Thanks to celebrities like Kim Kardashian, contouring has established its rightful place within the mainstream makeup arsenal with its abilities to sculpt, create the illusion of symmetry, and highlight key areas of the face and body.

March 27, 2024

Gaining fame for his work with Kim Kardashian, celebrity makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic is often credited with bringing contouring into the mainstream. These highly publicized makeup looks, often featuring dramatically contoured cheekbones and chiseled features, sparked a global contouring trend that continues to influence beauty enthusiasts worldwide. While powder products have traditionally dominated the contouring scene, cream blush offers a versatile alternative that can effortlessly contour both the face and body for a seamless, radiant finish. Let's dive into the art of using cream blush to contour like a beauty editor.

Choose the Right Shade

Opt for a cream blush that is a few shades darker than your natural skin tone. Warm, taupe, or bronze shades work well for most skin tones, providing subtle definition without looking overly harsh.

Prep Your Canvas

Before applying cream blush, ensure your skin is well-prepped and moisturized. This helps the product blend seamlessly and prevents patchiness. Our editors recommend applying a lightweight foundation or tinted moisturizer as a base (and of course, sunscreen during the daylight hours). 

Identify Contour Areas

Determine the areas of your face and body where you want to create definition. Common contour zones include the hollows of the cheeks, temples, jawline, nose, collarbones, and even your body.

Cheeks: Apply the bronzer to the hollows of your cheeks, starting from the hairline near your ears and blending towards the center of your cheeks.

Temples and Forehead: Sweep the bronzer along the hairline and temples, blending towards the center of the forehead to create dimension.

Jawline: Define the jawline by applying the bronzer along the underside of the jaw, blending downwards towards the neck.

Nose: For a slimmer-looking nose, apply the bronzer along the sides of the nose, starting from the bridge and blending towards the nostrils.

Collarbone: Begin applying the bronzer at the center of your chest, where the collarbones typically meet near the sternum. Sweep the product outward towards the shoulders, following the natural curve of the bones.

Arms: Start by applying the bronzer to your arms, focusing on areas that would naturally catch the sun. Sweep it along the tops of your shoulders, down the length of your arms, and across your forearm, blending it outwards towards your elbows.

Legs: Apply the bronzer along the shinbones, thighs, and tops of your knees. Blend the bronzer evenly, using upward strokes to create a seamless transition between bronzed and natural skin.

Application Technique

Using your fingers, a makeup sponge, or a dense brush, gently dab the cream blush onto the desired contour areas. Start with a small amount of product and gradually build up intensity as needed. Remember to blend well for a natural-looking finish, using circular motions to seamlessly meld the product into the skin.

Layering for Depth

For enhanced dimension, layer different shades of cream blush. Apply a lighter shade to highlight areas you want to emphasize, such as the tops of the cheekbones and brow bone, and blend outward. Then, apply a deeper shade to the contour areas for added depth and definition.

Set with Powder (Optional)

To prolong the wear of your contour and prevent it from shifting throughout the day, lightly dust a translucent setting powder over the contoured areas. This step is particularly beneficial for those with oily or combination skin.

 

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