How to Shadow the Cheekbones with Makeup

Highlight your cheekbones.

Despite changing beauty trends, good cheekbones never go out of style. Typically high and prominent, good cheekbones make for a more exotic look and a more photogenic face. If genetics didn't bless you with this trait, you can use these tips to shadow your cheekbones with makeup and accent your natural beauty.

Things You'll Need

• Two blush brushes
• One powder brush
• Makeup sponge
• Three blush colors or bronzer

Instructions

1. Cleanse, tone and moisturize your face before applying makeup. This will promote a smooth finish and longer-lasting makeup. If needed, exfoliate your skin with a facial scrub. Blush and bronzers do not fare well on rough, scaly skin.

2. Use a long-wear foundation that is suitable for your skin type. If your skin is oily, use oil-free makeup. As you shadow the cheekbones with makeup, you will find that quality foundation makes a difference in how well the makeup blends and holds. Foundation also contributes to your overall look.

3. Decide on which type of application you prefer when shadowing cheekbones, which is dependent on where and when the makeup is worn. Daytime makeup is generally lighter, so shadowing should be more subtle than for evening wear. There is both a one-step and three-step option; choose which one suits your taste.

4. Obtain a blush kit with three shades designed for shadowing and highlighting cheekbones, or choose three colors: light, medium and dark in the same hue. Loose and/or creamy powders tend to work best, but they take more practice to apply. Light skin does best with lighter colors, and darker skin requires a darker shadow color. The one-step alternative to shadow cheekbones with makeup is to simply choose a bronzer in a medium-to-dark shade.

5. Acquire two to three good-quality blush brushes and a larger good-quality or natural hair powder brush, one not prone to losing bristles. This investment in makeup brushes will show in the finished application. Locate a facial sponge or wedge for blending.

6. Apply a layer of the darkest shade of makeup underneath the cheekbone from the outer corner of the eye toward the ear. Some facial structures may benefit from starting at the center of the eye. For daytime wear, use roughly one finger width, and for a more dramatic look, use two fingers. If bronzer alone is used, apply it similarly, then proceed to the last two steps.

7. Select the medium blush shade and sweep the color across the cheekbone, allowing it to overlap with the darker shade for a more subtle look. Generally, a two-finger thickness is the desired width. If your face lacks color, this is the step to emphasize over the shadowing, particularly if you want a natural, rather than sculpted, look.

8. Apply highlighter to the top of the cheekbone no closer than a two-finger width away from the eyes. When applying, use only one finger's width of highlighter unless you have a thick or prominent cheekbone structure.

9. Add one more brush stroke of shadow color underneath the cheekbones if needed, and blend the hairline, bottom and center edges lightly with a sponge.

10. Finish shadowing your cheekbones with makeup by setting the makeup with loose translucent powder when the rest of your makeup application is finished. Tap the excess powder off the brush before applying.