10 Mins Read
Contouring quickly and easily with a natural finish is always the end goal. But how to contour and achieve this? First, choosing the right undertone (cool, warm or neutral) and using a contour shade 2 shades darker than your base. Second, sculpt and shape to compliment your facial structure. Third, highlighting your contour either with a creamy concealer or radiance-boosting product will help define your contour.
Read on below to learn how to master…
An everyday contour with a natural glow
An after-dark contour with a dewy finish
Simple contouring do’s and don'ts
THE NATURAL, EVERYDAY CONTOUR
Lightweight, easy to apply and easy to blend, powder bronzers and highlighters not only give beautiful definition with a soft, glow-y finish, they help soak up any excess oil / shine throughout the day.
THE POWDERS WE RECOMMEND
Words by
Marcia Kilgore
3 years ago
ONE PALETTE WONDER
in Warm Naturals and Cool Naturals
QUANTUM BRONZER
SHIMMERBAR
in Sugar Drip and Lumineer
TRIPLE BEAUTY GOOD LIGHTING LUMINOUS TRIO
THE BEST TOOLS TO USE
PRO COLOUR ANGLED CHEEK BRUSH
To contour and enhance features
SOFT HIGHLIGHTING POWDER BRUSH
To highlight features and illuminate skin
PRO EYESHADOW BLENDING BRUSH
To softly contour down the sides of the nose
HOW TO CONTOUR
STEP ONE
Always apply foundation, concealer and setting powder to a freshly cleansed and moisturized face first. (It’s important to add powder bronzer after a setting powder to help ensure seamless blending and buffing.)
STEP TWO
Using the Pro Colour Angled Cheek Brush, sweep over the bronzer, tap off any excess and lightly apply back and forth along the hollows of the cheeks, focusing most of the product to the back of your cheekbones.
STEP THREE
Dust over temples and into the hairline to help make your forehead appear smaller, while giving a sun-kissed radiance to the skin.
STEP FOUR
To define your jawline, brush along the length of the jaw and around your chin, also blending downwards in swift motions to create a flawless shadow.
STEP FIVE
To create the illusion of a slimmer, smaller nose, dip the Pro Eyeshadow Blending Brush lightly into the bronzer and apply down the sides of the nose and over the tip. (This is an old Hollywood trick!)
STEP SIX
Using the Soft Highlighting Powder Brush, dip into the highlighter, tap off any excess, and sweep along the tops of cheekbones to catch the light and bring them forward. Also apply to the inner corners of the eyes, over the browbones, down the bridge of the nose and across the Cupid’s bow to illuminate the complexion.
THE POLISHED CONTOUR AFTER-DARK
For a dewier, longer-lasting finish, opt for more pigmented, creamier textures when contouring, as they tend to last longer on the skin. The key thing to remember: apply lightly and blend, blend, blend.
THE CREAM & LIQUID PRODUCTS WE RECOMMEND
TRIPLE BEAUTY LUMINIZING HIGHLIGHTER WAND
in Champagne
QUICK COLOUR CONTOUR SUPERGEL
in Soft Brown and Rich Chocolate
MULTIGLOW HIGHLIGHTING STICK
in Santorini
PRO-GLOW SUPERSTROBING DROPS
in Illuminati and Astrosurf
TRIPLE BEAUTY LIQUD LUMINIZER
in Golden Whirl
THE BEST TOOLS TO USE
SEAMLESS FOUNDATION BUFFING BRUSH
To contour and highlight the high points of the face
PRO BLEND BLUSH BRUSH
To emphasize the apples of the cheeks
PRO COLOUR ANGLED CHEEK BRUSH
To define cheekbones
HOW TO CONTOUR
STEP ONE
After cleansing, moisturizing and applying foundation, choose a contour colour that complements your skin’s undertone (cool, warm or neutral) and is two shades darker than your base. Then opt for a concealer that is one shade lighter to highlight.
STEP TWO
Start with the lighter shade and apply to areas you’d like to soften, brighten and slim down. To create dimension, apply concealer under the eyes, down the bridge of the nose and to the centre of the forehead - an inch short of your hairline.
STEP THREE
To create the illusion of defined, sculpted cheekbones, move on to the darker shade. Starting at the top of your ear, draw a line down your cheekbone, stopping in-line with your pupil to avoid an overly heavy look.
STEP FOUR
Blend everything together lightly and quickly with the Seamless Foundation Buffing Brush. Start with the lighter shade using gentle tapping motions, then move on to the darker, contouring shade to bring out your features.
STEP FIVE
Wherever the light naturally hits your face – so the tops of cheekbones, browbones, the bridge of the nose and the Cupid’s Bow – blend in your chosen highlighter with your fingertips. The warmth from your fingers will help to create a seamless, radiant finish.
CONTOURING – THE DO’S AND DONT'S
DO…
– Match your skin’s undertone with the undertones in your bronzer, highlighter and concealer.
– Choose powder bronzer and highlighter if you are new to contouring.
– Use the right brushes to blend, buff and create a natural finish.
– Apply sparingly and know which areas you want to sculpt, shade and highlight.
DON’T…
– Contour if you don’t need to – just conceal and highlight instead.
– Be too heavy-handed – less is more.
– Mix powder and cream textures together – the finish may look too overdone.
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