Sculpt Your Features: A Comprehensive Guide to Applying Contour Makeup Like a Pro

Contouring is a makeup technique that uses shadows and highlights to define and sculpt the face, enhancing your natural features and creating a more chiseled appearance. While it might seem intimidating, with a bit of practice and the right tools, anyone can master the art of contouring. This comprehensive guide will break down the process step-by-step, providing you with all the information you need to achieve a flawless contoured look.

Understanding the Basics of Contouring

Before we dive into the practical application, it’s crucial to understand the fundamental principles behind contouring. The aim is to create the illusion of depth by applying a darker shade (the contour) to areas you want to recede and a lighter shade (the highlight) to areas you want to bring forward. Think of it like playing with light and shadow to sculpt your face.

• The Contour Shade: This shade should be 2-3 shades darker than your natural skin tone and have a cool or neutral undertone. Avoid using warm, bronzy shades for contouring as they are meant for warming up the face rather than sculpting it.
• The Highlight Shade: This shade should be 1-2 shades lighter than your natural skin tone and can be either matte or have a slight shimmer, depending on your preference. Opt for a matte highlight if you are going for a natural finish or a shimmery one for a more glam look.
• The Tools: You’ll need a variety of brushes for precision and blending. This includes an angled contour brush, a fluffy blending brush, and a small highlighter brush. A makeup sponge can also be very useful.

Step-by-Step Guide to Contouring

Step 1: Prepare Your Canvas

Just like any makeup application, the key to successful contouring is to start with a clean and moisturized face. Apply your regular skincare routine, including moisturizer and sunscreen, then follow with your foundation. This will ensure a smooth base for the contour and highlight to adhere to. If desired, you may set your foundation with a light layer of powder.

Step 2: Choose Your Contour Product

You have a few options when it comes to contour products:

• Powder Contour: Great for beginners because they are easy to control and blend. Suitable for all skin types, especially oily skin.
• Cream Contour: Best for dry and mature skin as they offer a more dewy finish. They are also more pigmented than powder contour, providing a more intense sculpted look.
• Stick Contour: A great in-between option, usually creamy but easy to apply directly to the skin. They are great for on-the-go applications.

Choose the product that you find most comfortable to work with and matches your skin type.

Step 3: Applying Contour to Your Cheekbones

This is one of the most common areas to contour. Here’s how to do it:

1. Locate the hollows: To find the correct placement for your contour, suck in your cheeks. The hollows that appear beneath your cheekbones are where you’ll apply the contour.
2. Apply the contour: Using your angled contour brush, start applying the contour product at your hairline near the top of your ear and blend downwards, stopping before reaching the corner of your mouth. You can use a gentle back-and-forth motion.
3. Blend, blend, blend: Using your fluffy blending brush, blend the contour seamlessly into the surrounding skin. You want to avoid any harsh lines and create a natural shadow. Ensure there are no obvious demarcations.

Step 4: Contouring Your Jawline

Contouring the jawline can give you a more defined and chiseled look.

1. Apply the contour: Use your angled brush to apply the contour product along your jawline, starting from your ear and moving towards your chin.
2. Blend: Blend the contour downwards into your neck, ensuring a seamless transition and no harsh lines. This avoids any obvious lines and creates a natural shadow

Step 5: Contouring Your Forehead

If you have a larger forehead, contouring can help bring it into better balance with the rest of your face.

1. Apply the contour: Apply the contour product along your hairline, starting at the temples and blending towards the center of your forehead.
2. Blend: Blend well into your hairline and surrounding areas to avoid any unnatural lines.

Step 6: Contouring Your Nose (Optional)

If you’d like to slim or shape your nose, contouring is a great way to do it:

1. Apply the contour: Using a small, precise brush, apply a very thin line of contour product down the sides of your nose. Start just below the brow bone and end at the tip of your nose.
2. Blend: Blend very gently with a small, fluffy blending brush or your finger. Remember the aim is to create a subtle shadow. If the lines look too harsh or thick, you can blend away some of the pigment until you achieve the desired result.

Step 7: Applying Highlight

Once you’ve contoured, it’s time to highlight the areas that you want to bring forward.

1. Choose your highlight: Select your desired highlight product, whether it is a powder, cream, or liquid formula, and whether you prefer it with or without shimmer.
2. Apply to cheekbones: Apply the highlight to the tops of your cheekbones, blending towards the temples.
3. Apply to the brow bone: Add a small amount of highlight under your brow bone to lift and open the eyes.
4. Apply to the bridge of the nose: If desired, apply a thin line of highlight down the bridge of your nose to slim the nose and bring it forward.
5. Apply to Cupid’s Bow: A touch of highlight on the cupid’s bow can make your lips appear fuller.
6. Apply to the center of the chin: A small amount of highlight on the center of the chin can balance the lower face.
7. Blend: Blend your highlight with a small brush or your finger.

Step 8: Set Your Makeup

To ensure your contour and highlight stay in place all day, lightly set your entire face with a translucent powder or a powder that matches your skin tone. Use a large, fluffy brush and apply in a circular motion, making sure to not rub the makeup from its place. You can also use a setting spray to lock everything in place and enhance the longevity of your makeup.

Tips and Tricks for Successful Contouring

• Start with a light hand: It’s always easier to build up the contour than to remove it, so start with a light layer and add more as needed.
• Use the right brushes: Investing in quality brushes will make a huge difference in the application and blending process.
• Practice makes perfect: Don’t be discouraged if your first attempt isn’t flawless. Keep practicing, and you’ll soon master the technique.
• Match your skin tone: Choose contour and highlight shades that complement your skin tone to ensure a natural look.
• Blend, blend, blend: This cannot be emphasized enough, blending is key to a natural-looking contour. Spend time blending to avoid any harsh lines.
• Consider your face shape: The placement of contour and highlight may vary slightly depending on your face shape. Research techniques that are specifically recommended for your face shape.
• Use natural lighting: Apply your contour in natural light as it will give you the most accurate indication of how it will look in real life.
• Experiment: Don’t be afraid to try different techniques and products to find what works best for you. What works for someone else might not work for you.
• Don’t overdo it: The goal of contouring is to enhance your features, not completely alter them. Less is often more.

Troubleshooting Common Contouring Mistakes

• Harsh lines: If you’re noticing harsh lines, you’re likely not blending enough. Go over the edges of your contour with a clean blending brush until the color is seamlessly blended into your skin.
• Muddy appearance: A muddy appearance usually means you are using a contour that is too warm or you are using too much product. Choose a cool-toned contour and start with a very light layer, building it up as needed.
• Contour too low: If your contour is too low on your cheeks, it can make your face look droopy. Ensure your contour line starts at the hairline and is high enough on the cheekbones.
• Contour is too obvious: If your contour is too obvious it probably means you are using too dark of a shade or applying too much product, or you are not blending enough. Choose a shade closer to your natural undertone and blend, blend, blend.
• Highlight is too shimmery or obvious: Try using a matte highlight or a more subtle shimmer and use a small amount of product, adding more as needed. If your highlight looks obvious or too stark, try blending it with your foundation to soften the look.

Conclusion

Contouring can be a transformative makeup technique that enhances your features and adds definition to your face. While it may seem complicated at first, with practice and the right tools, anyone can master this art. Remember to start with a light hand, blend well, and use products that complement your skin tone. With this comprehensive guide, you’re well on your way to achieving a flawlessly contoured look. So, grab your brushes and start sculpting!