Contouring Tutorial – How to Master It

Contouring has become a trend in recent years, and with good reason. It is a great way to add some color to the face, and to add dimension to your features (to make them appear slimmer or wider). And, we have already passed the mark when we do it only to our face. Now, we contour collarbones, chest area, abs, and many other areas of our bodies, including ankles. But let’s concentrate on our face today. When you contour, you basically sculpture the face. Contour masters can sculpture faces and change a person’s features completely.

But let’s not go overboard. Natural beauty is still the aim here. All we need to do is to accentuate our naturally beautiful features by following the steps in our contouring tutorial.

What you need:

• contour brush or a beauty blender
• your regular foundation
• bronzer or foundation a few shades darker than your face
• highlighter or a foundation a few shades lighter than your face.

Contouring tutorial

Step 1: Prepping the base.

To create a base for your contour, you should apply the foundation in a thin layer. This is to simply even out the color so that your contour stands out.

Step 2: Actual contouring.

Decide what exactly you need to bring out in your face. If you want to accentuate your cheekbones and make your face appear slimmer, you should first find the hollows of your cheeks and contour right above them. Be careful not to bring it too close to the mouth for this will not create an appealing effect.  If you want to make your nose seem straighter and narrower, place your contour on both sides of the nose bridge. You can place your contour all the way to the brow if you want to make your nose visually longer. Place contour on your temples if you want to make your forehead look smaller. Another way to make your face look slimmer is placing contour right on your jawline.

TIP: Don’t overdo it. No contour is better than too much contour.

Step 3: Blending.

Use a contour brush or a damp beauty blender and work your contour into your foundation gradually. Make sure you cannot see any harsh lines (everything is organic and seamless). Use small circular motions for the best effect.

Step 4: Add some light.

Contouring, per se, does not work that well without good highlighting. Add lighter foundation or highlights under your eyes or in the corners of your eyes to look fresh and awake, covering those dark circles. Then, you can add some highlight to the bridge of your nose for a straighter and elongating effect. If you want to make your lips look fuller, put a dot of highlight on your upper lip and blend, blend, blend. Do not be too generous with your highlighter, for you do not wish to have an Edward Cullen effect when you go out in the sun.

Step 5: Setting

Set everything in place with a light layer of translucent powder and you are set to go!

Our contouring tutorial can create an amazing effect for your face if you adhere to the steps, but don’t forget that in the end of it you should still look like you!