Contour: it carves razor-sharp cheekbones. It provides three-dimensional form to the face. Contouring – the artwork of utilizing mild and shadow to intensify your bone construction – stays one of the vital in style make-up methods each on the purple carpet and IRL.
However there will be one thing daunting about utilizing a number of shades of basis and understanding exactly the place to attract these painterly stripes.
We spoke to make-up artists to get the low-down on precisely methods to contour for a natural-looking, sculpted look.
The way to contour, step-by-step
Step 1: Create a radiant base
“First apply a base that gives you a luminous finish and evens out your skin tone,” says make-up artist Cher Webb. “Cover any under-eye shadows with a long-wearing concealer two shades lighter than your skin tone to brighten.”
Step 2: Customise your contour to your pores and skin tone
When selecting a color to contour with, lean on merchandise with shades that mimic pure shadows like taupe or delicate gray, relatively than bronzers, that are too warm-toned.
“Your good contour color shouldn’t look orange or gray in opposition to your pores and skin,” advises Bobbi Brown senior pro artist, Zara Findlay. “You want it to look almost like your perfect bronzer with a little more coolness to act as a shadow.”
Step 3: Choose between cream or powder
Ah, the million dollar question: cream or powder? Bear in mind, each will give you a different finish.
“A cream contour is going to look more natural and dewy on the skin, which is great for someone with a normal to dry skin type,” says Zara.
Generally-speaking, a cream contour stick such as Victoria Beckham’s Beauty Contour Stylus or Makeup By Mario’s Soft Sculpt Shaping Stick is easier to blend, while a liquid (try the Charlotte Tilbury Contour Wand) is ideal for contouring first timers.
“A powder contour is going to give you a more defined and matte contour, especially if your skin is prone to oiliness,” adds Zara. A powder is also longer-lasting and will go the distance on the dance floor.
Step 4: Pick the right brush
When applying your contour, use a brush that has a small tip or an angled, tapered head depending on the area of your face that you’re working on.
Step 5: Where to apply contouring products
Knowing how to contour well is an art form and can be tricky to master if you want your skin to look snatched and not stripy.
“I like to start my contour on my nose, eyes, centre of the Cupid’s Bow and bottom lip line,” Zara explains. “When contouring the nose, make sure to use a small fluffy brush along the sides of the nose, drawing into the contour of the eyes and also around the tip of the nose.
“When contouring the cheeks, use the top of your ear as a guide for the height of your contour,” she continues. “You want to find the hollow of your cheekbone and blend up as this will really lift the face.”
When it comes to contouring your forehead, only add shade to the sides if your forehead is small as this will elongate it, Zara adds. Conversely, contouring the sides and middle shortens a longer forehead.
“My biggest tip for contouring the jaw line is to not go overboard,” says Zara. “Generally, what is left on your brush after contouring your cheeks and forehead is enough for this area.”
Step 6: Add a sweep of highlighter
Contouring hollows an space with shade, whereas highlighter will pull out a facial characteristic utilizing mild. Used collectively, they offer the face dimension.
“Once you have contoured your face, highlight the upper cheekbones, your brow bone, Cupid’s Bow and down the centre panel of the nose,” says Cher.
Step 7: Don’t forget blusher!
“Apply a light blusher to the apples of your cheeks and a little into the cheekbones,” says Cher. “This marries all the shades together and promotes a natural flush to the cheek. Finally, dust pressed powder over the T-zone to complete your skin look.”
For extra from Fiona Embleton, GLAMOUR’s Affiliate Magnificence Director, comply with her on @fiembleton.
