Have you ever looked at photos of celebrities on the red carpet and wondered how their features look so sculpted and defined? While good genes and professional lighting play a part, the real secret often lies in the magic of contouring. This makeup technique might seem intimidating at first, but with the right tips and tricks, anyone can learn to contour like a pro. Whether you’re aiming for a subtle, everyday enhancement or a more dramatic, sculpted look, contouring can help you achieve your desired aesthetic.
Understanding the Basics of Contouring
Contouring, in simple terms, is all about using makeup to create the illusion of light and shadow on your face. By strategically applying darker shades to specific areas, you can create depth and definition. Conversely, applying lighter shades can bring forward certain features, making them appear more prominent.
Products and Tools
Before diving into techniques, it’s crucial to have the right tools in your makeup arsenal:
- Contour Products: Opt for matte contour powders or creams that are two to three shades darker than your natural skin tone. Avoid products with shimmer or shine, as these can reflect light and defeat the purpose of contouring.
- Highlight Products: Choose highlighters that are one to two shades lighter than your skin tone. You can select from a range of finishes, including matte, shimmer, or metallic, depending on the level of glow you desire.
- Brushes: Invest in good quality brushes specifically designed for contouring and highlighting. Look for angled brushes for precise contour application and fluffy brushes for seamless blending.
Contour Brush Set
Identifying Your Face Shape
One of the keys to successful contouring lies in understanding your face shape. Different face shapes require slightly different contour placement to achieve the most flattering results. Here are some general guidelines:
- Oval: Focus on subtly contouring the hollows of your cheeks, temples, and jawline.
- Round: Apply contour along the sides of your face and temples to create the illusion of length.
- Square: Soften the angles of your jawline and forehead with contour.
- Heart: Contour your temples and the sides of your forehead to balance a wider upper face.
- Long: Contour horizontally across your forehead and chin to shorten the appearance of your face.
Step-by-Step Contouring Guide
Once you have a good understanding of your face shape and the necessary products, you can begin the contouring process:
- Prep Your Skin: Start with a clean and moisturized face. Apply your foundation and concealer as usual to create a smooth canvas.
- Contour: Using an angled brush, apply your contour product to the areas you want to define or recede. This typically includes:
- Hollows of the Cheeks: Start from your ear and blend the contour diagonally towards the corner of your mouth, stopping about two finger-widths away.
- Temples: Blend the contour along your hairline, starting from the outer corner of your eyebrow and working upwards towards your forehead.
- Jawline: Apply contour along your jawline, blending downwards towards your neck to create a more defined jaw.
- Nose: If you wish to slim your nose, use a small brush to apply contour along the sides of your nose bridge.
- Highlight: Apply highlighter to the areas you want to bring forward. This usually includes:
- Tops of Cheekbones: Apply highlighter in a C-shape from the top of your cheekbones to the tail of your eyebrows.
- Bridge of Nose: Highlight down the center of your nose to create a slimming effect.
- Cupid’s Bow: Apply a small amount of highlighter to your cupid’s bow to accentuate your lips.
- Inner Corners of Eyes: Highlighting the inner corners can instantly brighten your eyes.
- Blend, Blend, Blend: Use a clean blending brush or a damp beauty sponge to blend out the contour and highlight seamlessly. Avoid harsh lines and ensure a natural-looking transition between the shades.
Common Contouring Mistakes to Avoid
Even with the best intentions, certain contouring mistakes can hinder your desired results. Here are some common pitfalls to avoid:
- Using the Wrong Shade: Choosing a contour shade that’s too dark or warm for your skin tone can result in a muddy or orange appearance.
- Skipping the Blending: Harsh lines of unblended contour can look unnatural and unflattering.
- Over-Contouring: Using too much product can make your makeup appear heavy and cakey.
- Contouring in the Wrong Lighting: Natural light is your best friend when applying makeup. Avoid contouring in dim lighting, as this can lead to inaccurate application.
