Are you all about ombre nails and/or ombre hair at the moment?  Well listen up, then.  There's a new ombre concept about to hit the beauty scene:  ombre lips.

The following pics are of new ombre lip appliques from the brand Violent Lips, which designs all kinds of flashy, over-the-top lip looks (think leopard print, or American-flag patterned).  See how the colour starts off dark at the outer edges of the lips and fades to pale in the centre?  It reminds me of the way some girls like to wear dark lip liner with lighter lipstick -- I guess they were way ahead of the whole ombre thing!

Clearly the last two are for daring makeup wearers only--but maybe the first look could be wearable?  You'll be seeing the new Violent Lips Glitterati Mix Collection at stores like Urban Outfitters starting the second week of May. 

Will any of you be trying these on, or do you think the ombre trend should not be applied to lips?

The 5 Most Awesome Hair, Make-up and Nail Looks of the Week

Happy Friday, lovelies!  Did you have a good week?  The blog sure did.  Here's the best of what I saw around the grape-vine.

Look 1:  Kara Tointon's vintage hairstyle/hair accessory situation.

Look 2:  Taylor Schilling's gorgeous eye make-up.



Look 3:  Emily Blunt's fuschia lipstick with a green dress.

Look 4:  Gwen Stefani's cute alternative to pinning your bangs back.

Look 5:  Leona Lewis' smoldering everything.

Which is your fave?

The Effective Acne Treatment You've Never Tried? Hint: It May Be Growing in Your Garden

Got acne?  Many of us do, as researchers report that adult acne is more common than ever these days.  If you struggle with breakouts, here's a remedy to try!

The effective zit zapper growing in your garden?  Thyme!  What's great on roasted chicken and often grows like wild along garden beds and paths may have the power to fight acne.

According to researchers at Leeds Metropolitan University in the U.K., thyme steeped in alcohol to make what's known as a "tincture" (the old-fashioned cure-alls from our grandmothers' generation) effectively killed bacteria that causes acne better than most of the acne products on the market today.

Do you have thyme in your backyard or in a pot on your balcony?

10 Prom Hairstyles to Steal

Back in the day: Prom hair was stiff, sprayed, and pinned into place. You only had a few options when it came to the hairstyle, and all those options involved an updo. And once it was set, that 'do wasn't moving until long after the post-prom breakfast.

Now: Braids, half-updos, and loose, unkempt looks have taken over prom hairstyles. Nothing is off-limits and the more experimental the look, the better.

While the traditions of prom have barely changed over the years -- the wrist corsage, parents taking awkward amounts of pics, and the crowning of the King and Queen are all still kickin' -- the overall look of prom-goers certainly has. And I'm not just talking about the dresses.

That's right. No more perfectly coiffed hairstyles. Prom hair has undergone a major transformation in the last couple of years, with messy, tousled hair stealing the spotlight. (Let's not forget the current braid explosion as well.) The best part of these "intentionally messy" hairstyles? You can skip the salon and easily do them yourself at home.

As long as you have a few styling tools, namely a hair dryer, round brush, bobby pins, and some hairspray, and great how-tos, you can achieve some amazing styles on your own. It just so happens that I have 10 of the best prom hairstyles already picked out for you. So please do me a favor: Keep the corsage and the limo, but leave behind tradition when it comes to your hair.

Braided Bun

This look combines the classic prom hairstyle of the bun with the braided style that's super popular right now.

1. For this style, it's best to use dirty/day-old hair. Spray hair with a shine and texturizing product, like VO5 Give me Texture Tousled Style Spray, £3.89, and create a side part.
2. Using hair from the larger side of your part, take a 2-inch section of hair from where your part begins. Begin French braiding your hair along the side of your head until the braid reaches the nape of your neck.
3. Repeat with a similar braid on the other side of your head.
4. At the nape of your neck, braid the hair from both sides into one loose braid.
5. Wrap the braid into a bun at the nape of your neck, and secure with an elastic and bobby pins.
6. Gently loosen the braids on the sides using your fingers. Finish with a strong-hold hairspray.

