Makeup Contouring - How to do your make up like a Celeb

What is “Contouring”?

Ever wondered how celebs look so great in photo shoots and on the red carpet? They have make up artists using a technique called contouring to make them look fabulous, hiding their flaws, defining their cheekbones and making them look thinner!

Contouring is the act of using dark or light colours to make features recede or become prominent.  At first it can look hard to do - but give it a try and you will be surprised at how little time it can take with a bit of practise.

Contour Overview Picture

This is an exaggeration of the contoured face on the left.

Both highlights and contours should be blended at the edges to create a seamless look.

 

 

There are two methods to contour your face - with liquids and creams or powder. Your tools will depend on the method you choose.

 

Method 1 - Contouring with Liquids or Creams

What you will need: 

• Concealer or liquid highlighter (2 – 3 shades lighter than skin tone) such as Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch Concealer & highlighter or mac liquid highlighter & concealer.
• Matt foundation slightly darker than your normal foundation.

Example: Liquid Highlighter & Concealer from MAC

  Foundation Brush                         Concealer Brush                         Loose Powder Brush

A large Flat Synthetic brush        A smaller Flat synthetic brush                   To set foundation

Method 2 - Contouring with Powders

 

What you will need:

• Matte bronzer or powder 2-3 shades darker than skin tone such as scuplting powder pro palette by MAC
• Highlighting powder such as in Jane Iredale all natural quad bronzer picture below (available at bare waxing Glen Innes)
  • 
    
• A makeup sponge

Contouring Brush

• A contouring brush (looks like a slanted blush brush) or small blush brush

How to Contour Your Face

• Feel the contours of your face. Apply the contour colour (matt bronzer or darker foundation) directly underneath your cheekbone, extending from the centre of your ear in a slightly downward motion. You will want to keep the contour application concise when using powder. If your brush feels too fluffy or large, pinch the bristles when you apply, this will give you more control.   

• Use a small eyeshadow brush to softly line both sides with contour colour (bronzer or darker foundation) of the nose. If your nose is long, you may want to apply a little under the tip of your nose. Again, keep the applications concise. 

• Feel your jaw. You will apply your contour colour below your jawbone, making sure not to apply any colour to the actual bone. The point is to create a shadow below your jaw. If your jaw is large, you may bring the contour colour up on either side of the chin. This will make your jaw appear less bold.

• Blend your contour colour into your hairline. Doing this helps make your face appear slimmer. Make sure to blend well into the hairline.

• Although your colour's may be dramatic, there should be no severe lines. Blend edges really really well.

then Highlight......

 

• Using your makeup sponge or brush, apply highlighter under your eyes, extending to the tops of your cheekbones and along the sides of your nose.

• Highlight your chin, the upper-most part of your jaw (directly below the ear), your brow bone, and the centre of your forehead. 

• You may also highlight your cupid’s bow (as seen above) for a more full, defined mouth.

 

Completed Look

Your completed look should be well blended and seamless. 

Your highlights and contours should play together to create depth and dimension.

A good powder bronzer and highlighter do the job on a day-to-day basis. 

For a more dramatic camera-ready look, layer the contours – cream/liquid foundation contours, setting powder, then bronzer and highlighter contours.

The how to guide was from   theuntrendygirl.com

Hope you find this useful, give it a go next time you go out in the evening, we all deserve to look great! 

Love Siobhan x