What contouring is

Contouring is a highly popular makeup technique that uses light and shadow to enhance your facial features. With the help of darker shades, you can cover imperfections or make an area appear smaller, while with lighter shades you can enlarge or emphasize certain areas of your face. The goal is to create shadows where there is volume, so you can achieve a slimmer and more symmetrical face shape.

What you will need

1. A Make up in the correct shade, matching your skin tone and preferably in liquid form.
2. A concealer, in a lighter shade than the one that suits you.
3. A contouring product with at least 2 shades, one dark and one lighter. This can be either a contouring stick with 2 sides, which is much more convenient, or a palette, which usually offers many more shades. It will be very useful once you have become more familiar with it.
4. A highlighter, either in powder form or liquid form.
5. A transparent powder for finishing.
6. Blending sponge or brushes for application.

How to do contouring

Okay, it may seem a little difficult at first, but with the right tools and practice you can do it, even if you are not a makeup artist or beauty expert. The secret is blending the products properly so the result looks natural and even.

The steps

1. It is very important that your face is clean. Start with a makeup base, your moisturizer, or both. Let it absorb well for a few minutes, as moisture on the skin will create oiliness. Ideally, the area around the eyes should also be well moisturized with cream or eye Primer.

2. Apply foundation to the entire face and neck so there is no color difference. The sponge helps a lot with even application. Alternatively, you can use one of the available make up brushes. There are now many different types so you can choose the one that suits you.

3. Then brighten the eye area with a concealer, which covers any dark circles and makes the eyes look rested. The product should not be heavy, but rather quite fluid, so that it does not crease on the skin with facial expressions. The ideal shade is 2 or 3 tones lighter than your skin color. Form 2 upside-down triangles under the eyes and blend with the sponge as gently as possible, almost by patting. It is a very sensitive area and you should not press or stretch too much.

4. And now the hard part begins! Don’t be afraid though… it’s only the first time. After a while, everything will become automatic and very fast. In the simplest version of contouring, you need to focus on 4 - 5 points of your face and mark them with the dark shade of the product you have chosen. Then, it’s easy to understand which areas you will highlight with the lighter shade.

• With the dark shade, create strong lines on both sides of your face. On the temples and along the outline of the forehead, if you want to reduce its surface. If you have a small forehead, you can simply skip this step or apply a small amount in the center of the forehead near the hairline. Continue on the cheekbones below the bone and along the outline of the face from the height of the ears to the chin. Attention: apply below the chin line, blending toward the neck, so that you get a more natural look and of course cover any protrusions of the jaw. On the sides of the nose, apply only if you want to slim this area. Ideally, the dark lines should be on the bridge of the nose and perpendicular to its tip, leaving a small gap for the light shade. With the sponge or brush, blend these lines as evenly as possible and in such a way that you do not remove all the product you have applied. Always use tapping motions and move slightly upward and outward from the surface of the face.

• With the light shade, make corresponding lines on the bridge of the nose where you left the gap, continuing upward in the center of the forehead almost between the eyebrows. Light colors have the ability to bring forward and emphasize the areas we choose. For this reason, think about whether you will apply it on the chin. If you have strong angles, it would be better to avoid it. Instead, apply a little of the product to the 2 lines around the philtrum.

• Highlighters give the glossy effect, which is not necessary, especially in everyday makeup. However, if you don’t overdo it, the face will look brighter and healthier. Prefer the areas high on the cheekbones, under the brow bone, and on the nose.

5) Finish with a translucent powder all over the face and neck, which you will apply with a brush to set the result.

Extra Tips

1. Don’t forget the blush on the apples of the cheeks for a more vibrant color. During the summer months, you can also use a bronzing product instead of blush, for a more sun-kissed look.
2. If you’re not very skilled with makeup, the easiest solution is to use a contouring stick, which is easier to apply and more precise. However, you can do all of the above with powder products as well. If your skin is quite oily, prefer powder.
3. The contouring steps above usually suit most face types. If you want to go a step further, remember that depending on the shape of the face, you should shade different areas, always in relation to what you want to cover. You can follow one of the shapes below:

Our suggestion

One thing is certain: there are many contouring products on the market. Different materials, textures, shades, and tools. You can choose the ones that suit you from branded, expensive, or more affordable products. Our suggestion, if you are still in the trial period, is to set aside a small budget to get started and later expand your collection with more specialized products.

To begin with, you can try the following:

Make up: A very good foundation, quite covering with a non-greasy texture and an even finish, is the Maybelline Superstay 24H Full Coverage.

Concealer: Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser, the favorite product of beauty bloggers, which is extremely lightweight in texture and spreads incredibly easily with the special sponge applicator. It offers medium coverage and a bright, youthful look.

Contouring Stick: For easy application and a combination of 2 shades in one product, try the Wet n Wild Megaglo Dual-ended.

Contouring Palette: For those who find powders more convenient, we recommend the Technic Colour Fix 2 Pressed Powder palette. Warm and cool shades, so you can choose the one that suits you.

Powder: A classic Max Factor powder that offers a matte finish and high coverage is the Creme Puff Powder Compact.

Highlighter: The glow drops Technic Shade Adjusting Drops are a very good choice because they can also be combined with other cosmetic products. You can either mix a few drops with your cream or foundation, or apply directly to the areas you want to brighten. For easier application, there is also the option of powder highlighter, such as the Catrice Cosmetics 3D Glow.