Contouring for Different Skin Types
While the general principles of contouring remain the same, tailoring your technique to your skin type can enhance the results:
- Oily Skin: Opt for powder contour products, as they tend to be longer-lasting and less likely to slide around on oily skin.
- Dry Skin: Cream contour products can provide a more hydrating and natural-looking finish on dry skin.
- Mature Skin: Choose creamy contour formulas that won’t settle into fine lines or wrinkles.
Conclusion
Mastering the art of contouring takes practice and experimentation. Don’t be afraid to try different techniques and products to discover what works best for your face shape, skin tone, and desired level of definition. Remember, makeup should enhance your natural beauty, not mask it. With the right knowledge and a light touch, you can achieve a flawless, sculpted look that accentuates your best features.
Bestseller No. 1
4 Colors Cream Contour Sticks Makeup Kit, Primer Face Highlighter Contouring for Beginners, Highlight and Contour Kit, Cream Concealer Makeup Blur Stick, Primer Face Corrector 1#,3#
- 💎[4 Color Cream Contour Stick Makeup] -This Countour highlight stick has a silky, lightweight, buttery smooth formula that blends seamlessly onto your skin! Cream Bronzer Stick - Incredibly creamy and soft texture combines the features of a powder and butter bronzer; that smooth skin texture brightens skin tone and delivers a gorgeous bronze finish.The makeup contour and makeup highlighter create the illusion of a sculpted, defined face in no time.
- 💎［Brightens & Shades］It's 4 Colors Stick give a multi-dimensional sculpted look, Gently sweep the stick over cheekbones, brow bones, and temples, forehead, chin or anywhere you need to light or shades,perfectly balances cool and warm tones in the high points of the face to bring life and light to your makeup.
Bestseller No. 2
Aesthetica Cosmetics Cream Contour and Highlighting Makeup Kit - Contouring Foundation/Concealer Palette - Vegan & Cruelty Free - Step-by-Step Instructions Included
- The Aesthetica Cosmetics Cream Contour Kit contains 6 blendable, silky creams that are designed to sculpt, define and highlight your face. Aesthetica puts everything you need to achieve the coveted contour look in one palette.
- Each kit includes easy to follow, step-by-step instructions, face shape diagrams and contour mapping guide so you can contour like a pro, every time! Packaged in a sleek, travel-friendly mirrored palette. Great for everyday use or for special occasions. Each cream is highly pigmented with incredible payoff. Designed to gradually build up your contour and highlight for a flawless, airbrushed effect.
Bestseller No. 3
Maybelline Facestudio Master Contour Face Contouring Kit, Light to Medium, 1 Count
- Maybelline Contour Kit: Contour in a minute; Three blendable and buildable shades help shape, define, and highlight the face for foolproof contouring
- Easy to Use Contour Palette: This 3-step contouring kit features bronzer, blush, and highlighter shades and an angled contour brush; The blendable and buildable shades allow you to customize your look
Bestseller No. 4
Contour Stick, Highlighter Stick, Blush Stick 3Pcs Cream Contour Kit with Contour Brush, Create Face Contour, Non-greasy, Waterproof Long-lasting Effect, Highlighter Makeup Stick for Beginner Medium
- 【Complete Contour Kit】This makeup kit comes fully equipped, including a contour stick, highlighter stick, blush stick, and a premium soft contour brush for blending stick creams. It can easily create an effortless, non-greasy finish
- 【Long-lasting Waterproof】This cream contour has a mild formula with subtle hydrating ingredients and conceals skin pores. The highlighter makeup stick’s waterproof formula also keeps your makeup looking long-lasting
SaleBestseller No. 5
W7 Lift & Sculpt Cream Contour Kit - Concealing, Highlighting & Contouring Makeup Palette - Step-by-Step Instructions Included
- ANY LOOK - Our highlighting and contour kit is great for creating any look. Sculpt, define and highlight to get that perfect contour look, all in one palette. Each cream is highly pigmented for impact and are designed to be gradually built together to create any look from higher cheekbones to slimmer jawline
- FOR YOUR SKIN - Lift and Sculpt has 6 cream textured pans in a range of colors. These colors easily mix, blend and match together to create the perfect look for your skin tone. This kit is suitable for all skin types including dry, normal and oily skin
Bestseller No. 6
Youngfocus Cosmetics Cream Contour Best 8 Colors and Highlighting Makeup Kit - Contouring Foundation/Concealer Palette - Vegan & Cruelty Free - Step-by-Step Instructions Included
- UNIQUE AND INNOVATIVE DESIGN. This youngfocus face cream contour palette features 8 blendable formulas to sculpt and define features. The darker shades are ideal for shading and defining, while the lighter shades are perfect for sculpting and enhancing features. Removable and refillable, the set contains all the shades you need to expertly emphasize your eyes, cheekbones, nose, and jawline.
