Most of us have heard about contouring, but the idea of sculpting your face with makeup might seem daunting. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! In this step-by-step guide, we will show you how to contour like a pro, even if you’re a beginner. From choosing the right products to blending techniques, you’ll have all the tips you need to enhance your features and achieve a flawless contoured look.
Understanding Contouring
While makeup trends come and go, contouring has become a staple technique that can enhance your features and create a more sculpted look. Understanding the basics of contouring is vital to mastering this makeup skill.
What is Contouring?
You might have heard the term “contouring” thrown around in makeup tutorials, but what exactly does it mean? Contouring is a makeup technique that involves using darker and lighter shades to define and enhance your facial features. By strategically applying these shades, you can create the illusion of higher cheekbones, a slimmer nose, and a more defined jawline.
Types of Contouring: Cream, Powder, and Liquid
If you’re new to contouring, you may be wondering about the different types of products available. Contouring products typically come in three forms: cream, powder, and liquid. Each type offers its own benefits and can be used to achieve a variety of looks.
| Cream Contour | Best for a natural, dewy finish; blends easily into the skin |
| Powder Contour | Great for oily skin; provides a matte finish |
| Liquid Contour | Offers a buildable coverage; ideal for a more intense contour |
If you’re unsure about which type of contouring product to start with, consider your skin type and the look you want to achieve. Keep in mind, practice makes perfect, so don’t be afraid to experiment with different products to find what works best for you. Any makeup technique takes time to master, and contouring is no exception.
Benefits of Contouring for Beginners
Some of the benefits of learning how to contour as a beginner include enhancing your natural features, boosting your confidence, and learning new makeup skills. Contouring can help you highlight your best features while subtly camouflaging areas you may be less confident about.
Contouring is a versatile technique that can be tailored to suit your individual preferences and facial features. Whether you prefer a subtle, everyday look or a more dramatic effect for special occasions, mastering the art of contouring can elevate your makeup game and give you a polished finish.
Preparing for Contouring
Essential Tools and Products Needed
With contouring, having the right tools and products is vital for achieving a flawless look. You will need a contour brush, a highlighter brush, a matte contour powder or cream, and a highlighting powder or cream. These tools will help you sculpt and define your features with precision.
Choosing the Right Shade for Your Skin Tone
Needed when you are preparing for contouring is selecting the right shades that complement your skin tone. For contouring, choose a shade that is two shades darker than your natural skin tone. For highlighting, opt for a shade that is two shades lighter. This will ensure a natural-looking contour that enhances your features.
Products like cream contours and powders come in various undertones such as cool, warm, or neutral. It’s important to consider your skin’s undertone when selecting contour and highlight shades. Cool undertones work well with contours that have a grayish hue, while warm undertones look best with contours that have a brownish or bronze tone.
Pre-Contouring Skincare Routine
Right before you start contouring, it’s vital to prep your skin with the right skincare routine. Cleanse your face to remove any dirt or oil, then moisturize to ensure a smooth base for makeup application. You may also want to use a primer to help your makeup last longer and blend seamlessly.
It’s important to remember that skincare plays a significant role in how well your makeup applies and lasts throughout the day. By prepping your skin with a good skincare routine, you are setting the stage for a flawless contouring application.
Step-by-Step Contouring Guide
| Identifying Your Face Shape and Features | Applying Foundation and Concealer |
| Contouring starts with identifying your face shape and features. By knowing if you have a round, square, oval, heart, or diamond-shaped face, you can determine where to apply the contour and highlight shades to enhance your features. | Assuming you have already prepped your skin with moisturizer, primer, and foundation, the next step is to apply concealer to any blemishes or dark spots. This will create a flawless base for your contour. |
Identifying Your Face Shape and Features
Contouring starts with identifying your face shape and features. By knowing if you have a round, square, oval, heart, or diamond-shaped face, you can determine where to apply the contour and highlight shades to enhance your features.
Applying Foundation and Concealer
Assuming you have already prepped your skin with moisturizer, primer, and foundation, the next step is to apply concealer to any blemishes or dark spots. This will create a flawless base for your contour.
Contouring the Forehead and Eyebrows
Identifying your forehead shape and eyebrow arch is crucial for contouring. By shading the sides of your forehead and defining under your eyebrows, you can create a more sculpted look.
Defining the Cheekbones and Nose
Defining your cheekbones with a contour shade and highlighting the bridge of your nose can add dimension to your face. By applying these products strategically, you can achieve a more chiseled appearance.
Enhancing the Jawline and Facial Structure
To enhance your jawline, apply a contour shade along your jawline and blend downwards. This technique can help define your facial structure and create a more defined look.
Tips and Tricks for a Flawless Contour
Not sure how to take your contouring skills to the next level? Here are some tips and tricks to achieve a flawless contour every time:
Blending and Merging Techniques
- Tricks for seamless blending: Use a damp beauty sponge or a fluffy brush to blend your contour into your foundation for a natural finish.
- Blend in natural light: To avoid any harsh lines or uneven blending, make sure to blend your contour in natural light to see the true effect.
After blending, merge the contour shade with your foundation seamlessly for a flawless transition.
