bronzer placement round face

how to contour face: Makeup Artist tutorial

If you’re looking for a way to enhance your facial features and achieve a more defined look, then contouring is the answer. Contouring is a makeup technique that involves using darker and lighter shades to create shadow and highlight areas of your face. 

Read on to discover a step-by-step guide on how to contour your face and how tailor contour technique for your unique face shape.

What is Contouring?

Contouring is a makeup technique that has been around for decades. It involves using different shades of makeup to sculpt and define your facial features. By applying darker shades in the areas you want to recede, and lighter shades in the areas you want to emphasize, you can create the illusion of a slimmer nose, higher cheekbones, and a more defined jawline.

What’s the Difference Between Contouring and Bronzing?

Contouring and bronzing are both makeup techniques that enhance the structure and dimension of the face, but they serve distinct purposes and use different shades and placements. Contouring primarily focuses on creating shadows to define and sculpt the facial features. It typically involves using a matte, cool-toned product, often in a shade a few shades darker than your natural skin tone, to mimic the appearance of shadows in areas like the hollows of the cheeks, along the jawline, and on the sides of the nose. The goal is to create the illusion of more chiseled and defined features, making areas recede and appear slimmer.

On the other hand, bronzing is all about adding warmth and a sun-kissed glow to the face. It uses a warm-toned, matte or slightly shimmery product that’s often only a shade or two darker than your natural skin tone. Bronzer is typically applied to areas where the sun would naturally hit your face, such as the high points of the cheeks, the forehead, and the nose bridge. The aim is to create a healthy, radiant complexion and to mimic the effects of a sun-touched complexion. Unlike contouring, bronzing doesn’t aim to create shadows or alter the shape of your features but rather to add a healthy flush of color and warmth to your skin.

What You Need to Contour Your Face

  • Foundation
  • Concealer
  • Contour powder or cream
  • Highlighter
  • Blush
  • Angled brush
  • Beauty blender or makeup sponge
  • Powder brush

Here are some comparisons to help you choose the right products:

  • Powder vs. Cream: Powder contour is easier to use and blend, while cream contour provides a more natural finish and better coverage.
  • Angled Brush vs. Beauty Blender: An angled brush is great for precise application, while a beauty blender or makeup sponge is ideal for blending and creating a seamless finish.
  • Matte vs. Shimmer Highlighter: A matte highlighter creates a more natural look, while a shimmer highlighter adds a dewy finish and extra glow.

How to Contour Your Face

Step 1: Prepare Your Skin

Start with a clean, moisturized face. Apply your regular foundation or concealer to create a smooth base. This will even out your skin tone and provide a canvas for your contour and highlight.

Step 2: Choose the Right Contour Product

Select a contour product that is a few shades darker than your natural skin tone. It should have a matte finish and cool undertones. Contour products come in various forms, including cream, powder, and stick. Choose one that suits your preferences and skill level.

Step 3: Identify the Contour Areas

Determine the areas of your face you want to contour. The most common areas include:

  • Under the cheekbones: To create the illusion of higher cheekbones and a slimmer face.
  • Along the jawline: To define the jaw and create a more sculpted look.
  • Along the sides of the nose: To make the nose appear narrower.
  • Along the hairline: To add dimension and warmth to the forehead.
  • Under the chin: To minimize the appearance of a double chin.

Step 4: Apply the Contour

Using your chosen contour product, apply it to the areas you identified in step 3. Use a contour brush or a makeup sponge for precision. Apply the product sparingly at first; you can always add more if needed. Blend the contour into your skin using gentle strokes or circular motions. Make sure there are no harsh lines, and blend thoroughly for a natural look.

Step 5: Highlight

Now, it’s time to highlight the areas you want to bring forward. Use a highlighter that is a shade or two lighter than your skin tone. Common highlight areas include:

  • The tops of your cheekbones
  • The bridge of your nose
  • Your brow bone
  • The inner corners of your eyes
  • Your cupid’s bow (the area above your upper lip)
  • Apply the highlighter with a brush or sponge and blend it well. This will create contrast and make the contoured areas stand out more.

Step 6: Set with Powder

To ensure your contour and highlight stay in place, set your makeup with a translucent setting powder. Use a fluffy brush to apply the powder lightly over your entire face.

Step 7: Finish with Setting Spray (Optional)

For a long-lasting finish, you can use a setting spray to lock your makeup in place

Contouring Different face shapes

Oval Face

Contour: Apply contour shade along the sides of the forehead, under the cheekbones, and along the jawline to add dimension.

Highlight: Highlight the center of the forehead, tops of cheekbones, bridge of the nose, and chin for a balanced look.

Round Face

Contour: Apply contour along the sides of the forehead, under the cheekbones, and along the jawline to create angles and definition.

Highlight: Highlight the center of the forehead, tops of cheekbones, and chin to draw attention away from the roundness.