Half-Updo with Curls

This is a popular prom look, and works perfectly with medium to long hair. Here's how to do it:

1. Apply shine serum to damp hair, and blow dry using a round brush. As you work, make sure to blow dry hair away from your face, curling your hair back around the round brush.
2. Once all your hair is dry, lift a large section of your hair at the crown, and tease the hair underneath. Spray with a strong-hold hairspray.
3. Brush your hair back and over the teased section. Take 1-inch of hair from around your face, at eye level, and twist it into a rope. Secure the rope at the back of your head with bobby pins. Do the same with the other side.
4. Use a 1 1/4-inch curling iron, and curl hair in 1-inch sections, wrapping your hair in a spiral around the barrel. Hold for five seconds and release the hair. Do this throughout your hair.
5. Pull a few strands out around your face. Finish by misting the entire look with a strong-hold hairspray.

Sexy Bob

This voluminous bob has a retro feel, but with an extremely sexy edge. Here is how to get the look:

1. Apply a styling mousse to wet hair and blow dry hair in sections.
2. Once hair is dry, spray with a heat protective product, then part hair where you normally part it.
3. Use a 2-inch curling iron to curl all your hair.
4. To get that loose curl look, run your fingers through your hair after you curl it. This will separate the hair and give it that tousled, beachy look.
5. For even more volume, choose a few sections of hair around the crown of your head and tease the hair underneath.
6. Finally, grab sections of hair and brush curls outward with a round brush. Side sweep your bangs. Finish with hairspray, like Elnett Satin Extra Strength Hairspray, £5.99.

Swooped Bun

This bun is the epitome of elegance. I'll tell you how to get the look:

1. Part damp hair slightly off-center and blow dry straight.
2. Once dry, section your hair into two pieces on each side (for four total sections). One section should be in the front of your ear, and the other behind your ear.
3. Tease the hair at the crown of each section.
4. Take the two back sections (behind your ears), and twist the hair into a messy bun. Secure with bobby pins.
5. Take the front two sections and loosely pull them back into the bun. Secure those pieces into the bun with bobby pins.
6. Spray style with a flexible-hold hairspray.

Retro Waves

This hairstyle is a '50s throwback, but still looks amazing today. Pair with a tea length dress for the perfect retro vibe. This is how to steal the style:

1. Apply a shine serum to damp hair, part hair on the side, and blow dry with a round brush.
2. Use six to eight hot rollers, depending on how thick your hair is. Make sure that each section of hair is the same thickness and length of the roller. Place the rollers horizontally, parallel to your part.
3. After the rollers have cooled, remove them and brush your curls out. Make sure while brushing that you don't separate the curls, but just brush your hair into a softened wave.
4. Spray look with a flexible hold hairspray.

Dual Headbands

This is a great casual look that is still prom appropriate. In addition to your normal hair products, you'll need two skinny headbands. This is how to get the look:

1. Apply a root lifting product, like John Frieda Full Repair Protecting Root Lift Foam, £5.99, to wet hair and massage in.
2. Blow dry hair with a round brush, making sure to lift your hair at the roots.
3. Section off a top layer of hair at the crown, no wider than a 6-inch piece. Pull the rest of your hair into a high ponytail.
4. Tease your ponytail at the base to create volume, then take sections and fold them in toward your head and pin them in place. After all your hair has been pinned, the ponytail should look like a bun.
5. Move back up to the top layer of hair that was sectioned off. Backcomb the bottom part of the layer and spritz with hairspray. When done, brush the hair back.
6. Slide the headbands on and move them apart. To get the extra volume between the headbands, use the tail of a comb to lift up and loosen the areas on top. Finish by spraying the entire look with a strong-hold hairspray.

Messy Half-Updo

This tousled half-updo hits that unkempt beauty mark right on the dot. I'll tell you how to get the look:

1. Apply a thermal heat protection spray, like Tresemme Thermal Creations Heat Tamer Spray or Mousse, £5.50, to dry hair.
2. Use a 1 1/2-inch curling iron to curl several random pieces of hair. This will create more texture in your hair.
3. Leave out two sections of hair at temple height from around your face. Pull the remaining bulk of your hair into a low ponytail and twist before securing with bobby pins and an elastic (if needed).
4. Take the two sections of hair from around your face and loosely twist them back so they meet in the middle. Secure the twists with bobby pins. Use the twists to hide the elastic of the ponytail. Spray with a strong-hold hairspray.
5. Backcomb the hair around the ponytail's base for more of a messy look, and add in any additional curls if needed. Finally, pull a few strands of hair out around your face.
6. Mist the entire look with a strong-hold hairspray.