Highlighting and Accentuating Features
Flawless highlighting is necessary to complement your contour. Use a light, shimmery highlighter on the high points of your face, such as the cheekbones, brow bone, and cupid’s bow, to add dimension and glow to your look.
Understanding Common Mistakes to Avoid
While contouring, avoid common mistakes like using a contour shade that is too dark or applying too much product at once. These can result in a harsh and unnatural look.
Accentuating Customizing Your Contour for Different Occasions
One of the best things about contouring is that you can customize your look based on the occasion. For a daytime look, opt for a more subtle contour, while for an evening event, you can amp up the drama with a more defined contour.
Factors to Consider for a Natural Look
All contouring is not created equal, and when aiming for a natural look, there are several factors you need to take into consideration to achieve a flawless finish. By keeping these factors in mind, you can ensure that your contouring enhances your features without looking too heavy or unnatural.
Skin Type and Texture
Any successful contouring routine starts with understanding your skin type and texture. If you have dry skin, you may want to opt for cream products that can blend seamlessly into your skin for a more natural finish. On the other hand, if you have oily skin, powder products can help control shine while still providing the definition you desire. Ensure that you prep your skin with moisturizer and primer before starting your contour to create a smooth canvas for application.
Face Shape and Features
Some key factors to consider when contouring for a natural look are your face shape and features. Different face shapes require different contouring techniques to enhance your natural bone structure. For example, if you have a round face, you may want to focus on contouring the outer edges to create a more sculpted look. If you have prominent cheekbones, you can accentuate them with a slightly lighter contour shade.
The key to achieving a natural look is to enhance your features rather than drastically changing them. By following the natural angles of your face and using a light hand with product application, you can create a subtle yet defined contour that looks like an enhanced version of yourself.
Personal Style and Preferences
Texture, finish, and overall style preferences play a significant role in achieving a natural contour look. If you prefer a matte finish, opt for powder products, while cream products can give you a more dewy and luminous finish. Your personal style and the overall makeup look you’re going for will also dictate the intensity of your contour. For a more natural daytime look, stick to softer, blendable shades, and reserve the darker contours for a more dramatic evening look.
In the context of achieving a natural look with contouring, less is often more. Note, the goal is to enhance your features subtly, so take your time blending and building up the product to avoid any harsh lines or patches. By considering your skin type, face shape, and personal style, you can tailor your contouring routine to create a flawless and natural finish that complements your unique features.
Weighing the Pros and Cons of Contouring
Many beauty enthusiasts are turning to contouring as a way to enhance their features and create a more sculpted look. However, before you look into the world of contouring, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons to determine if it’s the right technique for you.
| Advantages of Contouring for Beginners | Disadvantages and Potential Drawbacks |
| Helps define and enhance your facial features. | May require practice and patience to master the technique. |
| Can create the illusion of a slimmer face or a more prominent nose. | Using the wrong products or colors can result in a harsh or unnatural look. |
| Allows you to experiment with different makeup looks and styles. | Contouring may not be suitable for everyday wear or more natural makeup looks. |
Advantages of Contouring for Beginners
One of the main advantages of contouring for beginners is that it helps define and enhance your facial features. By strategically placing dark and light shades on your face, you can create a more sculpted and polished look that highlights your best features.
Another benefit of contouring is that it can create the illusion of a slimmer face or a more prominent nose. This can be especially useful if you want to experiment with different makeup looks and styles, as contouring allows you to play around with the shape and structure of your face.
Disadvantages and Potential Drawbacks
Potentially, one drawback of contouring is that it may require practice and patience to master the technique. It can be intimidating for beginners to figure out the right placement and blending of products, which may result in a less-than-ideal finish.
Moreover, using the wrong products or colors for contouring can lead to a harsh or unnatural look. If you are not careful with your technique or product selection, you may end up with a heavily contoured face that looks out of place in natural lighting.
With that being said, it’s important to carefully consider the pros and cons of contouring before incorporating it into your makeup routine. While contouring can help enhance your features and create a more sculpted look, it may not always be practical for everyday wear or more natural makeup looks. You may want to experiment with different techniques and styles to find what works best for you.
When to Contour and When to Go Natural
When deciding whether to contour or go natural, it’s important to consider the occasion and your personal preferences. If you have a special event or want to experiment with a more dramatic makeup look, contouring can help you achieve a more polished and defined appearance. However, for everyday wear or a more natural look, you may opt to skip the contouring and embrace your natural features.
When to Contour and When to Go Natural
When weighing the decision to contour or go natural, it’s necessary to take into account your own comfort level and makeup goals. If you enjoy experimenting with different makeup techniques and are willing to invest time in mastering contouring, then it can be a fun and rewarding skill to learn. However, if you prefer a more low-maintenance approach or simply feel more confident with a natural look, then there’s no harm in skipping the contour and embracing your natural beauty.
Conclusion
Taking this into account, now that you have followed this step-by-step guide to contouring for beginners, you are ready to enhance your features and create a beautifully sculpted look. Remember to start with well-blended foundation and concealer, choose the right contour and highlight shades for your skin tone, and use the proper tools to apply and blend the products seamlessly.
You can practice and experiment with different techniques to find what works best for you. With time and practice, you will become more confident in your contouring skills and achieve the desired makeup look. Don’t forget to have fun and enjoy the process of enhancing your natural beauty through contouring!
