Does the concept of contouring scare you a little? It’s okay, it scared us too. Here are the basics to get you started.
What You’ll Need
- A foundation that matches your skin color
We recommend
Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Foundation
- A MATTE brown contour shade
Notice the bold- to get the most natural contour, use a matte shade. You’re trying to make a shadow, not add a glow, with the contour. A bronzer would work just as well!
Our recommendations
Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer: Added bonus- this smells like real chocolate!
NYC New York Color Sunny Bronzer
Even a powder foundation in the darkest shade will work!
- Concealer one or two shades lighter than your shade
This will start the highlighting phase
Try
We use this over most high end concealers!
- A highlighter
Powder, liquid or cream will do! Test a few out to find your favorite undertone (pink, cool, warm, gold…)
Our top picks
Becca Cosmetics Pressed Shimmering Skin Perfector (in any shade)
Champagne Pop is our favorite, especially for fall
Layer with the Becca Liquid Shimmering Skin Perfector for an even more intense glow!
The Balm Cosmetics Mary Lou Manizer
Hard Candy Baked Bronzers in Tiki
A gorgeous highlight shade!
Benefit Watts Up! Cream highlighter
Let’s Do It!
- Apply an even layer of foundation to clean, primed skin
- Add concealer
- Add concealer to the high points of your face – anywhere the sun naturally hits
Under eyes
Middle of forehead
Cupid’s bow
Cheek bones
Bridge of nose
Tip of nose
BLEND, BLEND, BLEND!
You can never blend too much! For a more flawless, natural look, take the time to really blend these products into the skin.
- Add contour shade
You want to put this wherever there’s a shadow, or a characteristic about your face you want to change
Make a fish face, and apply where sunken in under cheek bones
Let’s see those Kimmy K faces!
This will make your cheek bones pop and look more structured.
- Perimeter of forehead
This can create the illusion of a smaller forehead.
- Down the sides of the nose
Do this if you want to narrow your nose – just be sure to BLEND and make sure the lines are straight!
- Jawline
Hide that double chin! Be careful not to get too heavy-handed here, since you don’t want to end up with a beard (it happens) or a super harsh line.
Apply this with an angled brush or small tapered brush
For the most chiseled look
This brush seamlessly blends for a more natural contour
BLEND, BLEND, BLEND!!
- Highlight!
Apply this just like you did the concealer, to the high points of your face, with a light hand- you can always add more, but it’s not as easy to take away.
A fan brush, like this Sephora one, is ideal for this.
That’s it! Just be sure to blend with every step along the way, making sure to start off light and gradually add more. Now go show off that contour! You worked hard for that face.