The Basics of Contouring

Kontour, Kream, Kardashian OH MY!

Unless you have millions of dollars to spend on plastic surgery, I recommend you keep reading. Contouring is a commonly used word in the makeup industry and for those who have never heard the word in terms of makeup, it means to use products to enhance your natural face shape. By following the right technique of placing darker colors where your face recedes and lighter colors where the light hits your face, you can transform the overall shape of your face. Talk about a cheap nose job!

What Tools You Will Need:

Deciding what products you want to use for your contour is where you get some freedom of choice. If you’re just starting out, try powder products because it is more forgiving and easier to correct your mistake. I recommend a cream contour if you want a more defined, Kim Kardashian look. When shopping for products you will need two shades: a contour color and a highlight color. The contour should be about one to two shades darker than your natural skin tone and the highlight should be one to two shades lighter. Try applying the product to your jawline in the store to see how the color will look on your face. It is also important to find a product that will blend easily to give a natural-looking appearance. For contouring, I recommend getting a cream stick contour. Using a stick will give you more control during application, like writing with a giant crayon. To blend out your contour, you can definitely use your fingers, but if you would like more precision for this, purchase a synthetic contour brush or a makeup sponge.

Steps to the perfect contour:

1. Start with your darker shade which will be used to define the contour lines. Apply this shade to the following areas for an overall slimmer face:

• The sides of your forehead

• Make a fish-face and apply the product below your cheekbone, where it sinks in

• Your jawline

2. If you want to go even further, use a smaller brush with the contour shade and apply it carefully to the sides of your nose, just next to the bridge to make it appear more narrow.

3. Next, take your light highlighting shade. You are going to want to apply this product to all of the high points of your face, or where the light naturally hits your face. These areas include the following:

• The tops of your cheekbones (above where we put the cheek contour)

• The bridge of your nose (in between the two contour lines)

• Your cupid’s bow (right about your top lip)

• Underneath your eyebrow arch

• The inner corner of your eye

• Underneath your eyes to conceal any darkness or discoloration

• A little on the center of your forehead

*Keep in mind, you do not need to contour and highlight every area listed. On most days, I’ll just stick to my cheeks and forehead because it makes the biggest difference for me personally.

4. The final step is to use whatever tool you want, may it be your finger, a brush, or makeup sponge, to blend out the products. First, blend the contour by gently dabbing at the contour lines on your face to blend it. Try to use dabbing motions and not drag the product across your face because it will move the product around and ruin the effect.

5. Finally, blend out the highlighter.

You’ve just achieved the look of plastic surgery, minus the cost. If you practice your contouring skills enough, just maybe Kris Jenner will adopt you one day.

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