How to Contour and Highlight – 2018 beginner’s edition (part-1)

Want slimmer cheeks, a more defined nose, and cheekbones that pop? Well, thankfully enough, you can get that all without going under the knife, if you don’t want to. The solution lies in something a lot simpler: highlighting and contouring.

So, what exactly is the difference between the two, and how do they complement each other to enhance and define your features?

Well, contouring involves the use of either a cream, powder, or liquid product that is a few shades darker that your natural skin tone. It is used in areas that you want to sculpt or re-shape, such as your nose, forehead, chin, and cheekbones. 

HOW TO CONTOUR?

1. DECIDE WHAT ARE THE AREAS YOU WANT TO CONTOUR

There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to the specific areas you should contour, but most people tend to go for the forehead, cheekbones, nose, and jawline. You can opt to contour along your temples and hairline as well, so as to ensure that the shadows you’re creating don’t appear too harsh or stark.

Are there ways to contour more effectively based on your face shape? Of course! It may be a little more challenging, but you can rest easy knowing that it brings you one step closer to the face structure of your dreams. Here are the areas you should be looking at…

• If you have a heart shaped face: focus your contour along the sides of your forehead, temples, the area directly below your cheekbones, and the very tip of your chin.
• If you have a round shaped face: focus your contour along the sides of your forehead, along your temples, the area below your cheekbones and curve of your jawline.
• If you have a square shaped face: focus your contour on the sides of your forehead, the areas directly below your cheekbones, and under your jawbone.
• If you have a diamond shaped face: focus your contour on the area directly beneath your cheekbones.
• If you have a oval shaped face: focus your contour on the sides of your forehead, and the area directly beneath your cheekbones. 

2. PICK A PRODUCT TWO SHADES DARKER TO CONTOUR 

There are a variety of products you can opt for when contouring. Logically, anything that is two shades darker than your natural skin tone works: concealers, eyeshadows, or foundation, even! Ideally, though, we recommend using a bronzer to contour. Matte, neutral bronzing shades tend to be easier than blend out and build up. Anything with a pearl, shimmery finish might be a little challenging to blend, and can appear a OTT especially if you’re new to contouring.Depending on the type of product you choose, you can then proceed to contour using either your fingers, a brush, or a sponge. Cream formulas work best with a sponge, whereas an angled or fan brush is ideal for powder formulas.

3. MAP YOUR FACE

Trace your contour product in smooth, even lines along the areas you decided on in step one. If you’re working with a formula that dries quickly — like, for instance, a liquid foundation — be sure not to let it settle for too long the skin! Blending it out after will be impossible, otherwise, and you might just have to bust out the makeup remover wipes. Contouring common areas like your cheekbones and jawline? Here are some handy hacks for these specific areas that can help up your contour game:

• Forehead: Glide your contour product from the temples all the way straight to your hairline to create the illusion of a smaller forehead! 
• Cheekbones: Want to contour your cheekbones but can’t seem to find them? Press your fingers gently along your cheeks until you find a slight dip along the bone. Inch your fingers slightly above to find the exact spot to sweep your contouring product over. 
• Nose: Run a straight, careful line down the bridge of your nose, and narrow it out towards the tip to give the appearance of a sharp, sculpted nose. If you’re looking to make your nose appear longer, extend the contour line all the way up to the space between your brows. 
• Jawline: A jawline so defined that it can cut glass? Totally possible with the help of a good contour. Trace along both sides of your jaw, extending them so they meet neatly at the middle point of your chin. 

 4. BLEND, BLEND, BLEND! 

Whichever tool you opt for, make sure to blend your contour out thoroughly! You can use small, circular motions throughout, though beauty experts claim that for the nose area, you can ‘flatten’ and ‘squeeze’ at the contour lines, using a heavier hand as compared to the other areas of your face.

All in all, just remember to diffuse harsh lines so your contour doesn’t appear too stark, and there you have it: a perfectly contoured face.

Next part II; How to Highlight?

Source:  dailyvanity.sg