Lifting Techniques

"Lifting" is one of the most requested effects in modern makeup—but also one of the most misunderstood. Often equated with dramatic eyeliner wings or exaggerated brow arches, it’s too frequently reduced to trend rather than tailored technique.

Bouba World Philosophy:

“Lift isn’t something you draw on. It’s something you build into the face’s existing rhythm.”

In this blog, we dive into lifting techniques that work with the client’s natural bone structure, soft tissue movement, and light behavior to create subtle yet powerful elevation.

A lift refers to the optical illusion of upward movement created through:

Placement of light and dark tones

Precision in feature definition

Control of product direction and finish

Symmetrical visual cues that lead the eye upward

A successful lift opens the face, reduces drooping or heaviness, and creates energy without over-alteration.

True lifting is founded on five Bouba World principles:

Highlight pulls the eye up. Contour anchors the shape. You must control both.

Elevating the eye or cheek means working with—not against—the natural structure.

More product does not mean more effect. Placement is king.

Even a small misalignment can break the illusion of lift.

If the viewer notices your technique more than the result, it’s too much.

By approaching each zone independently but holistically, the face can be elevated while still remaining harmonious.

Use a spoolie to brush hairs upward

Fill brow arch subtly, then keep the tail above the front

Highlight under the arch with cream or powder to add vertical light

Avoid tails that dip too far downward—they visually drag the face

Avoid overly thick liner that weighs down the lash line

Use shadow in a diagonal motion: from lash line outward and slightly upward

Keep shimmer to the center lid only—avoid outer corner shimmer

Use small pencil brushes to blend dark tones in an upward flick

Apply blush from the center of the eye diagonally up toward the temple

Place highlighter on the upper cheekbone—not the apple

Contour should start from ear and stop halfway to the mouth, angled upward

Avoid low blush or horizontal lines

Highlight the Cupid’s bow with cream product

Use a small detail brush to define the outer top corners

Keep lip liner upward at corners instead of dragging down

Soft ombre center adds vertical volume

Contour gently under the ear and blend forward

Don’t create heavy jaw shadows—lift comes from clarity, not darkness

Highlight just above the jaw to create edge without weight

The direction you place your product makes the difference between lifting and flattening.

Bouba World Tip:

“Your brush should always travel up and out unless the face asks you otherwise.”

Technique matters more than the tool, but the right tool makes mastery easier.

Clients perceive lift not only visually, but emotionally. A well-lifted face:

Appears energized and more alert

Feels fresher and more youthful

Projects confidence without drama

Harmonizes with natural aging rather than covering it

Bouba World believes that gentle lifting creates more long-term client satisfaction than trend-driven tricks.

Lift is fragile. One poorly placed product can undo three well-placed ones.

What You Need:

Concealer

Blush

Contour powder

Highlighter

Spoolie

Mirror with natural light

Conceal outer eye corner and blend up at a 45° angle

Apply blush to outer cheekbone and sweep into temple

Contour jawline diagonally from ear to jaw hinge only

Highlight brow bone and upper cheek

Comb brows and sketch tail upward

Take a photo and compare with a “flat” application version

Repeat this daily for 7 days and compare before-and-after sets. You’ll begin seeing lift emerge more clearly in your work.

Client: 42-year-old with hooded eyes and downward-turning lips
Goal: Look more awake and lifted without “full glam” makeup

Skipped thick eyeliner in favor of tightline

Focused concealer only at outer corners of eyes

Used cream blush blended to temple

Contoured lightly under cheekbone

Lifted brow tail with subtle pencil strokes

Highlighted Cupid’s bow and brow arch

Result:
Client’s face appeared 5–7 years more refreshed. Eyes looked bigger, lips more lifted, cheekbones more defined—without any noticeable “makeup tricks.”

She said, “This is the face I wish I woke up with every day.”

“Lift doesn’t come from product. It comes from placement and patience.”

Lifting techniques are not one-size-fits-all. They require a deep respect for each client’s unique anatomy, and a commitment to subtlety over spectacle. At Bouba World, we teach you to sculpt light, not just draw shapes.

Every product you use has a direction. Make sure it’s leading up.

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