Braided Headband with Bun

This hairstyle is regal and sophisticated, which makes it perfect for prom. Here I'll tell you how to get the look:

1. Tease dry hair on the top and sides of your head.
2. Take a 1-inch section of hair behind one of your ears and begin to braid the hair. Wrap it up and across your head like a headband, and pin the braid behind the other ear. If your hair isn't that long, use a braided headband hair piece, like the HotHair Chunky Braided Headband, £9.75.
3. Piece out your bangs.
4. Rake the remaining hair back with your fingers and begin a French braid the back of your head starting at the back of your crown. Braid until you reach the ends of your hair, then secure with an elastic.
5. Pin braid up under the nape.
6. Spray the entire look with a strong-hold hairspray.

Edgy Bob

This look is perfect for girls with medium length hair. Here is how to get this edgy hairstyle:

1. Apply a volumizing spray to wet hair, and divide the hair into a deep side part.
2. Blow dry hair with a round brush.
3. To create the drastic side swept bangs, take the front section of hair and blow dry them away from your part.
4. Apply a wax sculpting product, like Redken Water Wax 03 Shine Defining Pomade, £15.95, to bangs and random sections of hair to get that piece-y appearance.
5. Finish the look with a strong-hold hairspray.

Finger Wave

Even though this look is from the '20s, it's never really gone out of style, judging by the celebs that continue to wear it on the red carpet. So here is a rundown of the look:

1. Prep washed hair for styling by applying a strong-hold gel throughout your hair.
2. Create a deep side part.
3. Lay your middle finger next to your part, firmly place your comb against the inside of your finger that is on the other side of the part.
4. To make the finger wave, pull your comb along your finger continuing to hold your middle finger firmly against your head. Comb through your hair without lifting the comb creating a nice wave.
5. Lay your index finger next to your middle finger, then use your index finger to hold the finished finger wave in place.
6. Hold the finger wave with your finger, pull the comb back the opposite way to create the next finger wave about 1-inch or so below the first one. You should have one finger wave with the waves flowing in one direction and a second wave with the waves flowing the other direction.
7. Place a clip on the tip of the wave being curled horizontally, parallel to your part. Alternate the direction of the clips after each wave, so the clip is going in the direction of the wave.
8. Carefully moving your hand, reposition your middle finger over the second finger wave. Hold the wave in place while making a third finger wave. The waves should flow the same direction as the first finger wave. Working your way down your head, continue alternating directions, until you've created the desired look.
9. Let your hair air dry or use a diffuser on low heat. Finish by misting the look with a strong-hold hairspray.



And that really sums up these super easy prom styles that can also be used for special occassions and brides!  I hope you've enjoyed how to create amazing hair and have a great day.

Budget beauty buys under a tenner

Nobody loves budget beauty as much as I do.  A good bargain absolutely makes me salivate and my greedy little fingers itch to remove my debit card from my wallet, ready to push those buttons for the machine to confirm my purchase.

Then the girl at the till will almost readily pushes my purchases into a plastic bag, and shove it towards me.  With a mad glint in my eye, I'll take the bag and go home to try out everything I'd bought. 

It made me look at some of the best budget beauty out there at the moment, and makes me assess what is worth buying.  Here on my guide, I'll show you what is worth it and what is not. 

1. Violent Lips natural leopard temporary lip tattoos, £7.99
They may look a bit wacky but temporary lip tattoos are the hottest way to liven up your look. From Jessie J to Kelly Rowland, Violent Lip tattoos have taken the celebrity world by storm and you can also get the look and stand out from the crowd. Easy to apply and remove, not only is the finish smooth and glossy but each tattoo is enriched with vitamins so your lips are left feeling soft. Choose between coral giraffe, red glitteratti, pink polka dot or show off your wild side in natural leopard.

2. Broadway ImPRESS press-on manicure, from £7.99
Quick and easy, Broadway ImPRESS press-on manicure has already been making waves in the beauty world and the former Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger is also said to be a fan. The main selling point of this salon-perfect manicure is that it is so instant. All you do is peel the false nails off and press them onto your nails. The gel-like manicure lasts for up to a week and protects your nails at the same time. Available in a range of different styles, Broadway ImPRESS press-on manicure is a revolutionary way to update your nails.

3. Bourjois Shadow & Light Duo Noir & Blanc, £5.49
How much do I love Bourjois' new shadow and light duo Khôl and Contour eyeliner pencil? Let me count the ways -the white shade illuminates and opens up the eye (it's a common trick to use white on the inner rim of your lower lid to make your eyes sparkle) and then you can use the black matt shade to outline your peepers and intensify the effect. Hypoallergenic and ophthalmologically-tested, this double-ended eyeliner pencil is also suitable for contact lens wearers (like me!). Add to your make-up bag and style your eyes with shadow and light.

