Contouring your face helps define your features, creating the appearance of higher cheekbones and a slimmer nose and chin. It's a technique that was popularized by celebrity makeup artists, but with the right products and equipment it's easy to do on your own. Once you've applied your contouring makeup, remember to blend well for a flawless, natural look.
Before we get into technique, there are a few things to keep in mind for your shopping list.
Stick with matte:"Always avoid shimmery product "Contours are meant to be matte, while highlight is meant to have shimmer.
Don't be tone deaf: A lot of people contour with their bronzer,. But I'm against that unless you have tanned skin. You need to find something that creates the illusion of an actual shadow, which typically has tones of beige, brown, taupe, and grey.For ultra-light skin tones,I recommend using a darker pressed powder (like MAC's),MAC Omega.
Customize your complexion: If you're using powders to contour, you'll get a more matte finish. If you use creams, the result will be more dewy. It's best for beginners to start with creamy products, since they're easy to blend and build.I love Chanel's Soleil Tan de Chanel Bronzing Base, "Get an angled cream brush to hit under the cheekbone and jaw bone."
Brushes matter—a lot: "It's all about the brush" . "Start with a smaller, fluffy eyeshadow brush so you have more precision. You should buy two, one for contouring and one for highlighting." Just about every makeup artist in the world swears by MAC #217. Another great trick is to adapt a fan brush into your routine—E.L.F Cosmetics has a fantastic, low-priced one that's great for feathering products into the hairline, under the jawline, and around the cheekbone for a precise, airbrushed finish.
It's all about the blur: Hard lines are never chic. "Use a regular foundation brush or a damp egg sponge and tap it into the contour to make sure there's no demarcation," . You absolutely need to blend it in. "Don't forget to add some happy color to the apple of the cheek and a bit of sheen to the cheekbones to further enhance the complexion." Opt for a peachy-pink for a natural-looking flush ( like Tarte's long-wearing blush in Peaceful), then add luminizer just at the top of the cheekbones, down the bridge of the nose, and a hint on the chin for super-fresh skin.
How To Do Contouring Your Face :
Step-01:
Along the top of your brow lines.
Along the bridge of your nose.
Step-01:
Pull your hair away from your face. Contouring makeup reaches up to your hairline at the top of your forehead, past your temples and down the sides of your face. Pull your hair away from your face so you'll be able to see what you're doing without it getting in the way.
Step-02 : Prep your face. When you contour your face, you want to start with a completely blank canvas. Remove all your makeup, wash your face, and pat it dry with a towel. Exfoliate if necessary to remove dead skin, then apply moisturizer. Let your moisturizer soak in for several minutes before you apply your makeup.
Prepping is essential if you want a smooth, flawless finish. You don't want to go to the trouble of contouring your face, only to have your makeup smudge or look dirty.
Step-03 : Apply the light foundation. Take the foundation that's a few shades lighter than your normal skin tone. Use your finger or a clean foundation brush to apply a 1/2 inch to 1 inch stroke of foundation to the places on your face where the sun would naturally hit. To help you figure out where the sun would hit, stand in a well-lit room with overhead lighting and look at where it hits your face. Here's where you want to apply light foundation:
In the center of your forehead.
Along the bridge of your nose.
On the apples of your cheeks (to find them, smile).On your cupid's bow (the section between the tip of your nose and the top of your lip).In the center of your chin.
Step-04: Apply the dark foundation. Use your finger or a clean foundation brush to apply stroke of the darker foundation in the places where your face would naturally be shadowed from the sun. To help you figure out where your face would be shadowed, stand in a well-lit room with overhead lighting and look for the places that are darker. Here's where you want to apply the dark foundation:
- Right below your hairline at the top of your forehead.
- On the right and left sides of your forehead, near your hairline on either side.
- Along the right and left sides of your nose.
- In the hollows of your cheeks (to find them, suck your cheeks in).
- Along your jawline on both sides, from your ears to the tip of your chin.
Step-05 : Blend your makeup well. Use your fingers or the foundation brush to blend the colors for a natural finish.Take care not to spread the colors around too much; you want them to stay in the general area where you placed them. Make sure the edges are blended well so that there are no sharp divisions between the lighter and darker foundation.
Step-06: Consider adding highlighter. If you want the light areas to stand out even more, add a highlighter product to enhance the look. Cream highlighter is slightly shimmery, so it catches the light more than regular foundation. Apply it in the exact same places where you applied the lighter foundation.
Step-07 : Consider applying blush. If you feel your face looks a little wan without some pink color, apply a small amount of blush to the apples of your cheeks. Be sure to blend the blush well with the other products on your face.
Step-08 : Consider using a matte setting powder. Setting powder is helpful to use when your products are cream-based. It helps to keep everything in place and gives the look a smooth finish. Use a clean powder brush to add a light coating of setting powder over your entire face.
Step-09 : Add shimmer for a night out. If you're going out on the town, you may want to add some sparkle. Choose a shimmery, translucent face powder an apply a light layer to your face, focusing on the highlighted areas. Apply a bit to your neck and chest as well.
Step-10 : Save your eye and lip makeup for last. Make sure everything is perfectly blended and set before you start applying eye and lip makeup. Contouring is a bold look, so you may want to choose either heavy eye makeup or a bright lip, but not both.