Sunday, January 24, 2016
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #MNYLookstoLove #CollectiveBias

Contouring. You either hate it, love it, think it's a miracle-worker or maybe a little bit of all three. I'm a huge fan of contouring but understand it's a slippery slope. So what is contouring? Contouring is playing with light and shadows to minimize or emphasize your favorite (or not so favorite) features. To contour is to add shadow (think under your cheekbones to make them pop or down your nose to make it appear slimmer) while highlight is adding emphasis and light to it.

I think I find contouring so much fun because one minute you can go hardcore and just completely change your face shape or you can do a much softer look and really just make your favorite features pop. Where else can you get results that you can wash off and change around? The power of makeup, people.


Contouring can be extremely intimidating at first but I'm here to show you a simple, natural-looking contoured look that with a bright pink or red lip is perfect for a quick Valentine's Day look and get this - it's using all Maybelline products that you can find at your local Walmart. Saving money and looking gorgeous!? Total win/win!
Can you tell they were VERY popular?

So let's get started!

  • So after applying my favorite moisturizer and primer, we're going to be using the new Maybelline Dream Velvet Foundation (shade: Ivory) as the foundation in this look. Guys, I have never been so excited to try a foundation out in my entire life. This baby was sold out everywhere which naturally added to my absolute need to find it. The hype did not disappoint! The foundation is a fun consistency of a gel/whipped feel that applies nice and smoothly. It leaves a natural (medium coverage!) matte finish.

  • I first dotted the foundation all over my face and then went in a damp Maybelline Dream Blender (WHAT WHAT!?) and blended the rest in. Let's go back. MAYBELLINE CAME OUT WITH A BLENDER. All the yes in the world! I really love the shape and I'll tell you why. It allows you to get into all the curves of your face. Around your nose, up near your eyes without actually touching your eyeball. It's love! The blender itself is great and blends the foundation very nicely without pushing it around and leaving weird streaks on your face. I'm impressed.
  • (Not pictured) I quickly went in with some concealer under my eyes and then set it with a transparent setting powder.
  • Onto the contouring! First, from the Maybelline Contour Palette (in Light), I took the contour shade and drew two lines right under my cheekbones. You can find the hollows of your cheeks by sucking your lips in, making a fishy face. I also contoured down my nose, my forehead and under my chin. Taking a fluffy brush, blend all of them in. With your cheekbones, make sure to blend upward onto your cheek. PS. I didn't expect this palette to be as pigmented as it is. High-five, Maybelline!
  • Next, we're moving onto highlighting. Again, the highlight in this palette is SO on point! Taking a brush, I like to highlight right on top of my cheekbones, my cupid's bow and right above my eyebrows.
  • Lastly, let's talk blush! I highly recommend using blush with contouring. With all the shadows and light, it can sometimes look a little flat. Adding blush to your look, brings in warmth. This blush in the Maybelline Contour Palette is super flattering! Taking a fluffy blush brush, I popped this right onto the apples of my cheeks.
  • Finish with a bright red or pink lipstick if you're feeling in the Valentine's Day spirit and you're good to go!
What are your plans for Valentine's Day? Have you ever tried contouring before?

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #MNYLookstoLove #CollectiveBias