The contouring technique was popularised by celebrity makeup artists. Contouring the face helps define your features and it creates the appearance of having a slimmer nose, chin and will give your cheekbones more definition.
Using the right products and tools, it’s easy to recreate this look on your own. Just remember that once you have applied your makeup, it’s key to blend well for a natural look.
Prepping to contour
You will need a foundation that matches your skin tone and a foundation a few shades lighter, this is for highlighting places you want to stand out. You’ll also need a foundation few shades darker, this will be used for shading.
A good blending brush will also be used to help contour. If the different colours aren’t blended, your makeup will look unnatural. Pull your hair away from your face as contouring reaches up to the hairline. Prep your face by using cleansers, this will ensure a smooth finish to your makeup look.
Step 1:
Apply your foundation in your matching skin tone to even out the skin’s texture. Use your fingers (clean) or a blending brush and apply a light layer all over your face, making sure you blend around your neck so there is no visible line. You may want to conceal any imperfections at this stage.
Step 2:
Use the darker foundation on the places where your face would be shadowed from the sun. You will want to apply right below the hairline on your forehead, on either side of your forehead, along the sides of your nose, in the hollows of your cheeks and along your jawline.
Step 3:
With the lighter shade of foundation, apply to where the sun would naturally hit your face. You will want to apply this to the center of your forehead, along the tops of your brow lines, down the bridge of your nose and to the center of your chin.
Step 4:
Blend the colours so you have a natural look at the end, but be careful not the move the products around too much as you want them to stay in the area that they were placed. Do make sure the edges are blended so there are no sharp lines or divisions.
Step 5:
To set each foundation, apply a translucent powder to the lighter foundation and a bronzing powder to the darker one to ensure long wearability.
Step 6:
Now it’s time for the cream highlighter, which catches the light more than a regular foundation. The highlighter should be applied directly above the dark foundation but not so it comes into contact with it. Then blend the cream into these areas. You will want to add the highlighter to the areas that you put your lighter foundation.
For a night out look add a highlighter with a little shimmer to it, you can also apply a little to your neck and chest.
Step 7:
Adding a touch of your highlighter to the corner of your eyes will create a wide awake look. Also applying a little to your cupid’s bow will give the illusion of fuller lips.
Step 8:
Add a light blusher onto the apples of your cheeks with a soft brush to complete your look.
Step 9:
Using a clean powder brush, use a matte setting powder. This is helpful when using cream based products. It will help to keep everything in place and will give a smooth natural finish.
Step 10:
Save your lip and eye makeup til last. Make sure that your foundation and contour is blended and set before you start applying your other makeup as contouring your face can be a bold look, you may consider using a bright lip or a smokey eye, but not both.
Feature image credit: FLASHFLOOD via Flickr.
