Basics - No.6: Contouring

If you want to re-sculpt your face or slim it, contouring is the best way to do so (either this or surgery, ladies :D). Contouring is made with a darker shade placed in key points on your face. You can modify almost every feature, from your fore head, cheeks, double chin, nose, eyes or even your jaw. The idea is to play with the natural shadows on your face, make them deeper or cover them (usually that is why you apply foundation, to have a flawless "sheet" of paper to work on). Contouring goes hand in hand with highlighting. With the first you create depth and with the second you bring out features. You do have to be careful working with darker or lighter colors. Try it before you go out or do your make-up for an event. Practice makes it perfect. Use small amounts and build up...don't put a lot on your face from the first try...it's easier to reapply and build the color, then trying to diffuse it.
You can use either a cream formula or powers. (If you pick cream, use it on your foundation not after you apply face powder)

So how do we re-sculpt our faces?

1. Cheeks - this is the part most people want to change, either making them more evident or creating ones (for those with round or full faces). Sit in front of your mirror. This part is very difficult...I need you to make... a fish face :)). Very difficult!! Now look on the bone structure of your cheeks. The top part is saved for highlighting, the middle and most prominent are the "apples" of your cheeks. Here you shall leave it for your blush. We are going to work the lower part, under the "apples". For an even easier way to find the lower part, take your index finger (aratator), middle finger and ring finder, placing them on your face so that the index in right beneath your eye and the tip of your middle finger touches your nose. In this way, the ring finger shows you the exact place (for my face it is the ring finger; for others could be the little finger, but rarely). In this place you will work the darker product, from middle of the bone toward the hair line, diffusing it for a natural look.

2. Fore-head - for those that have a high fore-head, you need to apply the product on your temples, taking it up through the hair line. The effect will be of a tinnier head-top. If you want to slim it, you just put the powder on your temples, taking it strait up, not through all your hair line.

3. Double chin and jaw line - if you want to hide a double chin you need to lift your head and apply the product right where the natural chin ends, taking it towards your neck, diffusing it. In making a masculine jaw appear softer you need to apply the powder on the outer corners of the jaw, in order to "cut" in it and work it until it suits you.

4. Nose - to make your nose slim and straight, you need to apply the product on the sides of the nose, leaving the middle part untouched for a natural highlight. Diffuse it toward the face, not the center of the nose. Put little product and build it, because in this area it's hard to clean if you make a mistake.

5. Lips - to make you lower lip appear fuller add a dash of the product under the lower lip in the center, blending it.

6. Eyes - this technique is used if you don't want to apply eyeshadows, but still want some definition; use an eye brush and apply the product on your crease, also blending it.



Hope this was helpful! Have a nice evening!

Kissu.