One of the biggest beauty statements is to make no statement at all. That’s right. I’m not talking about not putting any effort towards your beauty looks this summer, I’m talking about making it look effortless. The summer months are all about posing a natural, sun-kissed look that looks clean. Familiar with the saying, “less is more?” Well it’s true, especially when the summer heat starts to kick in and you’re enjoying brunch outdoors or a day at the beach with friends. This Fashionista rocked this beautifully bare and bronzed look by blending a soft contour and highlight near her cheekbones and forehead, while finishing her look with a beautiful bronze, yet natural, shadow to the eyes. Though her ombré hairstyle seems to add a warm contrast to her look, it’s her blush lip color and natural bronzed contour that maintains her natural radience.
Mastering a natural contouring medium may be intimidating, but once you know your angles and which facial features claim dominance, it can be easy to accomplish. In fact, most women make it more complicated that it has to be. Remember, this look is about being natural and effortless. Therefore, it’s not as difficult as most make it to be. Starting off with a moisturizer or a liquid BB Cream with SPF can help you maintain control over your bronzed powder and highlighter. Not to mention, you will be protecting your skin from the sun. Once you have perfected your base, you’ll need some color like this Fashionista has.
To create a contoured look that’s natural, yet fierce, begin by looking at your face in the mirror and see where the light naturally highlights it—along your cheekbones, the bridge of your nose and the bow of your lip. Sweep light-reflective products with shimmer over these areas. Then apply bronzer to the darker areas of your face-along the hairline, jawline and under your cheekbones. Once you blend well, the next step is to give yourself a bronzed matte look to your eyes like this Fashionista did. By blending a matte white or cream color to the inner eyelid and working your way to the outer eyelid with a dark matte brown color, you will be giving a good contrast that will allow your eyes to pop along with your cheekbones. This Fashionista went further to adding a thin line of black liquid eyeliner to her top eyelid to give a full contrast effect without making it too dramatic.
To finish this look, she decided to give herself lust-worthy lips by filling her lips with a blush lipstick. So remember, the desired effect is natural so don’t overdo it and blend!
What’s on the BEAUTY BAR: For a moisturizing base, I recommend using Ultra Repair Cream or Diorskin Nude BB Cream. Sephora’s Contouring 101 Face Palette gives the perfect medium for contouring. Naked2 Basics gives a variety of natural shadows that are easy to work with. NARS’ Catfight gives that lust-fulfilled lip look that’s warm and subtle.