- SCULPT AND DEFINE YOUR FACE. Suitable for a wide variety of skin types, highlight shades can be mixed and matched according to your own situation. Includes 4 highlighting and 4 contouring shades that work together to help you sculpt and build up your contour, gradually enhance to create the illusion of exquisite facial features, higher cheekbones, a softer jawline, and a smaller prominent nose.
Bestseller No. 7
3Pcs Cream Contour Stick Makeup Kit,Shades with Highlighter Stick,Blush Stick and Bronzer Contour Stick for Sculpt the Cheeks,Long Lasting,Waterproof,Matte & Dewy Finish,LIGHT MEDIUM (#02,05,06)
- FACE MAKEUP STICK KIT £ºThis trio contour stick makeup kit has shades that include blush, bronzer contour and highlighter. The ultra-blendable and buildable nature of this makeup stick makes it easy to sculpt your face and add a warm, healthy, natural-looking complexion to your skin.
- WATERPROOF FORMULA : The cream beauty stick has a ultra-fine texture and moisturizing ingredients that help to easily and gently contour the face as well as hide pores and conceal imperfections for smoother, more natural-looking skin. The long-lasting and waterproof formula won't clump or clog pores.
Bestseller No. 8
Aesthetica Cosmetics Contour and Highlighting Powder Foundation Palette/Contouring Makeup Kit; Easy-to-Follow, Step-by-Step Instructions Included
- Easy to follow, step-by-step instruction guide and face shape diagrams included with each kit.
- Removable and refillable, this set contains three (3) matte foundation powders for contouring and three (3) illuminating powders for highlighting. Darker contour shades define features while downplaying problem areas and lighter highlighting shades enhance your natural beauty.
Bestseller No. 9
Smashbox Step-By-Step Contour, Highlighter, & Bronzer Face Palette with Angled Brush, Light/Medium
- EASY TO USE: User-friendly contour kit teaches you how to sculpt, shape and make your features pop with pigmented, blendable, buildable color. Vegan & cruelty-free.
- ALL-IN-ONE: Brings you deep contour, complementary bronzer and bright highlight shades in one palette
Bestseller No. 10
evpct 4 Color Contour Stick Makeup Set Concealer Bronzer Stick Cream Contour Palette Contour Contouring Makeup Kit for Beginner Face Highlighter Makeup Stick Liquid Contour contorno maquillaje 02+03
- 💎[2Pcs 2 In 1 Cream Contour Stick Makeup] -Countour highlight stick has a silky, lightweight, buttery smooth formula that blends seamlessly onto your skin! Cream Bronzer Stick - Incredibly creamy and soft texture combines the features of a powder and butter bronzer; that smooth skin texture brightens skin tone and delivers a gorgeous bronze finish.The makeup contour and makeup highlighter create the illusion of a sculpted, defined face in no time.
- 💎［Brightens & Shades］4 Colors Stick give a multi-dimensional sculpted look, Gently sweep the stick over cheekbones, brow bones, and temples, forehead, chin or anywhere you need to light or shades,perfectly balances cool and warm tones in the high points of the face to bring life and light to your makeup.
