best mac brushes for contouring and highlighting

Rule number one: don’t draw those sweeping lines on your face, no matter what social media has told you. You’ve got your tools, now it’s time to carve those cheekbones: take Findlay’s pro tips on board, and you’re well on the way to creating the most professional definition. Here, Bobbi Brown Pro Artist, Zara Findlay, reveals the trade secrets.Īn angled brush is ideal for tucking right under your cheekbones – this one works perfectly with powders. What's more, knowing exactly how to wield a contour kit correctly – what products to use and the tones to go for – is a tricky thing for the most accomplished of make-up users.īut a killer contour can be transformative: when done subtly and stealthily, you can define your cheekbones and lift your entire face, creating structure to rival the 1990's supers in a few strategic strokes. Turns out, the soft-focus filter of your camera lens can make a contoured face look a lot more flattering than the harsh reality of your neon office lighting. While the Kardashians and their glam teams – think the talented Mario Dedivanovic and Joyce Bonelli – make contouring look strikingly effective on Instagram, it's true the technique doesn't always translate well into real life. To help you navigate the seemingly endless number of options out there, we’ve compiled an editor-approved list of the 21 absolute best highlighters for every skin tone and preference, including liquid, cream, and powder formulas.There's something about the word 'contouring' that instils fear in even the most make-up savvy among us – and if the concept of cheekbone-chiselling breaks you out in a sweat, frankly, it's understandable. “Some of my favorite areas to apply highlighter include the cheekbones, the bridge of the nose, and even collarbones and shoulders (if wearing off the shoulder tops) for an extra dose of shine,” Khan says. She recommends adding a small dollop of highlighter on the forehead and using your ring finger to pick up the product and deposit it in focus areas using quick tapping motions back and forth until the product is blurred and blended out to your liking.

“I love to amplify the high points of the face with light taps of highlight,” says professional makeup artist (and founder of CTZN ) Naseeha Khan.

From matte to shimmery, liquid highlight to cream highlight, there is no shortage of finishes and formulas. The question then is not if you should use a highlighter, but which highlighter you should embrace.

Unlike trickier makeup products, like liquid blush and contour powders, highlighters are easy to use and can be dabbed on anywhere, anytime. Designed to reflect light so skin appears more luminous and dewy, highlighters are an effortless way to create the illusion of a more youthful and rested complexion. All you need for your everyday visage is a glow-inducing highlighter.

Best mac brushes for contouring and highlighting