If the art of contouring has eluded you, you can finally pack the sculpting kit away – well at least for an hour or two - since a softer approach to enhancing your features is rising to the fore.
‘Strobing’ sees stripes of bronzer mercifully replaced with nuances of illuminator to catch the light, and lend the skin a beautifully glossy finish.
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It may not have the cheekbone-carving power of contouring, but by amplifying skin’s radiance with precise strobes of light, you can lift and renew tired facial features. However, while ‘strobing’ doesn’t require the same painterly prowess, its second-skin nature means that a scrupulous skincare regimen is paramount.
As important is the placement of your illuminating pigments, which should be stroked along the tops of cheekbones, the high planes of your face and around your eyes. Make sure your base make-up is suitably radiance-boosting, too, by fusing foundations and concealers with a drop of oil or day cream.
Shimmer-phobes can apply a transparent balm (like Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream, £26) to create a 3D gleam on cheekbones, lids and temples. If you’re not adverse to a subtle twinkle, press Mac Strobe Cream, £24.50, or RMS Living Luminizer, £30, on top of the balm to elevate your skin’s radiance.
Powder can extinguish the look, but if you’re concerned about looking oily, simply skip the forehead when craftily placing strobes of light on your features. Be sure to choose an illuminator that suits your skin tone, also; champagnes work well with fairer skin, while golds look great on darker complexions.
Need further convincing to part with your contouring regimen? Watch Kim Kardashian's strobing tutorial in the video below...
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