Back to School Makeup Tutorial: Mastering Contouring & Highlighting

Updated at: 25/03/2025

Back to school means new beginnings, fresh starts, and a chance to reinvent your look! This year, let's elevate your makeup game with the art of contouring and highlighting. Mastering these techniques can dramatically enhance your facial features, giving you a polished and confident appearance perfect for classes, extracurriculars, and everything in between. Forget the awkward first-day jitters; a little skillful contouring can boost your self-assurance and make you feel ready to conquer anything. Whether you're a makeup novice or looking to refine your skills, this tutorial will guide you through the process.

This back-to-school makeup tutorial will focus on achieving a natural yet impactful look using contouring and highlighting, suitable for everyday wear. We'll cover everything from choosing the right shades to blending seamlessly for a flawless finish. Get ready to unlock your inner makeup artist because, in just a few easy steps, you'll be ready to flawlessly contour and highlight your way to a confident and radiant school year. Let’s dive into the step-by-step guide and transform your everyday makeup routine!

Preparation and Safety Guidelines

Tools Needed
Safety Guidelines
  • Always use clean brushes and tools to prevent the spread of bacteria and breakouts. Wash your brushes regularly.
  • Start with a light hand when applying contour and highlight. You can always add more, but it's harder to remove excess product.
  • Choose products that are non-comedogenic (won't clog pores) to avoid acne, especially during the often stressful back-to-school period.

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Brush Selection & Types

    • Synthetic brushes are versatile for creams and powders, while natural hair brushes are best for powders only.
    • Select brushes based on desired thickness, density, and price point. Examples include e.l.f., Luxie, and Tarte brands.
    Choosing Highlighting and Contouring Brushes: Select brushes based on desired thickness, density, and price point. Examples include e.l.f., Luxie, and Tarte brands.Choosing Highlighting and Contouring Brushes: Select brushes based on desired thickness, density, and price point. Examples include e.l.f., Luxie, and Tarte brands.
    Brush Selection & Types

  2. Cream Product Application & Blending

    • Use denser brushes for blending cream contour and bronzer products.
    Blending Cream Products: Use denser brushes for blending cream contour and bronzer products.
    Cream Product Application & Blending

  3. Powder Highlight Application

    • Use fluffy brushes for applying powder highlight. Brushes like the Luxie 181 are dual-ended for both cream and powder applications.
    Applying Powder Highlight: Use fluffy brushes for applying powder highlight. Brushes like the Luxie 181 are dual-ended for both cream and powder applications.
    Powder Highlight Application

  4. Nose Contouring Technique

    • An angled shader brush is ideal for precise nose contouring.
    Nose Contouring: An angled shader brush is ideal for precise nose contouring.
    Nose Contouring Technique

  5. Sponge Application

    • Beauty blenders are softer and squishier, while Real Techniques sponges offer a firmer alternative.
    Using Sponges: Beauty blenders are softer and squishier, while Real Techniques sponges offer a firmer alternative.
    Sponge Application

Read more: The Ultimate Guide to Cleaning Makeup Brushes: Achieve Professional Results

Tips

  • Synthetic brushes blend makeup better and create a more airbrushed look.
  • Natural hair brushes should only be used with powder products.
  • A thin brush like the Tarte brush is great for sharp lines in powder contouring.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Product Placement

Reason: Contour and highlight are applied in the wrong areas of the face, leading to an unnatural or muddy look.
Solution: Use a contour shade under cheekbones, along the hairline, and jawline, and highlight the high points of the face like the bridge of the nose and cheekbones.

2. Blending Issues

Reason: Insufficient blending creates harsh lines and an unnatural appearance.
Solution: Blend thoroughly using a fluffy brush, focusing on seamless transitions between shades.

3. Incorrect Shade Selection

Reason: Using shades that are too dark or too light for one's skin tone results in a cakey or unnatural look.
Solution: Choose contour shades 2-3 shades darker than your skin tone and a highlighter 1-2 shades lighter.

FAQs

What kind of brushes do I need for contouring and highlighting?
You'll want a few key brushes. An angled brush is great for precise contour application along your cheekbones and jawline. A fluffy blending brush helps to seamlessly diffuse the contour and highlighter for a natural look. Finally, a smaller, denser brush can be used for highlighting smaller areas like the bridge of your nose and cupid's bow.