Le Champ blush and contour dos and don’ts
Published:Friday | August 25, 2023 | 12:10 AMShanel Lemmie/Staff Reporter
Fresh off the release of the new Le Champ Cosmetics Vegan Contour and Vegan Blush/Highlighter palettes, local boss babe and brain behind the up-and-coming cosmetic house, Shanique Ellington, says there are a few things that starter MUAs should keep in mind when creating their looks.
CONTOURING DOS
When contouring your face make sure you:
1. Use a cool shade to contour your jaw and the sides of your nose.
This technique adds necessary shadow and shapes to your face. After applying your foundation and lighting with concealer, reshaping is an essential part of the process.
2. Use two different shades to transition from the jaw (darker to lighter).
It is always best to diversify the shade range on your face to add dimension. The rule of thumb is that you move from a darker shade to a lighter one.
3. Blend upwards so there are no harsh lines.
No one wants to lengthen their face, so make sure to blend your contour upwards. Gravity will bring you down anyway so no need to help it along. Upward strokes, ladies!
CONTOURING DON’TS
Even with the help of the best products, shoddy techniques will leave your face looking a mess. When contouring your face, never:
1. Contour above the cheekbone.
You can always enhance your features but you can’t change your anatomy. Your bone structure is obvious so let’s not attempt to rewrite biology by contouring above your cheekbone.
2. Apply a lot at once.
It’s always safer to start with a little then add as you go along. No one wants a harsh line that you can’t remove, so let’s take it step by step.
3. Use contour as full face powder.
The purpose of a finishing/pressed powder is not the same as a contour even if they visibly look similar. Let’s stick to the status quo when it comes to product.
BLUSH DOS
Nothing beats the youthful appeal of rosy cheeks so blush is an essential step. When applying the product, make sure you:
1. Use a blush that complements your undertone.
Pink loves fair complexions and medium skin tones, orange is a brown girl’s best friend and purple is for our melanin queens!
2. Mix your blush shades
Mixing two or more shades of blush to add a more natural effect. It is rare to have a shade match your skin tone perfectly so don’t be afraid to experiment.
3. Use a fluffy brush and start with less product
Less is always more. Using a fluffy brush, ensure that your product is distributed evenly and gives you the best build-up.
BLUSH DON’TS
Much like contouring, it’s hard to fix when you go wrong. So when applying blush, never:
1. Apply on apples of cheeks first.
Start closer to your hairline and blend towards the face. Once you apply the product you can’t take it back so it’s best to dip your toe in before you dive in.
2. Bring your blush down too much.
If your blush is covering your contour, you are doing it wrong. The two are friends, not lovers.
3. Don’t forget to add blush to the tip of your nose to add a cute touch!
Just like adding a pop of colour to your inner corner, applying blush to the tip of your nose helps your face look naturally flushed. Be brave but let’s not get crazy, unless you want to look like you caught a cold.
According to Ellington, these new products are ideal for chiselling your face and adding back that youthful touch. “These LCC Sister Palettes are vegan and organic so they’re gentle on the skin. I decided to go vegan with the brand because I have super sensitive skin and I wanted to ensure that whatever I was putting out there I was able to confidently use on my own skin.”