple. You’ll need your favorite foundation, a mineral powder foundation, a non-shimmery bronzer, a blush, and a couple of good makeup brushes. The travel brushes that come in the compacts are great for touch-ups on the go, but for your main application stick to full size, round blush and foundation brushes.
Foundation. I like to apply a concealer and liquid foundation first. Just apply your concealer sparingly anywhere you think it needs it. Over any blemishes, in any dark or shadowy areas such as under the eyes or around the nose, and anyplace that needs a little highlighting. I prefer a pretty dry stick concealer (such as the one by Mark), but you can also find mineral powder concealer (try eyeslipsface.com, for starters). If you use a powder concealer, save it for after you put anything liquid on your face. After you have applied your liquid foundation, next apply your pressed powder mineral foundation. I like Physicians Formula because it is talc free, and talc tends to give me breakouts. Use a large, soft brush to blend the foundation all over your face. This will give you a light even coverage. Use less than you think you will need and add more if you really do need it.
Blush. Take your blush brush and swirl it into the pressed powder blush. Tap off any excess product, and swirl the blush along the apples of your cheeks. Be careful not to get too close to your nose. Blend well. Always start small and add more as needed. Blend along your cheek bones, back towards your ears.
Bronzer. Using a little bit of bronzer will make you look thinner. Twirl your brush in the bronzer and tap off any excess. Then, lightly blend the bronzer into the hollow of your cheek to give the impression of higher cheek bones. You can also use this to contour any trouble spots: such as a large forehead or apply it straight down the bridge of your nose it to make it look less crooked. The key is to blend well!
Once your foundation and contouring are complete, you can carry on with the rest of your makeup routine. Keep your pressed powder foundation with you in case you need touchups throughout the day.
