How To Apply Face Contouring Makeup

Ah, contouring. It's the makeup pull a fast one on that has us all painting our faces with tribe-similar designs, hoping that it will effect in a bone structure that even Keira Knightley would envy.

When done correctly, contouring tin can give the illusion of chiselled cheekbones, a pinched nose, smaller brow and defined jawline. It's the clever way to raise or change your face shape, as it allows you to highlight your favourite features and hibernate your non-so-fave.

If you're new to the world of contour, accept a few unanswered questions or simply desire to pick up some tips and tricks, you've come to the right place. We've put together a step-by-stride guide that covers all areas, so that you can learn how to contour like a pro.

What does contour practise?

Contouring is a great mode to heighten natural features and sculpt the construction of the face up. It'southward a makeup method that helps to illuminate the loftier points of the face, such every bit the cheekbones and the bridge of the nose, and shadow areas such as the jawline and forehead. Ultimately, it adds shape and definition to the face, every bit well equally other parts of the body such as the décolletage.

Exercise you profile before or later foundation?

Contouring makeup is usually applied subsequently foundation and concealer. Cream, liquid, and stick contours can be practical straight on top of foundation and then blended out for a seamless finish. Sweeping a light layer of translucent powder over foundation before applying powder profile products can help to create a smooth, patch-free application.

Earlier contouring, employ a foundation that is the same shade or a close match to your natural peel tone, equally this helps to even out the complexion and create a flawless base.

What is the departure between contour and bronzer?

The difference between contour products and bronzer is minimal as both are designed to add together depth to your face and makeup expect. Nonetheless, bronzer is mainly used to add together warmth to your complexion and is only applied in areas that the sun would naturally hit. Contouring, on the other hand, is a makeup-artist approved method that is less subtle. Not only does information technology add depth but information technology defines, structures and shadows your face up.

You lot should avoid using bronzers to profile equally this can leave your complexion looking super warm and maybe orange, rather than defined and sculpted.

How practice you profile your face?

The first pace to contouring your face is to map out the areas you lot wish to shadow. Popular areas to darken or contour include forth the hairline and jawline, under cheekbones and along each side of the nose. Take a damp beauty sponge or a contouring brush and blend the contouring cream, liquid or powder into skin.

To highlight, apply a formula that is one or 2 shades lighter than your natural skin tone to areas such every bit the centre of your forehead, chin, bridge of nose and under eye. If you are using a cream, stick or liquid texture, have a damp beauty sponge or face brush to blend information technology into skin. If you have used a powder, gently sweep the product over skin and dust away with a fluffy makeup castor.

What are the best contouring products?

With everything from cream contour to contour sticks up for grabs, it's difficult to know which products are going to give you the results yous're looking for. To salve yous from some trial and error, we've highlighted the best contouring makeup products below, so that you can relish a seamless, sculpted look, each and every fourth dimension.

Natasha Denona Contour Sculpting Powder

Natasha Denona Profile Sculpting Pulverisation

We honey this sculpting powder from Natasha Denona as it provides a warm, natural and buildable colour that never looks orange or over-done. That means you can intensely contour cheekbones or requite skin a subtle sweep of definition.

Uoma Beauty Double Take Contour Stick

Uoma Dazzler Double Take Contour Stick

Contour sticks are the quick, easy and fuss-free way to sculpt, define and chisel your cheekbones. Discover out more almost the best contour sticks.

This double-concluded profile stick from UOMA is the ultimate power couple, as information technology offers both a sculpting and strobing formula. Only a few swipes over your brow, cheekbones and jawline and you're on your way to a supermodel-like os structure.

Huda Beauty Tantour Contour & Bronzer Cream

Huda Beauty is best-known for high-pigment, stand-out makeup products and the Tantour is no exception. This foam-to-powder formula doubles up as a profile and bronzer so that y'all can lay down a definition that looks natural. Boasting a sweat and water-resistant finish, plus blending like a dream, you tin can sculpt, snatch and chisel your face with minimal try required.

Charlotte Tilbury Contour Wand

Carving out killer cheekbones is made easy with this Contour Wand from Charlotte Tilbury. Designed to take years off of your advent, the wand delivers a natural-looking liquid contour that's blendable, buildable and lightweight. The easy-to-use cushion applicator dispenses merely the right amount of production then that you can sculpt your favourite features, fuss-free. Pair it with the much-loved Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Light Wand and you've got mega-watt cheekbones in minutes.

Fenty Beauty Match Stix Trio

Fenty Dazzler Match Stix Trio

Rihanna comes through with a trio of longwear, light-as-air makeup sticks that conceal, profile and highlight your complexion similar no other. The Lucifer Stix Trio is an essential if y'all want to add definition to your face, conceal imperfections and illuminate your favourite features. The cream-to-powder formulas are curated for your skin tone, make it in both matte and shimmer finishes AND magnetise together, meaning you tin always put your best face up frontward.

Not actually what you're looking for? Fright not, as there's 1 last option. Contour kits are the all-in-1 product that never disappoint. As a crook-sail to a sculpted, chiselled complexion, they boast a range of shades that help you lot contour, highlight and bronze your face. With a plethora of kits and palettes for you to cull from, all with dissimilar shades to suit your skin tone, you can mix and friction match your favourites to fit your complexion perfectly.

How do you employ a contour palette?

Start with your foundation and concealer as you normally would. Then with the darker contour shade utilize an angled makeup brush to use the product nether your cheekbones, along your forehead and the jawline. Blend into the pare using a damp beauty sponge, a buffing brush or a stippling brush.

To highlight your face, apply the lighter shades on the tops of the cheekbones, down the span of the nose and on the mentum. A profile palette often has two or more shades, which ways yous tin blend colours together to detect the perfect match for you skin tone. This is the all-time mode to create shadows and light to sculpt and define your face.

Should I become a cream or powder profile palette?

This all depends on your skin type, your makeup concern and even the time of the twelvemonth. Foam contour products are best for dry skin types. They have a more natural looking finish and help you achieve a soft sculpted look in the summer months. Powder profile palettes on the other mitt are not bad if you want to create a more dramatic defined wait. They are a long-lasting option, making them ideal for oily skin types or for special events.

What is the best contour kit for beginners?

If you're a newbie to the contouring globe, we recommend sticking to a profile palette with a minimal number of shades. Palettes are like shooting fish in a barrel to use as they include all that you need (no more than, no less) to muffle, profile, sculpt and highlight your complexion like a pro. Discover some of the best contour kits for beginners, below.

Sigma Beauty Sculpt Highlight & Contour Palette