Contouring is using a product (for purposes of my blog, i will just be using powder, but you can use liquids and creams for contouring as well!) to make desired areas look receded or shaded. The best example?...the hollows of your cheekbones. Contouring the hollows of your cheekbones makes your cheeks and face appear to look thinner. Yeah, I think this is pretty handy when you have chubby cheeks like me! ;]
What you need:
A medium size angle brush ( I'm using a Studio M Angle Brush from Meijer)
A small size angled brush ( for the nose contouring)
A matte bronzer that is 1-2 shades darker than your skin tone
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| To the right: NYC Smooth Skin Bronzing Face Power in 720A SUNNY-It's matte, found at drugstores and only like $3.00! |
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| Get Away Bronze Blush from MAC's 2010 To the Beach |
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| It's a frost so it's not super glittery, so you can still use it as a contour. |
There will be 5 areas we will be focusing on when contouring- cheeks, temples/forehead, jaw line, nose and lips.
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| Ooo. I look crazy! Mhaha. |
1. Cheeks (GREEN!)
Contouring the hollows of your cheekbones makes your face appear thinner and is quite simple. Suck in your cheeks like a fishie and you'll see and can feel the area right below your cheek bone. That's the hollow and the part you'll want to contour! Get a bit of product on your brush and tap the excess off. (Don't attempt to blow the excess product off the brush because you might get spit on your brush and that's caca!) Apply it starting from right in front of your ear moving the brush down in a diagonal line towards your lips but stop right below your pupil line (hold the tip of your index finger right in front of your pupil like you're pointing up, that's generally where your contour should stop.) Blend it out so there are no harsh lines.( If you're a visual learner like me, I will include a video link to a favorite beauty guru on Youtube who shows you via video, how to contour your face.)
2. Temples/Forehead (BLUE & RED!)
Think you have a five-head or a wider forehead? Yep there's contouring for that!
Along the temples...take your brush with a bit product on the end (tap off excess!) and make a "C" kind of shape. (See the red lines). BLEND BLEND BLEND. This will help your forehead from looking too wide.
If you think your hairline falls too far back and you don't have bangs (like me!), then maybe do a bit of forehead contouring (See blue lines). Apply just a little bit across your forehead closer to the line to make your hair line...less receding.
3. Jawline (PINK!)
If you have a double chin and would like to kinda chisel it away, you can use contouring to make your double chin disappear. Feel along your jaw line to find where your jaw bone is and that will give you an idea as to where to actually contour. Once you've found it, start brushing your contour on right along the jawline to your ear and focus some powder right below your chin as well. Make sure to blend any harsh lines out and use a light hand to apply any powder!
4. Nose (YELLOW!)
Think your nose is too big? Contour it! Take a smaller brush, (doesn't necessarily have to be angled but it helps), start at the bridge of the nose and lightly brush down the left side then right side. Make sure you don't go too far down or it'll look funny.
5. Lip (BROWN!)
Want your bottom lip to look fuller? I like to take an eyebrow pencil in a medium brown (instead of powder but that's just my preference) and draw and upside down triangle lightly, right in the middle of your lip. This will make it look like your lip is SO full that it casts its own shadow. Remember LIGHTLY or it will look like you got something on your face, and that's not cute!
Any questions, comments, or thoughts email me or leave me a comment!
P.S. Here's the video I recommend if you want a better description of contouring and even highlighting! Marlena is an amazing Youtube Beauty Guru, from Michigan and a professional makeup artist! Enjoy!
How to Contour and Highlight your face-MakeupGeek
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