Highlight and contour like a pro with Mary Kay

Highlighting and contouring is something that I just recently learned about and started doing a few months ago. I never bothered with it in the past, but now that I am getting older, I felt like I could really benefit from it.  By contouring you create an illusion of a shadow around your temples, jaw line, nose, and cheek bones to accentuate your bone structure and slim down your face and nose. When you highlight you create artificial light to your nose bridge, cupid’s bow, cheek bones and eyebrows.

I’ve been trying several different contouring and highlighting products the past few months, so I was very excited to test the Mary Kay Facial Highlighting Pen, and bronzing powder.

Mary Kay Highlighting Pen

The light reflecting pigments in the highlighting pen optically “lift” the shadowy areas of your face so your skin looks brighter and more radiant. I used the pen underneath my eye area, on the bridge of my nose, and underneath my eyebrows. The formula is very easy to blend, and did not settle into the fine lines underneath my eyes.

Highlighting and Contouring with Mary Kay Bronzing Powder

Next I used the Mary Kay® mineral bronzing powder in Bronze Diva to contour my cheek bones, temples, jaw line and nose. What I really liked about this bronzing powder is that it has two different shades. You can use each of them separately, or combine them – but either way, you’ll be able to find the perfect shade. If I am just going into the office during the day, I do a lighter and less dramatic contour. The lighter shade works great for that.

After the contouring, I added blush to my cheeks. Then I used the Mary Kay® mineral bronzing powder in Desert Sun to do some highlighting. I applied it to the top of my cheek bones and down the bridge of my nose, and took a big powder blush to blend. This mineral powder has just the right amount of shimmer to it.

I have to say, out of all the highlighting and contouring products I’ve used so far, these are by far my favorite. It can be really hard finding the right shade of bronzer to use as a contour. Having the two colors in one compact definitely helps alleviate that problem. I like the mineral bronzing powders because you don’t need a lot of product on your brush, they are very blendable, and they have staying power. I really like the highlighting pen because it is hard to find a product that does not settle in the fine lines under your eye. It also made me look more awake and my eyes brighter.

Tips From Mary Kay Glam Squad

Not everyone is in love with their selfie, as shown with Mary Kay’s survey of 1,000 people with Wakefield Research

• 48 percent of respondents said that people actually look older in camera phone photos
• On average, respondents said people look 7 years older in camera phone photos! 20 percent even said you look a decade older!

Fortunately, Mary Kay Glam Squad has tips to ensure you look your best…

Tip #1 “Follow the Hollow”

• According to Mary Kay Glam Squad Celebrity Makeup Artist, Raychel Wade, highlighting and contouring the cheek bone is particularly important.

Try Mary Kay® Facial Highlighting Pen, $18 www.marykay.com

Tip #2 “All About The Angle”

• Never take a selfie straight on, always keep the phone angled, says Mary Kay Glam Squad Stylist to the Stars, Lo VonRumpf.

Tip #3 “Go Bold”

• Take the shot vertically, not horizontally, for a long look. Keeping the camera focused on your good side, slightly tilt your head, making sure to include your beautiful lashes coated with Mary Kay® Lash Love® Lengthening™ Mascara; snap and voilà- the perfect selfie.

Try Mary Kay® True Dimensions™ Lipstick in Firecracker Red, $18 www.marykay.com

So tell us…

Have you ever used a facial highlighting pen or have you done any contouring?

The Mommy Bunch received products in exchange for this post, all opinions are our own.