4 ways to contour your face, based on the makeup look you want

By Anjan Sachar10 September 2019

Heavy contour or just a little bit of shaping? We tell you how to do it all

Makeup trends come and go but a good contour seems to have stuck around. Kim Kardashian West made it the norm and soon enough, drugstore and luxe beauty labels around the world jumped on the bandwagon. But contouring is no longer the regular, harsh shaped look you remember from back in the day. Thanks to bronzers, blushes and highlighters, there are multiple ways to achieve a chiselled look. Every makeup artist has their own technique, and certain makeup looks also call for different levels of expertise. Here, we decode four different ways to contour your face, so you can successfully achieve the look you have in mind.

Barely-there contouring

This makeup look really is all about the ‘my skin but better’ aesthetic, and fits perfectly into a minimalist makeup routine. To contour your face without making it obvious, use a bronzer or contouring product that is only one or two shades darker than your skin (powder formulas are easier to blend in, and go on lighter). Using a gentle hand, pat the product in place till the colour latches on to your skin without looking too obvious. As is with contouring in general, apply the darker hue under your cheekbones and jawline, as well as on the sides of your forehead and the edges of your nose, and buff it in. Maintain a light hand with your application, and use a lighter formula and colour than usual. Look towards Miranda Kerr’s look above for inspiration. You can also wear a brighter blush to mask the contour altogether, while still maintaining the definition.

Draping, aka contouring with blush

This technique focuses on your cheekbones, and is the perfect way to add colour to your face. Whatever your makeup look for the day, a hint of blush will enliven your face and give it a healthy glow. The draping trend asks you to use blush to give your face definition. Here, instead of buffing your blush into the apples of your cheeks, apply it right underneath your cheekbones, moving outwards in a seamless but defined motion. Placing the blush in a slant, moving towards the edges of your face, provides the illusion of a shapelier face structure, just like Kardashian West in the image above. This contour style is also the perfect choice for the day if you’re looking at creating a monotone makeup look. For a change, let your blush do the talking.

Traditional contouring

Created using the traditional way to contour, a sharp look is ideal for an evening or night out. It’s best to avoid harsh contours during the day, since they can make your face look a little dull. For this look, use a cream contour product as it lasts long and provides depth to your face in all the right places. Apply it on the usual points—underneath the cheekbones and jawline, and along the sides of your forehead and nose—and blend till your face looks like little more chiselled version of yours. If you’re using a bronzer or bronzing cream, make sure it’s a matte product, as opposed to one filled with shimmer, to give you the intensity you desire.

Strobing

This contouring method focuses more on highlighter than a bronzer or contour cream. Here, it’s important to apply a good amount of highlighter on the high points of your face, such as the centre of your forehead, your brow bone, bridge of your nose, cheekbones, the Cupid’s bow and chin, to draw attention towards them. This will make those areas pop, and give you a more defined finish with a bright, lit-from-within glow. Make sure to finish off your look with a dewy setting spray to seal it all in place. Take cues from Deepika Padukone, who worked ‘less is more’ look with a bit of strobing in the picture above.