Shading With Cosmetics, Part I

Cosmetics have been used to enhance human appearance for thousands of years. In fact, their history extends back to the ancient civilizations of Egypt and Greece. Not only do they promote visual enhancement, many also work to create softer skin and a more pleasant scent.

With such a rich and wide history, it is no wonder that many standard and staple practices have developed in the realm of make-up.

One such standard is that of facial contouring. Other terms for this include "shading" and "highlighting." Basically, it involves the use of dark and light colors to effectively sculpt the face. This works in the same way that a painter may use shading to create realistic depth within a painting. The lighter colors will come forward while the darker ones will recede.

Of course, for our purposes, the face is the canvas while the cosmetics are the paints.

Just as painting methods vary, there is a lot of variation when it comes to shading techniques. The right approach will be influenced by such things as the layout or structure of the face and simple personal preference. For that reason, it is important to set aside some time to experiment with creating the desired look. Trying to incorporate it immediately into your daily schedule will encourage both delayed and disastrous results.

In addition to that precaution, there are a few other crucial and preparatory steps. These include starting out with a clean and moisturized face, having one's hair pulled back and out of the way, and choosing a mirror which reflects the full face. Remember also that the face should be evenly lit up from the front before starting. This is to ensure that the make-up is evenly applied.

Those who use make-up will have their different preferences for brands and types. The way these materials interact will affect the order in which they should be applied. In general, however, a person will be working with three different colors of cosmetics. Most make-up users will already have a mid-tone one which matches the natural color and shade of their skin. When it comes to contour shading, younger people with healthy, even skin may not feel the need to use a base color.

The other two necessary colors are one for shading and one for highlighting. For a more natural look, keep the first within two or three shades darker than the skin's natural color. Really pale skin and really dark skin may look unnatural with such a jump. For those situations, it is wise to keep the shading color only one gradational step away.

The highlight color can and should have a greater distance to the mid-tone than the tone for shading- But it still should offer only a subtle difference on the skin. It is important to remember that, if you desire a natural look, all of these cosmetics should be flat as opposed to having a shimmer, satin, or shine finish. Now that the basics are covered, part two will discuss application.