Square Face

Contour: Focus on softening the angles by applying contour to the sides of the jawline, along the hairline, and under the cheekbones.

Highlight: Highlight the center of the forehead, tops of cheekbones, and chin to balance the strong jawline.

Heart-Shaped Face

Contour: Apply contour along the hairline, under the cheekbones, and slightly along the jawline to balance the wider forehead.

Highlight: Highlight the center of the forehead, tops of cheekbones, and chin to enhance the lower half of the face.

Long or Oblong Face

Contour: Apply contour along the hairline, under the cheekbones, and at the chin to create the illusion of a shorter face.

Highlight: Highlight the center of the forehead, tops of cheekbones, and chin to add width to the face.

Diamond Face

Contour: Focus on softening the angles by applying contour to the sides of the forehead, under the cheekbones, and along the jawline.

Highlight: Highlight the center of the forehead, tops of cheekbones, and chin to balance the face’s angular features.

Triangle Face (Pear-Shaped)

Contour: Apply contour along the sides of the forehead, under the cheekbones, and along the jawline to balance the wider jaw.

Highlight: Highlight the center of the forehead, tops of cheekbones, and chin to draw attention away from the jaw.

Tips for perfect contouring

  • Choose the right shade of contour: It’s important to choose a shade that’s a few shades darker than your skin tone for a natural-looking effect.
  • Blend, blend, blend: Blending is the key to achieving a seamless and natural look.
  • Don’t overdo it: Less is more when it comes to contouring. Start with a little product and build up slowly until you achieve the desired effect.
  • Practice makes perfect: Contouring takes practice, so don’t get discouraged if you don’t get it right the first time.

FAQs

  1. Can I contour for everyday makeup? Yes, contouring can be adapted for everyday makeup, but the intensity can be adjusted. For a more natural look, use a lighter hand and subtle shades.
  1. Do I need to contour and highlight every time I wear makeup? Contouring and highlighting are optional steps in makeup. You can choose to contour and highlight when you want to enhance your features, but they are not required for every makeup look.
  1. How do I choose the right makeup brushes for contouring? Select brushes based on your preferences and the areas you want to contour. A contour brush with soft, dense bristles is great for precise sculpting. A smaller brush or sponge can be used for highlighting.
  2. Can contouring be used to change the shape of my face? Contouring can enhance and define your natural features, but it cannot drastically change the shape of your face. It is a makeup technique that adds dimension and highlights your existing bone structure.

BEST MAKEUP FOR OLDER WOMEN: A STEP BY STEP GUIDE THAT WORKS

Makeup for middle-aged individuals serves as a way to “cheat” one’s real age, aiding women in appearing younger than their actual years. With simple makeup tricks, women can effectively conceal dark spots and freckles. Each age group benefits from a distinct makeup style, requiring the makeup artist to possess good taste and an understanding of the preferences within that age bracket. Continue reading to discover the best makeup for hydrating and improving mature skin, ranging from crease-free liquid foundations to anti-wrinkle lipsticks and dark circle concealers designed to brighten the under-eye area.

OUR TOP PICKS FOR MAKEUP FOR WOMEN OVER 50

SKIN CARE PREP

Celebrity makeup artist Lisa Aharon emphasizes hydration as the key to flawless makeup for women over 50.  ‘The secret is healthy, glowing skin,’ she says.  Before applying makeup, she recommends using a sheet mask or hydrating serum to deeply nourish the skin.  A luxurious cream, oil, or leave-on mask completes the process,  promoting a radiant, youthful complexion.

For brightening the eyes, opt for lightweight brightening creams. It’s important to avoid anything too heavy, as heavy makeup may slide and settle into fine lines. When applying skincare products, you can use your fingers or hands for a gentle touch, ensuring even distribution. Alternatively, using a brush can also achieve effective application. Whether using your hands or a brush, the key is to maintain a light touch to prevent makeup from settling into fine lines.

Masks:

  • Hydrating Sheet Masks: Look for sheet masks containing ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and ceramides, which help attract and retain moisture in the skin.
  • Hydrogel Masks: These masks are similar to sheet masks but have a jelly-like consistency that adheres closely to the skin, allowing for deeper hydration.

Serum:

  • Hyaluronic Acid Serums: Hyaluronic acid is a humectant that attracts and retains moisture in the skin, making it a great choice for hydration.
  • Vitamin C Serums: Vitamin C is an antioxidant that helps protect the skin from sun damage and promotes collagen production, which can help improve skin firmness and elasticity.

Cream:

  • Rose Tea Eye Cream: This eye cream provides a light and airy texture, effectively plumping, hydrating, and brightening the skin around the eyes.

PRIMER

Selecting the appropriate primer can significantly diminish the appearance of fine lines and pores while prolonging the longevity of your makeup. It is suggested to gently brush on a thin layer of primer once your skincare products have absorbed. Allow it to settle for a minute before applying foundation.

Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Hydrating Primer: This lightweight, oil-free formula is packed with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin to plump and smooth the skin, providing a perfect canvas for makeup application. It also minimizes the appearance of pores and fine lines, leaving a radiant, youthful finish.

Tula Skincare Prime of Your Life Smoothing and Firming Treatment Primer: This primer is a multi-tasker that combines skincare benefits with makeup prep. It contains peptides and antioxidants to help firm and brighten the skin, while blurring imperfections and minimizing the appearance of wrinkles. The creamy formula also hydrates and nourishes the skin, leaving it feeling smooth and supple.

FOUNDATION

Foundation cream designed specifically for older women addresses the unique skincare needs that come with aging. Formulated with a focus on hydration, anti-aging properties, and skin elasticity, these foundations cater to mature skin to provide a radiant and youthful appearance. Many foundations for older women incorporate ingredients like hyaluronic acid and antioxidants to moisturize and protect the skin, helping to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Moreover, these foundations often offer buildable coverage, allowing women to achieve a natural and even complexion while taking into consideration the changing texture and tone of aging skin. 

L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Radiant Serum Foundation:

Experience the perfect blend of hydration and sun protection with this weightless foundation featuring SPF 50. Achieve a flawless finish with buildable coverage that effortlessly conceals imperfections. Embrace the popularity of this product, hailed as one of the best full-coverage foundations.

Maybelline New York Instant Age Rewind Perfector 4-in-1 Makeup: This multi-tasking product is a foundation, concealer, brightener, and moisturizer all in one. The hydrating formula is also comfortable to wear all day long.

EYES & BROWS

Specialized eye makeup and brow techniques can enhance and accentuate features, creating a refreshed and youthful appearance. Eye shadows with softer, neutral tones can bring out the eyes without emphasizing fine lines, while mascara and eyeliner applied with a subtle touch provide definition without appearing harsh. 

For brows, shaping and filling them with precision can frame the face and lend a more polished look. As the eyebrows may naturally thin with age, using products that mimic the appearance of hair, such as pencils or brow gels, helps achieve a fuller and well-groomed result. 

Victoria Beckham Beauty: The velvety stick shadow, offering eight hours of wear, contains collagen infusion to promote a smooth and firm texture on the eyelids.

Anastasia Beverly Hills: An iconic favorite for achieving natural-looking hair strokes, Anastasia’s ultra-sleek pencil effortlessly glides on, ensuring a smudge-resistant finish.

COLOR & SHIMMER

In the next step of the beauty routine, adding color becomes crucial, providing a significant impact. Particularly for mature skin, cream blush is recommended for its hydrating properties, contributing to a more youthful look. Application involves tapping it onto the apples of the cheeks and blending it out cautiously with fingertips or a brush, avoiding contouring-like placement to prevent an aging effect. The expert advises against using bronzers for contouring, proposing a horizontal application on the forehead, cheeks, and nose bridge, with a light touch along the jawline.

For women over 50, shimmer is discouraged, as it tends to highlight skin issues and aging. Instead, the expert advocates for products with subtle luminosity, which attract light and give the skin a dewy, moist, and, most importantly, youthful appearance.

Jones Road: This versatile balm effortlessly adds color to both lips and cheeks, enriched with hydrating jojoba seed oil to impart a gorgeous, sun-kissed glow to the skin.

Westman Atelier: Infused with collagen and hyaluronic acid-boosting properties, the creamy blush stick not only imparts a natural flush of color to lips and cheeks but also stimulates the production of essential skin components.

FINISHING TOUCH

A touch of powder can provide a flawless finishing touch if applied with discretion. A light dusting through the center of the face can result in a beautiful finish, although it’s advised to use it sparingly and skip it if your skin tends to be dry.

When setting the look, the expert expresses a preference for mist over setting spray, especially when aiming for a fresh and dewy appearance. Opting for a soothing rosewater mist to seal the look provides an extra touch of dewy freshness at the end.

Mally Beauty: Mally Beauty is a cosmetics brand known for its innovative and high-performance beauty products. Renowned for its long-lasting formulations and celebrity makeup artist Mally Roncal’s expertise, the brand offers a diverse range of makeup essentials that cater to various beauty needs and preferences.

Mario Badescu: Mario Badescu is a skincare brand celebrated for its effective and affordable skincare solutions. Founded by a Romanian-born dermatologist, the brand focuses on creating accessible products that address a variety of skin concerns, gaining popularity for its simple yet powerful approach to achieving healthy and radiant skin.

CONCLUSION

From skincare to choosing the right products, it’s all about enhancing natural beauty and feeling confident at every stage of life. Remember, a little goes a long way, and embracing a simple routine can bring out the best in your timeless beauty.