The Truth about Contouring
There has been much ado of late about contouring. Endless Instagram tutorials on how to contour and highlight your face like a superstar. Photos online of stars contoured within an inch of their life. (hello the entire Kardashian/Jenner family). So how does this translate to you and me in the real world? Do we all need to apply a striped mask of brown and white war-paint to wear our best face? Au contraire.
What is Contouring?
Contouring is basically the art of sculpting your face. This is done with using a foundation, contour cream or powder 1-2 shades darker than your complexion, and a colour that’s 1-2 shades lighter to highlight. I do this on a smaller scale for the girlies at Channel Nine who are on camera and when they front the red carpet. But even so, I am careful not to go the full Kardashian, especially with highlighting, as this is an American technique that on our screens, can look a little dated.
Why Contour?
The dealio with contouring when it comes to the celebs, like our far-away friend Kimmie K is that they’re always photo-ready. They live for the camera. While you and I might pop up on the occasion on Instagram or Facebook, we don’t really need to contour our face with 3 colours to be picture perfect for the paps. Just saying.
For us girlies in the real world, I recommend a natural contour with a bronzer (Not one of those massively shimmery types – more matte) to warm the face. That is from the middle of the ear around to be in line with the middle of the eye.
To be successful in this, use a fluffy contour brush or smaller blush brush, which is soft. Hard brush equals hard contour line. And no one wants stripes. I also shade a little with said colour around my hairline and temple (I have a massive noggin and this makes it appear a little less huge).
How to contour and highlight like a responsible adult
Apply your normal (correct) coloured foundie. Then, choose a contour colour (I prefer powder products like bronzers as they are more user-friendly) that is not too OTT. Meaning: a shade that is 1-2 shades darker than your skin. If you are one of our peaches and cream complexion friends – then stay clear from your orangey-bronze tones. Hello, tan-striped face.
@bynormie hot tip: Fenty Freestyle Cream Bronzer in colours 2 or 3 for fair complexions.
Highlighting: As far as the highlighting part of the equation, where one in Hollywood applies the lighter shaded product through the middle of the face and under eyes, I would tread carefully in this area especially if you are of age, as a whole lot of light coloured gear under the eyeholes is super-aging. Instead, you can opt for the magic and fantastic YSL Touché Éclat under the eye area and cupid’s bow of the lip. Apply this gently OVER your foundation or concealer. Again, don’t make the mistake of too light a shade. Hello, stage make-up. And if you want that delicious, hint of shimmer down the nose like our friend JLo, try BECCA skin tint as a primer pre-foundation. It will give you a natural sheen under foundie and works well with contouring.
The highlighter that @bynormie has lost his mind over is AYU Radiant Skin Cream. A perfect prod to add the beautiful finishing touches on the high planes of your face (cheekbones, bridge of the nose, cupid’s bow). It doesn’t break up the foundation and will give you that effortless glow.
And to make contouring and highlighting really come alive, finish off the look with a dash of colour on the cheek-pillows. A beautiful crème blush or a shimmered powdered blush will marry it all together beautifully.
Brushes: A lot of what I do (making people look better with make-up) is based on the brush I choose. For a natural contour on the dial, choose a soft-haired brush about the size of a blush brush. A contoured one in this size, made for that area is preferable.
Just a dash of colour on those cheek-cushions brings everything together beautifully. So your face will have dimension, a hint of healthy colour to the cheeks and a devil-may-care sheen on those cheekbones. Perfection!
My fave blushes are Melli cosmetics Sweet Cheeks and Becca Cosmetics Beach Tint in Fig Opal. Both will add the youthful glow of your former years.
As always friends—fake it till you make it!
Mwah.xx