5 tricks for highlighting and contouring dark skin tones

Contouring is a huge trend in makeup for any special occasion, thanks largely to celebrities like Kim Kardashian. The biggest difference between contouring dark skin tones and light skin tones is selecting the correct products; the technique is much the same. If you have a dark skin tone, you’ll want a highlighting powder that won’t leave an ashy, chalky appearance and a contouring powder deep enough to create depth and dimension on your skin.

These tips will show you how to highlight certain planes of your face, recede others, and select the products you need to get it done properly.

1. To start with, sweep a contour powder under your cheekbones, at your temples, around the hairline, and under the jawline. The contouring powders or palettes should offer shades dark enough to accurately contour with.

2. Next, move on to areas you want to highlight and bring forward. Using a makeup sponge or brush, apply a generous amount of a yellow-toned concealer/powder to your chin and jawline, under your eyes, in the centre of your forehead, and on the bridge of your nose. Allow this to set or “cook” while continuing to the next steps.

3. Using a smaller brush, like an eye shadow brush, lightly apply contour powder to your nose for a slimmer, more defined appearance.

4. After letting it cook a bit, gently sweep the yellow powder from your highlight areas. This will leave just the right amount of powder behind to highlight in a subtle and bright way.

5. Apply a golden bronze highlighting powder over your highlight areas for extra oomph.

Ruthie Kinuthia is an award winning professional makeup artist and founder of Makeup by Ruthie. Reach her on [email protected].