Learn How to Contour and Highlight for Your Face Shape

   

Contouring: In my humble opinion is the most confusing of all beauty techniques. If you are anything like me, you constantly find yourself watching tutorials where women practically spackle their faces into diagonal lines, then 15 to 30 minutes later emerge looking like an entirely different person. 

First off let's be clear, that is not what we are aiming for here. Today we will focus on using contouring as a tool for enhancing your natural feature and possibly cheating on the ones you wish you had! Without looking like Elvira.

The Two Basic Considerations for Makeup Contouring

There are two basic things to consider when learning to contour your face. You should select your contour based on your desired look and your skin tone! As a rule, select a contour two shades darker than your overall skin tone, and a highlighter two shades lighter.

Contour Choices Based on Look

For a Bold Look: Creams

Try stick and palettes for a dramatic look.
Apply your foundation with a sponge to create a smooth even surface
Simply blend in a small amount using a sponge or brush
For a stronger look slowly build up color till you achieve your desired look


For a Polished Look: Powder

Stay away from any contouring powders with shimmer! They must be matte. Also, this is a great option if you have oily skin types.
Apply your foundation with a sponge to create a smooth even surface
Dust with translucent powder then apply the desired amount of color
Blend, blend, blend! (Use a brush, not your fingers)


For a Subtle Look: Liquid

For natural dimension try a liquid (Matte) bronzer.
Apply your foundation with a sponge to create a smooth even surface
Using your fingers press to the desired areas and lightly blend with a sponge
Finish with a translucent powder

Contour Tones by Skin Tone

Contour: NO SHIMMER!!

Fair- Medium Skin--- Taupes and Grayish Browns
Dark Skin--- Warmer, Cognac Colors

Highlighter:

Fair Skin--- Champagne Tones
Light-Medium Skin---Pink Champagne Tones
Olive Skin---- Golden Tones
Dark Skin--- Terracotta Tones

Contouring for Your Face Shape

Once you have determined the look you want to achieve and picked out the correct contour for your skin tone, you will have to determine your face shape. To make the most of your individual features, you will need to know where to contour and where to highlight. Here is the breakdown of contouring for each face shape!

Diamond: 

Do you have a diamond face shape?

• Slightly pointed chin and hairline
• Wider cheekbone structure

Where to Contour?

• Directly below your cheekbones
• Start at your ears and go toward the corners of your mount but stop in the middle of your cheeks.

Where to Highlight?

• Draw an upside-down triangle under your eyes
• Along your brow bone
• Middle of your forehead 
• Middle of your chin

Heart:

Do you have a heart face shape?

• Chin is the smallest point of the face
• Cheekbones are wider than hairline
• Widow’s peak

Where to Contour?

• Along the sides of your forehead or the temple areas, imagine the shape of a “3” along the top of your forehead (use a fine brush)
• Start at your ears and go toward the corners of your mount but stop in the middle of your cheeks.
• Right below your chin to soften the point (a tiny amount)

Where to Highlight?

• Draw an upside-down triangle under your eyes
• Middle of your forehead 
• Middle of your chin 

Oval: 

Do you have an oval face shape?

• The forehead width is slightly wider than the chin
• Face length is about one and a half times the width

Where to Contour?

• Along hairline 
• Sides of your forehead
• Under ears to mid jawline on each side
• Start at your ears and go toward the corners of your mount but stop in the middle of your cheeks.

Where to Highlight

• Draw an upside-down triangle under your eyes

Round:

Do you have a round face shape?

• Round cheeks
• Equal width and length of the face

Where to Contour?

• Side of your forehead beside your temples
• Under jawbone towards your chin to midway (Make sure you blend so you don’t have a chin strap)
• Start at your ears and go toward the corners of your mount but stop in the middle of your cheeks.

Where to Highlight?

• Middle of forehead 
• Middle of chin
• Draw an upside-down triangle under your eyes

Square: 

Do you have a square face shape?

• The face is as long as it is wide
• The width of the hairline and jaw are even

Where to Contour?

• Side of your forehead beside your temples
• Under jawbone towards your chin to midway (Make sure you blend so you don’t have a chin strap
• Start at your ears and go toward the corners of your mount but stop in the middle of your cheeks.

Where to Highlight?

• Middle of forehead 
• Middle of chin
• Draw an upside-down triangle under your eyes
• Along your brow bone

Try UnitWise Now!

But no matter how much beauty trends might change we here at UnitWise will always be here to help grow your business. We hope you enjoyed these contouring tips, please share your thoughts below. We hope you have a wonderful and safe weekend. For more beauty blogs visit UnitWise.com.


*Content found in the UnitWise blog is for informational purposes only. UnitWise is an independent business with no affiliation to Mary Kay®.