The foundational trend is everywhere. Kim Kardashian, Demi Lovato, or any one of the mirage of celebrities that you esteem as your contour goddess.
We know that contouring enhances our face shape and add dimension to our features, but sometimes something that looks so simple can be "easier said than done."
What are the steps to using contour makeup?
Glad you asked. The thing with contouring is that while it’s a universal principle, it is individually applied, and a lot of that how-to depends on your face shape.
The basic rule of contouring is dark recedes, light enhances. So think about the high point of your face as the place you’ll highlight, and the others you’ll contour.
Finding your face shapeHeart-Shaped:If your forehead is wider at the top and your face gets narrower toward your jaw, then your face shape is cupid’s trademark, also known as the inverted triangle of face shapes. Still don’t know? If your face is akin to that of Reese Witherspoon’s Elle Wood in Legally Blonde, then this is you!
Where to contour: Along the sides of your forehead and temples to create balance between the wide top half and narrow lower half of your face, the area below your cheekbones, and the area just under the chin to soften the point.
Where to highlight: The middle of the forehead, and the middle of the chin to help widen this narrow area.
Square:This face shape is unique in that all of the forehead, cheekbones, and chin are the same width. Think of Demi Moore or Angelina Jolie. Look like you? Bingo. If not, keep scrolling.
Where to contour: On the sides of your forehead to make your hairline appear more narrow, along your jawline to give it a more narrow appearance and definition, and the area below your cheekbones.
Where to highlight: the middle of your forehead and chin to narrow those areas, and the area above your cheekbone and brow bone to brighten the eyes.
Round:Your forehead, cheekbones, and jaw are the same width, however, instead of having more angular features like your square friend, yours are more rounded and soft. Your face will also measure the same length-wise as it does width.
Where to contour:
On the sides of your forehead and temples to make them appear more narrow, the area below your cheekbones and curving down your jawline to lengthen the face.
Where to highlight:
In the middle of the forehead and chin, and under the eyes in an upside-down triangle.
Diamond:Your face is most narrow at the forehead and chin—being the same width, with the widest point on your face being your cheekbones. If your face shape matches up with the famed Tyra Banks, then you’ve found your fit!
Where to contour:
Contour the area below your cheekbones, stretching from your ear to the middle of your cheeks.
Where to highlight:
Highlight in an upside-down triangle below the eyes, along the brow bone to enhance your eyes, and along the forehead to help broaden these naturally narrow areas.
Just as the name suggests, your face is longer than it is wide. If the ratio between the width and the length of your face is bigger than 1 to 1½ then you fall into this category.
Where to contour:
Contour along the hairline to create the illusion of a lower hairline, the area below your cheekbones and the area under your chin to help it appear rounder.
Where to highlight:
Highlight under your eyes in an upside-down triangle to brighten your eyes.
Oval:If the ratio of the width to the length of your face equals 1 to 1½, Congratulations! You are an oval face. This face shape tends to be the most versatile. Which, in the long run, makes life a ton easier.
Where to contour:
The temples on the side of your forehead to make your hairline appear narrower, the area below your cheekbones to give your face more prominent definition.
Where to highlight:
In the middle of your forehead and the middle of your chin, and the area below your eyes in an upside-down triangle.
Next time you look in the mirror don't be discouraged that you don't wake up with features like Angelina Jolie. With these contour steps, you too can have that flawlessly defined complexion with just a few traces of shade and light in the right places!
“I came, I saw, I contoured”
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