End of many beauty trends marked the arrival of 2020. However, as the year progresses, it seems that the trend of contour makeup is here to stay. From Kylie Jenner to Kareena Kapoor Khan, face contouring is the most consistently used makeup technique being sported by celebrities worldwide.
The technique of contouring, up until a few years ago, was known only to celebrity makeup artists, who treated it as a professional secret. Nowadays, anyone can be an expert on the art of contour. Contouring techniques allow you to highlight different features of your face by creating an effect of light and shadow by using different shades of makeup, thereby accentuating your facial structure. In the following steps, you will learn how to contour your face.
A Detailed Contour Makeup Guide For Beginners
The art of contouring requires a significant amount of patience and practice. For women who are learning how to apply contour, all lessons must begin with the right tools required for contouring.
The most important tool for contouring is a contour palette. Choosing a contour palette is not an easy task; a palette that does not blend in smoothly with your natural skin tone often leads to a mask-like effect. For those who are beginners in the art of contouring, it is advisable to use a cream-based palette instead of a powder-based one, since they are easier to blend. Powder-based contour palettes often end up looking patchy and full of harsh lines.
A perfect contour always needs a perfect blush to go with it. For best results, one must choose a blush with warm undertones. On the other hand, while choosing your contour palette, it is best to go with neutral or cool shades. For blending, you need to use a beauty blender along with a fluffy blending brush and a fan brush.
A messed-up contour is one of the greatest fashion disasters that can befall a woman. For your contour to last all day long, you will also need a good makeup primer, setting powder, as well as a setting spray.
How To Contour Face Like A Professional?
Since faces come in different shapes and sizes, the techniques for contouring face also vary from one type of face to another. A well-contoured face can transform your entire look, as it brings out your best features for the world to appreciate. This is why we need to learn how to contour face. By closely following the steps listed below, you will figure out how to contour your face to perfection.
For those who are learning how to contour, it is very important to begin your lessons with instructions on how to prepare your skin. Apply moisturiser to your face, followed by the makeup primer before you begin the process of contouring.
Previously, many makeup artists preferred applying foundation on the face before the contour and the highlighter. However, for better results, beginners must apply a cream highlighter first, followed by a touch of foundation, and finally finish the look with the contour. Applying the highlighter underneath the foundation creates the illusion of natural radiance while applying the highlighter on top makes the lines clearly visible. Watch this video to learn an amazing highlighter hack!
Contour makeup for people with long, oval faces is different from those with round faces. Beginners must have a good understanding of the shape of their face as well as the natural contours of their facial features before they begin with the process of contouring.
How To Contour An Oval Face?
People with oval faces often wish to achieve a more rounded contour to their faces for the picture-perfect appearance.
- After prepping the face, one needs to apply a cream highlighter on the browbone (under your eyebrows), and underneath the eyes (on top of the cheekbones) to give the face a wider appearance. Use a fan brush while applying highlighter for precision.
- Next, apply a touch of the highlighter on the centre of the forehead. Follow it with some highlighter on the cupid’s bow (curve above your lips), and on your chin. This will balance your jawline with your forehead.
- Finally, apply some highlighter on the bridge of your nose. This will add definition to your nose and make it look more prominent.
- Before applying your foundation, mix a few drops of beauty oil in the foundation for a less opaque, natural radiance. Blend well with a beauty blender, so that the highlights do not look harsh or abrupt.
- Take a blending brush and apply contour on the sides of the forehead. This creates the illusion of a smaller forehead. Apply a little bit of contour underneath your chin to make your face look rounded.
- While applying contour makeup under your cheekbones, draw a line from your ear towards the edge of your lips. Do not extend the line too far, as it makes your face look more drawn.
- Use a fan brush to apply contour lightly on the sides of your nose.
- Blend well with a beauty blender. Use small strokes to push the product into your skin, instead of rubbing off all the makeup you have applied.
- Lightly dust your face with a setting powder, and finish off with a blush and a setting spray.
How To Contour Round Face?
For women who have a round face, contouring is all about making your face appear longer.
- Highlight your brow bone, forehead, cheekbones, cupid’s bow and chin, as described above. Do not use too much product on your forehead or your chin.
- Apply foundation after adding some beauty oil, as described in the previous section.
- Instructions on how to contour round face are vastly different from contouring oval faces. Use very little product in your forehead and lightly cover your hairline with a touch of contour.
- Follow it with a sharp line from the middle of your ear, under the cheekbones (where you have applied highlighter) to the corner of your mouth.
- To make your face look super slim, apply a little contour underneath your jawline, extending from your ear and stopping a little before the line reaches the chin.
- Blend. Blend. Blend. Without proper blending, heavy contouring can look uneven and cakey, while a well-blended contour will transform you into pure glamour.
- Finish off with setting powder, blush and setting spray, as described earlier.
FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is the latest trend in contouring?
A. Although previously makeup artists preferred sharp contours, the latest trends have seen a penchant for softer contours that have a natural finish. The process of “baking” your contours with heavy powdering is also a thing of the past, as the latest makeup trends prefer a lighter, more effortless look.
Q. How to avoid making my contouring look fake?
A. Ensure that your contour palette has a matte texture, as glitter makes face contouring look fake. Choose products that best suit your skin type, texture and tone. And blend your contour till it’s perfect.
Q. How to draw the lines of contouring?
A. There is no ironclad rule when it comes to drawing the lines of contouring. Figure out what works best for your unique face type as you enhance your best features. For high cheekbones, contour just below the cheeks. And for a chiseled jawline, try contouring along the base of your jaw.
Q. How to decide the perfect contour look as a beginner?
A. Those who have recently learnt how to contour need to try out different looks before deciding on a particular look that suits them the best. Practise new and different contouring tricks and then decide what works best for you.
Q. How to make my contouring look effortless and natural?
A. While blending with a brush, use circular motions instead of unidirectional strokes for a more natural effect. The most important part of face contouring is to blend everything seamlessly.
