Pro-Level contouring at Home: Sculpting Your Face like a Makeup Artist

Introduction

Contouring is a transformative makeup technique that allows you to sculpt, highlight, and define your facial features. While professional makeup artists have long been known for their contouring skills, this technique has become widely accessible with the right knowledge and tools. Whether you want to accentuate your cheekbones, slim your nose, or create a more defined jawline, mastering the art of contouring at home can completely elevate your makeup game. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to contour your face like a professional, from choosing the right products to applying them with precision.

Understanding Contouring: The Basics

Contouring works by creating shadows and highlights on your face to emphasize certain features. The general idea is to use matte, darker shades to create the illusion of shadows (e.g., under the cheekbones, along the jawline, on the sides of the nose), and use lighter, shimmery or brighter shades to highlight the areas you want to bring forward (e.g., the tops of the cheekbones, the bridge of the nose, and the center of the forehead).

Key Products You’ll Need for Contouring:

  1. Contouring Creams or Powders: These are typically matte and come in a range of shades to mimic natural shadows on the face.
  2. Highlighters: Shimmery products used to bring light to specific areas of the face.
  3. Blending Sponges and Brushes: Essential for seamless blending to avoid harsh lines.
  4. Setting Powder or Spray: To ensure your contour stays in place throughout the day.

Choosing the Right Contour Products for Your Skin Type and Tone

To achieve a natural-looking contour, it’s crucial to choose products that match your skin tone and type. Here’s a breakdown of what you should consider:

  • For Fair Skin:
    • Contour shades should be cool-toned, such as taupe’s or cool browns, as these mimic natural shadows.
    • Highlight with champagne or soft pink hues for a fresh, illuminated effect.
  • For Medium to Olive Skin:
    • Opt for neutral to slightly warm contour shades with brown undertones.
    • Golden or peach-toned highlighters will bring a natural glow.
  • For Dark Skin:
    • Rich, deep contour shades work best, such as dark browns with a slight red undertone.
    • Use a golden or bronze highlighter for a radiant glow.
  • For Oily Skin:
    • Powder-based contour products tend to work best, as they help absorb excess oil.
    • Avoid overly creamy or dewy formulas, which can slide off throughout the day.
  • For Dry Skin:
    • Cream contour products offer a more moisturizing finish and blend beautifully without looking cake.
    • Stick with hydrating highlighters for a dewy, glowing finish.

Step-by-Step Guide to Professional-Grade Contouring at Home

Step 1: Prep Your Skin

Before starting your contour, ensure your skin is well-prepped. This ensures a smooth application and helps your makeup last longer.

  1. Cleanse: Use a gentle cleanser to remove dirt, oil, and makeup residue.
  2. Moisturize: Apply a hydrating moisturizer that suits your skin type.
  3. Prime: Use a primer that minimizes pores and provides a smooth canvas for makeup application.

Step 2: Apply Foundation

For an even base, apply a foundation that matches your skin tone. This will provide a flawless foundation upon which your contour can blend seamlessly.

  1. Choose a foundation that offers medium to full coverage for a more polished finish.
  2. Use a makeup sponge or brush to evenly distribute the foundation.

Step 3: Contour Your Face

Now that your base is in place, it’s time to sculpt your face with contour.

  1. Cheeks:
    • Suck in your cheeks to find the hollows. Use contour shade 1-2 shades darker than your skin tone and apply it in the hollowed-out area, starting from the ear and blending towards the mouth.
    • Focus on blending the contour upwards to avoid harsh lines.
  2. Jawline and Chin:
    • For a more defined jawline, apply contour along the edge of your jaw and chin. Blend the product downward to create a shadow effect.
    • This will help define the lower part of your face and give the illusion of a more sculpted jawline.
  3. Nose:
    • For a slimmer nose, apply contour along the sides of the nose and blend. Be careful to keep the contour narrow and blend it well to avoid noticeable lines.
    • Apply a small amount of highlight on the bridge of the nose to bring it forward.
  4. Forehead:
    • For a smaller-looking forehead, apply contour along the hairline. Blend down into the temples to soften the look and ensure there are no harsh lines.

Step 4: Highlight the High Points

Highlighting is just as important as contouring, as it brings dimension and radiance to the face.

