Hey everyone! You know how exciting it is when a new product from a makeup legend drops, right? Well, Mary Phillips is absolutely that legend, inspiring so many of us with her incredible techniques that make skin look effortlessly sculpted and radiant. If you've been curious about her approach, especially her viral 'underpainting' method, you're in the right place! Mary Phillips revolutionized the way many of us think about contouring and highlighting. Instead of applying foundation first and then sculpting over it, she flips the script. 'Underpainting' means you apply your contour, highlight, and blush before your foundation. The magic here is that when you blend your foundation over these pre-applied products, it acts as a subtle veil, seamlessly melting everything together. The result? A naturally defined look that never appears heavy or streaky, giving you that 'lit from within' glow that celebrities often flaunt. It’s about creating shadows and light that look like they’re coming from under your skin, not sitting on top of it. Now, let's talk about choosing the right shade, which is crucial for making underpainting truly work its wonders. When you're picking a contour stick, you generally want a shade that's about two or three tones darker than your natural skin color, with a cool undertone to mimic real shadows. For those of us with lighter skin tones, like my recent pick in the 'LIGHT' shade, a soft taupe or cool-toned brown works perfectly to create subtle definition without looking muddy. If your skin tone is a bit warmer or deeper, you might lean towards a 'MEDIUM' shade with a slightly deeper, cooler brown to ensure the contours appear natural and not too stark. The key is to avoid anything too warm or orange, as that moves into bronzer territory, which serves a different purpose (adding warmth, not creating shadows). Always swatch a few shades on your jawline to see how they blend and interact with your skin's natural undertones in natural light. Once you have your perfect shade, mastering the application is next. With a contour stick like Mary Phillips's, you want to apply directly to the areas you want to recede: think the hollows of your cheekbones, along your jawline, and perhaps a little on the temples and sides of your nose. Remember, less is often more when you're underpainting because you'll be blending foundation over it. My favorite tip is to use a dense, fluffy brush or a damp beauty sponge to blend out the contour and highlight before foundation. Blend upwards and outwards for contour, and gently dab for highlight, making sure there are no harsh lines. Then, apply a thin layer of your favorite foundation, gently dabbing or stippling it over the sculpted areas. This approach allows the contour and highlight to peek through naturally, creating a beautiful, dimensional canvas. What I love most about this technique is how forgiving it is. If you feel like you've applied too much, the foundation layer helps to soften and diffuse everything. It’s perfect for anyone wanting to achieve a sculpted look without the heavy, theatrical feel that traditional contouring can sometimes have. Whether you're aiming for a subtle everyday enhancement or a more glamorous evening look, incorporating underpainting into your routine is a game-changer. It truly makes a noticeable difference in how seamless and radiant your complexion looks. Give it a try, and you might just find your new favorite makeup routine!