Ash K Holm is a world-renowned makeup artist and truly, one of the ✨best of the best✨. From Megan Fox to the Kardashian-Jenner clan, she's worked on the most famous faces around – I mean, you've probably seen her work on your Instagram feed many times and not even noticed. Remember Ariana Grande's iconi-que bronzed beat and overlined lip? Yep, that was Ash.
Basically, what I'm getting at is that when it comes to Ash providing makeup tips, tricks, hacks and techniques, we trust her with our life faces, for she alone is a beauty legend.
And luckily for us, the following IG post of hers provides all of the above and more – it's a very happy day, folks! In the video, Ash talks us through her cream contouring routine and how she achieves that snatched look without appearing cakey – or as she puts it: "muddy".
The MUA starts off by mapping out where she is going to apply the product by using "the top of her ear as a guide". With her fingertips, she then "stamp[s]" the a cream bronzer onto her cheekbones, jawline, forehead, sides of the nose and eyelids.
The cream bronzer in question is Beauty Blender's Bounce Magic Fit Creamy Bronzer & Highlighter Duo. Unfortunately, that one is unavailable in the UK but a great alternative to this (and one that is available worldwide), is our favourite ATM, the Rare Beauty Warm Wishes Effortless Bronzer, £22. This weightless cream-to-powder stick glides on effortlessly and blends like a dream – shout out Rare Beauty's founder Selena Gomez!
Ash then blends the product into her skin by holding a dampened Beautyblender Original, £17, vertically and then uses a bouncing motion. Sounds kinda fun, right?
To build up the bronzed glow ever so slightly without directly applying more product onto the face, Ash adds some contour onto the back of her hand, diffuses with her sponge and then once again, bounces it onto her cheeks. She also repeats this same stamp and bounce process with a cream highlight – our fav is the Saie Glowy Super Gel, £22.
Et voilà! There you have your easy peasy glowy bronzed cream contour routine. Ash, keep the tutorials coming pls... I'm well on my way to mastering Mrs Machine Gun Kelly-to-be's dewy glam.
Follow Lia on Instagram.
Lia Mappoura (she/her) is the Beauty Writer at Cosmopolitan UK, with over four years of experience reporting across the brand's print, social, video and digital platforms. Lia covers everything from emerging trend analysis to viral celebrity hair and makeup moments, making her an expert at spotting the season’s next big beauty look (before it takes over social media feeds).
In 2025, she was named The Rising Media Star at the Love Perfume Awards with The Perfume Shop, recognised for her outstanding digital fragrance content and for building genuine authority within the space. She is passionate about challenging outdated beauty stereotypes, championing inclusive representation in beauty, and educating readers on the trends, products and conversations shaping the industry today. Follow her on Instagram or find her on LinkedIn.