  1. Under the Eyes: Apply a brightening concealer or highlighter under the eyes in an upside-down triangle shape. This brightens the under-eye area and lifts the face.
  2. Top of the Cheeks: Apply highlighter on the top of the cheekbones to give your face a natural, lifted look.
  3. Nose: Apply highlighter down the center of the nose and on the tip to accentuate the nose’s shape.
  4. Cupid’s bow and Chin: Adding highlight to these areas will enhance the contours of your lips and chin.

Step 5: Blend, Blend, Blend

Blending is key to achieving a seamless, natural contour. Use a makeup sponge or brush to blend both the contour and highlight. The goal is to ensure there are no visible lines and the transition between shades is smooth.

  • Use a damp sponge to tap over the contour and highlight areas for a softer finish.
  • Blend upwards and outwards to maintain a lifted appearance.

Step 6: Set Your Contour

After your contour and highlight are applied and blended, set everything with a translucent setting powder to ensure longevity.

  • Apply the setting powder lightly to the T-zone and under the eyes to prevent creasing.
  • You can also use a setting spray for an extra layer of protection.

Advanced Contouring Techniques for a Flawless Finish

While basic contouring will give you a natural sculpt, there are advanced techniques you can use for more precision and drama. These techniques are often used by professionals to create a more chiseled and defined appearance.

  1. Reverse Contouring: This technique involves using highlighter first to create contrast before contouring. Apply a bright highlighter on areas you want to emphasize (under the eyes, top of the cheekbones) and then apply contour around those areas.
  2. Baking: Baking is a technique where you apply a thick layer of setting powder to areas where you’ve highlighted (under the eyes, the bridge of the nose, the chin). Let it sit for 10-15 minutes to “bake” before dusting it off for a flawless finish.
  3. Contouring with Creams and Powders: Mixing cream and powder products allows you to combine the benefits of both formulas. Cream products provide a more natural finish, while powders are excellent for setting and creating a more defined look.

Pro Tips for Perfect Contouring

  • Use the Right Tools: Invest in a quality contour brush or sponge that is angled for precision. A large, fluffy brush works well for blending, while a smaller, more precise brush is ideal for applying contour to the nose and jawline.
  • Know Your Face Shape: Tailor your contouring techniques to your unique face shape. For example, if you have a round face, contouring along the jawline and temples can add dimension. If you have a square face, focus on softening the angles.
  • Don’t Overdo It: Contouring is about creating subtle shadows and highlights. Avoid using too much product, which can look unnatural. Start with a light hand and build up as needed.
  • Use a Setting Spray: After contouring, set everything with a makeup setting spray to lock in your work and keep your contour from fading throughout the day.

Common Contouring Mistakes to Avoid

  • Using the Wrong Shade: Choose contour shades that are 1-2 shades darker than your natural skin tone, and avoid using bronzers that are too warm or orange.
  • Over-Contouring: Less is more with contouring. Avoid heavy lines that don’t blend, as this will create a harsh, unnatural look.
  • Ignoring Face Shape: Tailor your contouring to enhance your natural face shape. Not every face shape requires the same technique.

Conclusion

Contouring at home can seem daunting at first, but with the right products, techniques, and practice, you can achieve professional-level results. By understanding your face shape, using the proper tools, and focusing on blending, you can create a sculpted and radiant look that enhances your natural features. Whether you’re prepping for a special event or want to elevate your daily makeup routine, mastering contouring will give you the skills of a makeup artist and the confidence to match.

SOURCES

Pro Makeup Artist: Rae Morris. (2024). The Art of Contouring for Professional Makeup Artists. Retrieved from https://raemorris.com/

Allure Magazine. (2024). the Best Contour Products for Every Skin Tone. Retrieved from https://www.allure.com/

Harper’s Bazaar. (2024). How to Master Contouring Like a Professional Makeup Artist. Retrieved from https://www.harpersbazaar.com/

Sephora Beauty Insider. (2024). Contouring 101: A Step-by-Step Guide to Sculpting Your Face. Retrieved from https://www.sephora.com/

Makeup Artist Magazine. (2024). Professional Contouring Techniques: Sculpting Your Face Like an Artist. Retrieved from https://www.makeupartistmagazine.com/

The Makeup Show. (2024). Professional Contouring Secrets from Top Makeup Artists.

HISTORY

Current Version
November, 28, 2024

Written By
ASIFA