Topshop Contour Tips & Tricks

SOOO... here it is as promised! Some more make-up reviews/tips after the massive success from my previous make-up post (over 500 views!!) and once again, I'm not a make-up artist of any description, just sharing a few of my tips&tricks :)

This one is just a little review on some of my recent Topshop make-up I've decided to test out!  When all of Topshop's make-up was first released, I never went and brought anything from their range just because they are a clothes shop, not a make-up store.. and I just thought it would be another money making thing and the stuff probably wouldn't be that great. Not so long ago, I really needed a red lipstick for a night out that night, and I just happened to be in Topshop at the time.. in a bit of a rush and I ended up grabbing the red lipstick and red lip liner there and then.  And after trying it, I was pleasantly suprised at how good it was!  Then I was browsing a few weeks back and came across their new contour cream, and fancied trying it out, so I thought why not? They do this cream in two different shades, swerve and sweep.. and I went for swerve as it was the darkest out of the two.  I got a little stippling/contour brush to go with it to save using my fingers.  After using this a few times I went back to get the glow stick, which is like a creamy highlighter in the shade 'Play Up', to help blend in the darker cream!  As I'm new to the whole contour scene, I haven't spent loads and loads of money on anything for contouring yet, just need to get my practice in first haha! :)  So this little blog post is on the 3 products I use for the base contour for my daily make-up routine and how I use them on my face, and I hope you enjoy :)

So this is the contour cream in shade 'Swerve', comes in a little pot along with a mirror.

This is the stippling brush I use to blend in both creams.

And this is the glow stick (highlighter) I use to highlight my skin.

This is before any contouring has been done! I've applied my Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation all over my skin, and used my Nars powder to finish off (see my other post for more details on those).. and I've also done my brows here.

The contour cream I have applied from above my ears down my cheeks towards the corner of my mouth in one movement using my stippling brush.  The contour cream is then applied all above the ear (about an inch above) along the hairline, across the hairline on the top of my face, and along my jawline. When doing the cream on my cheeks, I always make sure the movement is from my ear downwards, and if I need to go over it again, I always go from the ear area and not half way down my cheek as you don't want the darkest part being in the middle of your cheek haha! I sometimes find it easier to dab the cream on with my finger for the top of my head and jawline if I want a more subtle finish.  I've also got a slight amount of contour cream either side of my nose.

The glow stick is so easy to use! Literally just take the lid of and your ready to go! I've rolled the slow stick across my cheek bones above where the contour cream has been applied, and also below it, just to add more contrast.  The highlighter has then been rolled up the whole centre of my face, so from the chin area, the little gap between my mouth and nose, across the top of my nose and to my forehead, and then horizontally across my forehead.  The highlighter basically highlights all the areas that the sun hits, and the contour cream emphasises the areas more shaded on your face.

Then I've just used my stippling brush to blend everything all together! You might want to use a different brush if your a bit conscious about all the dark contour cream still being on your stippling brush.  I've started from the darker contour cream on my cheeks and blended upwards into the highlighter, and then the same again downwards. My forehead has then been blended together from the highlighter up towards the contour, just so the contour doesn't come to far down my forehead, this way the highlighter goes over the contour slightly so the darker cream is right in the hairline (where you want it).  Be sure that all harsh lines have been blended in properly but so you can still see the contrast between the two different shades.

And WALAAH! Here you have it, a quick base to my contour with three easy to use products. I then go over this with powdered bronzer/highlighter just to give it a nice smooth finish along with my powder, but you can always just leave it at this if you prefer :)

 Thanks for reading, and I hope this helps any beginners who are just starting to get used to contouring, or those who are completely stuck as to which products to use for this.. and those who have never tried Topshop make-up before because they had the same thought process as me haha! 

Much Love xo

Contour Cream: Topshop

Glow Stick: Topshop

Stippling Brush: Topshop (not online)

Before & After: