The Ultimate Guide to Face Contouring with Makeup
Face contouring is a powerful technique to enhance your facial features and achieve a perfect, chiseled look. In this comprehensive guide, we'll walk you through the steps and products necessary to execute stunning contouring techniques. From selecting the right foundation shades to mastering the blending process, we've got you covered!
Getting the Right Products
1. Start with the Right Foundation Shade. Begin with a foundation that matches your skin tone perfectly. This will serve as your base and make it easier to apply the darker and lighter shades for contouring. Your skin might look patchy and uneven when trying to contour without a good base.
2. Choose a Lighter Foundation. A slightly lighter foundation in color will serve as your highlighter. Use this to draw attention to high points on your face such as the forehead, brow bone, bridge of your nose, cheeks, and chin. Going too light can make your makeup look unnatural.
3. Opt for a Darker Foundation. A darker foundation should be used to deliberately shade areas that should recede or appear smaller, such as cheekbone hollows and jawline. However, choosing one that's too dark might result in an unnatural look. Other options like bronzer, darker eye shadow, or concealer can also be used.
4. Invest in a Good Blending Brush. A big, fluffy blending brush made of natural bristles is best for blending contour and highlight shades seamlessly. Alternatively, you can use your fingers, especially for cream products, as they can help blend the makeup smoothly.
Contouring Your Face Step by Step
1. Pull Your Hair Back. Ensure your hair is out of your face to have a clear view of what you're doing.
2. Prepping the Skin: A Smooth Canvas. Start with clean, prepped skin. Remove all makeup, wash your face, and exfoliate if needed. Apply a moisturizer and let it sit for a few minutes before applying foundation. This prep step will help ensure a flawless finish.
3. Apply the Base Foundation. Spread your regular foundation all over your face using your fingers or a foundation brush. Blend it under your chin and around your neck to create a seamless skin tone.
4. Highlight with a Lighter Foundation. Apply the lighter foundation to high points on your face to create the illusion of light. Use this to enhance areas like your cheekbones, brow bone, and cupid's bow.
5. Contour with a Darker Foundation. Apply the darker foundation in the shape of a 3 to create shadows that make your cheekbones more defined and your chin more narrow. Pay attention to areas where the sun would naturally hit, like the sides of your forehead, temples, and jawline.
Finishing the Look
1. Add Highlighter for Extra Glamour. Use a highlighter to emphasize the light areas on your face. Smaller applicators are ideal for precise placement.
2. Apply Blush for a Natural Renaissance. A light blush on the cheeks can restore a healthy glow and make your face look more awake and vibrant.
3. Set Your Makeup to Last. Finish with a light layer of setting powder, especially if you're using cream-based products. This will help your contouring stay in place all day.
4. Add Shimmer for Nights Out. For a glamorous night out, add a touch of shimmery translucent powder to your highlighted areas and the rest of your face to give it a reflective finish.
5. Keep It Bold or Natural. If you don't want to compromise between eye makeup and lip makeup, opt for a heavy eye look or a bright lip but not both. Ensure everything is blended and set before applying additional makeup.
Conclusion
Mastering face contouring is all about selecting the right products, preparing your skin, and blending well to achieve a flawless look. With practice, you'll be able to contour your face to enhance your features and create the perfect makeup look. Whether you're going for a natural or bold look, these steps will help you get there!