Contouring Techniques: How to Create Perfect Facial Features

Contouring is the art of highlighting natural facial features, allowing you to change its shape, accentuate advantages, and conceal imperfections. It is one of the most popular makeup trends used by both professional makeup artists and enthusiasts at home.

What is Contouring?

Contouring is a makeup technique that allows you to alter the shape of your face by using light and dark shades. Dark shades are used to create shadows that make certain areas visually less noticeable, while light shades highlight parts of the face, drawing attention to them. This approach allows you to sculpt the face, giving it the desired shape and volume.

Main Contouring Areas

1. Temples and Hairline: Applying contouring product to the temples and along the hairline helps create the effect of a narrower forehead.
2. Cheekbones: High cheekbones are the dream of many. Contour is applied under the cheekbone to create the illusion of lifted, well-defined cheekbones.
3. Nose: Contouring the nose allows you to change its shape, making it thinner or shorter. Dark shades are applied to the sides of the nose, while light shades are applied along the center line.
4. Jawline: Applying contour along the jawline helps make the face more defined and emphasizes the shape of the chin.
5. Chin: A light shade on the chin helps make it more prominent, while a dark shade can reduce it or create a shadow effect.

Contouring Tools

Various products are used for contouring, including:

• Powder Products: Suitable for creating a soft, natural effect. They are easy to blend and hold well on the skin.
• Cream Products: Cream contours are suitable for more dramatic and intense makeup. They provide better pigmentation and can be used for more detailed contouring.
• Highlighters: Light shades that highlight specific areas of the face, adding radiance. Highlighter is applied to the top of the cheekbones, under the brows, to the center of the forehead, and down the middle of the nose.

Basic Contouring Techniques

1. Classic Contouring: This is the most common technique used to create sharp lines and emphasize the face. Contours are applied to the temples, cheekbones, nose, and jawline, while highlighter is applied to areas that need highlighting.
2. Strobing: This technique focuses on highlighting the face without using dark contours. Highlighter is used to create a glowing skin effect, which looks fresh and natural. Strobing is suitable for those who want to achieve a soft, daytime makeup look.
3. Baking: This technique is popular among professional makeup artists and allows for a very long-lasting effect. A large layer of powder is applied to the skin and left for 5-10 minutes, then excess is removed. This helps make the facial contours sharper and hide imperfections.
4. Reverse Contouring: This technique involves using light shades to create a contour instead of dark ones. This approach provides a softer effect and is suitable for those who want to look as natural as possible.

Tips for Perfect Contouring

1. Know Your Face Shape: It is important to understand your face shape (oval, round, square, etc.) as this determines how to apply contour correctly. For example, for an oval face, contouring should be minimal, while for a round face, more emphasis is needed on the cheekbones and jawline.
2. Blending is Key: No contouring looks good without proper blending. Use fluffy brushes or sponges to ensure the products blend well into the skin without leaving harsh lines.
3. Choosing the Right Shades: For contouring, it is important to choose shades that are 1-2 tones darker than your natural skin color. Shades that are too dark or warm may look unnatural and create a patchy effect.
4. Practice Makes Perfect: Contouring is not an easy technique and requires practice. Start with light contouring and gradually add intensity as you feel more confident.

Contouring is a great way to accentuate your features and make your face more expressive. Knowing the basic techniques and rules will help you achieve the desired effect, whether you want to create a dramatic evening look or a soft daytime look. Don’t be afraid to experiment, and remember that the key to contouring is a sense of measure and proper blending.