3 Tips to Highlight Your Cheekbones

Decide if you prefer powder, cream or gel/stain blush. Some people appreciate the moist appearance of cream or gel, but others find it intimidating to blend. The wrong shade or inept application can make you look like Bozo the Clown! As with any makeup, trial and error are often necessary to achieve the desired effect.

Next, find the perfect shade of blush for your skin tone. In general people with warm undertones should opt for earthy colors, like terra cotta. Those with cool undertones typically stick with mauves, cool pinks or plums, while coral, rose and other pinks are ideal for neutrally toned skin.

For those who've never used it before, bronzer can be downright intimidating. There's a fine line between achieving sun-kissed status and looking like a C-list celebrity back from vacation. Fortunately, there's a shade and a brand out there for every skin tone and type. You just have to find it and learn how to use it!

Bronzer can be used in place of blush (or with it), particularly during the tan-friendly summer months. Like blush, bronzer comes in cream or powder form, both of which can be shimmery, sparkly or feature a light, natural glow. It's probably a good idea to experiment with a few different types at the makeup counter, and obtain some friendly professional advice to be sure you purchase the right bronzer.

Here are some ways to use bronzer:

Those of us with slim to zero artistic talent naturally shy away from the contour brush in the makeup kit. It seems like a lot of effort that probably won't do anything for us, right? Wrong! I dare say that few starlets walk the red carpet without some serious cheekbone contouring action. Contouring makes your face look slimmer or your features more pronounced. Here are some great methods to try:

Again, don't be disheartened if your first cheekbone highlighting foray yields less than stellar results. Makeup artists are specially trained, so it might take time and practice before you're ready for your close-up.