4. Burt's Bees lemon poppy seed facial cleanser, £9.75
Put some zest into your beauty regime with Burt's Bees lemon poppy seed facial cleanser. This duo cleanser/exfoliator combines the cleansing properties of lemon oil to remove make-up and impurities with the exfoliating properties of poppy seeds. Rich in botanic oils, this facial cleanser does the job without over-drying the skin surface. The result is clean skin that is soft to the touch. It also smells sweet enough to eat so why not treat yourself this spring in a way that doesn't involve any calories?

5. L'Oréal Hair Expertise, from £5.99
Indulge your hair with L'Oréal's latest non-sulphate cleansing system. Enriched with natural products, including rosemary and juniper oils, L'Oréal Hair Expertise range will help protect over-processed hair. Recent reviews on the boots.co.uk site suggest L'Oréal Hair Expertise really does leave your hair feeling soft and easy to detangle. If you're suffering from straw-like hair after too much bleaching or colouring, try this latest hair innovation from L'Oréal, which is available in a whole range of different products.

6. Clearasil Vitamins & Extracts wash and mask, £4.99
Instead of simply banging on about how good their new range is, Clearasil set up a blind test so that beauty journalists and readers of the magazine Glamour could give their verdict on this mystery product. Clearasil asked users to guess the ingredients and brand with very good results - eight out of 10 Glamour magazine readers recommended the Clearasil Vitamins & Extracts 2-in-1 mask. If you're looking for a product to help keep spots at bay without drying out your skin, check out the new range. Boasting both soothing and pimple-fighting ingredients such as avocado and salicylic acid plus skin-nourishing vitamins, the new range is not just aimed at teenagers.

7. Johnson's skin perfecting oil, from £9.99
Are you suffering from stretch marks? It's a common problem that affects many women but now, thanks to Johnson & Johnson, you can visibly reduce the signs of them. Not only does Johnson's skin perfecting oil work to moisturise and improve the appearance of these marks but this moisturising formula can also improve skin suppleness and elasticity.

8. Maybelline Nude Dream Airfoam, from £7.99
If you're looking for light coverage with the added benefit of SPF16, then Maybelline's new Nude Dream airfoam is your perfect beauty buy for spring. The lightweight formula and mousse-like texture delicately covers the skin surface leaving you with a flawless finish. You can, of course, build up the layers to provide better and longer-lasting coverage but overall, this latest addition to Maybelline's extremely popular range is a good choice for that fresh and natural look.

9. Revlon ColorBurst lip butter
Inject some colour into your make-up regime with Revlon's glorious new ColorBurst lip butters. Available in 20 different shades, including raspberry pie and tutti frutti, these lip butters add a lovely sheen to the lips. Plump up your lips and make them shine while keeping your pout hydrated thanks to the combination of mango, shea and coconut butter found in the lip butter sticks.

10. E45 intense recovery lotion fragrance free, from £4.49
Dry, flaky skin? It happens to the best of us, especially after months of hiding our bare legs under tights. Ensure your body is in tip-top condition for spring by introducing a suitable body lotion into your beauty regime now. E45 intense recovery lotion is just the ticket as even the most sensitive of skin sufferers can benefit from its skin-softening formula. Enriched with intense moisturisers, the Recovery Lotion helps prevent the viscious dryness cycle by replenishing and locking in moisture, which in turn helps to restore the skin's natural moisture levels.

Which products do you like from my list?  Are you willing to try any of them?

Do we hate beautiful women?

When you see a beautiful woman on the train or bus, or perhaps in a restaurant, is your first reaction one of envy or are you silently admiring how great she looks? If you're anything like me, it'll be a mix of both.

But whether you would tear down the woman in front of you just out of resentment is an issue being debated following the publication of an article by journalist Samantha Brick on the Daily Mail, who moans: "Why women hate me for being beautiful".

Now such a headline isn't particularly endearing to her cause - especially as the idea of beauty is relative - but Samantha's gripe is that she's lost friends because they've been too jealous to cope with her 'beauty' and the attention it garners. Twitter, Facebook and almost every single woman and some men even that read the article are frothing at the mouth.

