It seems like everyday brings with it a new must-try makeup trend and as soon as you start mastering this new trend, something else pops in and it becomes old news. Celebrity makeup artists come up with the best tricks to make celebrities look like they have been photoshopped to perfection in real life. Now, these makeup artists are sharing the best tricks with the public who can try and master them to look like a million bucks.
Just when you thought you mastered your Kim Kardashian contour technique, every international fashion and style magazine declared the end of this artistic trend in favor of a subtler highlight-only technique known as strobing.
To many women, both of these makeup trends sound like they could be the same thing, but is there a difference between strobing and contouring? We spoke to one of Sephora’s makeup expert who gave us all the information needed to perfect this new trend.

What is contouring?
Contouring is a subtle way of enhancing facial features and giving shape to one’s face by using makeup. It’s nothing but adding dark shades to the outer lines of your features to minimize them, and adding light shades in order to make your best features stand out. If done correctly, contouring can make your eyes stand out, give you an arched brow, sculpt your nose and chisel your cheekbones.

What is the history of contouring?
Sculpture glamor was first noted in black-and-white movies of the 1920s and 30s starring German screen legend, Marlene Deitrich, who believed in accentuating the natural lines of her face with shading and shaping.
But it wasn’t until 1980 that one of Hollywood’s makeup maestro’s Kevyn Aucoin launched The New Nakeds (later renamed The Nakeds), a groundbreaking line that was a strong counterpoint to cosmetics available at the time. He worked to design makeup for all skin tones; the idea was to empower a woman by revealing her natural beauty and bringing out her best features, and not to cover her up with layers of product.

Who started this trend and who was it for?
Although contouring has been in practice among celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow, Naomi Campbell, and even Cher and Barbara Streisand for decades now, it wasn’t a common practice.
In 2012, Kim Kardashian tweeted during and after pictures of herself as makeup artist Scott Barnes applied contouring makeup to her face, creating the razor-sharp cheekbones and sculpted nose. Contouring has been a huge trend in makeup since then.

Please explain the perfect countering steps.
The method of contouring is not the same for everybody — it varies based on the shape of the face. Some people may need to use light shades to play-up some features while others may need to use darker shades to down-play features, based on the shape of their face.
1) Begin with choosing the right shades. Use a shade that is 2-3 shades darker than your original complexion to add depth. Trace the temples, and outline the hollow part of your cheekbones (make the fish-face to find the right spot). Make sure it is almost parallel to your jawline and reaches up to the hairline. Then contour your nose — you can go narrower at the tip or you can carry it into the brow to add length or width.
2) Blend. Use a blending brush or sponge to blend in the contour color, merging it into your base foundation. This is important, as you don’t want obvious lines and creases across your face.
3) Highlight. This is an important step to bring out your features. Use a lighter foundation (lighter than your actual complexion) to highlight the area under your eyes/cheekbones. Use a small amount on the center of your forehead, bridge of your nose, and on your chin to highlight these areas. Blend well.
4) Blush. Sweep on some blush on the apples of your cheeks and blend.

How all of a sudden, countering became the ‘it’ thing to do?
Contouring was earlier used only on the runway and for special photo-shoots, but now contouring has become an everyday-trend among women world over because contouring embraces the beauty of a woman. Unlike earlier, women now have more access to beauty products, tips and tricks. If imperfections can be temporarily corrected without going under the knife, then why not do it? After stars like Kim Kardashian, Nicki Minaj and Jennifer Lopez have been swearing by this technique, women world over have learnt to contour and look beyond beautiful.

What brand and products sell the best countering palates and products?
The Sephora 101 contouring palette is stunning. Marc Jacobs Beauty’s latest launch — the Instamarc contour and highlight palette is another must have! I also love Laura Mercier’s Flawless contouring palette.

What is strobing?
Strobing is a makeup trend that relies solely on highlighting your face and allowing natural light to define your face. It focuses on light shimmery shades that will make your complexion look fresh, dewy and radiant while giving you a healthy glow.

When did this trend start?
Strobing was big in the late 90’s but has just resurfaced as one of the season’s biggest makeup techniques yet again.

Who is the person behind this trend?
As 2015 struck, designers like Rebecca Minkoff, Jason Wu, and Creatures of the Wind showcased natural dewy looks on the runway. With stars like Beyoncé, Eva Longoria, Miranda Kerr and Kendall Jenner obsessed with the new summer makeup trend, strobing has become the new obsession.

How can one strobe?
Strobing is relatively simpler as you skip one step — contouring. After your usual base foundation routine, begin with patting a small amount of highlighter where light would naturally hit your face — under the eye, on the cheekbone directly below the pupil, feathering lightly outward and upward along the cheekbone toward the top outer temple. Then apply a small amount on the brow bone, down the bridge of your nose and in the cupids bow of the lip. For extra effect, apply a small amount in the inner corner of the eyes to make them really pop. Sweep on some blush and blend well.

What are the best products for strobing?
Sephora’s MicroSmooth Baked Sculpting Trio and Benefit’s High Beam Liquid Face Highlighter are my personal favorites!

What is the difference between countering and strobing?
Contouring combines a mix of darker shades to chisel your features and lighter shades to highlight your features, while strobing is a technique that uses no dark shades but only highlighter to enhance your face. Contouring adds depth and makes your features appear sharper while strobing highlights your features and makes them appear bigger.

Which technique do you personally recommend for clients and buyers?
I personally love both — I’d say strobing for the summer months to give you a healthy glow and contouring at other times, especially for a nice evening out. For newbies in the world of makeup, contouring is an art that needs perfection, while strobing is easier to master.
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