All the secrets of face contouring: what is it and how to do it?
How do stars always look good in photos? What kind of makeup do they use to have perfect skin? In reality, behind the makeup of the VIPs there is a great job concerning the face base. The skin is prepared with the right products to appear practically perfect in the eyes of photographers and cameras.
One of the secrets of professional makeup artists is precisely contouring, a technique that enhances the strengths of the face, helping to mask small physical defects.
Before we proceed, we want to reveal how to make makeup last longer. Here is a video for you!
What is face contouring?
We already mentioned it in the previous paragraph, contouring is a make-up technique to sculpt the volumes of the face, hiding small defects such as an aquiline nose, or a face that is too round. And the hated double chin? With face contouring it will be just a distant memory.
While it seems very difficult at first glance, you can easily contour your face without being a makeup artist. A little practice is enough, to understand well what the shape of the face is to make the most of it, and to use products that are easy to blend.
Basically, through a play of light and shadow reproduced on the face with light and dark products, it is possible to act on the volumes and modify and improve their shape. In a few simple steps you will get a luminous makeup that will enhance all your strengths.
See also
Face contouring: why do it
When I recreate the face base, unwittingly, you are removing three-dimensionality which means that the face becomes flat and expressionless. This is where contouring comes in: with the use of darker and lighter colors than your skin tone, you will return the volumes, making the makeup harmonious and hiding small defects such as the double chin, the aquiline nose, a protruding jaw or a forehead that is too broad.
The main rule is very simple: in the areas to be hidden the dark color must be applied, instead in the points you want to emphasize you will apply the light. Basically you create optical illusions that are ideal for looking perfect in photos or videos, but a light contouring is also good for your daily make-up because it makes you feel immediately at ease.
How to do a good contouring
Before starting to make your first contouring make sure you have some free time to dedicate to this activity. Especially the first few times you will need a little patience to get the desired result. The important thing is to blend well all the products that you will apply on the face and for this we recommend the use of a brush that will avoid the unsightly mask effect.
Another trick to put in place especially the first few times you contour is to show it off for an evening makeup, an occasion in which you certainly have more time to dedicate to it. When you become an expert, you can introduce the contouring technique (perhaps lighter) even in your everyday make-up.
Let's see all the steps for the perfect face contouring!
- 1 - Prepare the skin
Contouring is performed on totally cleansed and cleansed skin. If you have not already done so, proceed to remove make-up and gently cleanse your face. After applying your usual moisturizer, wait a few minutes and apply the foundation of your shade. It is not necessary for the foundation to be very covering, the contouring in fact also serves to increase the coverage of the foundation in some areas. You can also choose a BB Cream with a definitely lighter texture.
- 2 - Analyze the shape of your face
Each face is different: elongated, round, oval or square. What's your shape? Stand in front of the mirror and observe the areas that are perhaps too angular or wide, that's where you will apply the contouring.
- 3 - Choose the right products
The lights and shadows that you will recreate on your face do not have to be very marked, so starting from your natural skin color, you will need to have a foundation that is two tones lighter and another two tones darker. At the beginning, cream products are preferable, easy to blend and of sure effect. When you have acquired dexterity, you can decide to use the powders. In general it is always good to avoid products that contain glitter. On the market there are beauty palettes composed already from the ground , illuminating and concealer. Get advice in the stores or take a "look online:
> Professional contouring palette for € 7.89 on Amazon
> NYX contoruring palette at 21 € on Amazon
- 4 - Apply the light color
It is true the contouring varies a lot from face to face, but in general the light color will be applied to the center of the forehead, on the bridge of the nose, on the cheekbones, in the center of the chin and on the cupid's bow (the small area between the upper part of the lips and nose).All these areas will be the light points to highlight.
- 5 - Apply the dark color
Now is the time for the dark foundation: it will be applied on the areas that you want to hide and minimize. Generally speaking they are the sides of the nose, the hairline, the temples and sides of the jaw
- 6 - Blend everything perfectly
The real trick in achieving perfect contouring is blending! In this way you will soften the colors by making them uniform: the illuminated areas will blend with the darker ones for an absolutely harmonious result.
> Buy the Contouring Brush Set for € 14.99 on Amazon
- 7 - Apply a blush
Sometimes the final effect of contouring is that of a slightly pale skin. You can easily remedy the problem by applying a blush on the cheeks that will give a healthy and fresh touch to the face.
Contouring and face shapes
If you have identified the areas of your face that you would like to correct, you are on the right track, take the two foundations, the brush and get to work. This does not mean that you will distort the features, but you will simply reproduce the exact volumes to have the harmonious face Let's see how the contouring technique adapts to the various face shapes.
- Elongated shape
It is typical of those with thin features. Apply the dark color on the perimeter of the face, on the chin and on the upper part of the forehead near the hairline. The light color instead, you will have to use it in the center and in particular on the cheekbones, where you will then also use a blush.
- Rectangular shape
In this case the temples are aligned with the jaws. To rebalance the volumes, the advice is to use the dark color immediately under the cheekbones as well as on the jaws and forehead. In the nose and mouth area, on the other hand, you will use the lighter color. Also for this face shape it is essential to apply a touch of blush on the cheeks.
- Rounded shape
This is probably the most difficult face shape to sculpt. Shadows are non-existent and you will have to figure out where to create them. First, darken the whole outline and also draw two sharp lines on the sides of the chin. The forehead, the upper part of the cheekbones and the cupid's bow, on the other hand, will be the areas to be illuminated.
- Diamond face
Featuring a small, angular chin just like the tip of a diamond. The forehead will be illuminated because in this way you will shift the attention away from the chin. The cheekbones, on the other hand, usually angular, will be darkened.
- Face to heart
It may seem like the most harmonious face shape with focus on the eyes and lips, but again contouring helps restore some proportions. The darker product will be spread on the temples near the hairline and on the cheekbones. The bridge of the nose and the upper part of the cheekbones, on the other hand, will be the areas where the light shade is applied.
- Oval face
This shape is the one that already suggests where to darken and where to light up. It is very easy: the central part (forehead, nose, chin) light, while the sides (temples and jaw) dark. Obviously you will have to blend and apply the blush to sublimate the work.
