How to Make Your Cheekbones Show

Define your cheekbones in a few easy steps.

Defined cheekbones create an elegant, finished look. Even if you don't have them naturally, you can create the illusion with makeup in a few simple steps. The key is to apply the makeup in the right place and to keep the look natural by using the right shade and application technique.

Things You'll Need

• Foundation
• Makeup sponge
• Under-eye concealer
• Blush
• Makeup brush
• Translucent powder

Instructions

1. Apply foundation to your entire face with a makeup sponge. Use a shade slightly lighter than your natural skin tone.

2. Smile into the mirror to find the apples of your cheeks. The apple is the rounded part of your cheek right below your eye that protrudes when you smile. Your cheekbone is at the top of the apple. Pinch your cheeks and check the color your skin turns. Choose a pink, beige or peach shade of blush that most closely matches that color for a natural look. Avoid blush colors that match your lipstick or your natural lip color. Choose a lighter blush shade for daytime and a darker one for evening.

3. Apply light-colored under-eye concealer above your cheekbones, even if you don't need it. This will help to define your cheeks.

4. Apply blush to the apples of your cheeks, sweeping the color up toward your hairline if you're using a brush. Stop before the hairline so you can blend it for a natural look. If you're using cream, liquid or stick blush, put a few dots on the apple of your cheek and blend it in, making small, circular motions with your fingertips. Start with a small amount and add more color if needed.

5. 

   Dab cream along the top of your cheekbones to highlight them.

   Dramatize and define your cheekbones further by adding a few additional drops of cream blush in a darker shade along the top of your cheeks. Blend into your lower cheeks with a sponge.

6. Brush translucent powder over your face and cheeks to set your makeup.

Tips & Warnings

• To remove excess blush or tone down the shade, blot with a tissue. Don't rub, or you'll smear the blush over your face.

• Choose powder blush if you have oily skin. Cream blushes tend to make skin appear greasy.

• Test blush color by applying makeup testers to the inside of your wrist. The skin there is the same tone as your face.

References

• TheHairStyler.com: Blush Basics and Tips to Makeover Your Cheekbones
• Nubry: How to Get High Cheekbones
• Makeup Color: Rules of Makeup: Optical Illusions and Sculpting with Color