I think the backlash against this - and some naughty comment writers have asked whether the article is an April's Fool joke - is largely because it tars and feathers any woman who doesn't fall into the 'beautiful' category. And that it insinuates most of us are so cripplingly insecure, that we get our jollies from poking fun at other women better looking than ourselves.

Most of us like to pride ourselves on not being that staggeringly superficial. There's a reason why men joke about women saying our friends have 'nice personalities', because for us, friendship love is blind. Our female relationships are built on stronger stuff than looks.




Megan Fox
Image by Reuters


Stunner Megan Fox has recently defended herself against quotes made in Jalousie magazine, where she apparently said she wouldn't "trade places with an ugly girl". She said there was a mistake in translation and that she's "never made vapid self-serving comments."

And there you have it, ladies, from the mouths of one of the world's sexiest women.

To say that other women have a problem with your beauty, completely undermines the sisterhood (by saying we're that superficial) and says very little about you as a person, if your beauty is mainly how you define yourself in the world.

So, tell me. Does the backlash against Samantha Brick prove that we discriminate against other women? Or does it prove that we just don't like women who are uppity about their looks?

How to Contour Your Face

What's the secret to Kim Kardashian's prominent cheekbones, Keira Knightley's defined jawline, and Michelle Williams' dainty nose? Here's a little secret: It's all in their makeup artists' ability to contour.

However, the strong stripes of bronzer and highlighter that work for a photo shoot or red carpet event would look downright freakish at the grocery store or dinner table. So the trick is balance: applying enough product so that your features are defined, but then blending enough so there are no tell-tale lines.

The other trick: using the right contouring techniques for your face shape. The goal with contouring is to both define features, like cheekbones, but also to get the face closer to an oval face shape, which is considered ideal (if you have an oval face, you're already halfway there). That's why I'll show you exactly how to contour five different face shapes: oval, round, square, heart, and oblong.

Consider this your face-contouring-made-simple guide: Just find your face shape, follow my step-by-step instructions, and be prepared for your friends and family to wonder if you've had work done. I'll leave it up to you whether to reveal your secret or not.

Heart: Before you contour

Heart-shaped faces usually have prominent cheekbones and chins, like the model  does here, so it's important not to over-contour, which will make your face look pointier.

If you're new to contouring, it's important to know the basics. You're always doing two things: the first is shading, which makes an area of skin recede from view, and the second is highlighting, which creates the illusion of bringing a feature forward. Where you put the shading and highlights depends on your features and face shape. Next, see how to contour a heart-shaped face.

Heart: Where to contour

Step 1: Start by using a foundation brush to apply primer to your face (Not to prime is a crime, and that doing so in this case will give you a softer, more natural finish).

Step 2: Using a contouring product that's one to two shades darker than your natural skin tone (like a stick or cream foundation), apply product right under your cheekbones and on your temples. Tip: In order to figure out where you need to contour beneath your cheekbones, just find where your tragus is (the central part of your ear) and blend downwards from that point, at an angle.

Step 3: Apply the contouring shade along the sides of your nose, under the tip of your nose, and in the crease of your eyelid. Use your fingers to apply; the warmth from your hands will warm the product and allow it to glide on smoothly.

Step 4: Apply a highlighting product (or a foundation that's a shade or two lighter than your skin tone) to the following areas: the bridge of your nose, just above your cheekbones, your chin (to make it look a little more round), right above your lips (to make them look more full), and along your jawline.

Tip: Be careful not to over-highlight your cheekbones, since that is the flashiest part of your face when you smile.

Heart: The final look

Step 1: Blend the darkest parts of your face first. You can use your fingers or apply primer to your brush before blending for a dewy finish. Blend downwards from the tragus (your ear) toward your chin/jawline, then blend downward on your nose and temples.

Step 2: Apply highlighter on your lids to lift your eye and brow, then apply white eyeliner on your lower rim to open and brighten your eyes (this is great if you are tired and need a lift). Smudge under your lower lid with your contouring shade to finish your eyes.

Step 3: To finish, dust blush across the apples of your cheeks for some color.

Oval: Before you contour

If you have an oval face like the model, you don't really need to "correct" anything. But you can bring out your cheekbones and slim other features (the nose for example) if you'd like. One thing to keep in mind: your contouring color should be around two shades darker than your natural skin tone -- any more will look too dramatic. Likewise, your highlighting shade should be two shades lighter than your skin tone. You can use contouring/highlighting products, powder, or foundations to contour.

Oval: Where to contour

Step 1: Apply your contouring product under your cheekbones. Tip: When shading, do not go further than the end of your brow when applying shade under your cheekbones.

Step 2: Apply contouring down the sides of your nose and apply highlighter down the middle (use the same techniques as the heart-shape face). Tip: If you have a long nose and want to make it look shorter, only apply highlighter at the bridge of your nose, not all the way down.

Step 3: Apply highlighter to the following areas: above your lips, above your cheekbones, on your eyelids.

Step 4: Apply blush to the apples of your cheeks (in between the contouring and highlighting stripes).

Oval: The final look

Step 1: Finish by blending all the stripes of highlighter and contouring product so there are no telltale lines.

Step 2: Smudge the contouring product underneath your eyes along the lower outer rim and line the lower inner rim with white eyeliner to make your eyes stand out.

Square: Before you contour

When contouring a square face shape like the model here, you want to focus on softening and rounding the jawline. It helps to contour the forehead to give it more of an oval shape.

Square: Where to contour

Step 1: Apply contouring product to these areas: under your cheekbones and around your jawline (but skip shading your chin), your temples, sides of your nose, the tip of your nose, and the top of your eyelids.

Step 2: Apply highlighter to these areas: the bridge of your nose, just above your cheekbones, and the center of your forehead.

Square: The final look

Step 1: Blend the contouring and highlighter stripes with a brush (apply primer to the brush to help blend the product).

Step 2: Dust cheekbones with blush, but only do a light coating. Too much will accentuate your jawline and the angles of your face.

Step 3: Finish by defining your eyes: apply highlighter to your lids and contouring in the crease and smudged along your lower lashline. Apply white eyeliner on your lower inner rim.

Round: Before you contour

The model  and most 'round' face-shapes are always eager to learn how to contour the round face. It is really simple: just shade around the edges of the face to minimize the round lines, then highlight the center to balance.

Round: Where to contour

Step 1: Apply contouring product to the following areas: under your cheekbones, along your jawline, your temples, along the sides and tip of your nose, and the crease of the eye.

Step 2: Apply highlighter to these areas: underneath your brow bone, your eyelid, the bridge of your nose, and your cheekbones. Tip: Highlight the center of your face as much as possible in order to draw attention to the center of your face (instead of the roundness of your jawline).

Round: The final look

Step 1: Blend all contouring and highlighting with a brush. Tip: When blending your cheekbones, blend both upwards and downwards so the product looks even and there are no obvious lines. When blending your eye area, go side to side (think a windshield wiper motion).

Step 2: Define your eyes by applying contouring along your lower lashline and white eyeliner in your inner rim. Tip: If you have a round face, skip blush or highlighter on the apples of your cheeks (it will just make them look rounder). Instead, apply it just above your cheekbone to bring out your bone structure.

Oblong: Before you contour

The main thing to keep in mind with an oblong face like the models is to shorten the length of the face by minimizing the chin and emphasizing the cheekbones.

Oblong: Where to contour

Step 1: Apply contour to these areas: the chin, underneath the cheekbones, around the edge of your entire face.

Step 2: Apply highlighter to the following areas: your eyelids, halfway down the bridge of your nose, your cheekbones, center of your forehead, and browbone.

Oblong: The final look

Step 1: Using your fingers or a brush, blend all the contouring and highlighter stripes on your face, using primer for a softer finish.

Step 2: Apply additional highlighter or shimmer power to your eyelids and the bridge of your nose, but skip your chin, since that will only make your face look longer.

Step 3: Finish your look by applying white eyeliner to your lower inner rim and contouring shade under your lower lashline.

Bonus: Contouring with powder

If you want a subtler look -- and one that's faster as well -- try contouring using powders instead of liquids or creams. You can use bronzer and powder highlighters to quickly apply and blend. Since powder is a less dramatic finish, you can use shades that contrast more with your skin tone (up to four shades lighter or darker). A matte bronzer powder and highlighter was used to contour the models oval face.

Contouring with powder: the final look

Step 1: Apply bronzer under your cheekbones and blush directly on top of your cheekbones.

Step 2: Apply highlighter to just above your cheekbones, the center of your forehead, and your eyelids.

Step 3: Define your eyes by smudging bronzer along your lower lashline and along your crease, then finish with white eyeliner along your lower inner rim.

I would just like to apologise for the fact that this is a very long post, but I really wanted to help people with their countouring and highlighting.  It is tough at the best of times, and even I can sometimes struggle to get it right.

Hope this was helpful xx