One of the features I’ve always been self-conscious of is my cheeks. Or maybe it’s just my bone structure. I can’t help it, but I sometimes cringe when I see photos of myself, especially if I’m smiling. And if I gain weight, my face is the first place it becomes evident. Ever since learning that makeup artists use bronzers and highlighters to contour and create perfect bone structure, I’ve been on the hunt for a kit that would help me attempt this technique myself.

Well, I’ve had absolutely zero success, so I decided to experiment with what I have on hand. Of course, the first place I turn to is my Urban Decay Naked and Naked 2 palettes. Here’s the combination of shades that seem to work best with my complexion:

• Highlighter – Foxy (Naked 2 palette)
• Bronzer  – Naked (original Naked palette)

Foxy and Naked can also be purchased separately. Both eyeshadows perform well as face makeup as they are matte (free of sheen, glitter and shimmer).

HOW TO:

Use a large fluffy brush to apply Naked to the hollows of your cheeks, blending along the jaw line and upwards along the hair line to your temples. If needed, blend by applying a quick sweep of Naked with a large fluffy brush to your neck and forehead. If Naked seems too dark for your complexion you can dilute the shade by first tapping the brush on the back of your hand. Remember to start with just a little, you can always build to a deeper tone.

If you want to slim your nose, use small or medium fluffy brush to sweep a small amount of Naked along both sides of the bridge. The darker shade creates a shadowy appearance, minimizing features you’d like to draw attention away from.

Highlighting does just the opposite. Foxy performs great as a highlighter, enhancing areas where light would naturally fall to play up your eyes and create a fresh complexion. Use a small or medium fluffy brush to apply Foxy down the bridge up your nose and under your eyes to minimize any darkness. Sometimes I sweep a bit of Foxy along my outer brow bone to draw more focus to my eyes.

So that’s my DIY kit for now, while I continue my search for a kit made specifically for contouring and highlighting.

Do you know of such a kit? Or have you come up with your own solution? We’d love to know, so please share in the comments!