Contouring is the easiest thing ever with these contour and highlight sticks. I've tried a lot of contour products (mildly obsessed) and these by far are the simplest to use. The texture is so blendable and a little pigment goes a long way. You won't be stripe-y because it's just that easy to blend. Other cream contour products are either too dry (they don't spread out easy) or the wrong color and the powder ones often are just "too much" contour look. Even if I have no other makeup on, I will not leave the house without a quick contour. My face looks much slimmer, and less dull.
If you must just get one, pick the contour stick ($10 cheaper than normal at that site and the highlight cheaper at this link ) but always use a highlighter on the tops of your cheeks (this one in candlelight is my other favorite) .
above: swatches of Fair/Medium color in the contour, and then the highlight.
I usually start out with contour, but for some reason I started with highlight for this tutorial. Find your cheekbone by running your fingers over your cheeks and deposit the highlight cream on the top of the cheekbone, middle forehead, down middle of the nose, in cupid's bow, and a little on the chin. You can also touch your finger to the cream and dot some on the inner corner of your eyes and right under your eyebrows. I blend the highlight by patting it in with my fingers.
For the contour stick I started out by just using it under the cheekbone that I felt for in the first step (actually do this step if you are a beginner). I blend it out with this , but you could use your fingers too. Now that I'm more comfortable I apply it also just a little on the sides of my forehead, under my jaw, and the tiniest bit along the sides of my nose, but for a quick and easy application, under your cheek bone is all you need.
