Contouring the face helps define facial features, creating the appearance of higher cheekbones and a thinner nose and chin. This is a technique popularized by celebrity makeup artists, but with the right products and equipment, it's easy to do on your own. If you have already applied contour makeup, don't forget to blend it well to create a smooth and natural appearance.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Getting the Right Product
Step 1. Start with a foundation that matches your skin tone
Using the same foundation as your skin will even out your skin tone and provide a base that you can shape when contouring using lighter and darker colors. Contouring the face without applying foundation first will be more difficult, because the skin tone tends to be uneven. Your face will look mottled instead of smooth and contoured.
- Use a foundation that contains the same composition of ingredients as other products that will be used; use all cream products or all cream products, and do not combine the two. Combining two different textures will make the appearance of the face look thick and oily.
- If you're having trouble deciding what color to apply, try matching your foundation to the skin on your neck. The skin on the neck tends to be a little paler than the face, and matching the foundation to the skin on your neck will keep your face from looking darker when you're done applying your makeup.
Step 2. Use a foundation that is a few shades lighter than the skin
Contouring the face is to emphasize the parts of the face that will be highlighted, and disguise the parts of the face that you want to disguise. For firming products, you will need a foundation that is two shades paler than the base foundation.
- Do not use a light foundation of more than two levels, because the makeup will not look natural.
- You can use a lighter color concealer or eye shadow instead of foundation. Remember, make sure all products are cream or sprinkles; don't combine the two.
Step 3. Choose a foundation that is a few shades darker than your skin
The darker color will be used to disguise the parts of your face that you don't want to show. You will create precise shadows that will make your cheekbones appear sharper and your chin thinner.
- Do not choose a dark color more than two levels below your normal skin tone, because the makeup will not look natural.
- Bronzer (cosmetic to make the face look alive), darker eye shadow, or darker tint mask can also be used as foundation. Remember, make sure all products are cream or sprinkles; don't combine the two.
Step 4. Have a good blending brush
Since your face will be applied in several different colors, it is important to have a good brush. If the different colors don't blend well, the makeup will look unnatural. You'll need a large, thick foundation brush or blending brush, and not a small brush. Look for brushes with natural bristles to make your makeup look smooth.
If you don't have a brush, the next best tool to use is your finger. The warmth of your fingers will help the makeup to blend smoothly. Fingers come in handy especially when you're blending cream foundation
Part 2 of 3: Contouring the Face
Step 1. Braid your hair
Contouring the face will reach the hairline above the forehead, past the temples, and down the sides of the face. Braid your hair so you can see what you're doing without your hair getting in the way.
Step 2. Prepare the face
When contouring your face, you need to start with a face like a blank canvas. Remove all makeup, wash your face, and dry with a towel. Exfoliate if necessary to remove dead skin cells, then apply moisturizer. Allow the moisturizer to soak into your face for a few minutes before applying makeup.
Prepping your face is essential if you want a smooth and flawless makeup. You certainly don't want to make mistakes when contouring your face, so that your makeup will smear or look dirty
Step 3. Apply a foundation that matches your normal skin tone
Use your fingers or a foundation brush to apply a thin layer of foundation all over your face, starting from the top of your forehead and working your way down your chin. Use a blending brush or your fingers to blend the foundation under the chin and around the neck so that there is no line separating the face from the neck.
You will also need to apply a stain mask at this stage. Focus on under-eye circles and facial blemishes
Step 4. Apply a light foundation
Use a foundation that is a few shades lighter than your normal skin tone. Use your fingers or a clean foundation brush to apply 1.2 to 2.5 cm long strokes of foundation to the sun-exposed areas of your face. To help determine which areas of your face are exposed to the sun, stand in a bright room with a lamp at the top and see where the light hits the parts of your face. It is in these areas that you need to apply foundation:
- In the middle of the forehead.
- Along the top of the eyebrow line.
- Along the bridge of the nose.
- On the cheekbones (to find them, try smiling).
- In the cupid's bow (the part between the tip of the nose and the top of the lips that is curved like a bow).
- In the middle of the chin.
Step 5. Apply dark foundation
Use your fingers or a clean foundation brush to apply darker strokes of foundation to areas of your face that naturally shade in the sun. To help you figure out which parts of your face are in shadow, stand in a bright room with overhead lighting and pay attention to the darker parts of your face. It is in these areas that you need to apply a dark foundation:
- Just below the hairline at the top of the forehead.
- On the right and left sides of the forehead, near the hairline on the other side.
- Along the right and left sides of the nose.
- On the dimple (to find it, pull the cheek in an inward sucking motion).
- Along the jaw line on both sides, from the ears to the tip of the chin.
Step 6. Blend the makeup well
Use your fingers or a foundation brush to blend the colors for a natural look. Take care not to blend the colors too far; the colors must stay in place. Make sure the edges blend in well so that there is no stark line between light and dark foundations.
Part 3 of 3: Finishing the Appearance
Step 1. Consider adding a highlighter
If you want the light parts to stand out even more, add a highlighter to enhance the look. Cream highlighters are a bit shimmery, so they catch more light than regular foundations. Apply it right at the same places you applied the light color foundation.
Step 2. Consider applying blush
If you feel your face looks a little pale without a touch of pink, apply a little blush to the cheekbones. Make sure to blend the blush well with the rest of the makeup on your face.
Step 3. Consider using a non-shimmer setting powder
The powder setting is useful if the product you are using is in the form of a cream. This type of powder helps keep makeup firmly adhered and gives a smooth finish. Use a clean powder brush to add a thin layer of setting powder all over the face.
Step 4. Add sparkles for the evening event
If you're going out, you need to add some shine to your face. Choose a light sparkling powder and apply a small amount on the face, focusing on the highlighted areas of the face. Also apply a little on the neck and chest.
Step 5. Do eye and lip makeup at the final stage
Make sure everything is blended and adhered perfectly before you apply eye and lip makeup. A contoured face is a defined look, so you need to choose between heavy eye makeup or light lip color, but not both.
Step 6. Done
Tips
- Be careful when applying cosmetics to the edges of your jaw, because if you're not careful, you'll look like you're wearing a mask.
- Makeup isn't all about the rules-it's all about experimenting and having fun with looks that complement the parts of the face.
- Don't make yourself look completely different – the purpose of makeup is to complement your natural beauty, not make a difference!
