The Art of Contouring: A Step-by-Step Tutorial
Contouring has become a phenomenon in the world of makeup, with celebrities and beauty influencers showcasing their sculpted faces on social media platforms. This technique involves using different shades of makeup to enhance and define the natural features of the face. If you’ve always wanted to master the art of contouring, fear not! In this step-by-step tutorial, we’ll guide you through the process to achieve a flawless and sculpted look.
Step 1: Prepare Your Canvas
Before diving into the world of contouring, it’s essential to prep your skin properly. Start by cleansing your face and applying your regular moisturizer. This step ensures that your skin is hydrated and free from any dirt or impurities. Then, apply a primer to create a smooth surface for your foundation and contour products.
Step 2: Choose the Right Contour Products
Contouring involves using different shades of color to create depth and dimension on the face. To master this art, it’s important to choose the right products. Opt for a cream or powder contour palette with a range of shades to suit your skin tone. It’s crucial to select shades that are a few shades darker than your natural skin tone for contouring and a shade lighter for highlighting.
Step 3: Identify Your Face Shape
Understanding your face shape is crucial when it comes to contouring. Different face shapes require different contouring techniques. To determine your face shape, tie your hair back and look at your face in the mirror. Pay attention to the width and length of your forehead, cheekbones, and jawline. Common face shapes include oval, round, square, heart, and diamond. Once familiar with your face shape, you can proceed to the next step.
Step 4: Highlight and Contour
Start by applying your foundation as you typically would to achieve an even base. Next, it’s time to contour! Take a contour shade that is a couple of shades darker than your natural skin tone and apply it to the hollows of your cheeks using an angled brush. Blend the contour product well to avoid any harsh lines.
For round faces, focus on contouring the outer edges of your forehead and the area below your cheekbones to create a more angular look. Square faces benefit from contouring along the hairline, jawline, and the hollows of the cheeks to soften the angles. Heart-shaped faces require contouring along the hairline and emphasizing the jawline. Oval faces can contour the cheeks, temples, and hairline to add dimension. Diamond-shaped faces need contouring to minimize the width of the forehead and jawline while emphasizing the cheekbones.
After contouring, it’s time to highlight. Use a lighter shade from your palette to accentuate the high points of your face. Apply this shade to the center of your forehead, bridge of the nose, under the eyes, and the area above the cupid’s bow. Blend the highlighter well to avoid any visible lines.
Step 5: Blend, Blend, Blend
To achieve a natural-looking contour, blending is key. Use a blending sponge or a clean makeup brush to seamlessly blend the contour and highlight products into your skin. This step will help create a flawless and cohesive finish.
Step 6: Set Your Contour
After achieving a perfectly contoured look, it’s important to set it in place. Use a translucent setting powder to lock everything in. Apply the powder using a fluffy brush, focusing on the areas you contoured to prevent any smudging.
Step 7: Add Finishing Touches
To complete the look, apply blush to the apples of your cheeks for a pop of color. Choose a blush shade that complements your skin tone and blend it well with the rest of your makeup. Add a touch of highlighter to the highest points of your face, such as the cheekbones and the tip of your nose. Finally, apply your favorite lipstick or gloss to complete your beautifully sculpted face.
Contouring is an art that takes practice, so don’t be discouraged if it doesn’t turn out perfect on your first try. With time and patience, you’ll be able to master this technique and achieve a flawless and sculpted look. Remember, the key is to embrace your natural features and enhance them subtly with the power of makeup. So grab your contour palette and brushes, follow this step-by-step tutorial, and let your artistic side shine!
