Contouring is a makeup technique designed to define and sculpt the face by creating shadows and highlights. When done correctly, it can enhance your features and give your face a more structured appearance. Here’s a detailed, step-by-step guide to achieving a perfect contour on your own.
How To Do Perfect Contouring: Prepare Your Skin
Cleansing and Moisturizing
Cleanse: Start with a clean face to remove any impurities or leftover makeup. Use a gentle cleanser suited to your skin type.
Moisturize: Apply a moisturizer to hydrate your skin. This creates a smooth base for makeup and helps it blend better.
Priming
Choose a Primer: Select a primer based on your skin type and concerns. For oily skin, use a mattifying primer. For dry skin, choose a hydrating primer. Pore-filling primers can help minimize the appearance of pores.
How To Do Perfect Contouring: Select the Right Products
How To Do Perfect Contouring: Foundation
Choose the Right Shade: Pick a foundation that matches your natural skin tone. This will serve as the base for your contouring.
Concealer
Highlighting Concealer: Choose a concealer or highlighter that is 2-3 shades lighter than your foundation for highlighting.
Contouring Concealer: Pick a concealer or contour product that is 2-3 shades darker than your foundation.
Contour Products
Powder or Cream: Depending on your preference, you can use contour powders or creams. Creams blend seamlessly and are great for a natural finish, while powders are easier to work with for beginners.
Tools
Brushes and Sponges: Invest in a range of brushes and sponges, including a foundation brush, contour brush, blending brush, and a makeup sponge or beauty blender.
How To Do Perfect Contouring: Apply Foundation
Even Out Your Skin Tone: Apply foundation evenly across your face using your chosen method—brush, sponge, or fingers. Blend it well into your hairline, jawline, and neck to avoid a stark line between your face and neck.
Build Coverage: Apply additional layers as needed to achieve your desired coverage, ensuring the foundation is evenly blended.
Highlighting:
Highlighting accentuates the high points of your face. Here’s how to apply it:
Under the Eyes: Apply a lighter concealer or highlighter under your eyes in a triangular shape. This brightens the area and reduces the appearance of dark circles.
Forehead:
Dab a small amount of highlighter in the center of your forehead.
Nose Bridge:
Apply a highlighter down the bridge of your nose to create a slimming effect.
Cupid’s Bow:
Lightly highlight the area above your upper lip for a fuller lip appearance.
Chin:
Add a touch of highlighter on your chin to bring attention to the center of your face.
Cheekbones:
Apply highlighter on the tops of your cheekbones to enhance their prominence.
Contouring:
Contouring creates shadows to define and shape your face. Follow these steps:
Cheekbones:
Find the hollows of your cheeks by making a “fish face.” Apply contour powder or cream in this area, blending upwards towards your ear.
Jawline:
Apply contour along your jawbone and blend downward towards your neck to define your jawline and create a more chiseled look.
Forehead:
For a smaller forehead, apply contour along your hairline and blend it into your hairline.
Nose:
Apply contour along the sides of your nose to create a slimmer appearance. Blend it well to avoid harsh lines.
Blending:
Blending is crucial for a seamless contour. Here’s how to do it:
Blend Contour and Highlight:
Use a clean brush or makeup sponge to blend the contour and highlight areas. Start from the contour lines and blend outward to ensure a smooth transition.
Avoid Harsh Lines:
Ensure that there are no harsh lines or uneven spots. The goal is a natural, seamless blend.
Check-in Natural Light:
If possible, blend in natural light or use a well-lit mirror to get the most accurate view of your blending.
Setting Your Makeup
Powder:
Set your foundation and concealer with a translucent setting powder. Lightly dust it over your face to avoid disrupting your contour.
Setting Spray:
Apply a setting spray to lock your makeup in place and to give your skin a natural finish. This also helps to reduce any powdery look.
Final Touches
Blush:
Apply blush to the apples of your cheeks. Blend it with your contour to create a harmonious look. The blush should sit between your highlight and contour, adding a natural flush to your face.
Bronzer:
If desired, apply bronzer over your contour for a sun-kissed glow. This can help warm up your face and blend the contour more naturally.
Eyebrows and Eyes:
Define your eyebrows and complete your eye makeup to complement your contour. Well-groomed eyebrows and eye makeup enhance the overall effect.
Lips:
Finish your look with your choice of lip color. A bold lip can balance a dramatic contour, while a nude lip offers a more understated look.
Practice and Adapt
Perfecting contouring takes practice. Experiment with different techniques, products, and intensities to find what works best for your face shape and desired look. Start with a lighter application and build up as needed to avoid overdoing it.
Maintenance and Removal
Remove Makeup:
At the end of the day, remove your makeup thoroughly with a gentle makeup remover or micellar water. Follow your regular skincare routine to keep your skin healthy.
Conclusion
Achieving a perfect contour involves understanding your facial structure, choosing the right products, and mastering blending techniques. With practice and patience, you can enhance your natural features and create a beautifully sculpted look. Remember to adapt techniques to suit your face shape and preferences for the best results.
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