CONTOUR

Contour makeup refers to the products used to sculpt and define your face (although body contouring is a thing, too). There are powder, cream, and liquid varieties available in a range of shades to suit different skin tones. Contour products are cool-toned, and when applied, they mimic the look of shadows. This helps accentuate the natural contours of the face and can be done effectively to make your jawline appear more pronounced, create the illusion of super-sharp cheekbones, and even fake fuller lips. That isn’t all either; with different contour techniques, you can achieve quite an array of results.

Before contouring, prime your skin and apply any base face makeup, like foundation and concealer. Then apply small stripes or dots of contour product onto your face in the areas you want to be more defined. Make sure to blend, blend, blend for a smooth finish. For powder contour, do this with a brush. A liquid or cream contour can be blended with a brush, makeup sponge, or your fingers—it’s your choice.

Follow contouring with highlighting to make your look extra dynamic. Blend highlighter onto the highpoints of your face (the tops of your cheekbones, bridge of your nose, and cupid’s bow) for a balanced glow.

To determine exactly where to apply contour makeup, look to your face shape. Round face shapes can apply contour lower on the cheeks for more prominent cheekbones, while square face shapes can achieve a softer effect by applying contour to the temples in curved lines. Read our complete contouring guide for a full tutorial.

With the most common method of makeup contouring, foundation comes first. However, there’s room to experiment. You can contour before foundation for a more natural look or stick with the classic technique for extra definition. Just keep in mind, contouring first will only work with cream and liquid contour formulas. Applying liquid foundation over a powder contour is likely to leave you with a patchy, uneven finish—no thanks.

Pro Tip: You can forgo foundation entirely, if you like, and use concealer to cover any imperfections instead. This is a great option for lighter makeup days and may even save you a few minutes when getting ready.

While it’s certainly not a strict rule, at NYX Professional Makeup, we typically recommend applying highlighter after contour makeup. The reverse is an option too, but your highlighter may end up being eclipsed once you apply a darker contour shade nearby. Using highlighter as a finishing touch (followed only by setting spray to lock it in) gives you more control over the end result.

A good contour product should be two to four shades darker than your skin tone. Go much darker and you’ll have difficulty blending it out for a natural effect, much lighter and the difference may be imperceivable. If you want to contour with concealer, start by finding a shade that’s a good match for your skin tone (one you’d want to use to cover blemishes or disguise dark circles). Once you have your match, it’s easier to look at the rest of the range and identify a concealer that’s two to four shades darker.

For non-concealer contour makeup products, you’ll find they’re often named based on the skin tone they’ll suit, which makes choosing one super simple. If you have medium skin, for example, try our three-shade contour kit, 3 Steps To Sculpt Face Sculpting Palette in Medium, or the double-sided Wonder Stick in Medium.

You can also take formula type into consideration when making your pick. Powders are great for beginners as they’re easy to control, while creams offer a natural, dewy-looking finish (particularly beneficial for those with dry skin). Liquids are great for their realism as well. Plus, they blend well with liquid foundation, ensuring the final effect will be that much more seamless.

While they may, at first glance, look the same, bronzer and contour products aren’t the same. Contour is meant to add shadow and depth, while bronzer adds warmth to your complexion. It’s true that both come in the form of brown powders and creams, but bronzer will have a warm tone while contour products should be on the cooler side. Bronzers sometimes can have flecks of beautiful shimmer swirled throughout, which lends itself to creating a warm, glowy effect. However, when you contour, you don’t want shimmer—it reflects light in spots you’re trying to create shadows. The bottom line is both bronzer and contour can have a place in your makeup routine, but they are two distinct products.