Non-touring, Draping, Contouring or Strobing – Which One?

When is Draping Best?

Draping is an old school trend that has been revived. Essentially, it’s contouring with color, using several shades of blush. It’s a ‘pretty’ make-up look that’s great in sunlight.

Draping is an homage to Way Bandy, the celebrity makeup artist behind icons Elizabeth Taylor, Cher, and Barbara Walters, and one of the highest paid in the ’70s. Brandy introduced Marc Jacobs (a close friend) to the technique back in the ’80s. The “drape” method follows the natural bone structure to create an artistic, very dolled-up look. This year, the statement blush is back.

Discover DuWop’s Blush Booster in Watermelon and By Terry’s Terrybly Densiliss Blusher in Nude Dance for draping – because you will ll need more than one shade to rock this trend.

To lift your face, blend the lighter shade on the high of the cheekbones rather than just the apples. Keep blending along the length of the cheekbone, jawline, and side of the neck. For a more editorial look, you can drape from the eye to the temple.

To sculpt your face, work that darker shade. Apply just below the apples of the cheeks, in the way that you would a bronzer if you were contouring. Swirl the lighter shade on top and blend the edges away.

To volumize, blend several shades of blusher together, smile and swirl onto the apples of the cheeks. Then blend some more.

When is Contouring Best?

Contouring is the make-up artist’s oldest trick in the book. It’s HD make-up best saved for photo shoots. But in real life, it works really well in mood lighting. Define your face with a combination of highlighting and contouring, but mostly contouring.

Try Elizabeth Arden’s Pure Finish Mineral Bronzing powder on the lower cheekbones, the sides of the nose and the sides of the forehead, to really slim your face.

When is Strobing Best?

Strobing is a term for highlighing alone. It looks great all the time but especially when there lighting is low. That extra highlight will give you a touch of shimmer.

To strobe, prep your skin with something super-hydrating. Strobing is all about getting the perfect glow, so you’ll need to replenish dull, dry skin with a good moisturizer first. If you have naturally oily skin, try an oil-free formula like DDF’s Ultra Light Oil-Free Moisturizing Dew. If you have a light skin tone, reach for a highlighter in a champagne color, like the RMS Master Mixer highlighter. If you have a darker skin tone, opt for a highlighter in teracotta shade, like Jane Iredale’s In Touch Highlighter in Comfort.

Gigi Hadid by Startracks Photo/REX/Shutterstock