How to Apply Contour Makeup

Contouring your face helps define your features, creating the appearance of higher cheekbones and a slimmer nose and chin. It's a technique that was popularized by celebrity makeup artists, but with the right products and equipment it's easy to do on your own. Once you've applied your contouring makeup, remember to blend well for a flawless, natural look.

EditSteps

EditContour Makeup Cheat Sheet

Contouring Makeup Chart

EditGetting the Right Products

1. Start with foundation the color of your skin. Using a foundation the same (or close) color as your skin evens your skin tone and provides a base you can build upon when you contour using lightest and darkest shades. Contouring your face without first applying foundation is much more difficult, since skin tends to be uneven in color. Your face could end up looking patchy instead of smooth and contoured.^[1]
   
   
   • Use a foundation composed of the same material as the other products you'll be using; for example, use all cream products or all powder products, rather than mixing the two. Mixing textures can result in a caked-on look.
   • If you're having trouble figuring out what color to get, try matching your foundation to the skin on your neck. Your neck skin tends to be a bit paler than your face, and matching your foundation to your neck will ensure your face doesn't end up looking darker when you're finished doing your makeup.
2. Get foundation a few shades lighter than your skin. Facial contouring consists of highlighting places you want to stand out, and shading places you want to recede. For your highlighting product, you need foundation that's about two shades paler than your base foundation.^[2]
   
   
   • Don't go much lighter than two shades, or your makeup won't look natural.
   • You can use a lighter concealer or eye shadow in place of foundation. Just remember to make sure all your products are either cream or powder; don't mix the two.
3. Choose a foundation a few shades darker than your skin. The darker tone will be used to shade the parts of your face that you want to draw attention away from. You'll be creating strategic shadows that make your cheekbones appear sharper and your chin more narrow.
   
   
   • Don't go darker than two shades below your normal skin tone, or your makeup won't look natural.
   • Bronzer, darker eye shadow or darker concealer work as well as foundation. Just remember to make sure all your products are either cream or powder; don't mix the two.
4. Get a good blending brush. Since your face will be wearing several different shades, it's important to get a good blending brush. If the different colors aren't well-blended your makeup will look unnatural. You want a big, bushy foundation brush or blending brush, rather than a smaller brush. Go for one with natural bristles to leave the softest-looking finish.
   
   
   • If you don't have a brush, the next best tool to use is your fingers. The warmth from your fingers will help the makeup blend smoothly. This is especially useful when you're working with cream foundation.

EditContouring Your Face

1. It is better to pull your hair away from your face. Contouring makeup reaches up to your hairline at the top of your forehead, past your temples and down the sides of your face. Pull your hair away from your face so you'll be able to see what you're doing without it getting in the way.
   
   
2. Prep your face. When you contour your face, you want to start with a completely blank canvas. Remove all your makeup, wash your face, and pat it dry with a towel. Exfoliate if necessary to remove dead skin, then apply moisturizer. Let your moisturizer soak in for several minutes before you apply your makeup.
   
   
   • Prepping is essential if you want a smooth, flawless finish. You don't want to go to the trouble of contouring your face, only to have your makeup smudge or look dirty.
3. Apply foundation in your regular skin tone. Use your fingers or a foundation brush to apply a light layer of your normal foundation all over your face, stretching all the way to the top of your forehead and below your chin. Use a blending brush or your fingers to blend your foundation under your chin and around your neck so there won't be a line separating your face from your neck.
   
   
   • You may want to apply concealer at this stage as well. Focus on under-eye circles and any blemishes.
4. Apply the light foundation. Take the foundation that's a few shades lighter than your normal skin tone. Use your finger or a clean foundation brush to apply a 1/2 inch to 1 inch stroke of foundation to the places on your face where the sun would naturally hit. To help you figure out where the sun would hit, stand in a well-lit room with overhead lighting and look at where it hits your face. Here's where you want to apply light foundation:
   
   
   • In the center of your forehead.
   • Along the top of your brow lines.
   • Along the bridge of your nose.
   • On the apples of your cheeks (to find them, smile).
   • On your cupid's bow (the section between the tip of your nose and the top of your lip).
   • In the center of your chin.
5. Apply the dark foundation. Use your finger or a clean foundation brush to apply stroke of the darker foundation in the places where your face would naturally be shadowed from the sun. To help you figure out where your face would be shadowed, stand in a well-lit room with overhead lighting and look for the places that are darker. Here's where you want to apply the dark foundation:
   
   
   • Right below your hairline at the top of your forehead.
   • On the right and left sides of your forehead, near your hairline on either side.
   • Along the right and left sides of your nose.
   • In the hollows of your cheeks (to find them, suck your cheeks in).
   • Along your jawline on both sides, from your ears to the tip of your chin.
6. Blend your makeup well. Use your fingers or the foundation brush to blend the colors for a natural finish. Take care not to spread the colors around too much; you want them to stay in the general area where you placed them. Make sure the edges are blended well so that there are no sharp divisions between the lighter and darker foundation.
   
   

EditFinishing the Look

1. Consider adding highlighter. If you want the light areas to stand out even more, add a highlighter product to enhance the look. Cream highlighter is slightly shimmery, so it catches the light more than regular foundation. Apply it in the exact same places where you applied the lighter foundation.
   
   
2. Consider applying blush. If you feel your face looks a little wan without some pink color, apply a small amount of blush to the apples of your cheeks. Be sure to blend the blush well with the other products on your face.^[3]
   
   
3. Consider using a matte setting powder. Setting powder is helpful to use when your products are cream-based. It helps to keep everything in place and gives the look a smooth finish. Use a clean powder brush to add a light coating of setting powder over your entire face.
   
   
4. Add shimmer for a night out. If you're going out on the town, you may want to add some shimmer and shine. Choose a shimmery, translucent face powder an apply a light layer to your face, focusing on the highlighted areas. Apply a bit to your neck and chest as well.^[4]
   
   
5. Save your eye and lip makeup for last. Make sure everything is completely blended and set before you start applying eye and lip makeup. Contouring is a bold look, so you may want to choose either heavy eye makeup or a bright lip, but not both.^[5]
   
   
6. Finished.
   
   

EditVideo

EditTips

• Be careful to blend along the edges of your jaw, otherwise it'll look like you're wearing a mask.
• Makeup isn't about rules––it’s about experimenting and having fun with a look that complements your features.
• Buy good quality make -up.
• Just don't make yourself look radically different--the goal of makeup is to compliment your natural beauty, not give you a different face!
• If you're a beginner, use contouring with powder to start with, then move on to liquid.
• The Anastasia Beverly Hills contour kit is great for beginners. It has a cream base so it becomes easy to blend.
• If your skin is sensitive,do consult your skin specialist before buying make-up.
• Use red for the cheeks, not pink. A common myth is that you need to blend your contour when finished applying, but that makes it fade. It will blend by itself.

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EditSources and Citations

• Videos provided by Jennifer Chiu

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