[sg_popup id=72238]

Learn the Art of Contouring

Nov/08/2022 / by Melanie Fourie
How to do contour
Image credits: Pinterest

Makeup gurus rely heavily on the contouring method, and there’s a solid reason for it. The art of imparting dimension and depth to your face shape and bone structure, also known as contouring, may enhance any makeup look by highlighting your unique face structure, defining your cheekbones, shaping your jawline, and accentuating your unique face shape. And although while it could seem to be a difficult stage in the makeup application process to learn, believe me when I say that this beauty method is not even close to being as difficult as it appears. 

Continue reading to learn which products are the most effective to use. I’ve included a step-by-step guide on how to contour, as well as a few pointers on how to modify your contour to better fit the shape of your face.

What Exactly is Meant by the Term Contouring?

Let’s begin with the fundamentals of contouring before we go into the specifics of how to do it properly. To begin, what precisely is meant by the term “contouring”? “Contouring” is a method that involves using cosmetics to mold the face. “This is also an excellent method for subtly “correcting” any traits or slimming down regions of the face,” the author continues. You even have the ability to contour in order to accentuate certain parts and make them look bigger.

The concept of contouring may be thought of as the inverse of highlighting. While highlighting “outlines” your facial features by adding light to select regions of your face, contouring includes adding darkness to areas that you wish to define or retreat in order to give the appearance of depth. For illustration’s sake, one of the most typical places to apply contouring is in the hollows of one’s cheeks. You may sculpt your cheekbones by adding a darker shade to this region to create a shadow. This will make your cheekbones seem more defined, higher, and more angled.

So How Exactly is Bronzing and Contouring Different?

 That’s another important topic. Both of these cosmetic products are intended to make your face seem more three-dimensional, but they do it in very different ways. Contrasted with contouring, bronzer is used to create warmth or a faint sun-kissed hue, while contouring is used to enhance structure. Another distinction is that the majority of contouring products are only available in a matte finish, although shimmer might be present in bronzers.

How to Create Sculpted Looks in a Few Steps

Let’s go on to the next step now that you’ve chosen the sort of contouring product that will work best for you, and that is learning how to administer it to your face.

First, Put on Your Moisturiser and Primer

To start, you are going to want to begin your makeup process exactly like you typically would, which means starting with a moisturizer, a primer, and either a powder foundation or a fluid base. Use a cosmetic sponge or a foundation brush to apply your foundation. If you are using a powder foundation, it is highly recommended that you also use a finishing powder or a setting powder.

Sculpt Your Forehead

If you’ve never done contouring before, the best approach to start is with a powdered contour and a contouring brush. This will give you the most natural-looking results.  To begin, softly contour along the hairline, mixing the product in a fluid motion from your temples to about one third of the way to the middle of your forehead.

Chisel the Outline of Your Cheekbones and Jaw

After you have accomplished a smooth blending of the contour around your hairline, go to the recesses of your cheekbones. If you are unsure of where this is located, pull in your cheekbones and look underneath the apples of your cheeks; you should notice an indentation there. That wraps it up . Move the brush down the indentation until you reach the middle of your face, and then move it back out toward the edges of your face.

After you have blended the contour along your cheekbones, you may finish by applying contour just below your jaw from the bottom of your ear until  the tip of your chin. This should be done in a downward motion. When you put all of these steps together, you should see that they make a shape similar to a three.

Contour Your Nose

If you want to take your contouring routine to the next level, a wonderful additional step to do is to contour the sides of your nose. This will make your nose seem more narrow. You should begin this step by using highlighter around the arch of your nose. This will help set the tone for the rest of the steps. After that, using the contour color you normally use, draw two lines of contour on either ends of the highlighter, and blend them until they are smooth.

Tip: Complement The look by Applying Bronzer and Highlighter

Highlighter and bronzer are the finishing touches that you should apply as the last step.

FAQs

Can I skip contouring while doing makeup?

You may skip this technique but it’s best not to, since it really enhances your face’s dimensionality. This step is appropriate after applying foundation since it helps restore depth to the face, and shapes the underlying bony structures.