Do you want to accentuate your cheekbones, re-define your jawline or make your eyes pop? If you answered yes, but want to avoid "drastic measures," then you should learn makeup contouring techniques. When done correctly, contouring can change the look of a face dramatically. Likewise, when done incorrectly it can look like a hot mess!
Contouring is basically playing with light and shadows. Light accentuates a feature and tricks the eye into thinking something is "more there" than it really is. Dark tones can recess and create depth that really isn't there. Sounds great, right? So how exactly are these feats of wonder achieved?
Start with applying a neutral base foundation with a damp sponge. This will even your skin tone and cover any blemishes and small imperfections on your skin. Gently buff all over to remove any excess foundation. Now, you are ready to contour!
Using a darker toned foundation or blush, take a brush and apply to the areas that you want to appear deeper, under the cheekbones for example. Apply this darker tone slightly upwards and outwards. Make sure you are working in good light!
Likewise, you will lighten and highlight the areas that you want to stand out. Under the brow bone is a great place to highlight to accentuate your eyes. You can use a lighter foundation or light colored eye shadow to accentuate this area. Very important: Blend, blend and then blend again. You do not want lines of demarcation so that it looks like you have stripes of color anywhere on your face. This should look seamless! Another great place to accentuate with a lighter color is on the top of the cheekbone. You can get those high cheekbones with a lighter blush applied just right to the top of the cheekbones.
Contouring is extremely useful for minimizing the appearance of a large nose. Take a look in the mirror and notice how the part that extends the most is the part that is lighter in color. You would want to put your darker toned foundation on that area, and then dab the lighter color on the sides. This will minimize the natural contrast. Pretty cool, right?
Now, what about your lips? Is your pout not as full and sexy as you'd like it to be? Try this trick: take a lip liner that is just a bit darker than your lip shade and line your lips along the natural lip line. Then, fill in your lips with your lip color. You can also add a tough of gloss to the center of the lips to create light there. Poof! Your lips look instantly fuller.
Contouring is not easy, and it takes a lot of practice for it to look natural. Plump lips, high cheekbones and a smaller nose are just a brush stroke away!
Check out this video to see how it is done:
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