Learning how to contour is one of those fabulous make-up tips that can enhance your features, using simple shading and highlighting. It can instantly transform your face, bring out your cheekbones and jawline, and lift your eyes. The rule is, light brings things forward and dark pushes them back.
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How to countour correctly
People can be a little scared of contouring as they worry it’ll look too obvious, says Terry Barber, MAC Director of Make-Up Artistry. “For it to work, your base needs to be smooth, even and flawless. And the first tip is not to contour with your everyday bronzer. For realistic contours, you need a shade with a lot more warmth.”
Go for one or two shades darker than your natural colour and make sure it doesn’t have sparkle in it,” says Terry. When contouring, always pair with a highlighter to create a stronger finish, like MAC Prep + Prime Highlighter, R415.
Perfect nose
To make your nose look straighter, use your fingers to rub a little contour powder along the sides of your nose. Blend well. Don’t go right to the tip of your nose or it’ll end up looking too thin. If you want your nose to appear shorter, run a little contour along your nostrils.
Lift that jawline
If your chin is starting to droop a little, just sweep a touch of contour powder under the jawline to help camouflage any sag.
What about blusher?
Apply blush just above where you put your bronzer. Smashbox Step-By-Step Contour Kit, R690, is a great duo of blush and bronzer. Pop the blusher on as normal, using the brush, then gently blend in the bronzer under the blush.
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Define your cheekbones
Using a soft, angled brush, sweep your contour colour under your cheekbone, (in the hollow). Using your fingers, blend the line upwards. If you blend down, your face will look muddy. Blend the contour colour into your hairline. This will help give your skin a beautiful, healthy glow.
Where should I highlight?
Copy the red carpet scultping tip from Dell Ashley and Sean Guerra, YSL’s US make-up artists. Highlight along the cheekbone (just above where you’d normally apply blusher), under the brows, down the centre of the nose and just above the bow of the lip to make the shape more prominent. Using a big, fluffy brush will help diffuse the highlighter pigments, leaving a more sheer finish.
Make eyes pop
A-list make-up artist Daniel Sandler suggests brushing a little contour powder above the inner corner of your eye up to the brow. Eyes will look instantly more defined and will really pop.
Your tool kit
Contour with…
Clarins Bronzing Duo SPF 15 Mineral Powder Compact, R415
Plus, Inglot Makeup Brush 27TG, R499
Highlight with…
NYX Professional Makeup, Bright Idea Illuminating Stick Chardonnay Shimmer, R134,95
Plus, use it with the Body Shop Face & Body Brush, R133
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