If you dedicate a little extra time to apply makeup, you can easily contour the face with a few simple brushes and tools. Makeup – in all its wondrous forms – is an art form, and contouring is a great way to make yourself look more sculpted, defined, and beautiful. It can be tricky to learn the trade secrets of contouring, however, but if you know how to do it right, you can transform your features into something extraordinary. In this article, we’ll be exploring the art of contouring, and how you can learn to sculpt your features with makeup magic.
1. Defining “Contouring”
What is contouring? Contouring is the technique of using makeup to enhance your natural features and create a desired shape for your face. This technique involves using dark and light makeup pigments to sculpt, highlight, define, minimize features, and even create the illusion of a bone structure that is not there.
Contouring is not just about creating the perfect bone structure, however. You can also use contouring to make your eyes, nose, and lips appear more prominent. Similarly, contouring can be used to create a defined jaw-line, sharp cheeks, and slim the appearance of your nose and forehead.
The secret to contouring is to use makeup shades that are two to three shades darker and two to three shades lighter than your natural skin tone. Here’s a general guide to follow:
- Bronze or warmer colours with gold shades to bring out warmth in your skin.
- A blush shade that complements your undertone.
- Highlighters to brighten up the area beneath the eyes and brows.
If you’re a beginner and feeling overwhelmed, start by lightly tracing your desired shape with light pencil strokes. Start with small sections one at a time and then blend. And, don’t forget to blend! You’ll want to blend out all of the harsh lines for a natural-looking result.
Once you’ve become a bit more comfortable with the process, try contouring with cream or powder post foundation and use a brush or beauty blender. There are many contouring palettes and even contouring sticks available to make it easier. You can even use a bronzer as a contouring shade for a more traditional, subtle look.
2. Unlocking the Makeup Magic of Contouring
Contouring is one of the most powerful tools in makeup magic – and it’s easier than ever to get started. There are five pieces of equipment that you need to unlock the magic of contouring:
- Foundation
- Concealer
- Contour powder or cream
- Highlighting powder or cream
- Brush set
Layering correctly is key! Start by applying the foundation, then the concealer, then the contour powder or cream. To blend, use a brush or a damp beauty sponge… whichever you find applies and blends the product the most naturally. Then comes the highlighting, which should be applied onto the same areas where you applied the contour – the goal is to blend with the contour for a natural looking finish.
The last steps in unlocking makeup magic is to gently blend the contour and highlight together. Choose your brush set carefully! You don’t want to apply too much, but also don’t want it to look streaky. Make sure to only lightly brush any harsh edges and lines away, and watch your contouring look come together!
Finally, if you want to add extra dimension to your face, finish it off with a shimmery setting powder and watch your contoured masterpiece come to life!
3. Crafting the Perfect Contour for Your Face
Contouring has become one of the trendiest beauty trends within recent years. It’s all about playing around with shadows and highlights in order to shape and define your features.
It may seem intimidating at first, but contouring isn’t as hard as you may think. To get started, you’ll need four basic tools:
- Contour powder or cream
- Bronzer
- Highlighter
- Angled brush
To begin, first determine the structure of your face. You may want to look in a mirror or refer to some pictures. Take note of your facial bone structure and points that you wish to emphasize or hide. For example, if your forehead is a bit bigger than desired, you may want to darken the sides of it and bring your features inward.
Next, you can start contouring with your chosen product. For beginners, cream or powder is easier to work with since they provide a more natural look. The key is to find a formula that is two shades darker than your natural complexion and blend seamlessly. Apply it in the areas you wish to darken. For instance, you can trace the sides of your nose, the edges of your forehead, and outline your cheekbones for a chiseled appearance.
Finally, it’s important to bring the look together by adding some bronzer and highlighter. The bronzer will create a sun-kissed glow that can bring balance to your whole look, and the highlighter can really accentuate the contour. For the highlighter, choose a shade that is two shades lighter than your natural complexion and apply it to the high points of your face.
When you’ve got your tools and techniques down, you can easily craft the perfect contour for your face.
4. The Essentials of a Contouring Kit
Contouring has become a must-have skill in the beauty industry these days. Every YouTuber, beauty influencer, and make-up artist is talking about it. With so much information available on the topic, it can be hard to know which products to buy and how to apply them. We’re here to make it easier for you!
Here are :
- Foundation base: Before you start contouring, you’ll need to find the perfect foundation for your skin. Be sure to pick a shade that matches your natural skin tone to ensure your contour looks natural.
- Contouring cream or powder: Next, you’ll need to grab the product that will actually help you achieve the contoured look you want. Choose between a cream or powder contour product, depending on what brand you prefer and what type of results you are looking for.
- Brushes: You can’t apply your contour product without the right brushes. Look for an angled brush, a dome-shaped brush, and a blending brush for optimal results. The combination of these three tools will help you contour like a pro.
- Highlighter: To finish up your contour and make it extra perfect, you’ll need a good highlighting product too. Look for something with a bit of shimmer, and apply it in strategic places for a luminescent, glowy finish.
Once you’ve got all of your products, the next step is to learn how to use them. There are lots of tutorials, videos, and articles out there that can help you perfect your technique. Remember to use light, soft strokes and keep blending until you get the desired results.
Practice is key when it comes to contouring, so don’t give up if you don’t get the look you want right away. With a bit of practice and experimentation, you’ll be able to get the perfect contoured look in no time!
If you feel like a true master of makeup, you can now take your contouring skills out into the world and make your face your blank canvas for creativity. Who knows, maybe you’ll be the one to create the next beauty craze. It’s all up to you!
