So Cheeky

SO CHEEKY
ALISON RAFFAELE, FOUNDER AND CREATIVE DIRECTOR OF ALISON RAFFAELE COSMETICS,
OUTLINES HER FAVORITE LOOK FOR FALL

So Cheeky

This season, several key elements in makeup stand out: metallic
eye shadow; winged eyeliner; matte lips in either bold red or pale
pink; a heavy, bushy brow set against chalk-white skin—but what
really caught my eye was the return of the contoured cheek.
Although there have been endless articles on how to create a
smoky eye—an effect that involves greatly exaggerating the natural
bone structure of the eye socket—the subject of cheek contour has been considered taboo and passé for quite some time. But now that the ’80s have been deemed far enough in the past for the tastemakers of today, cheekbones are back. Below, a few quick tips to help you turn the other cheek—into the hottest look of the season.

An easy (and virtually foolproof) way to get this look is to use a concealer that is two shades lighter than your skin tone on the top edge of your cheekbone as a highlighter, and then use a foundation that is two shades deeper than your skin tone under your cheekbone as a contour. Creamy textures tend to be easier to blend (and blending is key!), and the skin-tone-based colors will keep things looking more natural.

When using a powder for highlighting or contouring, choosing the right brush is crucial. Keep in mind that the shorter and more densely packed the bristles are, the more concentrated application of pigment the brush will give. Conversely, the longer and fluffier the bristles, the more diffuse the application.

You must also consider the diameter of the brush. In general, you want the brush head roughly the same width of the area you are highlighting or contouring. Precise placement is an essential element of the technique.

When choosing colors for highlighting and contouring, cooler colors tend to appear bolder, and warmer colors tend to appear more natural. For example, a white highlighter will create more of an impact than a pale yellow one, and a golden brown contour will create less of an impact than a gray-brown one.

Alison Raffaele Tatem, founder and creative director of Skin Alison Raffaele, has worked with everyone from Gwyneth Paltrow to Alicia Keys to Jennifer Lopez. Raffaele is passionate about making beauty easy for all women via tricks of the trade and her own line of gorgeous cosmetics. To get your gorgeous now, go to www.alisonraffaele.com.