The Art of Contouring: A Guide for Makeup Enthusiasts
Contouring is an ever-popular makeup technique currently used by makeup artists and enthusiasts alike. It utilizes light and dark shades to give the illusion of a more defined face structure.
This makeup trend, widely endorsed by celebrities and social media influencers, promises to accentuate your best features and disguise any imperfections.
Understanding the Basics of Contouring
Contouring is essentially a play of shadows and highlights. It’s a technique that relies heavily on the strategic application of contrasting shades to create an illusion of depth and dimension. By applying a darker shade to the areas you want to recede and a lighter shade to the areas you want to highlight, you can sculpt your face to perfection.
To successfully contour, you’ll need a contouring palette or a bronzer that’s two shades darker than your skin tone, and a highlighter that’s two shades lighter. A great tip for choosing the perfect contour hue is to opt for a shade that mimics the natural shadows of your face under dim light. As for the highlighter, it should ideally have a similar undertone to your skin.
Mapping Your Face: Contouring for Different Face Shapes
The first step in contouring is identifying your face shape. The most common face shapes are oval, round, square, heart, and oblong. The placement of your contour and highlight will depend heavily on your face shape.
For an oval face, contouring is usually placed on the sides of the forehead, just below the cheekbones, and under the chin to add dimension. If you have a round face, contour along the temples, side of the forehead and under the cheekbones to create a more elongated illusion. For those with a square face, contour the sides of the forehead and below the cheekbones towards the chin to soften the strong angles.
Contouring a heart-shaped face involves placing the contour on the sides of the forehead and below the cheekbones. This helps to balance the width of the forehead with the narrowness of the chin. For an oblong face, contour along the hairline to minimize the forehead length and under the chin to shorten the length.
After placing your contour, it’s time to bring on the light.
Highlight on the center of the forehead, the middle of the chin, down the bridge of the nose, under the eyes, and above the cheekbones.
Blend, Blend and Blend
After strategically placing your contour and highlight, blending is the next crucial step. This is where the magic truly happens. Use a damp makeup sponge or a blending brush to blur the harsh lines and create a seamless transition between your contour, highlight, and natural skin. Remember, the goal is to create a natural-looking shadow, not streaks of dark and light.
With contouring, it’s important to keep in mind that less is more. Start with a small amount of product and build up if necessary. It’s far easier to add more product than to remove excess.
Today, contouring remains a beloved technique within the beauty community.
Despite the various trends that come and go, contouring has secured its place in the makeup routine of many, promising a sculpted and defined face with just a few strokes of makeup. So, why not give it a try? You might just find your new beauty secret weapon.